Marhaba Lounge Melbourne (T2)

[Peanutbladder]

Has anyone recently used the Marhaba Lounge in the International terminal ? I am mulling over whether or not to use it on an upcoming trip back to the UK to see folks (first time in 6 years !!) in Y.

Does it get busy in the evenings (21.15 EK flight) and is there a bun fight for seats/tables etc ? And what are the food options like ? In terms of alcohol I am a simple man and will drink anything .

It is $66 for 4 hours and working out the cost of a pint and food in the terminal I reckon I would easily spend that outside of the lounge.

Sorry one last question, can you pay on the door as well as online ?

Thanks

Chris

 

[Mattg]

I haven't been in there recently, but I've heard it's not one of the better rated lounges in Melbourne T2 unfortunately. Not sure it would be worth $66, although terminal prices for food and beer can be expensive!

 

[Peanutbladder]

I haven't been in there recently, but I've heard it's not one of the better rated lounges in Melbourne T2 unfortunately. Not sure it would be worth $66, although terminal prices for food and beer can be expensive!

Thanks Mattg appreciate the reply. Apart from the terminal it is my only choice with no status anymore.

 

[Mattg]

Just wondering, does anyone know how many showers there are in the MEL Marhaba lounge?

 

[Nemeca]

I’m pretty sure there are 2, one male and one female.

 

[GDale]

Checking the onewolrd lounge finder today, I saw that there is apparently now a second Marhaba lounge, located in the satellite extension area. Does anyone have any experience with it? The OG Marhaba lounge is not the best (food is improving a little, but that's from a very low base IMO), so I'm wondering if this new space may be better.

 

[pauldab]

Checking the onewolrd lounge finder today, I saw that there is apparently now a second Marhaba lounge, located in the satellite extension area. Does anyone have any experience with it? The OG Marhaba lounge is not the best (food is improving a little, but that's from a very low base IMO), so I'm wondering if this new space may be better.

There is only 1 Marhaba lounge - the one upstairs from the same access at gate 9 as the Qantas F lounge.

If you note, that only Qatar and Malaysia state their flights are supported there, and because the info is more likely to be from each source individually, the lounge finder database has 2 entries.

 

[Melburnian1]

I was there for breakfast in September 2025: it was quite reasonable (better than 'The House' in Sydney) with my memory also suggesting there was only one shower for each sex.

Staff were pleasant and with one item's exception, quite good at refilling depleting supplies.

There were reasonable views of the terminal though at 0545 hours I wasn't as awake as I usually am at 1745 hours.

At 0600 hours, I didn't imbibe but there was a fair range of alcohol in stock.

Most of us like to be away from the hoi-polloi and imagine for a minute we are entitled politicans or judges, but if shelling out from your own pocket, I suggest stocking up the night before at ever reliable, good value Woolworths and BYO breakfast is far more economical. (You still will have to purchase a beverage in the terminal due to the pesky 100ml/1 litre total LAGs restrictions).

Better to have spent the excess in the UK on an enjoyable but keenly priced pub meal at a Wetherspoons pub: for A$60, anyone should be able to 'feed and water' a relative/friend and themselves, and experience the local culture.

 

[Justinf]

I found it OK, but that’s about it, on January 24.
11.40pm departure and it wasn’t massively busy.
Wasn’t hungry so didn’t eat, but the dessert slices looked mighty tempting.
Booze selection was average, but better than paying for it outside. The whites or the bubbles weren’t in any ice, but seemed to be emptying quickly enough for it not to matter too much, but I found it bizarre, however upon relooking at the second photo, the Staychill thing presumably does that job.
There was ample seating, but I couldn’t wait to get out of there and onto the relative comfort of the Qsuite I was flying on, although that wasn’t because I hated the lounge, I just wanted to get going.
I’d give it a 5/10 as far as international lounges go.

 

[QFFHntrGthr]

This is what I posted back in December 2025 on another thread. The question originally posted here is 4 years old but seeing there has been an update as of yesterday, I thought I would add my perspective on it.
I actually think it is a nicer lounge than the QF J dungeon. The inherited Emirates sofas are comfortable. Even the hot food spread is heaps better in terms of choices and at the time of my visit, tastier.

The Marhaba Lounge was the Emirates lounge previously and the flooring and some of the lounge seating are still the same. The hot buffet is actually better than the MEL dungeon if you like curries - 2 meat curries, veg curry, rice and roast potatoes when I was there but the cold buffet is probably a broader selection in the MEL dungeon.. No barista coffee in Marhaba though. The Sri Lankan lamb curry was so tasty and meat tender, I went back for seconds (against my wiser judgement) before walking across to the MEL 1st lounge for some more food.
If you have time and feeling up to it, do both and enjoy the best on offer at both lounges since they're not far from each other to do comfortably. Get your coffee to go from the MEL dungeon and you'll be able to enjoy it looking out the vast windows in the Marhaba lounge.

It shouldn't be written off as not worthy of a visit. Although I was surprised when exiting to see the reception staff processing a payment for lounge access for a business type gentleman. There was a queue behind him waiting to get in.