Evaluation: Plaza Premium Landmark Lounge Toronto

In December 2021, Plaza Premium opened two new lounges at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Amongst them is the Plaza Premium Landmark Lounge Toronto, located in Terminal 3.

As the name might suggest, the lounge is the new flagship property of the Plaza Premium brand, and it also happens to be the largest independently operated lounge in North America.

Plaza Premium Landmark Lounge Toronto – Access

The Plaza Premium Landmark Lounge is located in the international departures area of Terminal 3, directly opposite Gate C32. It should be relatively easy to find as there’s plenty of signage.

To get there, simply take the elevator up to the lounge level and you’ll find it just a short walk away, close to the Air France/KLM Lounge Toronto.

The Plaza Premium Landmark Lounge is open every day from 5:30am–11pm for outgoing international travellers and passengers in transit.

Access to the Plaza Premium Landmark Lounge is available to anyone with an eligible American Express card with Plaza Premium access, or with an eligible Visa or Mastercard with a DragonPass membership.

Furthermore, if you’re a British Airways passenger in a premium cabin, you can take advantage of a special partnership between the airline and the lounge, which gives you access to a dedicated section of the lounge that’s not available to other visitors.

If you neither have an eligible credit card nor a boarding pass in a premium British Airways cabin, you can still visit the Plaza Premium Landmark Lounge Toronto as a walk-in guest. Prices start at $50 (CAD) for two hours, and go upwards from there.

In my case, the check-in agent verified my British Airways Club Suites boarding pass upon arrival, and I headed into the lounge.

Plaza Premium Landmark Lounge Toronto – Seating

Upon entering the sprawling new facility, the main lounge is to the left and the British Airways section is to the right.

I immediately noted the refreshing design of the lounge. The use of marble and brass, coupled with wooden touches, created a welcoming environment that was both bright and modern.

The lounge has over 300 seats, so there appears to be plenty of room to stretch out and relax, which hopefully also minimizes overcrowding.

The seating arrangements were a mix of communal and private areas, catering to a variety of needs. There were ample seating options available in the central area of the lounge, each equipped with charging ports between them for easy connectivity.

Rows of individual seating are positioned by the windows offering panoramic views of the tarmac. Additionally, there were seating options for up to six dotted around for larger groups.

As I made my way to check out the main dining area, there was an ample number of dining tables available, as well as communal high-top seating.

Meanwhile, the British Airways section of the lounge is divided into two areas: one for business class passengers and travellers with mid-tier Oneworld Sapphire status, and another for First Class passengers and travellers with top-tier Oneworld Emerald status. After checking out the main area, I opted to spend the majority of my time in the British Airways section.

Upon entering this mini-lounge and veering to the left, there are several dining tables with the capacity to seat up to two people, as well as additional communal seating beyond.

Moving towards the centre of the lounge, rows of seats were arranged facing each other.

The outer edge featured some comfortable chairs with attached desks that offered a bit more seclusion if you needed to catch up on some work.

The First Class section offered a slightly more refined dining area along the windows, with views of the British Airways Airbus A350 that would be taking me to London.

Throughout this section, there were Dyson fans placed throughout, ensuring that the environment remained comfortable. I also came across a few recliner chairs for an elevated touch.

Plaza Premium Landmark Lounge Toronto – Dining

The lounge’s live kitchen serves food in a standard buffet style, offering hot items such as soup, meat dishes, perogies, and rice, as well as light bites. You can also indulge the salad and dessert section.

A self-serve drink station is available, complete with a Lavazza coffee machine; however, specialty coffees can be ordered at the bar, which has a much nicer espresso machine.

A few snacks, such as tortilla chips and pretzels, and a toaster, are conveniently located nearby.

In the British Airways business class section of the lounge, there’s an elevated buffet selection featuring a more varied spread.

Highlights include fruit-infused water and juice, a selection of salads, cured meats, and cheese, and light bites such as roast beef with gravy, chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, and bread pudding.

A self-serve fridge is also available, with soft drinks, juice, fresh fruit, and small desserts.

In the First Class section, you can enjoy à la carte dining plus an extra snack spread with canapés and desserts.

A full-service bar faces both the main lounge and British Airways business class area, which allows the same staff to service both sections. You can request everything from specialty coffees, teas, juices, and fountain drinks to beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails.

There’s also a dedicated bar in the British Airways First Class section of the lounge.

Plaza Premium Landmark Lounge Toronto – Other Facilities

The Landmark Lounge features a well-equipped play area and nursing room decorated with Canadian touches, showcasing moose, beavers, and maple leaves in a cartoon mural on the wall. The room is a nice size and provides ample space for families.

Additionally, there’s a wellness spa complete with shower stations, and it also offers manicures and massages.

After exploring the lounge, I decided to check out the shower and bathroom facilities. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they were impeccably clean and well-kept, with beautiful marble walls and flooring.

These shower rooms can be reserved at the reception, but it’s an additional $22 (CAD) charge if you’re a walk-in guest.

Conclusion

The Plaza Premium Landmark Lounge in Toronto Pearson’s Terminal 3 can be considered one if the flagship locations of the lounge network as a whole. Compared to the other Plaza Premium lounges I’ve been to, it’s certainly quite a step up.

For those looking to kill time between flights or grab a quick bite before an international flight from Terminal 3, the Plaza Premium Landmark Lounge is an ideal option. It boasts a fresh design, a nice buffet spread, and modern shower facilities to stay fresh before your departure.

This lounge makes international flights out of Terminal 3 a lot more enjoyable, as long as it doesn’t get too crowded over time.