Review: Air India Maharaja Lounge – San Francisco Int’l (SFO), Concourse A

Terrific lounge that surpasses expectations

The summary

My flight into SFO from Denver arrived early and in the D gates. Thus, with a 3.5 hour layover, I made the 15 minute walk over to Concourse A to check out the new Air India Maharaja Lounge. If I had less time, I would have visited the Maple Leaf Lounge. I knew this was a new lounge, but my expectations were tempered by the JFK Maharaja Lounge. To say I was more than pleasantly surprised is a understatement. This lounge is wonderful.

The lounge is located at the beginning of the A concourse, as part of a lounge complex that features many other lounges (including a disappointing China Airlines Dynasty Lounge). Guests must ascend one floor via escalator and walk down a featureless white hallway to arrive at the lounge. Then the fun begins.

Let me start of by saying that I was the first person in the lounge on this Monday morning – so it was blissfully uncrowded (great for pictures!). I was told that it would soon fill up before flights to India. The lounge is small, just two rooms. But it packs a punch. The first room you enter has the bar; the second, the buffet. There is a small tea station just after entry on the right, but your eye immediately is struck by the rich décor of this room. The room is adorned with India-themed artwork. There are individual seat pods, each with an adjacent outlet, which are perfect for eating and logging in. There are some tables backed by a sofa with regular chairs on the other side. Along the window are individual seats that look out on the tarmac.

The bar itself is small but attractive and well stocked. Drinks are complementary and there is an extensive cocktail menu.

Soft drinks, teas, and coffee are along the right wall, which connects both lounge rooms. A first: the cream and milk for the coffee was heated! I had a cup of delicious coffee and brought it back to my seat pod. I loved the coffee mug (see the pic!).

The room with the buffet is also richly furnished. This room mostly had table seating with one long table that is perfect for solo travelers. Again, I saw outlets throughout. I love the artwork in this room as well.

What makes this lounge so special? It has to be the extensive breakfast buffet. A lounge attendant told me that I should see the lunch spread!  The breakfast was a mix of western and Indian options: breads and muffins (with butter and jam), quinoa salad, cucumber salad, mixed greens, vegetable crudites, coconut chia pudding, a selection of hummus and chutney, fresh fruit, and yogurt parfait. The heated items included: paratha (Indian flatbread), chole (a chickpea curry – I had to look that up!), rice, cinnamon rolls, croissants, achaar, white balsamic shallot vinaigrette, chicken sausage, and scrambled eggs. My only regret is that I ate on the flight into SFO. Had I any idea of the extensiveness of the buffet – I would have eaten in the lounge. I sampled the flatbread with some chutney.

There were a few individual restrooms near the entry (I read one has a shower but I did not see it). Internet was password protected and very fast. The staff was amazingly attentive (though it was largely empty of guests when I arrived). My only caution – if you are flying United – plan on a long walk if you want to stay on the secure side of security. To get to my connecting flight, I exited the security, walked through the international check in hall, and recleared security by the G gates

The wrap

…the details: Date: July 20, 2026. Rating:. Awesome.  Access: Star Alliance Gold.

….what I like: The food, the décor, the staff

—what I don’t like: The small space – I can easily see crowds at certain times; odd entry.