Celebrated Canadian chef Matty Matheson set to open restaurant in new Hamilton Arena

International culinary star Matty Matheson is set to open a restaurant at the new Hamilton Arena, which is scheduled to open later this year, Oak View Group (OVG) has announced.

The celebrity chef grew up Ontario's Niagara region and says ‘we’re building something special for Hamilton’

Desmond Brown · CBC News · Posted: May 08, 2025 10:31 AM EDT | Last Updated: May 8

Matty Matheson smiling slightly in front of a microphone, wearing a bright red toque. — Matty Matheson in the Q studio in Toronto. (Vivian Rashotte/CBC)

International culinary star Matty Matheson is set to open a restaurant at the new Hamilton Arena later this year, the developer group has announced.

The Colorado-based Oak View Group (OVG) announced the new partnership Wednesday in a news release, saying the celebrated Canadian chef and "cultural icon" will bring his passion for food, music and live entertainment to the city.

"Matty is not only one of Canada's most celebrated chefs — he's a hometown hero with a powerful voice and a unique vision," OVG chairman and CEO Tim Leiweke said in the release.

"His creativity, energy, and connection to this community make him the ideal partner to help us deliver a truly local, unforgettable experience at Hamilton Arena."

Matty Matheson sits in an armchair against an all-black background. — Canadian chef and restaurateur Matty Matheson sits down with Q's Tom Power at the TIFF Lightbox in Toronto to discuss his new cookbook, Soups, Salads, Sandwiches, in front of a sold-out live audience. (CBC)

Matheson was born in New Brunswick and grew up in Fort Erie, Ont. He's a three-time New York Times best-selling author — Matty Matheson: A Cookbook, Home Style Cookery and Soups, Salads, Sandwiches.

He's also one of the executive producers of the Emmy-winning seriesThe Bear and performs in a hard-core rock band, Pig Pen — a name that pays homage to the late Pig Pen who played keyboards and piano for one of Mattheson's favourite bands, The Grateful Dead.

"What Oak View Group is doing here is incredible, and I'm honoured to be a part of it," Matheson said in the news release.

"Bringing people together with amazing food, great service and live music – it's everything I love. We're building something special for Hamilton, and I'm pumped for you to see this come together."

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Matheson plans to open a 9,500-square-foot full-service restaurant and bar with a capacity for up to 185 guests.

It will operate on both event and non-event days and include a speakeasy style pub, OVG said. Additionally, Matheson and his restaurant group, Our House H.C., will design and curate the menu for three concession stands featuring items from his other restaurants.

An arena under construction as seen from ground level. There is dust in the air, and cranes parked where the ice surface would be. — Managers with Oak View Group, the company overseeing the Hamilton Arena redevelopment, toured reporters through the site in March 2025. They said then the project was about 60 per cent complete. (Justin Chandler/CBC)

OVG is developing the new Hamilton Arena along with the Hamilton Urban Precinct Entertainment Group. The venue is set for the former location of FirstOntario Centre in downtown Hamilton.

It's scheduled to open in late 2025, and will host concerts, sporting events, family entertainment, trade shows, and community events, "offering an unparalleled premium hospitality experience," OVG said.

In March organizers of Canada's biggest night in music — the Juno Awards — announced it's returning to Hamilton in 2026, and Juno events will be held at the newly transformed venue.