Toronto's grand dame of day spas — Elmwood has been on Bay Street since 1979, operating in a heritage Victorian house with original plasterwork, a rooftop patio, and a full menu of facials, body treatments, and wellness therapies. The Elemis and Guinot facial lines are their signature. A Toronto institution.
Neighbourhood: Bay-Bloor · Address: 18 Elm St, Toronto, ON · Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM | Fri 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM | Sat 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Sun 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM · Phone: (416) 977-6751
Why Visit
Elmwood Spa is a Toronto classic where you can get advanced facials and body treatments in a stunning Victorian mansion right on Bay Street. The rooftop terrace and the day packages make it a great spot to fully unplug for a few hours.
What Makes It Unique
Unlike newer hotel spas, Elmwood operates inside a four-story heritage house, with soaring ceilings, preserved plasterwork, and quiet lounges that feel refreshingly old-school. Their deep roster of hands-on wellness therapies—plus rare lines like Elemis and Guinot facials—lets you splurge on classic spa rituals you can't find everywhere in the city.
Elmwood Spa near Bloor and Bay Street is Toronto's most storied full-service day spa — a multi-storey establishment that has been offering spa services in the Bay-Bloor corridor since 1975 and has cultivated a loyal clientele through five decades of consistent quality, professional service, and the kind of institutional knowledge that newer spas simply haven't had time to develop. The spa occupies a townhouse building that has been expanded and renovated over the decades, creating a vertical labyrinth of treatment rooms, pools, and relaxation areas that rewards regulars who know their way around.
The facility includes a rooftop deck that is one of the more unexpected urban pleasures in central Toronto — a sun-soaked terrace above the Bay-Bloor streetscape, accessible to guests between treatments and during the warm months of the spa season. The pools, steam rooms, and thermal facilities provide the European spa circuit experience that day spas aiming for full immersion need to distinguish themselves from simple massage and facial providers.
The treatment menu covers the full range of contemporary spa services: Swedish and deep tissue massage, hot stone treatments, various facial protocols using high-quality product lines, body wraps, and beauty services including manicure, pedicure, and waxing. The therapists are trained and experienced, and the spa's long history in the city has allowed it to develop a staff culture of professionalism that newer operations haven't had time to build.
Elmwood's location — steps from Bloor-Yonge subway and the luxury retail of Yorkville — makes it a natural complement to a Yorkville afternoon. Pre-dinner spa time before a Yorkville restaurant, or a full spa day incorporating the rooftop, pools, and multiple treatments, are both formats that the facility handles well. Bookings on weekend afternoons require advance planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What services does Elmwood Spa offer?
Elmwood Spa offers a full range of spa services including Swedish and deep tissue massage, hot stone treatments, various facial protocols, body wraps, manicure, pedicure, and waxing. The facility includes rooftop access, pools, steam rooms, and thermal circuit facilities.
Does Elmwood Spa have a rooftop?
Yes — Elmwood Spa's rooftop deck is one of Toronto's more unexpected pleasures — a sun terrace above the Bay-Bloor neighbourhood accessible to spa guests during warm months. It's a genuine highlight of a full spa day at Elmwood.
How do I get to Elmwood Spa?
Elmwood Spa is at 18 Elm Street, steps from Bloor-Yonge station where Lines 1 and 2 intersect. It's in the Bay-Bloor area, immediately adjacent to Yorkville. The Bay Street corridor is directly south.
Do I need to book Elmwood Spa in advance?
Yes — particularly for weekend visits, advance booking is essential. Popular treatments and therapists book out well ahead. Weekday morning and early afternoon appointments are typically more available than weekend slots.