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Casino Weekends Canada

Ottawa, Ontario · gaming age 19+

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa: weekend review

Last revised · facts verified

Open since July 3, 2025, this is the newest hotel we cover and Canada's first fully integrated Hard Rock resort: 150 rooms (22 suites), a never-closing casino with 1,500-plus slots, Council Oak steaks and Hard Rock LIVE for up to 2,200. The age rule is simple — 19+, everywhere.

  • Rooms & views8.0
  • Casino floor8.0
  • Dining8.5
  • Shows & events8.5
  • Pool, spa & fitness7.0
  • Getting there8.5

Ideal for: Grown-up weekends: live music, a Council Oak steak and a casino with no closing time.
Look elsewhere if: Anyone travelling with you is under 19 — that rule covers the hotel and restaurants too.

Why book it

A $350 million expansion turned the old Rideau Carleton casino into Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, which opened July 3, 2025. Hard Rock International operates it under OLG and calls it the brand's first fully integrated resort in Canada. Know the rule before you plan: under-19s can't enter any part of the property — hotel and restaurants included.

Rooms worth asking for

150 rooms, 22 of which are suites. Deluxe King and Deluxe Queen measure 389 sq ft; the Queen takes up to four guests. Silver and Gold Suites add living space, and the Gold brings a bar area and a freestanding tub. Ask about "Sound of Your Stay" for a curated vinyl selection and a guitar in the room.

Friday night on the floor

Doors never close — 24/7/365. More than 1,500 slots, round-the-clock tables (blackjack, craps, roulette, mini baccarat and others), a new baccarat room and VIP high-limit gaming. Unity by Hard Rock tiers run Star, Legend, Icon and invite-only X, with members paying less for valet and the shuttle.

Saturday: dinner, then a show

Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, modelled on the Seminole Hard Rock original in Florida, is the big dinner; it also does Sunday brunch, 10 am–3 pm. Brick'd Italian Kitchen, YOUYU Noodle Bar and the Hard Rock Cafe keep it casual, and Constant Grind in the Marketplace pours coffee around the clock.

Hard Rock LIVE spans 23,000 sq ft: up to 1,900 seated, 2,200 maximum. The Joint hosts 25–400. Free music too — the Council Oak Lounge stage on Friday and Saturday nights, and tribute and cover acts at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Sunday morning, slowly

Body Rock gym, Technogym kit, open 24 hours with a room key. No pool appears in the hotel's published amenity pages, so don't pack for one.

Logistics

  • Airport: about two miles away.
  • O-Train link: property shuttle to Leitrim and Uplands stations, $5 one way or $3.50 with Unity; card or tap only.
  • Valet 24/7: $20 non-members, $15 Star, $10 Legend, free for Icon and X; two EV chargers.
  • Next door: harness racing ended in March 2026.

Our call

The newest rooms around Ottawa and, size for size, the best live-music calendar of any Canadian casino hotel. Great for couples and friends; not an option with kids.

What weekenders ask us

When did the Hard Rock in Ottawa open?

On July 3, 2025.

Is Hard Rock Ottawa 19+ even for hotel guests?

Yes. Guests must be 19 or older to enter any part of the property, the hotel and restaurants included.

Will I find a pool at Hard Rock Ottawa?

We didn't: the hotel's published amenity pages mention a 24-hour gym but no pool. Check with the hotel if you need one.

Where our facts come from

We verified the facts on this page on October 23, 2026 against the sources listed above. Rates, fees and hours change, so confirm with the hotel before booking. Found something outdated? Let us know. See more in Casino Hotels in Ontario or the complete top 10.