Categories: Things To Do

An iconic Toronto spot just reopened after a multi-year restoration

Image via City of Toronto

After years of waiting, the historic and iconic Allan Gardens Conservatory Palm House has reopened in Toronto! Allan Gardens, an indoor botanical garden in the city, is made up of five greenhouses, with the Palm House being one of them. The greenhouse had been temporarily closed since 2022, but we are so back, baby.

Built in 1860 (and rebuilt again in 1910 following a fire), the Palm House needed a bit of a facelift to remain at Allan Gardens. The project’s intentions were “to preserve and protect the structure’s architectural heritage fabric, while conserving the cultural heritage value and heritage attributes of the building for future generations to enjoy,” according to the City of Toronto.

So, what’s new with this historic spot? The restorations and renovations included “window glazing, glass cladding replacement and functional modernization of the ventilation and air quality systems and controls.”

The Palm House officially reopened to the public on May 14, 2025.

Visiting Allan Gardens Conservatory is completely free, which makes it such an amazing spot to visit in the summer. A trip here isn’t complete without seeing all of the other greenhouses on-site, which include:

Northwest House: Arid: featuring a large display of “unusual” cacti and succulents.
Northeast House: Tropical: featuring a showcase of plants from equatorial regions.
Southwest House: Orchid and Bromeliad: featuring equatorial plants and other floral displays.
Southeast House: Temperate: featuring seasonal flower shows and a Koi pond.

Free summer activity? Mark this one down, Toronto.