Vancouverscape, a Vancouver based blog covering travel, tech, and lifestyle

Air Canada recently opened a grab-and-go café at Vancouver International Airport (inside the domestic terminal between gates C46 and C47), and I recently had the chance to visit the airline’s newest concept lounge.

Air Canada’s cozy café offers a 52-seat space for refuelling before taking off. Shiny white counters with grooved wood and foliage create an inviting spot for enjoying a light meal plus espresso, cappuccino, soft drinks or local draft beer on tap (at the moment, Sunshine Coast’s Persephone Brewing has command of the cafe’s four taps).

Coffee needs are met with oat, soy, almond, and regular milk canisters next to two high-end Swiss coffee machines.

Designed by Vancouver’s Smart Design Group, the modern space is inspired by our city’s natural beauty; local artwork by Chinese-Canadian artist Scott Sueme graces the curved white walls with built-in white lighting to match the shape. As one side of the café has windows overlooking the runway, there’s lots of natural daylight.

Collaborating on the Vancouver concept for this new Air Canada Café has been a true highlight for us. With design elements like the fuselage-inspired ceiling and natural curves, we crafted a space that strikes a balance between precision and organic forms, reflecting Vancouver’s unique character and the geometry of aviation. — Par Bain, Director of Hospitality, Smart Design Group

With many airport lounges around the world (including Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges) getting more crowded by the year, it was time to expand the premium lounge network.

All food here is pre-packaged with scannable QR codes for ingredient/allergy purposes. From Nanaimo bars and local favourite Lee’s Donuts to Korean chicken sandwiches and veggie samosas, there’s a good variety of to-go options to match most dietary needs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The chocolate chunk cookies are one of my favourite sweet options, and with brown bags nearby, it’s easy to pack a light meal to take on the plane, or simply to enjoy within the 2,142 square foot (approx.138-square-metre) space.

You’ll find standard outlets and a USB-C charging port at each seat, as well as bag hooks.

The Air Canada Café at Vancouver International Airport is available to Air Canada customers travelling on a business class ticket, Aeroplan 50K, 75K, or Aeroplan Super Elite Status Members, Star Alliance Gold customers, and Aeroplan premium co-brand cardholders.

A second café is slated to open in early 2026 (also on the domestic side) and will include a full bar and barista service.