Blue-glass office tower in Toronto's Financial District reflecting neighbouring skyscrapers on an autumn afternoon

Where Was Suits Filmed?

The hit legal drama looks like Manhattan, but almost every episode was shot in Toronto. Here is where to find the real locations.

The Short Answer

Suits was filmed mostly in Toronto, Canada, even though the story is set in New York City. Only the pilot episode and the exterior title sequence were shot in New York, at locations including the Citigroup Center. Production moved to Toronto for tax credits, and the show's offices, hotels and apartments were all found there.

Suits ran for nine seasons between 2011 and 2019, and for nearly all of that time the production never left Toronto. After the pilot was shot in New York, the crew relocated to Ontario to take advantage of Canadian tax credits, and stayed for the entire run.

The illusion was thorough. Office windows were dressed with large backdrops resembling a shower curtain to fake New York views, and yellow taxis and hot dog stands were brought in as props. Knox College at the University of Toronto even stood in for Harvard University.

Every Location At A Glance

LocationWhereWhat was filmedAccess
Bay Adelaide Centre (Bay Adelaide West)Toronto, CanadaExteriors, establishing shots, and lobby of Pearson Hardman / Pearson Specter Litt law firmFree to see
The Ritz-Carlton TorontoToronto, CanadaLobby scenes including meetings in episodes like 'Play the Man'Free to see
Downsview Park StudiosToronto, CanadaInterior office sets including bullpen and Harvey's officePrivate property
Fairmont Royal YorkToronto, CanadaLobby scenes e.g. board meeting in 'Inside Track'Free to see
20 Stewart Street (penthouse)Toronto, CanadaHarvey Specter's apartmentPrivate property
Toronto NecropolisToronto, CanadaCemetery scenes for emotional sequencesFree to see
Roy Thomson HallToronto, CanadaConcert hall scenes including car show in season 1Ticketed
Luma (TIFF Bell Lightbox)Toronto, CanadaRestaurant scenesFree to see
Citigroup CenterNew York, United StatesPilot episode scenes including Mike arriving at firmFree to see

Filming Locations Map

9 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Location By Location

Bay Adelaide Centre (Bay Adelaide West), Toronto
Location 01

Bay Adelaide Centre (Bay Adelaide West)

Ontario, Toronto, Canada Free to see

Filmed here: Exteriors, establishing shots, and lobby of Pearson Hardman / Pearson Specter Litt law firm

This financial district tower played the role of Pearson Hardman, later Pearson Specter Litt. Its exteriors, establishing shots and lobby all appear throughout the series, making it the closest thing the show has to a home address. Fans can visit freely: the plaza outside is a public space and a good photo stop, and the lobby is visitable during business hours. It sits in the heart of downtown Toronto near other filming locations.

The Ritz-Carlton Toronto, Toronto
Location 02

The Ritz-Carlton Toronto

Ontario, Toronto, Canada Free to see

Filmed here: Lobby scenes including meetings in episodes like 'Play the Man'

The Ritz-Carlton's lobby doubled as a swanky New York meeting spot, including scenes in the episode Play the Man. The luxury hotel remains very much open for business, and both the lobby and its restaurant welcome the public as well as guests, so anyone can walk in and soak up the same polished atmosphere seen on screen. No reservation is needed just to look around the lobby area.

Downsview Park Studios, Toronto
Location 03

Downsview Park Studios

Ontario, Toronto, Canada Private property

Filmed here: Interior office sets including bullpen and Harvey's office

The interior office sets, including the bullpen and Harvey's office, were built inside this Toronto studio facility. Unfortunately for fans, Downsview Park Studios is a working production space and not open to public tours. Visitors hoping to stand in the bullpen are out of luck, but the good news is that the exterior of the firm's building, the Bay Adelaide Centre, is just a short trip away downtown and fully accessible.

Fairmont Royal York, Toronto
Location 04

Fairmont Royal York

Ontario, Toronto, Canada Free to see

Filmed here: Lobby scenes e.g. board meeting in 'Inside Track'

This historic hotel across from Union Station supplied lobby scenes, notably a board meeting in the episode Inside Track. The Royal York is one of Toronto's grandest hotels and its lobby is accessible to guests and casual visitors alike. It is also a short walk from several other Suits locations in the financial district, so it fits easily into a walking itinerary of the show's key spots.

20 Stewart Street (penthouse), Toronto
Location 05

20 Stewart Street (penthouse)

Ontario, Toronto, Canada Private property

Filmed here: Harvey Specter's apartment

Harvey Specter's sleek apartment is a private penthouse at 20 Stewart Street, west of the financial district. It is a private residence, so there is no access inside, but the exterior is viewable from the street. Fans content to imagine Harvey and his record player behind those walls will find the building easily reachable on foot or by transit from downtown Toronto.

Toronto Necropolis, Toronto
Location 06

Toronto Necropolis

Ontario, Toronto, Canada Free to see

Filmed here: Cemetery scenes for emotional sequences

This historic cemetery in the Cabbagetown area provided the setting for the show's more emotional sequences. The Toronto Necropolis dates from the Victorian era and is open to the public, with weathered monuments and leafy paths that give it an appropriately somber beauty. Admission is free and it makes an interesting detour for visitors who want to see a quieter side of the production's locations.

Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto
Location 07

Roy Thomson Hall

Ontario, Toronto, Canada Ticketed

Filmed here: Concert hall scenes including car show in season 1

The curved glass concert hall in the entertainment district appears in the series, including a car show scene in season 1. Roy Thomson Hall remains an active performance venue. Depending on scheduling, tours may be available, and attending a concert is another way to experience the space. Its location near King Street puts it within easy walking distance of the financial district locations.

Luma (TIFF Bell Lightbox), Toronto
Location 08

Luma (TIFF Bell Lightbox)

Ontario, Toronto, Canada Free to see

Filmed here: Restaurant scenes

Luma, the restaurant inside the TIFF Bell Lightbox building, served as a filming site for the show's restaurant scenes. It is open to the public, so fans can dine in the same space where characters hashed out deals and rivalries. The Lightbox is TIFF's headquarters, which makes it a fitting stop: the building celebrates film culture year round with exhibitions and screenings.

Citigroup Center, New York
Location 09

Citigroup Center

New York, United States Free to see

Filmed here: Pilot episode scenes including Mike arriving at firm

This Midtown Manhattan office building is one of the few genuine New York locations in Suits, appearing in the pilot episode, including the scene where Mike arrives at the firm. The lobby is accessible during business hours for anyone curious to see where it all began before the production headed north. For fans starting in New York rather than Toronto, it is the essential stop.

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

Suits is set entirely in New York City, following lawyers at a prestigious Manhattan firm. After the pilot, filming moved to Toronto because of Canadian tax credits, and the production spent all nine seasons there. To maintain the illusion, the crew used large backdrop murals resembling a shower curtain to fake the New York skyline outside office windows, and added yellow taxis and hot dog stands as street props. Only the pilot and the title sequence exteriors were genuinely shot in New York.

The Studio Side

Interior scenes, including the bullpen and Harvey's office, were filmed on soundstages at Downsview Park Studios in Toronto. The facility is a private production studio and does not offer public tours, so fans cannot walk through the sets. The best alternative is the Bay Adelaide Centre downtown, whose exterior and lobby stood in for the firm and are freely visitable.

Tours That Visit These Locations

No dedicated Suits tour exists, but general film and TV location tours in both Toronto and New York pass through areas where the show was shot. These are the options listed on this page.

Toronto Film Sites Bus Tour

Toronto: Hollywood North Experience Film & TV Tour

This Toronto tour covers the Financial District, Union Station, David Pecaut Square and City Hall areas, all steps from key Suits filming spots like the Bay Adelaide Centre and Fairmont Royal York. At $34.36, with 63 reviews, it is an affordable way to explore Hollywood North.

63 reviews

Toronto Hollywood North Tour

Hollywood North Experience Tour In Toronto

A Toronto film and TV tour through the Financial District, City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square, putting visitors right among the downtown locations that doubled for New York in Suits. It has 36 reviews from past participants.

36 reviews

PriceLive on listingCheck availability

NYC Film Walk, 2 Hours

New York City: Movie and TV Show Locations Tour

A two-hour guided walk through Midtown Manhattan, the neighborhood where the Suits pilot was filmed, alongside many other famous movie and TV locations. Rated five stars from seven reviews, priced at $120.

5.0 out of 5 · 7 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Suits actually filmed in New York?

Only partly. The pilot episode and the exterior title sequence were shot in New York, including scenes at the Citigroup Center. Every season after the pilot was filmed in Toronto, Canada.

Why did Suits film in Toronto?

Production moved to Toronto after the pilot to take advantage of Canadian tax credits. The show then stayed there for all nine seasons of its run.

Can you visit the Pearson Hardman law firm building?

Yes. The Bay Adelaide Centre in Toronto served as the firm's building, and its plaza is a public space for photos. The lobby, which appeared on screen, can be visited during business hours.

Can you tour the Suits office sets?

No. The bullpen, Harvey's office and other interiors were built at Downsview Park Studios, a private facility that does not offer public tours.

Where is Harvey Specter's apartment in real life?

Harvey's apartment is a penthouse at 20 Stewart Street in Toronto. It is a private residence, so only the exterior can be viewed from the street.

Did Suits film at Harvard University?

No. Knox College at the University of Toronto stood in for Harvard University in the show's Harvard scenes.

Toronto rewards Suits fans more than New York does, simply because almost everything was shot there. A day spent walking the financial district covers the firm's building, two hotel lobbies and Roy Thomson Hall, with the Necropolis and Harvey's apartment a short detour away. New York visitors can still see where it started at the Citigroup Center, and a film locations tour in either city adds context along the way.

Sources