Located inside of the Sails in the Desert hotel property at Ayers Rock Resort in Australia, Walpa Lobby Bar in Yulara was one of the only options available for dining late, as most of the other restaurants had already closed. I was initially skeptical, as I thought that the menu options would be unappealing to me.
They were not.
Walpa Lobby Bar in Yulara. Restaurant Review.
After being seated at a table, I noticed that complimentary ice cold water is available to anyone who wants it — not just customers of the hotel property or the restaurant. That is certainly welcoming during the hot January summer in the arid Outback of Australia where temperatures of the dry air can reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit on a daily basis.
The Club Sandwich consisted of grilled chicken with tomato, lettuce, a fried egg, and sauce on lightly toasted bread. It is served with French fries and a ramekin of tomato sauce, which is what ketchup is known as in Australia. This dish is comprised of indigenous ingredients. $29.50 in Australian dollars
The Barramundi Burger consisted of grilled fish with tomato, lettuce, pink pickled onions, and sauce on a bun. It is also served with French fries — which were surprisingly good — and a ramekin of tomato sauce. $31.00 in Australian dollars
The total price of this meal was $60.50 in Australian dollars, which does not include a transaction fee of 0.9 percent when using a credit card to pay the bill. Including everything, the total cost for this meal was $44.80 in United States dollars.
I enjoyed that first meal enough that I decided to return to have lunch on my last day in the Outback of Australia prior to departing from Yulara to Cairns.
The front desk of the Sails in the Desert hotel property — which is a member of Pullman hotels, which is a brand of Accor Hotels — is just to the right of the center of the above photograph; and in the background as well. The lobby continues along the side of Walpa Lobby Bar to the other entrance.
The Chicken Caesar Salad was quite flavorful, as it comprised of sliced grilled white meat chicken breast, with cos lettuce — which is what Australians call romaine lettuce — fresh parmesan cheese, and bread crumbs tossed in a light Caesar dressing. A poached egg accompanied this dish, which is comprised of indigenous ingredients. $28.00 in Australian dollars
Another Barramundi Burger was ordered — this time, with a fresh side salad that included halved cherry tomatoes and assorted greens. The tomato slices were slightly charred. $31.00 in Australian dollars
Including everything, the total cost for the second meal was $39.58 in United States dollars.
Final Boarding Call
I recommend dining at Walpa Lobby Bar. The ambiance was quite nice but not pretentious; the service was very good; the food was delicious; and the prices were rather reasonable.
Walpa Lobby Bar
Located in the Sails in the Desert hotel property
2/163 Yulara Drive
Yulara, Northern Territory 0872
Australia
+61-2-8296-8010
Operating Hours
Seven days per week: 10:30 in the morning through 10:00 in the evening
Free parking is available.
All photographs ©2024 by Brian Cohen.
