Avari Hotel Lounge
The Avari Hotel Lounge in Lahore occupies a polished space in one of the city's newer five-star hotels on Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam. The lounge area sits adjacent to the lobby, with contemporary furniture, neutral tones, and floor-to-ceiling windows that bring light into a space designed for business meetings and quiet drinks. Alcohol service follows the same rules as everywhere in Pakistan: foreign passport required, checked before service begins. The bar stocks imported beer at PKR 1,000-1,800, standard spirits, and basic cocktails. The lounge seats about 20, maintaining a spacious, uncrowded feel even at its busiest. The atmosphere is more modern and less storied than the Pearl Continental. The Avari's lobby traffic is corporate: business travelers, conference attendees, and visiting delegations. The lounge reflects this, functioning more as an extension of the business day than a social venue. But for foreign visitors staying outside the hotel zone who want a drink in comfortable surroundings, the Avari provides exactly that. The hotel's restaurants serve good Pakistani and international cuisine, making a dinner-and-drinks combination the natural evening plan.
What to Expect
A modern, quiet hotel lounge with alcohol service for foreign passport holders. Corporate atmosphere, comfortable seating, and attentive service. Less social than the PC bar but more private.
Modern, corporate, and calm. A professional space for a professional city's international visitors.
Soft background music or silence. The lounge prioritizes quiet.
Business casual. Corporate standard.
Business travelers wanting a quiet drink, those preferring less social intensity than the PC, hotel guests, small meetings
Cards accepted. Room charge for guests. Pakistani Rupees.
Price Range
Beer PKR 1,000-1,800, spirits PKR 1,200-2,500, cocktails PKR 1,500-2,200, soft drinks PKR 300-500
Beer ~$3.60-6.50 / ~3.30-5.95 EUR, spirits ~$4.30-9 / ~3.96-8.25 EUR, cocktails ~$5.40-7.90 / ~4.95-7.25 EUR
Hours
16:00-23:00 daily
Insider Tip
Less busy than the PC bar, making it better for quiet drinks or small-group conversations. The hotel's Chinese restaurant is worth combining with lounge drinks. Passport required. The lobby wifi is reliable.
Full Review
The Avari Lounge in Lahore operates in the Pearl Continental's shadow but serves its own purpose. Where the PC bar has history and social energy, the Avari offers modernity and privacy. Different visitors need different things, and the Avari caters to those who want a drink without the social obligations.
The lounge sits at the lobby level, separated from the main foot traffic by design elements rather than walls. The seating is arranged in clusters that provide semi-privacy: armchairs facing each other across coffee tables, with enough space between groups that conversation doesn't carry. The aesthetic is contemporary hotel: clean lines, neutral upholstery, recessed lighting.
The bar service mirrors the other hotel bars: passport check, limited but adequate selection, professional service. Beer at PKR 1,000-1,800, spirits at PKR 1,200-2,500, and cocktails at PKR 1,500-2,200. The bartender is competent with the standards and doesn't attempt anything adventurous. This is a venue for drinking, not for drinking culture.
The crowd is predominantly business. The Avari draws conference and meeting traffic, and the lounge catches those participants who want to continue discussions over drinks. The atmosphere is noticeably quieter than the PC bar. Midweek evenings might see 5-8 patrons in a space that holds 20. This is feature rather than flaw: the spaciousness and quiet create a comfortable environment for conversation.
The Avari's advantage over the PC is its modernity. The infrastructure is newer, the air conditioning more effective, the furniture more comfortable. The PC's advantage is atmosphere and social energy. Most visitors who spend multiple days in Lahore will try both and develop a preference.
The hotel's restaurants, particularly the Chinese restaurant, provide a reason to visit even without the lounge. A dinner at one of the hotel's dining venues followed by drinks in the lounge makes for a complete evening that stays within the compound's security perimeter.
The Neighborhood
On Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, near the Pearl Continental. MM Alam Road restaurants are 10 minutes by car. The old city is 15 minutes north.
Getting There
Careem to Avari Hotel Lahore, PKR 200-500 from MM Alam Road. From the airport, PKR 500-1,000. The hotel is on The Mall Road with a visible security entrance.
Address
87 Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Gulberg, Lahore
Other Venues in Gulberg
Pearl Continental Hotel Bar
Lahore's most established hotel bar, serving alcohol to foreign passport holders in a quiet, air-conditioned lounge setting. Whisky, beer, and basic cocktails available. Beer PKR 800-1,500, spirits PKR 1,000-2,500. The clientele is business travelers and diplomats.
Cafe Aylanto
Upscale restaurant and cafe on MM Alam Road that functions as Lahore's most fashionable social venue. No alcohol, but the shisha, food, and people-watching make it the place to be seen. Dinner PKR 2,000-5,000 per person. Open until midnight.
Cosa Nostra
Italian restaurant and social spot on MM Alam Road popular with Lahore's young professional and upper-class crowd. Wood-fired pizza, pasta, and a lively terrace. No alcohol. Mains PKR 1,200-3,000. The Thursday night crowd is the most social.
Nishat Hotel Lounge
Newer five-star hotel with a contemporary lounge serving alcohol to foreign passport holders. Modern interiors and attentive service. A quieter alternative to the Pearl Continental. Beer PKR 900-1,600, cocktails PKR 1,500-2,500.