The Guillermo del Toro–approved guide to the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area

Here are some of the places the acclaimed director frequents — and shouts out on Twitter — when he’s in town.

Director Guillermo del Toro speaks during a press conference at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2017. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Donovan)

It’s no secret that filmmaker Guillermo del Toro loves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

From the 2017 Oscar-winning film The Shape of Water to the just-released Netflix horror anthology Cabinet of Curiosities, del Toro has shot myriad projects around Toronto. This trend dates all the way back to his first big-budget production in the city, the 1997 horror film Mimic.

Over the years del Toro has filmed at iconic GTHA landmarks, like Massey Hall and the University of Toronto, while also turning places like the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant and Gardiner Expressway into something dreamy and romantic.

Outside of filming, what keeps del Toro coming back to the GTHA? He credits his love for the city to its cultural backdrop and creative scene. In particular, del Toro has shouted out a number of spots throughout Toronto and Hamilton, tweeting his love for restaurants, bookstores, and more in each place.

Read on or check out our map execution for a look at some of Guillermo del Toro’s favourite local spots.

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