Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has significantly elevated its dining landscape with the grand opening of Romer’s Fresh Kitchen & Bar, offering travelers an authentic taste of the West Coast before their flights. The eagerly anticipated restaurant, which officially welcomed its first guests on August 20, 2025, is strategically located in the airport’s U.S. Departures area, providing a vibrant new dining option for those heading south.
Operated by SSP Canada, a prominent force in global travel food and beverage, this marks the 13th SSP Canada location at YVR, further cementing their commitment to enhancing the passenger experience with high-quality, locally inspired food offerings.
A Commitment to Local and Fresh
Romer’s Fresh Kitchen & Bar is built upon a philosophy of keeping things fresh, local, and fun, deeply inspired by the vibrant west coast lifestyle. The menu is a testament to this ethos, featuring hand-pressed natural beef burgers, hearty breakfasts, fresh salads, and nourishing bowls. Key menu highlights include the popular Magic Mushroom Burger, crispy Truffle Fries, and the indulgent Drunken Donuts.
The restaurant’s dedication to local sourcing is evident in its key partnerships. Certified natural beef is supplied by Semlin Valley Ranch in Cache Creek, B.C., a fourth-generation family farm known for raising grass-fed, hormone-free cattle with a strong focus on sustainable and compassionate animal welfare practices. This commitment extends to a partnership with Cioffi’s Meat Market & Deli in Burnaby, a long-standing local institution recognized for supplying top Vancouver chefs and families with high-quality, ethically sourced meats for over two decades.
Beyond its renowned burgers, Romer’s offers an expanded food menu that includes soup, pasta, avocado toast, eggs benedict, steak, and seafood bowls, alongside a selection of appetizers like chicken wings and brussels sprouts. Travelers can also enjoy a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including beer and wine.
Enhancing the YVR Traveler Experience
The opening event at YVR was a significant news item, celebrated with menu tastings and remarks from several key figures who underscored the importance of this new addition. Mary Point, Director of Indigenous Relations at YVR; Jim Romer, the restaurant’s passionate founder and chef; Benedict Ma, Director of Passenger Retail Experience at YVR; and Rich Wilson, SSP Canada’s Vice President of Brands and Concepts, all spoke at the grand opening.
Jim Romer expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to bring the Romer’s brand to Vancouver International Airport, calling it an exciting milestone. Eric Pateman, YVR’s Vice President of Passenger Experience and Chief Experience Officer, emphasized YVR’s pride in collaborating with best-in-class local brands that reflect the region’s diverse flavors, values, and creativity. Richard Wilson of SSP Canada, a B.C. native, echoed this sentiment, noting the significance of bringing local restaurants to YVR and highlighting that the airport’s culinary scene has become a destination in itself.
This new venture aligns with YVR’s long-term strategy, established as early as 2019, to introduce a diverse portfolio of food and beverage concepts, focusing on local and authentic flavors that embody British Columbia’s character while also featuring strong international brands. Romer’s Fresh Kitchen & Bar operates daily from 5:30 AM to 11 PM, catering to early morning departures and late-night flights alike.
From Kitsilano Roots to Airport Hub
Romer’s origins trace back to Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighborhood in 2010, where it quickly gained a reputation as a beloved burger spot, celebrated for its simple, quality ingredients and vibrant community presence. While the original Kitsilano location closed its doors in October 2024 after 14 successful years, the brand’s presence at YVR marks an exciting new chapter, maintaining its commitment to delivering an exceptional casual dining experience.
The opening of Romer’s at YVR continues a positive trending trajectory for the airport, which has been consistently working to offer more diverse and high-quality dining experiences to its passengers. Travelers through the U.S. Departures terminal can now enjoy a taste of Vancouver’s renowned west coast culinary scene, adding a significant enhancement to their pre-flight journey.
During the grand opening, customers were treated to complimentary donuts with the purchase of a Magic Mushroom Burger and fries, a sweet incentive to experience the newest addition to YVR’s dining family. This new establishment promises to be a favorite for both local and international travelers, eager to savor Vancouver’s distinct flavors before they take to the skies.
