Qantas debuts new first class lounge menu, wines
The latest seasonal menu for Qantas’ flagship lounges sees plenty of new dishes plus a refresh of the wine list.
By David Flynn, December 10 2024
“What’s on the latest menu at the Qantas first class lounge?”
It’s a surprisingly common question of top-tier Qantas Platinum and Qantas Platinum One frequent flyers who begin their journey from the Qantas International First Lounges at Sydney and Melbourne, as well as first class passengers and members of the elite Qantas Chairman’s Lounge.
But perhaps the question is not so surprising: the airline’s approach to seasonal menus means a raft of new dishes appears every four months, alongside a slew of evergreen favourites that can’t be taken off the menu, lest riots break out.
One of the key benefits of holding Platinum or Platinum One status with Qantas is being able to begin your overseas trip at these lounges when flying with Qantas, Jetstar, Emirates or other partner airlines – particularly Oneworld member airlines such as British Airways, Cathay Pacific, JAL, Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways.
(That same perk is of course enjoyed by Emirates Skywards Platinum and Oneworld Emerald frequent flyers.)
Indeed, for many top-tier frequent flyers, Qantas’ Sydney First Lounge and Melbourne First Lounge are almost a home away from home.
So let’s dive into the latest summer menu at the Qantas First Lounges in Sydney and Melbourne.
At the end of this article you’ll find links to PDF copies of the Qantas First Lounge summer 2024-2025 menus to download and peruse ahead of your next trip. You’re welcome.
Breakfast: served from 5am to 11am
As always, the Qantas First Lounge’s breakfast menu is more about seasonal tweaks to a handful of dishes.
A case in point are the ever-popular buttermilk pancakes, which are now served with raspberry yoghurt, nectarines and ‘Qantas honey’ (which comes from beehives on the roof of the airline’s Mascot headquarters).
Likewise, the yoghurt gets a timely tropical makeover with mango and toasted coconut.
The healthy breakfast salad this time features quinoa, roast tomatoes, avocado, corn, a poached egg, pepita seeds, parmesan and chilli salsa (it’s also available in a plant-based version without egg or parmesan).
But we’ll be the first to admit it can be hard to go past perennials such as corn fritters, eggs Benedict, an omelette, or the simple delight of a toasted sandwich.
A Qantas First Lounge classic: corn fritters with bacon, avocado, crème fraîche and tomato jam.
All day dining: served from 11am onwards
The main ‘all day dining’ menu is where the biggest changes swing from one season to the next, and summer sees plenty of those.
Rest assured that signatures such as salt & pepper squid, the club sandwich, the cheeseburger and that oh-so-Instagrammable ‘pavlova in a glass’ remain on deck.
That said, you’ll find plenty of fresh choices to make from the Qantas First Lounge’s summer 2024 all-day dining menu.
In fact, visitors to the Sydney and Melbourne first class lounges between December 16-25 will spy a few special Christmas dishes.
Our recommendations are the starter of super-sized yet sweet Skull Island tiger prawns from the Gulf of Carpentaria, served with asparagus, avocado and togarashi spice...
Skull Island tiger prawns salad.
... and a mini-pavlova topped by strawberries and passionfruit.
Pavlova with strawberries and passionfruit.
As to the standard summer 2024-2025 menu, here’s a quick rundown of what’s new and notable.
- Zucchini and basil soup with parmesan toast
- Asparagus with avocado, butter beans, corn, tarragon, pepita, parmesan and chilli salsa
- Salad of buffalo mozzarella with heirloom tomatoes, basil, balsamic vinegar and Extra Virgin Olive oil (welcome back to this old favourite!)
- Grilled lemongrass pork patties with herb salad, coconut and chilli nuoc cham dressing
- Gua bao with Korean fried chicken, gochujang sauce and pickles (this replaces the gua bao with braised pork and chilli paste)
- Cavatelli with stewed capsicum, capers, buffalo ricotta and marjoram
- Steamed snapper with spicy coconut and tamarind sauce, lime pickle, cabbage, and cucumber
- Chicken breast with roast tomatoes, zucchini and basil sauce
- Dan Dan pork noodles with cashews and sesame
- Red braised beef brisket with spring onions, spicy eggplant and jasmine rice
Grilled lemongrass pork patties with herb salad, coconut and chilli nuoc cham dressing.
You are going to leave room for dessert, yes? Try one (or two) of these:
- Signature pavlova with mango and pineapple
- Coconut jelly with spiced grilled pineapple
- Tiramisu
Coconut jelly with spiced grilled pineapple.
Qantas First Lounge wines and Champagne
There’s also been a complete overhaul of the wine menu – so if you fancy a red, white or rosé, take your pick:
- Robert Oatley Riesling 2024 Great Southern, WA
- Coldstream Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Yarra Valley, VIC
- Glen Garvald PB White Blend 2021 Yarra Valley, VIC
- Corryton Burge Patroness Chardonnay 2022 Adelaide Hills, SA
- Torbreck Woodcutter’s Rosé 2024 Barossa Valley, SA
- Coldstream Hills Pinot Noir 2023 Yarra Valley, VIC
- Barossa Valley Estate GSM 2022, Barossa Valley, SA
- St Hallet Black Clay Shiraz 2023 Barossa Valley, SA
- Penfolds Max’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 Coonawarra, SA
- Elvarado Tempranillo Grenache 2024 McLaren Vale, SA
Those with a sweet tooth will also find the sole dessert wine is now Lillypilly Noble Blend Harvest 2016 (Riverina, NSW) – no more De Bortoli Noble One or Hollick’s The Nectar.
As before, the Qantas First Lounges at Sydney and Melbourne no longer offer a choice of Champagnes such as Ayala, Croser, Jacquart, Piper-Heidsieck, Pommery and Taittinger.
Following a deal with French maison Lallier, the sole bubbles before boarding your flight is Lallier Reflexion.R019.
Qantas First Lounge cocktails
Onto cocktails, and there are six new sips on the board:
- Amalfi Spritz – vodka, limoncello, mango, ginger, Mediterranean tonic
- Garden Gin Sour – gin, elderflower, lemon, foam
- Flying Fox – rum blend, amaretto, cinnamon, pineapple, orange bitters
- Limon Colada – limoncello, rum, cream of coconut, pineapple
- Brambled Highball – Starward Nova, blackberry, thyme, lemon, soda
- Palomita by Everleigh Bottling Co
As we’ve previously noted, the Qantas First Lounges favours its own cocktail list over whatever else a traveller may want – and while the bartenders can pull together other light aperitif-style cocktails on order, they won’t make stronger classics such as martinis.
Lexie Bucholtz from Qantas’ Neil Perry team has previously explained this position to Executive Traveller by saying “we want cocktails that are something special, not your standard cocktails, and something that's refreshing, very easy to drink and lower in alcohol.”
Qantas’ preference is towards “a lighter aperitif-style offering.”
“If someone asks for something that's not on the cocktail menu but within that lighter aperitif-style, we’re able to serve that… but when it comes to things like martinis and double-shots, that’s not our style.”
PS If you visit the Sydney or Melbourne Qantas First Lounge between December 16-25, don’t forget to ask for a pair of Christmas-themed Qantas pyjamas. Just be warned: they’re very red.
You can download the Qantas First Lounge summer 2024-2025 menus using the links below:
25 Aug 2022
Total posts 3
For 'the special ‘secret’ menu reserved for actual first class passengers', does a reward F flight count?
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 483
Yes, there's no differentiation between booking your flight with money or points, all F passengers get the same treatment regardless.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Nov 2016
Total posts 45
The Garden Gin Sour is excellent
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Jul 2021
Total posts 3
My next international flight isn't until January 21st. Does anybody have any advice on how I can get a hold of a pair of the RED PJ's without having to visit either of the 1st class lounges? I'm almost tempted to book a short flight to NZ just to pick up a pair!
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 483
Qantas has said the PJs will also be handed out at some domestic lounges, although there are no details on which lounges or when. Maybe try joining some of the Facebook Qantas frequent flyer groups in case somebody there posts details? Of course you'd still need to have a flight to get into the domestic lounge.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Jul 2021
Total posts 3
Yes, I'd seen the news about domestic as well. Ironically, as a Platinum FF I look forward to a break from flying over Christmas and my next domestic flight is a family getaway using points, but not till 5th January. Again, probably too late. Oh well! Thanks for the heads-up about the FB FF groups. I'll take a look. There'll be some that pop up on FB marketplace eventually as well - at a small mark-up.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 May 2019
Total posts 1
First lounge menu another great disappointment. As a long-term P1 I spend half my life there, and they have gone from having entré and main Plant-Based options, to one, and now to none. I brought this to their attention and they responded, but nothing has changed with this latest menu. Maybe they need a sponsor chef who is of this era.
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