Flying Business Class out of Pearson Airport and looking to read an Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto review? You’ve come to the right place!
The Air Canada Signature Suite in Toronto is the airport’s most exclusive lounge, which is only available to travelers booked on an international flight with a Business Class ticket.
We visited the Air Canada Signature Suite in Toronto 3 hours before hopping on a flight to Tokyo. I have been keen to visit the Signature Suite ever since it opened in 2017, so I was excited to finally have the opportunity to check out the vibe, service and menu.
Our Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto Review features helpful information on the location, hours of operation, interior design, cocktail bar, restaurant menu and bathroom facilities.
Where Is The Air Canada Signature Suite At Toronto Airport?
Once through airport security in Toronto or Vancouver, passengers with a Business Class ticket traveling internationally can rest and relax at the well-appointed Air Canada Signature Suite.
I visited the Air Canada Signature Suite at Toronto Pearson International Airport, which is located in the international departure area, next to Gate E77. Once you spot the gate, you’ll see a sign on the left pointing in the direction of the lounge.
From here you can take an elevator to the upper level, where the Signature Suite is positioned right next to the Plaza Premium Lounge.
If you connect from a domestic flight, Signature Suite guests can arrive directly to the lounge via the Air Canada chauffeur service, which uses Porsche vehicles to whisk you from your incoming flight to the lounge.
Who Can Use The Air Canada Signature Suite?
The elevated airport experience is designed exclusively for Air Canada Signature Class customers travelling internationally. To access the Air Canada Signature Suite, simply show an eligible boarding pass to the concierge upon entering.
It’s important to note the Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto has a strict access protocol to maintain exclusivity and to reduce overcrowding.
Access is granted to passengers who are travelling on Air Canada business class fares or those on an Aeroplan Business Class (flexible) fare for an Air Canada business class flight, en route to Europe, Asia, or South America.
Additionally, access is also granted to holders of the exclusive American Express Air Canada Card, which is available by invitation only, who are travelling in any class of service. These cardholders are able to bring one guest.
In my case, I booked business class fare on Air Canada, Toronto-Tokyo on the outbound, followed by Bangkok-Vancouver-Toronto on the return.
Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto Hours Of Operation
The lounge is open daily from 10:30am-11pm.
Toronto Air Canada Signature Suite Experience
The chic lounge entrance welcomes guests with warm slatted wooden walls, accented by sleek black design elements and distinctive eye-popping signature red Air Canada logo details. Continuing past the reception area, a marble feature wall decorated with live plants can be found on the right.
After I checked in with guest services a staff member offered to stow my carry-on luggage in the storage room, which is standard policy in the lounge. There isn’t a ton of room to move around in the hallways, so the lounge would easily get cluttered with bags otherwise.
Divided into three separate spaces, the spacious 6,400-square-foot lounge can accommodate up to 160 passengers. Before entering the main lounge, a stylish circular seating arrangement can be accessed on the left. Designed to offer a sense of seclusion for larger groups of travellers, this space features ambient lighting, leather benches, and pretty floral pillows.
The Air Canada Signature Suite’s refined design, by acclaimed Montreal architect Heekyung Duquette is complemented by art from some of Canada’s best talents, including a mural by Ottawa artist Gavin Lynch and works by Montreal artists Pascale Girardin and Nicolas Ruel, as well as the Cloudscape Chandelier from leading Toronto design firm Moss & Lam.
Hungry guests can hop up at the bar to sip a craft cocktail, order from an elevated a la carte menu or grab a quick meal at the buffet in the dining room.
An elongated passageway stretches from the entrance across the lounge, decked out with comfy lounge seating, in the form of armchairs, recliners, and two-person seating clusters. The lounge is well-connected with AC and USB-A power outlets distributed throughout the space, accessible at almost every seat. Wi-Fi is available and the open network was fast during my visit, at 50 Mbps download and upload.
The Air Canada Signature Suite also offers luxury skincare products from Molton Brown, so be sure to pop into the bathroom before running to your gate to freshen up before flying.
Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto Food Menu
The main draw of the Air Canada Signature Suite is its impressive upscale food and drink selection, which ranks among the best when it comes to North American business class airport lounges.
Skip into the spacious dining area and you’ll be greeted by the lounge’s impressive white marble bar. At the far end you’ll find two rows of seating, featuring elegant tables, black leather benches and rouge dining chairs.
Closer to the bar there are two additional rows accommodating more casual two-top dining tables. If you want to work on a laptop, this is the best place to be. There is no dedicated work area.
There’s a separate private dining room in the back of the lounge, which is typically reserved for select passengers holding Air Canada VIP status.
Guests can enjoy a complimentary sit-down meal, ordering from a restaurant-style à la carte menu crafted for Air Canada by renowned Chef David Hawksworth, who manages the award-winning Vancouver restaurants: Hawksworth and Nightingale.
The menu showcases four appetizers and an equal number of entrées. Portions are generous and staff encourage diners to select several dishes.
When I ordered, I was informed that dishes can take up to 30 minutes to be prepared. For those in a rush, there’s a smaller express menu for items available on demand.
The Air Canada Signature Suite menu during my visit included:
Appetizers
- Tuna Tataki: seared albacore tuna, red chili, cucumber, yuzu ponzu, avocado puree, rice chips
- Quebec Foie Gras Terrine: rhubarb compote, frisée, candied pecans, toasted brioche
- Roasted Corn Soup: corn fritter, ancho powder, scallion, cilantro citrus oil
- Summer Harvest Salad: maple sherry vinaigrette, whipped ricotta, sun-dried tomato pesto, asparagus, green peas, radicchio, crispy leeks
Mains
- Seared Halibut: dashi, yuzu, baby bok choy, green peas, onion, shiitake
- Panko Crusted Shrimp: gochujang sauce, romanesco, salted tomato and green beans, spinach
- Beef Tenderloin: spinach and horseradish sauce, crispy potato cake, red wine jus, watercress, celery ribbons, horseradish
- Risotto Primavera: green asparagus, green peas, chives, whip cream, lemon juice
- Hawksworth Beef Burger: tempura onion ring, aged cheddar, bacon, pain au lait bun
Dessert
- Espresso Chocolate Cake: dark chocolate mousse, spiced chocolate sauce
- Old Fashioned Sorbet: clementine, blood orange, bitters, bourbon, orange sugar tuile
- Daily House-Made Ice Cream
You can’t go wrong no matter what you order off the menu at the Air Canada Signature Suite!
There’s a case to be made for filling up on a feast in the lounge and skipping onboard meal service, especially if you’re embarking on an overnight transatlantic flight, so you can maximize your sleep onboard.
Throughout the meal my server checked on me every few minutes. They continually refilled my drink and kept me posted on when my food was arriving.
If you’re in a rush to catch your flight from Canada to Thailand, don’t fret, you can always enjoy a quick bite, grazing from the lounge’s buffet.
When I visited, the lunch buffet selection included a selection of artisanal cured meats and cheeses, smoked salmon, green berry salad, watermelon salad, grilled broccoli salad, cold beet soup, ancho corn soup, Jambalaya chicken, rice & peas, roasted zucchini, Hawaiian pork belly bao and selection of desserts.
Air Canada Signature Suite Drink Menu
Self-service drinks aren’t available at the lounge. Instead, you have the option to order beverages at the elegant marble-clad bar, which boasts a selection of premium top-shelf spirits. Alternatively, the staff can bring your chosen drinks directly to your seat.
The complimentary bar serves up celebratory flutes of Tattinger or Laurent-Perrier Champagne, which is kept cool on ice.
We suggest ordering local on the wine list: Flat Rock Cellars Riesling from Beamsville or Stratus Merlot from Niagara on the Lake. The Henry of Pelham Late Harvest Vidal is a must-try for out-of-town oenophiles.
If cocktails are more your thing, ask the bartender to shake up a sophisticated sipper muddled with quality spirits like the Air Canada Signature featuring Bulleit Rye, Averna Amaro, maple syrup and vanilla bitters.
Craft beer lovers can enjoy a cold pint by Ontario brewery favourites like Beau’s from Ottawa, or Creemore Springs from South Georgian Bay.
Non-alcoholic options include a selection of juices, soft drinks, Lavazza espresso coffees and Sloane teas.
Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto Bathrooms
The restrooms at the Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto feature 6 individual stalls, each with a handsome blend of dark, sleek, and gold design aesthetics.
Inside, there’s a single vanity with an oversized mirror and an adjacent toilet. Hand towels are provided in the restrooms, alongside luxurious Molton Brown toiletries.
The lounge doesn’t feature shower facilities. However, Air Canada Signature Suite passengers receive priority access to showers available in the nearby Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge.
