Where was Suits filmed? All filming locations explored
Suits became a popular legal drama with witty dialogue, compelling characters, and high-stakes tension. The series, which ran for nine successful seasons, narrated the story of Mike Ross, a prodigal college dropout, and his senior, Harvey Specter, who is one of New York's rising legal aids.
While Suits is set in the crowded centre of New York City, many viewers are surprised to learn that most of the filming took place many miles away in Toronto, Canada.
All Filming Locations of Suits in Toronto
The Financial District
Most of Suit's classic scenes were shot in Toronto's bustling financial district. The area's modern office building and impressive skyline created the perfect illusion of a fancy Manhattan law firm. Two locations stood out as particularly important filming sites.
Bay Adelaide Centre was a primary filming location for numerous scenes. This prominent office complex became synonymous with the corporate law world with its modern architecture and popular area, as shown in the series.
One key scene filmed here shows Rachel defending herself against claims of leaking information to a rival firm, with Mike successfully representing her. The Richmond Adelaide Centre also played an important role, giving the show its corporate feel and serving as the backdrop for the prestigious Pearson Hardman law firm.
The Ritz Carlton Toronto is used as a premise for elite meetings
Located at 181 Wellington St W, The Ritz-Carlton Toronto provided the perfect setting for high-stakes scenes in different meetings. The five-star hotel's luxurious lobby was the crucial setting for a pivotal scene in which Harvey and Jones DeBeque met with Daniel Vega and his assistant.
The hotel's opulent atmosphere perfectly captured the power dynamics and prestige related to the legal world shown in the show.
The Ritz-Carlton's world-class amenities and sophisticated ambience made it ideal for scenes requiring an air of exclusivity and relevance. Its downtown location and exciting views of Lake Ontario and the city skyline added an extra layer of rawness to the high-powered negotiations depicted in the series.
Toronto cemetery used for emotional sequences
At 200 Winchester Street, Toronto Necropolis provided a more serene setting for one of the show's most touching sequences. This historic cemetery, built in 1850, served as the location where Harvey commemorated his father's death anniversary.
The scene shows Harvey's vulnerable side as he pours two glasses of Whisky, drinks one, and leaves the other at his father's tombstone.
Moreover, Toronto Necropolis's Gothic architecture and peaceful atmosphere created the perfect setup for this introspective moment, showcasing the character arc that made the series so compelling to audiences.
Street Scenes and Urban Landscape
Several Toronto streets were used for filming scenes in Suits. One spot, 270 Adelaide Street West, showed Mike and Harvey walking past Pizzaiolo Gourmet Pizza, a real local eatery. These street scenes helped create a modern feel and made the characters’ daily lives more realistic.
100 Front St W was the location for important McKernon Motors board meeting scenes from Suits. Front Street West's rich history, dating back to 1796, provided the perfect setup for corporate negotiations and decision-making sequences crucial to various subplots of Suits.
Other Important Locations
Cloud Gardens offered a serene setup in the city's heart and appeared in several episodes of this series, contrasting the intense corporate environment that dominated most sequences.
Carl Hall Road was another Toronto location that appeared throughout the series, adding to the diverse settings that helped bring the fictional New York world to life.
The production team's skillful use of Toronto locations tells the art of storytelling. By carefully selecting filming locations, strategic camera angles, and post-production work, they created the illusion that viewers were watching events unfold in Manhattan rather than in Toronto.
This transformation of depicting Canada as New York required attention to detail in every aspect of production, from removing Canadian-oriented signage to ensuring that the urban landscape matched viewers' expectations of New York City. This illusion's success speaks to the production team's capability.
The filming locations of Suits are open for visiting
Toronto offers excellent public transportation access for viewers interested in exploring these locations. Most filming sites are easily reachable via streetcar, subway, or bus, making it possible to create a self-guided tour of Suit's most memorable locations.
The financial district remains the most rewarding area for viewers, as it contains the most filming locations. Walking through these streets allows fans to immerse themselves in the world where Harvey and Mike's adventures took place.
Although the series was set in New York City, Toronto was the perfect setup, offering visual authenticity and economic advantages. The Canadian city's diverse locations, from historic cemeteries to corporate towers, provided the varied backdrops necessary to tell compelling narratives across nine seasons.
This accurate use of Toronto as a filming location demonstrates how creative thinking and a practical approach can create television magic that captivates viewers worldwide.
