Sunnyside Bathing Pavilion

Sunnyside Bathing Pavilion is a changing facility and pavilion at Sunnyside Beach featuring Italianate design with painted stucco, open courtyards, and a covered loggia on the upper level facing Lake Ontario. The east wing contains original changing rooms while the west wing houses a cafe with an outdoor patio and tea garden.

The pavilion opened on June 28, 1922, as an essential bathing facility for Lake Ontario swimmers and remained in active use for this purpose through the 1920s. Part of the structure later transformed into commercial use, with a cafe opening in the western wing during the 1980s.

The pavilion hosted Toronto's first major beauty pageant in 1926, helping establish a tradition that shaped the city's social life for decades. Today, visitors can sense this glamorous past reflected in how the space is used and experienced.

The facility offers changing areas, showers, and outdoor spaces easily accessible to beach visitors. Arriving early in the day helps you experience the space more comfortably without large crowds.

The building features a roof garden that provides green space and a rare urban retreat above the shoreline. This elevated garden offers visitors an unexpected perspective overlooking the waterfront and the surrounding area.

Location: Toronto

Inception: 1922

Official opening: June 28, 1922

Architectural style: Italianate architecture

GPS coordinates: 43.63770,-79.45630

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:07