Virgin Australia Adelaide Lounge
The new Virgin Australia Adelaide lounge is a delight, and well worth a diversion.
The brand new lounge shows the new styling of the Virgin Australia brand, with a warm, inviting environment.
A large feature is the new coffee bar, which doubles as a wine bar at night. There are also work desks, a quiet area, showers, and lots of space.
NEWS: Virgin Australia has opened a new domestic lounge in Adelaide as part of the terminal expansion. The new lounge has a great new wine bar, a work area, and four distinct 'zones'. It features a wine bar called the Cellar Door Hub.
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Adelaide Virgin Australia lounge review
The new Virgin Australia Adelaide lounge is amazing, featuring the latest design, a variety of seating and an updated dining menu.
You can't miss the lounge, as it is in the new airy, cavernous hall of Adelaide Airport, immediately left after domestic security, in the newest arm of the airport, between gates 14 and 15, and just before the stairs that go down to the new international area.
As soon as you enter, it's clear you are in a lounge that is quite different to the one that has gone before: straight ahead is a plain white reception desk, surround by what appears to be a breeze block wall. It isn't, but it has taken a design cue from elements of many of Adelaide's gardens. You can of course simply scan your boarding pass barcode for contactless self check-in and are then waved through.
Behind the wall is a warm, inviting, lounge, with a much more friendly design palette than the bright white Virgin lounges of old. There is a an eclectic atmosphere, with a mix of clean white curves, sandstone, wood panelling and occasional deep red elements like the lighting.
It is a large light-filled space, with arge floor-to-ceiling windows with plenty of natural light and great views: alas these are of... nothing much. The car park, the nearby Atura Hotel and IKEA.
The entrance has huge ceramic tiles which lead you past the two giant service desks - which are rarely manned - and onto the dining and seating areas. There is plenty of bleached pine, occasional potted plant, and some red notes from overhead lights and signs. All of which matches the Virgin colour scheme.
The new 283-seat Adelaide Lounge was designed by Brisbane's WMK Architecture, and they have done a fine job. In the mornings it can get very busy, particularly at the large Coffee Bar running along one side, which transforms into a wine bar at night.
In one area of the lounge there is what is called the Gallery Lounge. This is a chill-out zone adjacent to The Library, complete with lounge chairs and a large flat-screen television.
There is also the Sunroom - which is in effect the quiet room, with lots of identical bucket chairs, but at least it's a good place to enjoy warm Adelaide evenings as the sun streams in.
There is another nook: the Long Stay: to the right hand side of the entrance, it's another seating area, but a dim one this time.
The ambient lighting is very good, the bright greenery very fresh, and in general though it is a relaxed, inviting and uncomplicated place.
Food
Right in the middle of the Virgin Australia Adelaide lounge is is the food servery, with two big island refectory tables.Food here is surprisingly good, with a small salad selection, including olives, salami, marinated mushrooms, a couple of deli meats, Swiss cheese, a choice of salads, rice cakes and sliced bread, plus lavish crackers and dips.
There is also generally a soup on offer: in the Virgin Adelaide Lounge it is not always that very fresh or hot, but it does the job.
Next to the soup is a hot sandwich maker: you can make your own toasties with the bread rolls, butter, cheese and ham from the salad selection.
However, the one thing the Adelaide Virgin Australia lounge i most famous for are the sausage rolls. And very good they are too, with little sachets of tomato sauce.
Around this area there are distinct dining areas with large social tables, and banquette seating for more private dining.
Bar
With some of Australia's most awarded wineries on the doorstep of Adelaide Airport, Virgin Australia has created a feature space for South Australian wineries to bring their cellar door to the Virgin Lounge for seasonal wine tasting. The wine bar is called the 'Cellar Door Hub' no less.The bar opens at midday each day for wines, beers and ciders, and it is a fully staffed bar - and it is quite good. It is around the corner from the coffee bar - indeed staff here double up and serve both.
The wine is surprisingly top-notch - and almost all from South Australia. There are generally three types of red, and four of white, plus a sparkling in the bucket.
Beer is also very good, with the fridge rammed with everything Crown to Pure Blonde, Fat Yak, Carlton Dry, Peroni, and all the types of Coopers. There is even Strongbow cider. It is on the far left, but you have to ask the bar staff to fish out the bottles.
Spirits are however not a strong point: there simply aren't any.
Next to the food area there is a soft drinks machine.
Bathrooms
There are bathrooms in the lounge - the door is on the opposite side to the food servery.
The bathrooms have a funky appearance, with hanging greenery and large round mirrors.
The Virgin Australia Adelaide Lounge has showers - ask at reception: there are towels and amenities available.
Business Facilities
Don't miss the Library: A dedicated work area dubbed The Library, features ten dedicated workstations with printing facilities, power sockets, and desk lamps, offering a functional environment to work on the fly.
The only problem with it is that in an insane design moment, the workstations are place right in the window, but at 90 degrees to it. So, the one place you want a bit of dimness to see the computer screen is the one place you can not.
There is dedicated lounge wifi which is blistering fast.
Access
Virgin Australia Business Class have access.
There is also access for Velocity Platinum and Gold frequent flyer members with a same-day Virgin Australia flight with on-arrival access is occasionally possible.
Video: Virgin Australia Lounge
View photos of Virgin Australia Adelaide Lounge
Adelaide Airport Guide
| Virgin Australia Adelaide Lounge | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rating |
Video walkthrough and Image gallery by Loungeindex.com
| |
| Pros | Great new modern lounge | |
| Cons | Can get busy in the evening | |
| Location | Airside, between gate 14 & 15 | |
| Opening hours | 0500-2230 | |
| Lounge for: | ||
| Other Airlines: | Virgin Australia Adelaide Lounge | |
| Access | Virgin Australia Business Class | |