Review: Air Canada Café at Vancouver International Airport (YVR – Gate C50)

Before our flight to Kelowna for our annual Frugal Flyer team retreat, fellow contributor Andy Leung and I had the chance to visit the newly opened Air Canada Café in the domestic terminal at Vancouver (YVR). As it turned out, our visit coincided with the café’s very first official day of operation.

This is now the second, and largest, of the two Air Canada Cafés in Vancouver’s domestic terminal. It’s great to see the popular café concept continue to expand, and hopefully it will help ease some of the overcrowding at the domestic Maple Leaf Lounge.

I previously had the chance to visit the Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson (YYZ), so I was interested to see whether Air Canada brought anything new to the table with its Vancouver (YVR) location. After my first visit, it’s easy to understand why the Air Canada Café has become so popular, and this new location is an excellent addition to the lounge network for domestic travelers at YVR.

Where is the Air Canada Café at Vancouver International Airport (YVR)?

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has two Air Canada Café locations, both situated in the domestic departures terminal.

The main Air Canada Café is located near Gate C50, and the smaller Petit Café is between Gates C46 and C47. Both offer similar grab-and-go food and beverage options. However, the larger location includes additional amenities such as a hot food station and a staffed bar serving cocktails and specialty coffees, while still maintaining the Café’s quick-service format.

The Air Canada Café at Gate C50 is open every day from 5:00 AM – 10:30 PM.

Accessing the Air Canada Café at Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

Entry to the Air Canada Café follows similar access requirements to the airline’s Maple Leaf Lounges.

Travelers can access the Air Canada Café with the following methods:

• A business class ticket on a domestic flight with Air Canada
• Hold Air Canada Aeroplan 50K, 75K, or Super Elite status with a domestic Air Canada ticket
• Hold Star Alliance Gold status with a domestic Air Canada ticket
• A premium Aeroplan credit card with a domestic Air Canada ticket
• A single-use Air Canada lounge guest pass

Access to the lounge is controlled by a set of e-gates, where entry is granted by scanning your boarding pass or using your biometric digital ID.

Seating

The seating at the Air Canada Café is quite different from a traditional lounge environment. Instead of the relaxed armchairs commonly found in the Maple Leaf Lounge, the space focuses on more functional seating such as dining tables and communal workspaces, making it perfectly suited for grabbing a quick bite or catching up on work before a flight.

One feature that travelers will certainly appreciate is that virtually every seat includes access to a power outlet or USB-C charging port.

A fully staffed barista bar with ample counter seating is similar to the setup found in the Maple Leaf Lounge at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and is something we’ve increasingly seen at newer Air Canada lounge locations.

The entire lounge is incredibly modern, with bright lighting and flowing LED ceiling features adding a touch of visual flair.

A West Coast-inspired mural adorns the wall of the dining area, serving as a striking focal point within the space.

At the far side of the lounge are large floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the activity on the airfield and the North Shore mountains.

Food & Beverage

Alongside the grab-and-go items that have become a signature feature of the Air Canada Café format, this location also offers a more substantial food and beverage selection that is much closer to a Maple Leaf Lounge experience.

As with other Café locations across Canada, local favorites are prominently featured. During its initial opening period, the new Vancouver location highlights Lee’s Donuts and Oddity Kombucha, though it’s likely that other local Vancouver brands will rotate in throughout the year.

If you don’t have time to stop for a freshly prepared coffee from the barista bar, grab-and-go coffee is also available, along with tea and soft drinks.

Hot food options included items such as steak sandwiches, pork bao buns, plant-based chicken bao, and more. A full salad bar was also available.

Lee’s Donuts is a Vancouver institution that dates back to 1979 and is extremely popular for its handmade classic donuts. You may even spot other people stocking up on a lot of these to bring on their flights for themselves or as gifts for others, something I may or may not have done as well. 😉

Finally, the grab-and-go section, that is the core of the Café concept, features a wide selection of prepackaged items, including chicken wraps, meat and cheese trays, fresh fruit, overnight oats, Nanaimo bars, and much more.

A variety of cold beverages is also available to take away, such as Bubly sparkling water, Oasis juices, and bottled water.

I ordered a black cherry cold brew from the bar at the encouragement from the staff. Since it was the first day of official operations, the bartender hadn’t yet prepared many of the drinks and wanted to gain more experience making the cocktails and coffee beverages.

Below is the beer, wine, cocktail, and coffee menu available from the bar:

Bathrooms

The Air Canada Café has four individual bathroom stalls, each with a toilet and sink.

No shower facilitates are available at this location.

Conclusion

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) now has two of the popular quick-service Air Canada Café locations, and both are a welcome and much-needed addition to the lounge capacity at YVR. 

Having more lounge options and flexibility at Vancouver (YVR) is long overdue, and whether you’re looking for a full sit-down meal in the Maple Leaf Lounge or just a quick coffee and snack before your flight in the Café, additional choice and convenience are always appreciated improvements.

Hopefully, the concept proves successful in Vancouver and leads to another Café location being added to the transborder terminal at YVR.