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Northern Casino Resorts

Ottawa, Ontario · entry 19+

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa: our review

Last revised · facts verified

Hard Rock's first fully integrated resort in the country welcomed its first guests on July 3, 2025, which makes it the youngest casino hotel we review. Expect 150 rooms (22 are suites), a casino with 1,500-plus slots that never closes, a Council Oak steakhouse and Hard Rock LIVE, with room for 2,200. Guests must be 19 or older everywhere, the hotel included.

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

Go if: Adults-only weekends of live music, steak and round-the-clock gaming.
Think twice if: Anyone travelling with you is under 19; the rule covers every inch of the property, rooms included.

Strictly for grown-ups

Hard Rock spent $350 million turning the old Rideau Carleton casino site into this resort, which welcomed its first guests on July 3, 2025, and the company describes it as its first fully integrated property in the country. Hard Rock International runs it under OLG. Everything about a visit flows from one rule: anyone under 19 is barred from every part of the property, from the casino to the hotel to the restaurants.

The rooms

There are 150 rooms in total, and 22 are suites. The two entry categories, Deluxe King and Deluxe Queen, are each 389 sq ft, and the Queen can sleep four. Moving up, Silver and Gold Suites add separate living space, and Gold adds a bar area and a freestanding tub. Hard Rock's "Sound of Your Stay" programme can send up a curated selection of vinyl, or a guitar to play in your room.

Gaming

Doors never close, every day of the year. The floor has more than 1,500 slots and round-the-clock tables, among them blackjack, roulette, craps and mini baccarat, plus a newly added baccarat room and high-limit VIP gaming. The Unity by Hard Rock loyalty programme (Star, Legend and Icon, with an invitation-only X level above) also lowers the cost of valet and the shuttle.

Music, live and free

Hard Rock LIVE, a 23,000-square-foot room, seats 1,900 and has a 2,200 capacity limit. A smaller space, The Joint, fits from 25 to 400 guests. Friday and Saturday nights bring free live music to the Council Oak Lounge stage, and the Hard Rock Cafe books tribute and cover acts with no admission charge.

Dining

The flagship is Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, patterned on the first Council Oak at Florida's Seminole Hard Rock and serving brunch on Sundays, 10 am to 3 pm. Casual options are YOUYU Noodle Bar, Brick'd Italian Kitchen and the Hard Rock Cafe, and Constant Grind, a café in the Marketplace, runs 24/7.

Gym, pool, parking

Your room key opens Body Rock, a Technogym-equipped gym, at any hour. A pool doesn't appear on the amenity pages the hotel publishes, so assume there isn't one. The 24/7 valet costs $20 if you're not a member, $15 at Star, $10 at Legend, and nothing at Icon or X. Two EV chargers are available.

Transport

The airport is only about two miles off. For transit, a resort shuttle connects to two O-Train stations, Leitrim and Uplands, for $5 one way or $3.50 for Unity members, payable by card or tap. Harness racing next door came to an end in March 2026.

Our take

For the newest rooms in the capital region and the best live music of any casino hotel its size, this is the pick. It's built for couples and friend groups; families can't come at all.

Before you book: common questions

What date did Hard Rock Ottawa open?

July 3, 2025.

Is Hard Rock Ottawa open to guests under 19?

No. You must be 19 or older to enter any area of the property, including the hotel rooms and restaurants.

Does Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa have a swimming pool?

We couldn't find one on the hotel's published amenity pages, which mention a 24-hour gym. Check with the hotel if you need a pool.

Where these facts come from

Fact check: October 23, 2026, against the sources above. Hotels change rates, fees and hours without warning, so confirm anything important directly before you book. If a detail here has gone stale, email us. Next stop: Casino Hotels in Ontario, or our full ranking.