GO TO CROCK A DOODLE INSTEAD (723 Gerrard St East). My family has gone to The Clay Room for more than ten years. I've completed many pieces there, including a yearly handprint ornament for my daughter. This time, after choosing our pieces and following their six-colour guideline for children, I was confronted by a clerk who told me my ten-year-old "only needs four colours" and that "it's four when we're busy." The tone was hostile, and the reasoning made no sense. Customers pay for the piece, the studio time, and the firing. Colour limits serve no purpose beyond making it easier for the establishment to handle customers. The same employee who was rude and hostile later called to say she hadn't realized we had more than one piece and that we could use six colours after all. By then, the experience was already compromised, so we did not return. Crock A Doodle was a direct contrast. Seven minutes away. Transit-friendly. Every table stocked with the full set of thirty colours. The price of the item covers everything: paint, time, and firing. It was straightforward and worth it. read more

Loved the experience and warm atmosphere! Had tons to choose from and excellent help from the staff. We'll be coming again! Thank you!!!

A wonderful little gem for kids' parties (they've got party packages), mother-daughter outings, or girlfriends wanting to chill and do something crafty. (There were some fathers and daughters enjoying themselves too!) Walk-ins welcomed. (That's what we did!) I haven't had experience at other ceramic painting shops before, so I can't really compare to any competitors. So this is based on my first-time experience - and it was really great! My girlfriends and I wanted to do something artsy, low-budget and relaxing. And thanks to great timing, there was a group deal for The Clay Room some months ago! So the 4 of us bought the deal of the day, and headed down to the Danforth for a girls day out. The Clay Room was bustling with activity on that Saturday afternoon. Not packed and uncomfortable but it had a nice vibe and there was steady traffic. There was a private birthday party downstairs, the benches upstairs were about half full when we arrived. The instructions for us newbies were a little confusing at first. There was an instruction sheet posted on the wall, but it was located in an awkward spot and hard to read from a distance. There was only really one staffer behind the counter (another was working the party downstairs, and another was at the kiln in the next room) - so she was kept busy with one group at a time. The staff was friendly enough, and we understood that they had influx of traffic because of the group deal. So, you get there, and you: 1. Pick up an order form (you need this to pick up your piece after it's fired) 2. Choose a ceramic item (prices range depending on its size) and copy its code number onto your form 2. Select paint colours from the paint chip wall (kids only have choice of 3, whereas adults have unlimited selections) - right down their numbers on your form 3. Give your form to the staff and they'll give you the actual paints in a bucket. And you're set to paint! The store is equipped with stencils, hair dryers, sink, sponges and brushes for your use. There is a Studio Fee which covers your usage of all their space and equipment. It also includes the firing cost. It takes a week for your item to be fired in the kiln. So plan to pick up your final artwork at a later date. There is no time limit - which is great! But mainly because... it does take a LONG time to paint. Especially if you want a good solid coverage of paint on your piece. At least 3 coats of paint, and you need to dry each layer before continuing onto the next. Of course, a smaller piece of ceramic would take less time too. And depending on how many colours you're using and how much detail you're adding to it. I painted a medium sized robot money bank (that's right - a robot! They have a wonderful selection of ceramic pieces - not just the usual plates and vases, but some really fun pieces that make great gifts), with 4 colours. And it took a solid 3 hours. So be warned to plan around meal times and such. :P My friends and I all agree we'd go back again! Happy crafting! :) read more

See all

This place is adorable! My boyfriend took me here on a rainy day and we had tons of fun. The concept of the Clay Room is that you can paint your own moulds and the store will help you glaze them. They have a wide selection of colours for you to choose from to truly bring out your inner artist. We came here in the afternoon and decided to paint a piggy bank and a fish. It took around 4 hours per person to completely cover the mould and add our personal touches. I recommend going early in the morning to make sure that you have sufficient time to finish your painting. The store closes a bit early on the weekends so you may have to go back to finish up your painting. Keep in mind you will have to wait another week for the glazing to be complete. The price is a bit on the higher end but reasonable given that most activities in Toronto are fairly on the pricey side. Overall this is a great place to visit if you are looking for a fun activity on a rainy day or even a sunny day! read more

The Clay Room - Before - Paint-Your-Own Pottery Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

See all

What I got: Group package ($25/pp covers a $15 pottery item). My item cost $15 Pros: - Came here with a large group for a corporate event ~20 people, for a 3 hour pottery painting event from 7-10pm. These are the extended hours for large groups. - There is a wide selection to choose from, plates, teapots and spoons. - Each paint container comes with a tile showing the real colour once it's glazed, when you first paint it, the colour looks very faint even after 3 coats but if you see the pictures, the colour becomes darker after firing and glazing. - There are also smaller needlepoint paints that allow you to make more detailed patterns. - The two ladies helping with the event were knowledgeable and answered your questions about how to make your piece turn out nice. - Food is allowed at the tables though you probably won't be eating if you're hands are dirty. They offer aprons though! - Last Protip: if you want to see what kinds of things to paint or want inspiration, go on the clay room Instagram to see what others have painted. Cons: - It takes time to glaze and fire all the pottery pieces so they will give you a paper for you to come back and pick up your piece. I went 3 weeks later and it was still there. read more

See all

Went here for my boyfriend for a date night and had a great time! The store is really fun and had a huge selection of paintable ceramics from plates to massive lighthouses. We settled on a piggy bank for me and a "kitchen creature" (an animal that holds a sponge) that my boyfriend turned into a plant pot. There were some kiddos in the room which makes sense, but it was still a nice date spot. The woman helping us was very kind and helpful and gave us the whole run down. Ended up paying about 60 dollars for the two of us which is kinda pricy but worth it for the unique experience of making something of our own without having to start from scratch. Over all a fun place to stretch your creative muscle no matter the age or occasion :) read more

I've never had so much fun before! You're probably wondering, "How can it be so much fun when all you're doing is painting pottery?" Well, first off, there's a lot of different things that you can paint! There are cups, piggy banks, flower pots, bowls, plates, etc. Once you picked your piece, you can get started with the painting! The staff is extremely friendly and helpful and you're not rushed at all to complete your painting. The best part is picking it up a week later to see your creation which was very exciting! I would love to come back here to paint something else but it is a bit pricy hobby. read more

See all

We came here with a Groupon voucher after making the decision that this could be an activity for the entire family. The process is straightforward. You choose something from their inventory (they have plates, cups, vases, decorative figures, piggy banks - all kinds of stuff!), then you select your colors and off you go. We decided on a large plate and a salad bowl. It took us about an hour to paint those 2 items with 3 coats of paint. Then our son added his hand prints in a different color for the final touch and we were done. It takes them about a week or two to burn your items in their oven, so they ask you to mark them with your name on the bottom and they give you a pickup slip. When we returned, we were pleasantly surprised. Our plate and the bowl have a glossy finish and look just great. They told us the glaze is durable too and so far I can vouch for that. Both items have been in use for the past 3 months and so far none if it has a scratch. This is a great place for everybody who likes crafting. read more

Came here with my mom and sister for Mother's Day on a Sunday and we were able to get a seat right away. They have a large selection of pieces to choose from and tons of paint colours (you can also use as many as you want). There was a small "studio" fee based on the size of your piece but we sat there literally all day so it's well worth it. They also let you come back if you don't finish your piece in time which is amazing. One of my favourite ceramic painting shops by far; would definitely recommend! read more

The Clay Room - Paint-Your-Own Pottery Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

See all

This place was awesome! Came with friends to make Father's Day gifts with our infants and I was highly impressed. The employee was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful and not to mention just downright lovely. She deserves a raise!! Thank you for being so accommodating with our strollers...we'll definitely be back. read more

I had so much fun at this place! It really brings out the inner child in you but it's not only for children. Plenty of adults painting away, working on their masterpieces. My friend made an owl mug and I made a cow bank. It's pretty straight forward, you pick an item or two from the several clay moulds they have, then you select the colours you want to use, pick up your tools, and start painting. If you're anything like me and need some time to get those creative juices flowing be prepared to spend a couple hours there. It's on the pricier side so I'm not sure how frequently I would go back, but it's a great experience so I would definitely recommend you try it at least once. read more

See all

My friend bought my friend & I a GroupOn voucher for the Clay Room. I had never been and it seemed like a fun idea for two crafty girls. We went back in July on a Saturday and I just picked up my Gnome today. I was very lucky that it was still there! We presented our coupon and the helpful teen showed us the process: Pick something to paint, decide on the colours, pick your brushes, and how much paint to apply. It was a nice to have some girl time. We had to edit our conversation because there was a little boy next to us with his Mom & Grandma. They were all having a hoot watching him paint a bowl for his friend's birthday. He must have been about 4ish? They have parties and lots of fun things to paint. When is the last time that you got crafty & made something for someone? read more

I made a jug here with my girlfriend for our two year anniversary. A great place to go, and not just for kids.

On Tuesday August 16 our day care centre was due to have a company on site to provide Lego workshops for our 3 groups. Unfortunately the company (Bricks 4 Kidz) forgot about us. The Clay Room is around the corner from the centre and they happily accommodated (with much organization on their part) all of our children and staff at the last minute. The staff at the Clay Room are amazing!! They are super friendly and extremely helpful. I would recommend this business to anyone, whether it be for a family, friends or child care centre visit. Thank you Clay Room for making the children very happy that day! :) read more

I have visited the Clay Room several times throughout the years, always a good experience. Planned on going with my daughter this March break. Check web site to see if anything has changed. No reservations needed. Dropped in on Monday March 16 2015. The attended their told me I had to wait for a space to become available ( 10 unused seats ) as she was holding seats for person no show as yet ...? I explained to her that her web site indicated no reservations need, drop ins , so how was she holding spaces. She otherwise rejected business . She took my number said she would call me in 15 minutes if customers who apparently didn't have reservation didn't show. After 30 minutes she calls me , left message and says customers didn't show . Bad business. This has made me bitter. Not sure if new owners or not, but I think attendant needs a lesson in customer service and business savvy. Will not return. read more

This was a fun experience for me, my little sister (the birthday girl), and even my fiancé (who isn't much for arts and crafts). For a set of four coasters with container and a beautifully shaped mug, we paid ~$65. Granted, pricey if you wanted to just pick those up from any store, but you're also paying for a great time, similar to going to an amusement park or a play. You get unlimited time to paint your pieces - yes, you can even come back a different day! We were there for 4 hours working on them and are very satisfied with how they came out from the kiln. The selection could be a bit better, but you'll have this issue anywhere you go, as people have different tastes and styles. Ultimately, there is plenty to choose from if you're wanting to paint a mug, vase, carafe, plate, or any other sort of food vessel - the end result is food safe! Our coasters have received plenty of compliments and I highly recommend coming here to design unique gifts for loved ones. read more