Virgin Voyages' Resilient Lady Restaurants & Bars

Quentin Long has written a review of Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady, which is coming to Australia in December 2023. Here, he gives you the details on all the ship’s restaurants and bars.

Truth be told, the food on the Resilient Lady was inconsistent. There are some excellent innovations – my favourite is the self-serve takeaway boxes available in many outlets. I also love The Pizza Place, which is open till late.

Here’s the blow-by-blow breakdown of the restaurants and bars onboard Resilient Lady.

Restaurants | Bars

Restaurants

The Wake

This fine dining steak and seafood restaurant is on the aft lower deck. It’s the most sophisticated dining space on the ship, and is one of two eateries open for brunch.

The dinner menu is relatively typical: you’ll find starter choices of clam chowder, Hamachi crudo and roasted bone marrow, followed by grill and seafood options such as shrimp and grits, pan-roasted salmon and salt-crusted dorade. The three steaks – hangar, filet and New York strip – are complimented by lamb chops, plus the usual sides like potatoes and spinach.

the dining interior at The Wake, Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady — Grab a glass of wine.

The Wake has the best wine list on the ship, and the sommelier worked hard to find wines to match Australian tastes for the best meal of our trip.

It must be noted that the setting is sophisticated, too; think rose brass features and cream-white leather banquettes. And as you’d expect with Virgin, there’s a cheeky touch. Study some of the fixtures of the dining room and you’ll be in for a breast surprise.

a spacious seating area at The Wake, Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady — There are plenty of seats inside. (Image: Gina Joy Photo)

Razzle Dazzle

I’m not sure Razzle Dazzle knows what it is. Here, a vegetable-led menu can be made ‘naughty’ with meat add-ons, so you can choose a classic burger or an Impossible burger, the vegan option. The menu doesn’t have anything that’s differentiated enough from The Galley (see below) to make it a must-dine experience, but I’m sure vegetarians would enjoy it.

This is the second restaurant open for brunch. The aesthetic is great, with bright bold red and the black and white dazzle camouflage applied to ships of the First and Second World Wars.

an avocado toast at Razzle Dazzle, Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady — Order an avocado toast at Razzle Dazzle to power through the day.

The Test Kitchen

Inspired by the great and original test kitchen of Escoffier, and overseen by New Zealand’s Mark Lambert, a Michelin star winner with his now-defunct NYC establishment The Musket Room, The Test Kitchen offers a six-course degustation with either matching wine, cocktails or beer.

It’s an ambitious undertaking and most of the dishes are memorable. The 10-hour cured smoked salmon and the shrimp pasta (the pasta is made by combining egg and ground shrimp) are outstanding.

The Test Kitchen also challenges the taste buds. A palate cleanser of asparagus, spinach and apple sorbet on a champagne sabayon with ginger jelly and cured asparagus tips confuses my taste buds in a delightful way.

The restaurant is designed to resemble a lab; it’s starkly decorated, with lots of industrial stainless steel and the waiters in lab coats.

the dining interior at The Test Kitchen, Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady — Nab a spot for a six-course degustation at The Test Kitchen.

Pink Agave

An American ship has to nail the Mexican offering. Positioned as elevated Mexican, the botanas (small plates) are great, particularly the aquachile (tuna ceviche).

I would order the camaron en amarillo from the entradas (medium plates) again, but wouldn’t repeat the bistec marinero en estabache from the fuertes (large plates); I like a pretty simple steak and this was dripping in melted cheese (a bad ordering choice on my part).

Pink Agave bar interior Resilient Lady — Have a tipple at Pink Agave’s bar.

Gunbae

Gunbae is the only Korean BBQ at sea, thanks to its flameless grills. Each table is a banquette with an exhaust descending from the ceiling.

The grilled vegetables, seafood and meats – including some seriously good wagyu – are only part of the attraction. Service starts with a complimentary soju (traditional Korean rice spirit), followed by drinking games led by the waitstaff. It’s raucous, loud and a whole heap of fun.

Extra Virgin

This Italian outlet is very good. The antipasti with fresh focaccia is a must, and the handmade pasta is fantastic. My spaghetti vongole had a great balance of slight chilli with white wine and parsley sauce for the clams.

The Galley

Don’t call it a buffet; this table service multi-outlet eatery is an upmarket Westfields food court.

Found on the top deck, The Galley is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the menu and outlets change depending on the time of day (except breakfast, as it’s always available).

Exterior of the Galley on Resilient Lady — This table service multi-outlet eatery is not a buffet.

Within The Galley you’ll find:

The Daily Mix – design your own salad
The Bento Baby – at breakfast, it serves fruit and yoghurt collections, then conventional sushi
Diner & Dash – offers all-day breakfast, plus roasts and grills throughout the later parts of the day
Burger Bar – does what it says on the tin, with classic American burgers
Let’s Taco Bout It – yep, tacos. While the breakfast burritos are great, the pork taco I had was neither soft nor crunchy, but chewy
Hot Off The Press – the sandwich bar. The pastrami on rye was straight from a NYC deli
Noodle Around – serving up ramen in all styles, this was a very popular option
The Sweet Side – cookies, tarts and chocolate creations

The galley noodle around on Resilient Lady — The Galley is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Dock

Set at the aft of deck seven, this is my pick for a sunset drink and a nibble on some mezze. Choose a day bed, bar stool or low wooden seat, flick your “Ahoy" flag up and the service staff will know you’re ready to order.

Everything on the menu is fantastic. If I’d had more time, I would have camped out here a lot.

an elegant dining interior at The Dock, Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady — Pull up a chair at The Dock. (Image: Gina Joy Photo)

The Social Club

I love the idea of this place and just wish I’d had time to visit it more. The lounge area is filled with thousands of board games, you can order hot dogs, and the milkshakes can be ‘lifted’ with a cheeky shot.

The Pizza Place

This is simply the best pizza at sea. The white truffled egg is a non-negotiable; everyone must have it at least once.

For traditionalists or those who need a midnight pick-me-up, the pepperoni pizza is well worth it.

Or you can mix it all up – the staff can mix and match to your tastes.

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Lick Me Till Ice Cream

Double entendre aside, if there were kids onboard there would be a mutiny because the selection is limited. Us adults had what we needed; chocolate, thanks.

Bars

Sip Bar

You had me at Champagne bar. The extensive selection is a result of Virgin’s LVMH partnership (so expect Moët, Veuve, Krug and Dom), and the bar seating stretches from romantic tête-à-tête tables to lounges.

Couches at sip lounge on Resilient Lady — Sip Bar’s seating stretches from romantic tête-à-tête tables to lounges.

The Manor

Probably the greatest bar on board, this deep green velvet space is an onboard speakeasy. The entrance hallway is like walking through a golden mirror ball, and inside you’ll find a dark and moody bar – which, when not being used for dinner shows, is possibly the sexiest bar at sea.

Richard’s Rooftop

As befits its moniker, Richard’s Rooftop is on deck 15 of the ship’s stern, with exclusive access for suite guests with a VIP card. It’s not only a great place to spend time, but also serves free Moët from 5–6pm every day for those lucky enough to have the golden key.

Draught Haus

Serving craft beers from around the world, this small bar is tucked neatly into the top of the Roundabout, the central atrium of the ship (usually referred to as the ship’s lobby). There are eight beers on tap and they offer a growler service, allowing you to take a bottle with you around the ship.

On The Rocks

Tucked into a bigger space in the atrium, below Draught Haus, Virgin refers to On The Rocks as its martini and cocktail bar. I see it more as the perfect late-night “one more, no more" venue.

The Loose Cannon

You could spend a week on board and not see The Loose Cannon. This sea shanty-style bar is in a cul-de-sac off The Dock House Bar, the interior space for The Dock restaurant on deck seven.

The Aquatic Club Bar

Order your cocktails with umbrellas in them by the pool. In truth, I didn’t get a moment to just sit by the pool (I only discovered some hot tubs tucked into the back of deck 16 on my last evening).

a pool with sun loungers at Aquatic Club Bar, Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady — Laze on the sun loungers with a cocktail drink.

Temperatures are soaring this summer, breaking records across Europe and the UK.

Euro summer is a feeling like no other. But when a heatwave hits? The dream trip quickly turns into a sweaty mess. Extreme heat is sweeping Europe and the UK this week, with record-high temperatures impacting travel plans across the continent.

And while Australian summers are typically hotter in absolute temperature, many European cities aren’t equipped for high temperatures, resulting in unbearable weather.

Why is it so hot in Europe?

Signs of a hot summer loomed in May, when the mercury hit unprecedented spring highs. Now, extreme high temperature warning alerts have been issued in countries such as Spain, Italy, France, England, the Netherlands and Germany.

France saw its hottest day on record on Wednesday, with an average temperature of 30°C across the day and night. This surpasses the average temperature for June, which is 15°C to 25°C. Dozens of people have died, including 40 from drowning.

In Spain, 212 deaths have been linked to the heatwave.

The UK recorded its hottest June day ever on Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 36.1°C. In an article published by the Met Office – the UK’s national meteorological service – Professor Stephen Belcher CBE, Met Office Chief Scientist, shared his concerns about June’s heat. “To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply,” he said.

Heatwaves are becoming increasingly common in Europe and the UK, neither of which is prepared for such extremes. The World Meteorological Organization reported that in 2025, at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures and that the continent was heating up twice as fast as the global average.

How travel is impacted

A pharmacy sign displaying 40 degrees Celcius — A pharmacy broadcasting local weather data. (Credit: Getty/Dragoncello)

During a heatwave, power grids, water systems and transport networks can be affected, resulting in disrupted itineraries for travellers. In France, power outages have left thousands without electricity and early closures have been implemented for two of Paris’s biggest attractions, the Eiffel Tower (early afternoon rather than late at night) and the Louvre (two hours early). Eurostar cancelled its London to Paris and Paris to London services from the 22nd to the 25th, and major UK rail companies have been advising travellers to avoid using trains where possible, or to travel during early hours.

If a heatwave is predicted, being flexible with your itinerary and having fully refundable/changeable tickets is key, as extreme heat can force the cancellation of outdoor activities, impact rail and flight services and change the opening hours of sites and eateries.

Why does summer in Europe often feel hotter than summer in Australia?

people swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris — People swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris to cool off. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)

With some of the highest UV levels in the world, Australians are no strangers to the heat, adapting well to intense weather. But our infrastructure is largely equipped to withstand soaring temperatures with climate-responsive passive design, refrigerated air conditioning or evaporative coolers, as well as swimming spots aplenty.

Buildings in Northern and Western Europe and the UK, however, are constructed to retain heat and handle frosty winters. The lack of universal air conditioning means it generally feels hotter even though the temperature on your app might not look it. During a heatwave, it can feel like you’re in a sauna as cities act like heat traps.

How to stay cool and prepare for another heatwave

Relief is expected across Europe and the UK later this week, but more heatwaves are still possible in the coming months. Summer heat typically peaks in July and August.

Public transport often doesn’t have air conditioning, and buses in particular can be swelteringly hot. If you’re heading outside or your accommodation has no air conditioning, it’s worth buying a spray bottle and a handheld fan from a pharmacy or tourist stand. Check ahead of time if restaurants and cafes have air conditioning and make a booking in advance. The highest temperatures typically hit between 3pm and 6pm, so aim to head outdoors outside of these hours.

Rising temperatures invite travellers to enter a more intentional era of seeing the world. Now more than ever is the time to embrace lower-impact “coolcations” and off-season getaways.

Restaurants and bars on Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady