Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse – San Francisco, CA (SFO)

The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at San Francisco international airport brings Virgin’s trademark chic and swanky vibe to the Bay Area. Despite operating just a few flights a day from San Francisco, the British airline remains true to its reputation and runs a spectacular club with an unparalleled array of services and amenities.

The Clubhouse is located in International Terminal A, immediately after the security checkpoint.

The Clubhouse welcomes Virgin’s Upper Class guests and Flying Club Gold members, China Eastern premium passengers, as well as Air France La Premiere (First Class) passengers (Air France’s business class customers receive access to the Air France Lounge.) In 2021, Virgin Atlantic outsourced lounge operations to the Plaza Premium Group, the world’s largest independent airport lounge operator. Under Plaza Premium’s management, the Clubhouse has retained its appeal and features, but expanded the guest list–the club now also welcomes pay-in customers and American Express Platinum and Centurion card members.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse SFO design

The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at San Francisco airport brings a slice of the British airline’s design ethos to the Bay Area. The surprisingly small lounge is a far cry from Virgin’s sprawling flagship clubs at London airports, but it delivers a unique experience that sets the Clubhouse apart from other airline lounges.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse – San Francisco, CA (SFO)

Situated in a prime location in Terminal A, the Clubhouse benefits from a long window wall and boasts gorgeous views of the tarmac and the hills in the distance. Colorful mobile glass panels filter sunlight while casting playful hues onto the swanky interior, and can be adjusted to create the perfect mood.

With light background music, hardwood wall paneling, designer furniture, and an effusion of colors, the ensemble is vibrant and resolutely modern, yet relaxing and tasteful, in an image of the city by the Bay. Touches of red make a bold statement and underscore Virgin’s brand without detracting from the overall balance of the ensemble.

The sparse but effective furniture arrangement caters to solo and group travelers alike. On the far left of the lounge when entering are booths with round dining tables for two. Next to the window is a seating area with clusters of seats ideal for small groups. The informal arrangement with oversized chairs, stylish coffee tables, and floor-standing lamps, creates intimate small living rooms within the larger space. On the right side is a more traditional and compact dining zone, along with another plush seating area. If work is on the mind, the dining tables provide a comfortable environment.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse – San Francisco, CA (SFO)

The well-stocked bar stands out as the centerpiece of the design. The tinted glass shelves highlight an impressive collection of wines, liquor and spirits. Look carefully and you may spot a bong, which was brought by Sir Richard Branson himself. He allegedly received it as a gift while signing a deal, and left it at the Clubhouse as a souvenir on his way home.

Across the bar, facing the window, is a series of egg chairs, which solo travelers may favor for a more private space.

The trendy décor is already fifteen years old—which would hardly be noticeable if it weren’t for the overall unfortunate lack of power outlets. The lounge is still in a pristine shape, and most of the furniture was recently refreshed. Best of all, it’s truly unique, and a welcome departure from the typical airline clubs.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse SFO amenities

The spectacular food and beverage offering is at the epicenter of the Clubhouse experience.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse – San Francisco, CA (SFO)

The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at San Francisco airport does away with the traditional buffet, in favor of a full-service restaurant with table service. The approach is bold and challenging, as passengers may prefer a quick snack in lieu of a formal sit-down dinner. Others may come in too late to have a chance to experience the generous menu. We had a chance to observe the service and were impressed with the polished delivery. The kitchen typically delivers meals in less than ten minutes, thanks to a menu selection which balances quality with preparation time. All patrons may therefore enjoy a bite, regardless of the length of their visit. The service is personal and elegant, yet genuinely friendly and unpretentious. The restaurant-style service doesn’t detract from the traditional airport lounge experience, and patrons will feel comfortable eating while working or socializing.

The menu features a selection of appetizers, hot entrees, and desserts, with a good mix of comfort food and healthier fare, and plenty of options for vegetarian guests.

The meals are beautifully plated and served with genuine grace and attention to detail by white-cloth bearing servers. Our soup was poured at our table, in a classy touch. We thoroughly enjoyed the salmon, which came in a bamboo steaming basket and was moist, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. Our drink came on a red napkin echoing accents of the space, in a nod to Virgin’s brand. When we visited, the Chef was roaming the room, greeting patrons as in a fine dining establishment.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse – San Francisco, CA (SFO)

We were wondering about the intricacies of the service and had a chance to meet with the Chef, who gave us an enthusiastic backstage tour. Virgin Atlantic has chosen Sodexho as their caterer. The Chef supervises both food preparation and table service. In a closet-sized kitchen, his team performs an intricately choreographed ballet. All meals are prepared on site from fresh ingredients and plated with millimetric precision. While the kitchen was designed closed to 15 years ago for a single flight, the staff now serves up to three flights a day with menu rotations on a quarterly basis. Even Emirates, who usually sets the standard, uses outside catering for hot meals at the Emirates Lounge SFO in lieu of an on-site kitchen.

On the drinks front, patrons enjoy a full bar with a large beer selection, local wines, Champagne, liquor and spirits—including a remarkable collection of 70 whiskeys. The soft drink menu is no less impressive, with barista-made coffee, a substantial collection of teas, fresh squeezed juices, and daily smoothies.

Adjacent to the reception area is a small business center equipped with a large work desk, two shared computers, a printer, and a variety of office amenities. Complimentary Wi-Fi is also available throughout.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse – San Francisco, CA (SFO)

The Clubhouse features four oversized unisex bathrooms with sinks and plenty of space to change. Two rooms double as shower suites. While compact and space-efficient, the design means that only two bathrooms remain available when both showers are occupied. Virgin Atlantic is toying with the idea of expanding bathroom space into the business center, which sees little use nowadays. For now, there may an occasional line at peak times.

The shower rooms are ultra-functional, and somewhat plain compared to the rest of the lounge. Towels are provided, as well as Cowshed products in wall-mounted dispensers.

Other amenities include a selection of international press, as well as a Virgin Galactic discovery station—for when you’re ready to book your next trip to space.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse SFO bottom line

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse – San Francisco, CA (SFO)

The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at San Francisco international airport is an outstanding lounge. With an eclectic but posh design, a complimentary full service restaurant with fresh cooked-to-order food, a remarkable beverage selection, showers, and exciting views, the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse earns one of the top spots in our ranking of all airline clubs at SFO, outranking other fine clubs such as the American Express Centurion Lounge, Delta’s new Sky Club or even the upper scale Emirates Lounge.

Under Plaza Premium’s management, the Clubhouse isn’t as exclusive as it used to be, but it retains its distinctive flair, extensive amenities, and polished service. Best of all, pay-in customers also have access to the excellent restaurant service.