Review: Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Lounge T3 (SIN)
This review covers my visit to the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Lounge in Terminal 3 (T3) of Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).
Getting to Singapore Changi Airport
After a great visit to Singapore, it was time to fly to the real destination of my Asia trip: Taiwan.
As I already explained in the trip report introduction, I had redeemed 32,500 miles from my Aegean Miles+Bonus account and paid €81.84 in taxes for a business class ticket from Singapore to Taipei via Hong Kong, with the first leg operated by Singapore Airlines and the second by EVA Air.
As this meant I could access the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Lounge – which I had heard great things about – I already went to the airport in the morning, even though my flight was not until mid-afternoon, giving me plenty of time to review the lounge myself.
I walked from my hotel to the nearby Aljunied MRT station and took the train to Tanah Merah, where I transferred to a Singapore Changi Airport-bound MRT train.
Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3
Singapore Airlines operates from both Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 at Changi Airport.
Generally, long-haul Singapore Airlines flights depart from Terminal 3, while most – though not all – regional flights operate from Terminal 2.
Both terminals are connected to each other, and transferring between them is straightforward.
My Singapore Airlines flight to Hong Kong was departing from Terminal 3, so I headed straight there after exiting the Changi Airport MRT station.
Travelling with hand luggage only, I bypassed the check-in desk and went straight to departure immigration, where you simply scan your passport and ticket to pass through.
Within minutes, I was airside at the beautifully appointed Terminal 3 of Singapore Changi Airport, which is probably my favourite in the world.
As you would expect from Singapore, it is spotlessly clean, and the carpeted floors make the terminal surprisingly quiet.
Besides, there are hundreds of bars, restaurants, and shops, so even without lounge access, you are unlikely to get bored.
Whenever I am in Terminal 3 of Singapore Changi Airport, I always make a quick visit to the peaceful butterfly garden to admire the beautiful butterflies before heading to the lounge.
Just remember that at Terminals 1, 2, and 3 (but not Terminal 4!) of Singapore Changi Airport, security control is not centralised but conducted at each individual gate, so you should allow enough time to clear it and avoid missing the boarding cut-off.
Singapore Airlines Silverkris Lounge entry requirements
After visiting the Butterfly Garden, I headed to the SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 3, located one level above the main departures area near the A gates.
The SilverKris Business Lounge shares its entrance with the Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge and the exclusive Private Room, and upon presenting your ticket, you will be directed to the lounge your ticket entitles you to access.
The Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge at Changi Airport is the designated lounge for passengers flying in business class with Singapore Airlines or any other Star Alliance carrier.
Singapore Airlines PPS Club members can also access the SilverKris Lounge even when travelling in premium economy or economy class.
Note that passengers with Star Alliance Gold status cannot access the SilverKris Lounge when travelling in premium economy or economy class.
The designated lounge for Star Alliance Gold members at Singapore Changi Airport is the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge, a decent facility but noticeably lower in quality than the superior SilverKris Lounge.
Located on the same level as the SilverKris Lounge, the Terminal 3 KrisFlyer Gold Lounge is just a short walk away through a connecting corridor.
The Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge at Changi Airport is open 24 hours a day.
A first look at the SilverKris Lounge
As you would expect from the flagship business lounge of Singapore Airlines, the Terminal 3 SilverKris Lounge is massive.
Upon entering, you can turn left to the main part of the lounge or right to a slightly smaller section.
Both areas offer a good variety of seating options and their own food and drinks stations, although there are some differences between the two parts of the lounge as well.
The left part of the lounge houses the noodle bar, a live cooking station, and most of the seating, but I would actually suggest taking a seat in the section on the right, as its high ceilings, views over the main terminal concourse, and abundant natural light make it a more pleasant space to spend your time.
On the other hand, the left-hand side of the lounge has a more industrial-size and less intimate feel.
Wherever you go in the lounge, there are plenty of seating options, ranging from comfortable couches and leather seats to dining tables and barstools at high-top tables.
A great feature of the SilverKris Lounge is that nearly every seat has access to a power socket.
The pictures below provide a good impression of the SilverKris Lounge and its impressive size.
Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge food
One of the best aspects of the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Lounge is the delicious food available in this business lounge.
The lounge features an extensive buffet, as well as a noodle bar and live cooking station.
The food is not only high-quality but also highly diverse, with many different cuisines represented, as you would expect in a multicultural country like Singapore.
You can choose from many Singaporean favourites, dishes from Malay, Chinese, Indonesian, and Indian cuisines, as well as Western-style food.
Buffet
Both the left-hand and right-hand sections of the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge at Changi Airport Terminal 3 feature a buffet.
Although some dishes are available on both sides, there were also items offered only at one of the buffets during my visit, so it is worth walking across the entire lounge to see what is available.
The quality of the food at the SilverKris Lounge buffets in Singapore Changi Airport is far superior to that of a typical business class lounge.
You certainly won’t have any trouble enjoying a good meal while waiting for the departure of your flight!
Of course, if you are flying Singapore Airlines in business class, it is probably wise not to overeat at the SilverKris Lounge and to leave some room for a good meal in the air – unless you prefer to go straight to sleep on board.
Live cooking stations
At the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Lounge in Terminal 3 of Changi Airport you can also find two live cooking stations.
One of these is a noodle bar, where you can order from a few noodle dishes available that day, which on my visit were Laksa noodle and fishball noodle soup.
There was also a live cooking station where you could get Italian focaccia bread with Black Forest ham and a side salad.
I tried both the focaccia and the fishball noodle soup during my visit, both of which were excellent.
Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge drinks
The Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Lounge has drinks stations in both sections of the lounge.
Here, you will find self-serve fridges stocked with cans of soft drinks, sparkling water, beer (Tiger and Heineken), and cartons of orange, apple, and tomato juice.
There were also large glass jars filled with chilled, infused water.
Both sides of the lounge also feature coffee machines that make a decent brew, hot water dispensers, and a selection of teas.
As is common in Asian business lounges, there is also an automatic draught beer machine, where you can get a pint of Japan’s Asahi beer.
A selection of white and red wines was available in automatic dispensers, found in both sections of the lounge.
The Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Lounge also serves champagne, with Piper-Heidsieck offered during my visit.
Weirdly enough, champagne could only be found at the drinks station in the left-hand section of the lounge and not at the otherwise identical drinks station in the right-hand section.
The selection of spirits at the SilverKris Lounge is also of high quality, with strong alcohol options including Absolut Vodka, Courvoisier XO Cognac, Ardmore Whisky, Jack Daniel’s Whiskey, and Bombay Sapphire Gin, among others.
SilverKris Lounge bar
The Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge at Terminal 3 of Changi Airport also features a beautiful bar, although it is not always staffed.
Weirdly, barista service is only available at this bar from 06:00 to 10:00, while bartender service runs from 17:30 to 01:00.
As I visited the lounge in the late morning and early afternoon, I was unable to make use of the bar.
I really don’t understand why the bar has such limited operating hours, and it’s my only real complaint about this otherwise excellent lounge.
Surely, the people at Singapore Airlines realise that passengers might want a barista coffee after 10am and perhaps even a cocktail around lunchtime.
Besides, time at airports is a rather arbitrary concept, as passengers of a major network carrier like Singapore Airlines will still have their biological clocks in different time zones when flying on long-haul itineraries and dealing with jetlag.
The fact that other SilverKris Lounges, such as those in Bangkok and London, have staffed bars open throughout the day makes it all the more puzzling why the same cannot be done at Singapore Airlines’ home airport.
Lounge showers
The Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Lounge in Terminal 3 of Changi Airport has multiple shower rooms, which were readily available during my visit in the late morning and early afternoon.
The shower rooms are nicely appointed and fully equipped with amenities, including dental and shaving kits.
I also appreciated that the shower room featured a powerful hairdryer that actually worked well – an amenity all too often lacking in many lounges around the world.
Although the shampoo and shower gel were unbranded, they were still of good quality.
In contrast, the Penhaligon’s Quercus eau de toilette and hand lotion by the washbasin were decidedly more upmarket and certainly a nice touch.
Other lounge facilities
At the SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 3 of Changi Airport, you will find a range of typical business lounge facilities, including a meeting room, baby care room, and children’s playroom.
There is also a rest area with several semi-private cubicles, each featuring a chaise longue and a nightstand.
Blankets are reportedly available upon request.
As this part of the lounge was fully occupied, I was unable to take any photos.
The entire lounge has good Wi-Fi coverage with fast speeds.
There are toilets in several locations throughout the lounge, and they were kept perfectly clean during the time I was there.
My SilverKris Lounge visit
During my visit, I tried a variety of dishes for review purposes and enjoyed a glass or two of champagne.
I really liked the calm atmosphere throughout the lounge, which made it easy to relax or get some work done.
The staff were friendly and efficient, with empty plates and glasses quickly cleared away.
During the hours I visited the lounge – roughly from late morning until mid-afternoon – it was never particularly crowded, although there was a slight peak around 13:00.
Although I can imagine the lounge being much busier during the main Singapore Airlines departure banks in the morning and late evening, there should – in theory – be ample seating for everyone.
Conclusion
The Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Lounge in Terminal 3 of Singapore Changi Airport is excellent, offering a great selection of food and drinks and a calm environment in which to await your flight.
The lounge offers a wide variety of seating options, ranging from comfortable sofas and armchairs to dining tables and chaise longues in a dedicated rest area.
Food in the SilverKris Lounge is available from an extensive buffet, featuring both Asian and Western favourites, as well as a noodle bar and a live cooking station.
The drinks selection – which includes champagne – is very good as well, although the limited opening hours of the staffed bar for barista coffee and cocktails is a drawback.
Shower rooms are plentiful, readily available, and well equipped, which is especially welcome after a trek through humid Singapore to reach Changi Airport.
Overall, the SilverKris Business Lounge in Terminal 3 of Singapore Changi Airport is well worth a visit before your flight, and even with a prolonged layover, it provides a pleasant and calm place to spend your time.
Trip report index
This article is part of the ‘Trip to Taiwan: Exploring Asia’s Underrated Travel Gem‘ trip report, which consists of the following chapters:
1. Review: Air France Intra-Europe Business Class Bucharest to Paris
2. Review: Air France Business Class Boeing 777 Paris to Singapore
3. Singapore City Trip: What to See and Do on Your Visit
4. Review: Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Lounge Changi T3 (current chapter)
** rest of the chapters to follow soon **
