Review: this new airport lounge is a major step up
With genuinely good service, delicious food and a live cooking station, this venue is an ideal way to prepare for an international flight.
With genuinely good service and a live cooking station, this venue presents an ideal way to prepare for an international flight.
Location
Singapore Airlines opened its brand-new SilverKris Lounge at Perth International Airport in February. With the airline now flying to Perth four times a day, the upgrade was much needed. Immediately after the maze of Duty Free, the SilverKris Lounge is located opposite Gate 52 in Terminal 1, behind a wall of colourful lights featuring the classic Singapore Airlines batik-inspired floral motifs.
The glass doors slide open to reveal a smiling concierge at a single desk. Peering in, I see this new lounge is a major step up, featuring design by Singaporean firm DP Architects, representing a mini version of the flagship lounge at Changi airport. The space features a grey and muted blue palette with gold accents and vertical timber battens that curve up to the ceiling. Clever lighting, different flooring and partitions mean the single room avoids feeling industrial.
Seating
With double the capacity of its predecessor, the new lounge features 135 seats, and during my visit it is about half full. There are various zones, from a giant boardroom-style table, to a striking long timber bench. As in other SilverKris lounges, seating includes tall, wing-back armchairs but, as there are only four of these, they’re snapped up before I arrive. Semi-private lounge booths seat up to four, and cosy, rounded lounge chairs with spherical, pole-mounted lights evoke the Art Deco period.
Food and drink
The buffet grazing board is refreshed before every flight, or sooner. It’s impossible not to ogle the impressive spread of charcuterie, cheeses, pastries, dried and fresh fruits that invite snacking, while side shelves stock all manner of salads, wraps and sandwiches such as chicken salad or egg and truffle oil.
There’s a fresh sushi station, dried cup noodles and a chocolate banana tart to die for. The five self-serve hot dishes include shepherd’s pie and chimichurri chicken, but the real star of the show here is the live cooking station. But more on that later.
The bar staff tell me they offer the widest variety of any airline bar in Australia, and it’s a full-service affair. Their signature cocktails include a Perth-only version of the famous Singapore Sling; this one featuring Old Youngs gin from the nearby Swan Valley.
The international wine list includes famous Western Australian wineries Vasse Felix and Cape Mentelle, plus Piper-Heidsieck champagne.
The beer fridge has an impressive selection, from Singapore’s popular Tiger to craft brews from Beerfarm in Margaret River and Perth-based Gage Roads. The coffee is barista-made, and my cappuccino is topped with a SilverKris logo on the foam.
Work and tech
The pod-like individual work stations give great privacy and have individual reading lamps. There are many power points throughout the lounge, although the only phone charging points are the USB-C style, for newer phones. Adaptors are available on request.
Refresh
Unlike the former version, this lounge offers two showers. There’s no booking system, but guests will need to request a towel from the staff. Every amenity from shavers to perfume has been considered – except hair conditioner.
Extras
Hands down, the best thing about this lounge is the Singaporean chef at the live cooking
station, who whips up a choice of three Singaporean hawker food favourites. I can’t decide, so order the lot and they are delicious. The steamed dim sum delights, the succulent steamed chicken rice and the stir-fried carrot cake (it’s actually daikon radish, egg and sweet soy, there’s no carrot or cake involved) are authentic versions of these much-loved Singapore favourites.
The verdict
This lounge provides a sophisticated space with genuinely good service, and a nod to both Singapore and Perth in its DNA. It’s a pleasure to while away an hour or so here, and the food is the perfect prelude for any upcoming Singapore visit or stopover.
Carolyn Beasley travelled at her own expense but was a guest of Singapore Airlines in the lounge.
If you love to travel, sign up to our free weekly Travel + Luxury newsletter here.
