Ottawa has just hit a high note with the grand opening of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the first fully integrated Hard Rock resort in Canada.
Opening its doors on July 3, 2025, this $350 million venue transformed the historic Rideau Carleton Raceway into a 150,000 sq. ft. entertainment titan that merges gaming, dining, accommodations and live performances under one roof.
The mammoth space offers 150 guest rooms, including 22 luxury suites in the hotel, while the gaming portion of the property has more than 1,000 slot machines and 40 live-action table games, plus high-limit areas, electronic table options and a dedicated Baccarat room.
Of course, the Hard Rock experience would be incomplete without the food! Food lovers can choose between fine dining at Council Oak Steaks & Seafood restaurant, classic American fare at the Hard Rock Café, or one of the diverse quick-service outlets in the Marketplace, which has Italian and Shawarma spots, with an Asian noodle bar opening later in the year.
Lounge spots and the signature “Rock Shop” for memorabilia are all there for you to take advantage of, too.
Finally, at the core of the resort is Hard Rock Live, an 1,800-seat (expandable to 2,200) performance venue designed for concerts, comedy, boxing and more — complete with top-tier AV tech and a lobby styled after Ottawa’s rolling hills.
In typical Hard Rock style, Authentic music history is also woven throughout, as it is in all the brand’s locations: 120+ pieces of memorabilia honour Canadian icons like Joni Mitchell and Gord Downie, along with international music legends such as John Lennon (whose “Give Peace a Chance” sign from Montreal is on display).
A massive Maple-leaf guitar ceiling installation near the entrance is a unique touch that fuses Canada’s musical and sporting legacies.
The resort’s launch last week included a dramatic Guitar Smash ceremony and a performance by The Canadian Tenors.
Long-term, the new location set to generate over 600 local jobs and enhance regional tourism. And, it’s expanding even further in late 2025, with larger casino floors, enhanced event infrastructure, and additional dining and retail options as renovations continue.
This debut comes after the Hard Rock Hotel London opened its doors in that Ontario city back in April. While that marked the company’s first hotel in Canada, this Ottawa outpost is the first hotel and casino.
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