Not in the location list as a visitable stop, but Cinespace hosted the heart of the production: the lab above the cinema, Elisa's apartment, and the corridors of the OCCAM facility were all built here as interior sets. The studios are a working facility and not open to the public, so the practical way to connect with this side of the film is a guided tour that covers Toronto studio history.
The Short Answer
The Shape of Water was mainly filmed on location and at studios in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Interiors like the lab and Elisa's apartment were built at Cinespace Studios in Toronto, while real sites across both cities, including the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre, Massey Hall, the Lakeview Restaurant and the Keating Channel, stood in for 1962 Baltimore.
Set in Baltimore in 1962, The Shape of Water barely contains a frame of Maryland. Guillermo del Toro shot his Best Picture winner almost entirely in Ontario, using Toronto and Hamilton to recreate a mid-century American city on the edge of water and industry. Principal photography ran from August 15 to November 6, 2016.
The result is a tour-friendly film. Most locations are public streets, a working diner, a university campus and a famous theatre, so a visitor can walk the film's Baltimore in a single day, with a side trip to Hamilton for a handful of key exteriors.
Every Location At A Glance
| Location | Where | What was filmed | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre | Toronto | Interior of the Orpheum cinema where Elisa lives above and the creature watches films | Ticketed |
| Massey Hall | Toronto | Exterior of the Orpheum cinema with added marquee | Ticketed |
| The Lakeview Restaurant | Toronto | Dixie Doug's diner where Giles buys pie and flirts | Free to see |
| University of Toronto Scarborough - Humanities Wing | Toronto | Exterior and cafeteria of OCCAM Aerospace Research Center | Free to see |
| Keating Channel | Toronto | Rain-drenched climax and canal scenes where Elisa plans to release the creature | Free to see |
| Hamilton City Hall | Hamilton | Giles' advertising firm / Klein & Saunders office | Free to see |
| 181 MacNab Street South | Hamilton | Exterior of Dr. Hoffstetler's apartment building | Outside only |
| Lakeshore Sand Company / industrial area | Hamilton | Industrial site with sand piles where Hoffstetler meets Russian handlers | Private property |
Filming Locations Map
8 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Location By Location
Location 02
Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre
Ontario, Toronto Ticketed
Filmed here: Interior of the Orpheum cinema where Elisa lives above and the creature watches films
The interior of the Orpheum cinema, the movie house Elisa lives above and where the creature experiences old films, was shot inside this historic double-decker theatre. It remains an active venue with tours and performances, so check the official schedule before visiting. It sits in central Toronto near Yonge and Queen, making it an easy anchor for any Shape of Water walk.
Location 03
Massey Hall
Ontario, Toronto Ticketed
Filmed here: Exterior of the Orpheum cinema with added marquee
The exterior of the Orpheum is Massey Hall, Toronto's celebrated concert venue, its facade dressed with a temporary marquee for the shoot. You can see the exterior freely from the street at any time. Combined with the Elgin and Winter Garden just a block away, the two buildings give you both halves of the film's cinema, interior and exterior, within a short walk.
Location 04
The Lakeview Restaurant
Ontario, Toronto Free to see
Filmed here: Dixie Doug's diner where Giles buys pie and flirts
This diner, operating since 1932, played Dixie Doug's, where Giles buys pie and attempts to charm the server. It is a functioning restaurant open to the public and a popular filming location in its own right, so visitors can sit in the same booth-lined room that appears in the film. It sits west of downtown on Dundas Street West and makes an easy stop for an actual slice of pie.
Location 05
University of Toronto Scarborough - Humanities Wing
Ontario, Toronto Free to see
Filmed here: Exterior and cafeteria of OCCAM Aerospace Research Center
The exterior and cafeteria of the OCCAM Aerospace Research Center, where the creature is held and studied, were filmed at this university campus building in Scarborough. The campus is accessible to the public during open hours, and visitors can recognize the walkways and cafeteria space from the film's early lab sequences. It requires a trip out of the core but pairs well with other east-end stops.
Location 06
Keating Channel
Ontario, Toronto Free to see
Filmed here: Rain-drenched climax and canal scenes where Elisa plans to release the creature
The rain-drenched climax and the canal scenes where Elisa plans to release the creature were shot at this public waterfront area in the Port Lands. The CN Tower and Toronto skyline had to be digitally removed from the shots to preserve the Baltimore illusion. It is freely accessible for walking and views, and the industrial waterway character comes through in person almost exactly as it reads on screen.
Location 07
Hamilton City Hall
Ontario, Hamilton Free to see
Filmed here: Giles' advertising firm / Klein & Saunders office
This municipal building in downtown Hamilton stood in for Klein & Saunders, the advertising firm where Giles works. The exterior and some interiors may be accessible to visitors, as it remains a functioning civic building. Hamilton sits about an hour from Toronto by road or rail, so it works best as a half-day excursion paired with the city's other film locations.
Location 08
181 MacNab Street South
Ontario, Hamilton Outside only
Filmed here: Exterior of Dr. Hoffstetler's apartment building
The exterior of Dr. Hoffstetler's apartment building is this residential address near downtown Hamilton. It is a private residential building, so the visit is exterior only, viewed from the public street. Fans of Michael Stuhlbarg's conflicted scientist will recognize the facade quickly, and it sits close to Hamilton City Hall, making the two stops a natural pairing.
Location 09
Lakeshore Sand Company / industrial area
Ontario, Hamilton Private property
Filmed here: Industrial site with sand piles where Hoffstetler meets Russian handlers
The industrial site with towering sand piles, where Hoffstetler meets his Russian handlers, was filmed on Hamilton's industrial waterfront. This is private land with limited public access, so it is best appreciated from a distance rather than attempted up close. The area's heavy industrial character explains why del Toro's team came to Hamilton for these bleak, atmospheric scenes.
Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed
The film is set in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1962, during the Cold War, but principal photography took place almost entirely in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, from August 15 to November 6, 2016. Del Toro has described the film as a tribute to Barry Levinson's Baltimore-set movies such as Diner, yet no filming happened in Maryland. Ontario's period architecture, industrial waterfronts and generous studio space delivered a convincing 1962 Baltimore instead.
The Studio Side
Cinespace Film Studios in Toronto carried the bulk of the interior work. The lab, Elisa's apartment and the connecting corridors of the research facility were all constructed there as sets, giving del Toro precise control over the film's distinctive green-and-teal palette. Cinespace has long been a home base for del Toro's productions in Toronto. As a working studio complex it is not open to casual visits.
Tours That Visit These Locations
Most Shape of Water locations sit on public streets or in open venues, so a self-guided walk covers the majority of them. For travellers who want context and a structured route, one bookable option connects directly to the film's footprint.
Guided Film Tour
Toronto: TV & Movie Tour with University of Toronto Visit
A guided TV and movie tour of Toronto that includes a University of Toronto stop, a useful pairing given that the film's OCCAM research center exteriors were shot at the university's Scarborough campus, from $161.
From$161Check availability
Frequently Asked Questions
Was The Shape of Water filmed in Baltimore?
No. Although the film is set in Baltimore in 1962, it was filmed in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, with interiors built at Cinespace Studios in Toronto.
Can you visit the cinema from The Shape of Water?
Yes. The Orpheum interior was shot at the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre, which runs tours and performances, while Massey Hall nearby served as the exterior. Check the theatre's official schedule for tour times.
Is the diner in The Shape of Water real?
Yes. The Lakeview Restaurant on Dundas Street West has operated since 1932 and appeared as Dixie Doug's. It is open to the public, so you can eat there.
Where was the ending of The Shape of Water filmed?
The rain-soaked climax and canal scenes were shot at the Keating Channel in Toronto's Port Lands, a public waterfront area. The CN Tower and skyline were digitally removed from the footage.
Is Hamilton worth visiting for Shape of Water locations?
For completists, yes. Hamilton City Hall, Hoffstetler's apartment exterior on MacNab Street South and the industrial sand site all appear in the film. Most are exterior views, so a half day is enough.
When was The Shape of Water filmed?
Principal photography ran from August 15 to November 6, 2016, mostly in Ontario despite the Baltimore setting. The film was released in 2017.
Toronto and Hamilton let you walk through nearly every exterior of The Shape of Water without leaving Ontario, from a 1932 diner to a historic double-decker theatre and a rain-prone canal. Bring an umbrella for the Port Lands and a good pair of shoes, and consider the guided film tour for the university connection.
