VIP Lounge

Beer on tap is the only reliably cold drink here.

The VIP Lounge sits airside in T1 at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, signed simply as “VIP” after immigration and security in the international departures area. Access is usually sold as a paid upgrade or bundled into a private “VIP” package rather than coming with most airline statuses, so you’re often paying separately from your ticket for the privilege.

Opening hours track the main international bank of departures, roughly from early morning long-haul departures into the late evening, but check your specific flight time at MRU T1 since schedules shift seasonally. You enter from the terminal concourse after passport control, so it’s airside only; don’t head here if you’re still landside doing check-in at the main counters.

Food is set out buffet-style on self-serve counters, typically a few hot trays plus cold snacks, but multiple recent visitors describe it as “poor, cheap quality leftovers” with tired-looking dishes. One 2020s-era Facebook commenter mentioned dirty tables around the buffet, which lines up with other remarks about upkeep and cleaning feeling half-hearted for a paid VIP product.

On the drinks side, reviews say most soft drinks and wine sit out warm on the counter, while the draft beer tap is the one thing consistently served cold. That mismatch matters when you’re paying lounge money in a humid 28°C Mauritian evening. If you care about coffee, expect a standard push-button machine rather than a barista, and don’t plan your last espresso of the trip around this place.

Regulars on frequent-flyer forums and Facebook groups often recommend skipping this VIP Lounge entirely and instead using the Amédée Maingard Lounge in T1 if you have airline business-class access, status, or Priority Pass. Multiple commenters say the paid “VIP” upcharge here feels worse value than just walking to the standard contract lounge near the main international gates.

Watch out for: warm drinks, underwhelming buffet food, and hit-or-miss cleanliness, all on top of a separate access fee. Before you pay at the door, walk past first, look at the buffet and seating, and only hand over your card if what you see looks better than the reviews suggest.