If you’ve spent any time watching Mike Ross dodge subpoenas or Harvey Specter outmaneuver opposing counsel in a high-rise office, you’ve seen the "New York" skyline. You’ve seen the yellow cabs. You’ve seen the hot dog stands. But if you actually went looking for Pearson Hardman in Midtown Manhattan, you’d be walking for a very long time without finding a single glass-walled office from the show. Honestly, the answer to where did they film Suits is a bit of a slap in the face to anyone who thinks they’re looking at the Big Apple.
They filmed in Toronto.
Almost the entire thing. Except for the pilot episode, which actually did shoot on location in New York City, the rest of the nine-season run was staged in the Great White North. It’s one of those "once you see it, you can't unsee it" situations. If you look closely at the background of some of those "Manhattan" street scenes, you’ll catch a glimpse of a red and white TTC streetcar or a Shoppers Drug Mart sign that the production crew missed.
The Pilot Exception and the Toronto Pivot
In the beginning, things were authentic. The pilot was filmed in New York City because, frankly, you can’t beat the real thing when you’re trying to sell a network on a high-stakes legal drama. They shot at the Bayard-Condict Building and around various spots in the Financial District. But television is a business. A very expensive one.
Tax credits. That’s the boring, corporate reason why the show moved. Ontario offers massive incentives for film production, and since Toronto has a skyline that—if you squint—looks a whole lot like New York, the decision was made to pack up and head north.
It’s kind of funny when you think about it. The show is so deeply rooted in the New York ego—the power, the grit, the specific brand of arrogance that belongs to Wall Street lawyers—yet it was filmed in a city often described as "New York run by the Swiss."
Where Did They Film Suits: The Iconic Locations
The primary "home" for the show was the Bay-Adelaide Centre in Toronto’s Financial District. If you want to stand where Harvey Specter stood, that’s the place. The lobby of this building served as the lobby for Pearson Hardman (and all its subsequent name changes). It’s a massive, sleek glass skyscraper that perfectly captured the cold, "money-never-sleeps" aesthetic that creator Aaron Korsh wanted.
The Glass Offices and Green Screens
Most of the interior shots—the actual offices where Mike and Harvey had their rapid-fire banter—weren't in a real building at all. They were on a soundstage at Downsview Park Studios in North York.
Ever wonder why the view out of Harvey’s office never seemed to change? Or why it looked almost too perfect? It was a massive backdrop. They used what’s called a "translite," which is essentially a giant, high-resolution photograph of the New York skyline draped behind the windows. To make it look real, the lighting crew had to constantly adjust the brightness to match the "time of day" in the scene. Sometimes it worked perfectly. Other times, if you're a real film nerd, you can tell the depth of field is just slightly off.
Notable Toronto Stand-ins
Toronto is a chameleon. The production team got really good at hiding Canada. Here are some of the spots that doubled for New York:
- Luma Restaurant: Located in the TIFF Bell Lightbox, this served as the backdrop for many of those high-end "power lunches."
- The Ritz-Carlton: Used frequently for upscale hotel scenes and lobby shots.
- Roy Thomson Hall: Its futuristic, geometric architecture was perfect for "modern" law firm interiors or galas.
- Crepe It Up: Believe it or not, this local spot was used in earlier seasons.
The Secret to Making Toronto Look Like Manhattan
You can’t just point a camera at a Toronto street and call it New York. There’s a science to the deception. First, you have the "prop" New York. The crew would literally ship in New York City trash cans, newsstands, and US mailboxes to line the streets. They would also bring in those iconic yellow Crown Victoria taxis.
The extras had to look the part, too. Toronto fashion is different. New York fashion, especially in the legal world, has a specific, aggressive sharpness. The costume department, led by Jolie Andreatta, played a huge role in selling the lie. If the people look like New York, you believe the city is New York.
Then there’s the post-production work. In the first few seasons, the CGI team would digitally insert the Freedom Tower or the Empire State Building into wide shots to orient the viewer. It’s a classic "bait and switch." They show you a wide shot of Manhattan, then cut to a close-up shot of a street in Toronto. Your brain fills in the gaps.
Why the Location Matters to the Story
So, does it matter that it wasn't actually filmed in New York?
For the actors, it definitely changed the vibe. Patrick J. Adams and Gabriel Macht have talked in interviews about how being in Toronto created a "summer camp" feel for the cast. They were away from the Hollywood bubble and the New York chaos, which allowed the chemistry between the leads to develop in a vacuum. That chemistry is arguably the only reason the show lasted nine seasons.
But for the viewer, the location is a character itself. New York is a city of winners and losers. By filming in the Financial District of Toronto, which is also a high-pressure corporate environment, the show maintained that "hustle" energy. It didn't feel like a backlot at Universal Studios. It felt cold, metallic, and expensive.
Realism vs. TV Magic: The Fans' Perspective
Fans love to hunt for "Suits bloopers." There are entire forums dedicated to spotting Canadian license plates or Toronto Transit Commission buses in the background of scenes. There’s one famous shot where a "New York" street sign is clearly attached to a Toronto lamp post.
Does it ruin the show? No. It adds a layer of trivia that makes re-watching it fun. You start looking past Harvey’s Tom Ford suits and Mike’s messenger bag to see if you can spot a "Roots" store or a "Tim Hortons" in the reflection of a window.
Interestingly, when the spin-off Pearson happened, they moved the setting to Chicago. Even then, the filming didn't stay strictly in the city it portrayed, though it had a very different visual palette than the original series.
Moving Forward: Visiting the Suits Locations
If you're a die-hard fan and you want to do a "Suits tour," you're going to Toronto, not New York.
Start at the Bay-Adelaide Centre. Walk through the lobby. It’s a public space, so you can actually feel the "Pearson Hardman" energy. Then, head over to the Financial District (the area around King and Bay Streets). This is where most of the outdoor walking-and-talking scenes took place.
If you want the "Harvey Specter" dining experience, look for restaurants like Buca or the aforementioned Luma. These places were staples for the cast and the characters alike.
Actionable Tips for Location Hunting
- Check the Bay-Adelaide Centre West Tower: This is the specific building used for the exterior and lobby.
- Visit the Distillery District: While less "corporate," its cobblestone streets were used for various "older" New York neighborhood shots.
- Don't look for the office interiors: Remember, they're gone. The sets at Downsview Park were struck years ago after the series finale.
The reality of where did they film Suits is a testament to how good modern television production has become. They built a world that felt so quintessentially New York that most people never even questioned it. It’s a bit of movie magic—or TV magic, rather—that proves you don't need to be in Manhattan to feel like you're at the top of the world. Just a good tax credit and a lot of yellow cabs.
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Next time you watch a "walk and talk," keep your eyes on the background. You might just see a Canadian flag waving in the distance, hidden in plain sight while Harvey closes another multi-million dollar deal.
Pro Tip for Travelers: If you do visit Toronto to see these spots, remember that the city's Financial District is incredibly busy during the work week. To get the best photos of the Bay-Adelaide Centre without a thousand commuters in your shot, go on a Sunday morning. It’ll feel as empty and dramatic as a late-night scene where Mike Ross is rethinking his life choices.
Next Steps for Suits Fans:
- Check out the Bay-Adelaide Centre on Google Maps to see the "Pearson Hardman" lobby for yourself.
- Research Ontario's Film and Television Tax Credit if you’re curious about the financial mechanics that move shows from the US to Canada.
- Rewatch Season 1, Episode 1 versus Season 1, Episode 2 to see if you can spot the subtle shift in lighting and architecture as the production moved from NYC to Toronto permanently.