New Air Canada Lounge Has The World’s Best Business Class Dining Experience

North American airlines have really been upping their game lately when it comes to their premium lounge experience:

• United has introduced Polaris Lounges, which offer sit down dining and daybeds for international first and business class passengers
• American has introduced Flagship Lounges, which offer an improved food & drink selection and nicer decor for international first and business class passengers and oneworld Sapphire & Emerald members
• American has also introduced Flagship First Dining, which offers a restaurant style dining experience for passengers traveling in international first class, and on select transcontinental flights

Well, there’s now yet another North American airline introducing an incredible new ground experience, and this one is sort out of left field. On Friday, December 1, 2017, Air Canada is opening the Signature Suite at Toronto Pearson Airport, which complements their three Maple Leaf Lounge at the airport. I had the chance to check out the new lounge yesterday, and in this post wanted to share my thoughts.

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I actually think this lounge offers the best business class sit-down dining experience of any airline in the world.

What is the Air Canada Signature Suite?

The Air Canada Signature Suite is a completely new lounge concept that Air Canada is launching in the international departures area of Toronto Airport’s Terminal 1.

The airline is testing out the concept in Toronto, and will consider opening similar facilities in Montreal and Vancouver in the future, space permitting (update: a Vancouver Signature Suite is opening in March 2020). The lounge is heavily focused around dining, and features a sit down restaurant experience with dishes from celebrity chef David Hawksworth.

How big is the Air Canada Signature Suite?

The lounge is about 5,500 square feet, and features seating for roughly 150 guests. Based on Air Canada executives I spoke with, they predict that the lounge won’t ever be more than two thirds full, given how Air Canada spaces out their longhaul flights.

Who can access the Air Canada Signature Suite?

The lounge has interesting entry requirements. Air Canada is limited in terms of the space they were able to get to build the lounge, and understandably they want to make sure they lounge doesn’t get overcrowded. As a result, access to the lounge is initially restricted to paid longhaul business class passengers departing from Toronto. “Longhaul” includes intercontinental flights, so flights to the US don’t qualify (those flights leave from a separate concourse anyway, so there would be no way to access the lounge).

“Paid” business class in this case is defined as those paying cash for tickets — award passengers and upgrades aren’t eligible for access. Elite status won’t get you access to the lounge either.

On one hand that’s a bummer, though on the other hand I appreciate that they want to make sure the lounge doesn’t get overcrowded. In the future they’re open to expanding entry requirements if the lounge isn’t overcrowded, but they’d rather start with restrictive criteria and then expand it, rather than the other way around.

What hours is the Air Canada Signature Suite open?

The lounge is open daily from 6:30AM until 11:30PM, which should cover all outbound international flights.

Where is the Air Canada Signature Suite located?

The lounge is located in Terminal 1, in the international departures area (which is different than the transborder concourse), one level up from the main terminal level. The lounge shares an elevator with the Plaza Premium Lounge, and is located near gate E77.

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto exterior

Upon exiting the elevator you’ll see the Plaza Premium Lounge to the left, and the Signature Suite to the right.

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto entrance

Air Canada Signature Suite facilities

The Air Canada Signature Suite is stunning. It really doesn’t feel like it’s at an airport. There’s an entryway with beautiful vertical wood panels, and then on the right is a wall display with some grass. I love the contrast.

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto entrance

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto entrance

Inside the entrance is a host stand, and the intent is that you’re then brought to a seat based on what you’re looking to do. There are roughly four different zones in the lounge. Just inside the entrance is a circular couch.

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto seating

Then there’s the main dining and bar area. Along one wall is the buffet, and then along the other wall is the bar. The lounge feels more like a restaurant than an airport lounge to me, and I especially appreciate how they mix up the type of seating to add a bit of variety.

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto dining area

There are just over a dozen tables along a mural, which are closest to the entrance.

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto dining area

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto dining area

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto dining area

Then there are another half dozen tables near the bar.

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto dining area

Between the marble and the lighting, the bar area is gorgeous, though I’ll talk more about the food & drink selection in a bit.

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto bar

The next area is inside the entrance and to the right, and consists of more traditional lounge seating. This is ideal if you’re not looking to have a full meal.

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto lounging area

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto lounging area

Then in the very back of the lounge are even more dining tables, each seating 2-4 people.

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto dining area

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto dining area

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto dining area

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto dining area

In the back of this area is a private dining area. This isn’t necessarily just for VVIPs, but rather is available on request (though I imagine over time that may change if too many people use it).

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto private dining room

Past the private dining area were the bathrooms. All the bathrooms were fully private, which I appreciate, though I did find it a bit disappointing that the lounge doesn’t have showers. However, passengers can head over to the Maple Leaf Lounge to shower, if so desired, as it’s not far away. The Air Canada executives at the event mentioned that this is only an outbound international business class lounge, so they don’t think all that many people will be looking for showers here. Fair enough.

Air Canada Signature Suite bathrooms

Air Canada Signature Suite bathrooms

Air Canada Signature Suite drink selection

To start, as a coffee addict I should mention that I love the fact that they have a proper espresso machine so you can have a barista-made coffee, rather than just a machine where you push a button.

Air Canada Signature Suite YYZ espresso machine

Moet is the champagne of choice in the lounge, and they have both white and rose.

Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto champagne

There’s a beautiful drink display behind the bar.

Air Canada Signature Suite YYZ bar

Here’s the lounge’s wine list:

Here’s the beer list:

Here’s the cocktail list:

Here’s the non-alcoholic drink list:

I also like the variety of glassware they have in the lounge. That’s a proper red wine glass!

Air Canada Signature Suite YYZ wine glasses

In addition to just the Moet “straight up,” I also had a French 37.

Air Canada Signature Suite YYZ cocktail

Air Canada Signature Suite buffet

If you’re just looking to have a quick bite, or even if you’re looking to complement an a la carte meal, there’s a self serve buffet.

Air Canada Signature Suite YYZ buffet

Here’s a list with everything on the buffet (kudos to them for having this, because far too many lounges have poorly labeled buffets):

I’ll let the pictures of the food speak mostly for themselves:

Air Canada Signature Suite YYZ buffet

Air Canada Signature Suite YYZ buffet

Air Canada Signature Suite YYZ buffet

Air Canada Signature Suite YYZ buffet

Air Canada Signature Suite YYZ buffet

Air Canada Signature Suite YYZ buffet

Air Canada Signature Suite YYZ soup selection

Air Canada Signature Suite YYZ buffet

Air Canada Signature Suite YYZ buffet

Air Canada Signature Suite YYZ buffet

Air Canada Signature Suite YYZ dessert selection

Air Canada Signature Suite a la carte dining

The highlight of the lounge is the incredible a la carte dining featuring David Hawksworth dishes. The main menu read as follows (as you can see, prep times range between 15 and 30 minutes):

On top of that there’s a “quick bites” menu, for those on the go:

The quality of the a la carte food was simply through the roof. I was able to sample several appetizers and mains, and I’d have a hard time choosing a favorite

The albacore tuna tataki with daikon, watermelon radish, avocado, muffed white rice, and ponzu, was phenomenal.

Air Canada Signature Suite a la carte dining — albacore tuna tataki

My other favorite was probably the Korean fried cauliflower — nom nom!

Air Canada Signature Suite a la carte dining — Korean fried cauliflower

However, the roasted pumpkin soup with sage and brown butter croutons was excellent as well.

Air Canada Signature Suite a la carte dining — roasted pumpkin soup

For my main I ordered the English pea falafel with roasted zucchini, cherry tomato, and pistachio salsa verde, which tasted every bit as good as it looked.

Air Canada Signature Suite a la carte dining — english pea falafel

I also had the chance to try the soy-marinated sablefish with bok choy, mushrooms, and bacon dashi.

Air Canada Signature Suite a la carte dining — soy-marinated sablefish

While I didn’t try it, others enjoyed the grilled lamb chops wih roasted cauliflower, yogurt, and mint chermoula.

Air Canada Signature Suite a la carte dining — grilled lamb chops

And of course there was a burger on the menu as well.

Air Canada Signature Suite a la carte dining — hamburger

WOW! This is by far the best business class dining experience offered by any airline on the ground. While there are some airlines that offer a sit down dining experience in first class, there’s not a business class lounge out there that offers this kind of ambiance, food quality, and presentation, in my opinion. Several times during the meal I forgot that I was actually in an airport.

My concerns/constructive criticism about Air Canada’s Signature Suite

This is an incredible lounge, though to be balanced, I wanted to share a few downsides, or at least general concerns:

• I always love a good apron or runway view from a lounge, though this lounge has no exterior views
• The lounge doesn’t have showers or nap rooms, though I get that they had limited space, and also probably that they’d be of limited use for outbound international passengers
• I don’t love the name “Signature Suite;” to me that sounds like a seat on a plane rather than a lounge, and it certainly doesn’t highlight the fact that the focal part of the lounge is that it almost feels like a restaurant
• Obviously the access requirements are restrictive, partly because of the complicated border situation (which means you can’t use this when flying inbound) and partly because of the limited space
• The food quality and service were phenomenal, though this was a media event with under two dozen people, and presumably everyone was on their best behavior, as even David Hawksworth was in attendance; so I hope that the service and food quality are every bit as good when the lounge is open, when it’s full, etc., though I’ll have to return at some point to find out firsthand

Air Canada’s new lounge is simply spectacular

While other airlines are hyping what their premium experience will be like in five years, Air Canada seemingly is introducing this lounge overnight. They just officially shared information about the lounge for the first time today, and it will be opening before the end of the week.

I just can’t think of another business class lounge anywhere in the world that offers a comparable dining experience, so that’s incredible on Air Canada’s part. Not only was the food fantastic, but they have freshly made espressos, excellent champagne, and great cocktails.

Then there are all kinds of little touches that really set the experience apart. The plating of all the dishes was beautiful, I loved the proper red wine glasses, there was lovely ambient music in the lounge that was soothing without being obnoxious, etc.

This really is one of the best airport lounge experiences in the world.

If you have the chance to visit the Air Canada Signature Suite in Toronto, you’re in for a real treat.

What do you make of Air Canada’s new Signature Suite Toronto?