The Qatar Lounge Singapore receives a bit of attention in frequent flyer circles as being one of the best to visit in Changi when flying business/first on a Oneworld carrier. And since I loved my experience flying with Qatar through Doha a few months ago I made it a priority to try this lounge on my recent Singapore trip. And lets just say I was not disappointed! I loved the mix of buffet (with salads, fruit, dips, breads and cheese) with an A la carte menu. This is such a great way to provide good quality food while also helping to meet the needs of different appetites when flying – cause let’s face it when flying into Changi, Singapore you could be on any time zone!
What’s nutritious in the Qatar Lounge Singapore?
What a gorgeous piece of salmon! My attention was immediately drawn to the pan-seared salmon dish on the A la carte menu. I was looking for something light and the dish was absolutely perfect! It was a balanced dish with lightly cooked vegetables (about 1 serve) that were brightly coloured. There was a small portion of rice (approximately 1 serve) and the sauce came in a small dish on the side. The salmon had crunchy skin and and was delicious. I was very happy with this meal before my overnight flight.
Of course I could not go past trying the satay chicken skewers. These ones were more spicy than other varieties I have tried. The small amount of sauce on the side provided great flavour but kept the dish light.
The range of vegetables on the buffet was impressive, especially since there was an A la carte menu as well. There were a range of chopped salad ingredients – perfect to make a salad just to your liking. This is great to have a side salad with a dish ordered from the A la carte menu or to even just have a small salad before jumping on a flight if you plane to eat onboard. There were also vegetable crudites (celery, cucumber and carrot) which go perfectly with the assortment of dips. Speaking of dips there were small individual bowls of hummus, baba ghanoush and tabouleh. I love the small individual servings of dips – such a lovely touch for a lounge rather than a big bowl with a spoon and many splatters. Dips can be nutritious, especially when they are made from wholefoods. Take hummus for example – a lovely mix of chickpeas and tahini and olive oil – very nutritious foods. But like everything don’t over do it – one is good for a nutrition boost without then overdoing the calories.
There were bowls of nuts and olives – such good sources of nutritious fats – to sprinkle on salads for both a taste and nutrition boost.
There was a bowl of fresh fruit available as well as a sliced fruits including a range of melons, dragon fruit and blueberries. I was so impressed the bowl of fruit included more than the lounge staples of apples. While apples are nutritious, they are not for everyone before a flight as they can call some bloating in some people. How good there were even grapes!!!!!
There was a cheese board with three varieties of cheese, apricots, walnuts and grapes, accompanied by crackers. While walnuts are quite nutritious (they are a good source of omega-3 fats) having them on the cheese board touching the other foods mean the cheese is not accessible to people with nut allergies. They could be presented in a more inclusive way.
Not so great. Caution.
There were four varieties of sliced meats available including turkey ham and beef pastrami. Processed meats such as these can be high in salt and other additives and so be mindful of how much you eat before flying.
Great to see a variety of breads on offer but be mindful to try choosing wholemeal varieties more often than not. Here there are three predominantly white varieties of bread, and two wholemeal varieties. Consuming large amounts of refined carbohydrates like white bread before flights (especially long haul flights) is not great for travel wellbeing.
Final word Qatar Lounge Singapore food
I really enjoyed the Qatar Lounge Singapore food experience. I loved the buffet complimenting the A la carte dining experience. For me that opened up the dining experience and provided everything I needed to have a high quality food experience no matter how hungry I was or what the length of flight I was on next. And this is why I loved it. While A la carte dining can provide in business and first class lounges can provide a high quality dining experience, sometimes I find I am not looking for an indulgent meal before a flight. A smaller/lighter, delicious snack, or small grazing plate, seated in a comfortable lounge is sometimes what I am looking for. And just because I don’t want a seated dining experience, doesn’t mean I don’t want delicious high quality food. I loved I was able to eat a nutritious balanced meal in the Qatar Lounge Singapore – I am flying through Singapore next month and safe to say this lounge will definitely be beckoning me to visit while I am in transit and awaiting my onward flight.
NOTE: All pictures of the Qatar Lounge Singapore are my own and I review a lounge from the foods and menu I see during my visit. There may be different options available at other times.
For more food reviews of Qatar Lounges see review of the Qatar Al Mourjan Business Lounge Doha.
