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Angelo D’Arrigo VIP Lounge, Catania Airport (CTA)

Angelo D’Arrigo Lounge, Catania Airport (Evening Visit)

Angelo D’Arrigo Lounge Catania Date of Visit: [May 2025]
Time: Evening (8:00 PM – 10:00 PM)

Accessing the Angelo D’Arrigo Lounge Catania Airport

The Angelo D’Arrigo Lounge Catania is located airside on the third floor near gates 5 and 6 at Catania Fontanarossa Airport. Recently renovated in December 2024 (formerly the Bellini Lounge), this space now offers over 400 square metres with seating for more than 200 guests. It is accessible via Priority Pass, DragonPass, or a paid entry fee. While the terminal itself feels cramped and hectic, the lounge provides a much calmer and more comfortable atmosphere.

Check-In Experience

Check-in was simple and fast. The receptionist was friendly, polite and seemed genuinely happy to assist.

Ambiance & Seating

The lounge itself is quiet and relaxed, with plenty of natural light pouring in through large windows that overlook the runway. Watching the planes take off as the sun was setting was certainly the highlight of the lounge. The setup and food offering at this lounge was similar to the Sala Montale lounge at Milan Malpensa, which you can check out here.

There were plenty of comfortable armchairs available, and the atmosphere remained tranquil throughout our visit. A workstation area with several computers was available, which was a nice touch for those needing to catch up on emails or work.

Comfortable armchairs inside the lounge
Spacious seating area with modern lounge chairs at the Angelo D’Arrigo Lounge Catania
View of the runway from the Angelo D’Arrigo Lounge seating area

Food and Drinks at the Angelo D’Arrigo Lounge Catania

This is where the Angelo D’Arrigo Lounge truly disappoints. The food selection was, quite frankly, appalling:

  • A few ham/salami and cheese rolls, looking like they’d seen better days was the main food option.
  • Next to the rolls was a bowl of ready salted crisps. That was the extent of it! No hot food, no fruit. For a supposed VIP airport lounge, it was not up to standard. Sadly we left hungry and purchased food on the plane.

Thankfully, the drinks selection was more respectable:

  • A modest but thoughtful local alcohol selection featuring one red, one white and one sparkling (Spumante), all sourced from the Mount Etna region.
  • Beer options, lemon soda, Coke Zero, Coca Cola, Fanta, and San Pellegrino sparkling water were also available in fridges.

A freshly brewed espresso, made by a staff member behind the counter, was a genuinely welcome touch and arguably the best thing we consumed in the lounge. However, we were informed that anything with milk came from a sad looking push button machine. A bit of a shame as Italy is infamous for its coffee scene.
There were no slices of lemon, no ice, and all drinks had to be consumed out of plastic or paper cups, which cheapened the whole experience a little bit.

Lemon soda and a freshly brewed espresso served during an evening airport lounge visit
Freshly made espresso served during an evening airport lounge visit
Cold paninis and croissants on offer at the airport lounge.
Soft drink fridge stocked with Coke Zero, Coca Cola, lemon soda, and mineral water
Selection of Spumante and wine on offer at the lounge.
Limited selection of plain crisps available at the Angelo D’Arrigo Lounge Catania

Wi-Fi & Amenities

The Wi-Fi was stable and reasonably fast. The restrooms were clean and well-maintained. Power ports, while numerous, were frustratingly inconsistent. We had to move twice before finding one that actually worked.

Pros:

  • Excellent runway views with loads of natural light.
  • Comfy armchairs and quiet, chilled atmosphere.
  • Respectable drinks selection, including local wines and beers.
  • Freshly made espresso was a standout.

Cons:

  • Truly dismal food selection: cold rolls and crisps, nothing more. No fresh fruit, hot food, or sweet options.
  • Drinks only served in plastic or paper cups; no ice available.
  • Many power ports were unreliable.

Final Thoughts

The Angelo D’Arrigo VIP Lounge Catania Airport is a classic case of style over substance While the views and atmosphere are genuinely pleasant, the complete lack of proper food drags the whole experience down. If you’re after a glass of wine with a view and don’t mind skipping a proper snack or meal, it might be worth your time and lounge passes. Otherwise, you’d be better off grabbing something in the terminal and saving some cash. Staff: 6/10
Food & Drink: 2/10
Ambiance and Views: 6/10
The Airport Lounge Bro Rating: 4/10

For further information on this lounge, you can head over to the Priority Pass website. To explore our ever growing list of airport lounge reviews, you can find them here.

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