After spending some time in Canberra, our nation’s capital, I was heading back to Cairns when I stopped by the Virgin Australia Lounge. Oh my goodness, what a great experience! It was the perfect way to relax and enjoy some food before my flight home.
This post may contain affiliate links, to read more click here.
For the latest information on entrance eligibility, membership benefits, guest allowances and access conditions, please refer to Virgin Australia Lounge Access.
Despite visiting in the late afternoon, when you might expect things to be busier, the lounge is remarkably quiet. There are only around 15 people here, making the spacious surroundings feel even more impressive.
There’s plenty of room to relax without feeling crowded, and the views overlooking the apron are an absolute highlight, especially for this aviation enthusiast.
The only downside to the beautiful window seating is the lack of charging ports near those fantastic views. As I need to recharge all my devices, I reluctantly move further back into the lounge to find a power point.
Naturally, there are toilet facilities, but the lounge also offers showers. I find this an interesting addition, given that not many people would be transiting through Canberra and needing a shower. Still, they’re a handy convenience for anyone who does!
Before we get to the food, let’s talk drinks! As it’s after midday, the bar is open, with a selection of beers, ciders and wines, including sparkling wine. If you’re after something lighter, there’s also a post-mix soft drink station and fruit-infused water. Tea and coffee are available too, so there’s something for everyone.
The hot buffet features a rice dish (more on that shortly) and some plain vermicelli noodles. I initially find the plain noodles an unusual addition, until I take a closer look at the soup selection, and suddenly it all makes sense!
The cold selection offers a good variety of salads and wraps, with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options available, catering to different tastes and preferences.
My first plate was the chicken and chorizo paella, which was delicious. The rice seemed more like couscous to me, rather than traditional paella rice, but the flavours were spot on. Generous chunks of chicken thigh and salty and almost crispy chorizo made it delicious.
Next, I headed to the salad selection. Alongside the option to create your own tomato and cheese toastie (yes, the ham has disappeared!), the salad choices included oven roasted vegetables with honey mustard, and an edamame, freekeh and kale salad. The later was delicious.
Another new addition to the Virgin Australia Lounge buffet is a vegetable laksa, served with a selection of condiments for you to customise your bowl. I added the plain vermicelli noodles (thats what they’re for!), fried shallots, fresh spring onions, coriander and what I thought was the tiniest amount of chilli paste. The laksa was absolutely delicious, until I tried the chilli, which packed a little more heat than I could handle! Overall, though, I loved it and would happily went back for another bowl.
On my final trip to the buffet, I picked up a roast beef, onion and horseradish wrap, accompanied by cheese and crackers with a generous slather of mustard. While the wrap looked a little uninspiring, it was quite tasty. The cheese and crackers also hit the spot, and that little kick of mustard was a delightful finishing touch.
If you’re flying out of Australia’s capital, Canberra, make sure you stop by the Virgin Australia Lounge. I think it’s one of the airline’s best domestic lounges and well worth a visit before your flight.
