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 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
| Location | Where | What was filmed | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Adelaide Centre (Bay Adelaide West) | Toronto, Canada | Exteriors, establishing shots, and lobby of Pearson Hardman / Pearson Specter Litt law firm | Free to see |
| The Ritz-Carlton Toronto | Toronto, Canada | Lobby scenes including meetings in episodes like 'Play the Man' | Free to see |
| Downsview Park Studios | Toronto, Canada | Interior office sets including bullpen and Harvey's office | Private property |
| Fairmont Royal York | Toronto, Canada | Lobby scenes e.g. board meeting in 'Inside Track' | Free to see |
| 20 Stewart Street (penthouse) | Toronto, Canada | Harvey Specter's apartment | Private property |
| Toronto Necropolis | Toronto, Canada | Cemetery scenes for emotional sequences | Free to see |
| Roy Thomson Hall | Toronto, Canada | Concert hall scenes including car show in season 1 | Ticketed |
| Luma (TIFF Bell Lightbox) | Toronto, Canada | Restaurant scenes | Free to see |
| Citigroup Center | New York, United States | Pilot episode scenes including Mike arriving at firm | Free to see |
Filming Locations Map
9 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Location By Location
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.





