July 18, 2025
Piano Piano has officially opened their doors at 62 King St E. You’ll find it in the King John Building, across from Gore Park, wrapped in a pink floral mural that’s hard to miss. This marks their seventh location, but it’s their first in Hamilton.
Inside, it’s a full-on vibe. Most likely, you’ll first spot house cats, jungle cats, tigers, all the cats! Because of course, it’s Hamilton (Tiger-Cats… get it?). Then it’s velvet everywhere. Giant flowers hang from way up in the skylight over the bar. It’s moody, cheeky, warm, and somehow still classy. Designed by the team at Future Studio with Creative Director Nikki Leigh McKean, the space feels thought-out without taking itself too seriously. You could bring a date here, your friends, your coworkers, or your out-of-town aunt who “just wants to go somewhere cool.”
We visited for a late lunch and were immediately welcomed by staff who were friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly proud to be part of the opening team. Since we were there for lunch, we had to get the Lunch Special, which runs daily from 12 to 4PM and includes an appetizer, any pizza or pasta, and dessert for $36. Solid value, and a great way to try a few things.
Here’s what we had:
Chopped Salad, kale, salami, olives, onions, pickled cucumber, chickpeas, crispy polenta, feta, and Brussels sprouts. Crunchy, salty, and really satisfying. Every bite was full of flavour.
The Spaniard pizza, with Merguez sausage, roasted red peppers, red onion, pecorino romano, and Sicilian oregano. Spicy, smoky, and just a little sweet from the roasted pepper.
For dessert, housemade lemon sorbet with a mint garnish. Light, bright, and exactly what I wanted after a rich main. The perfect digestif!
We also sampled a couple of things from the Happy Hour menu, which starts daily at 3PM, with snacks available until 5 and drinks until 6:
Prosciutto Croquettes alla Vodka, served with a silky vodka sauce. Crispy on the outside, creamy inside with just enough salt and richness. $5 during Happy Hour, which is kind of wild.
The NO*GRONI (non-alcoholic), made with NOA spirits and bitters, orange zest, and rosemary-orange bitters. It was layered, citrusy, and a little bitter in the best way. A good option if you’re skipping the booze but still want something complex.
To bring an end to an amazing meal, as suggested by our server, we finished with an Oro Caffè espresso. It was smooth and rich, worth going back for, on its own. They offer decaf too, which is always appreciated.
Now, let’s talk specials, because Piano Piano is doing something every day of the week:
Lunch Special
Served seven days a week from 12 to 4PM
Appetizer + any pizza or pasta + dessert for $36
Happy Hour
Starts every day at 3PM
Snacks available until 5PM, drinks until 6PM
Dinner for Two
$148 for a full tasting experience
Includes a 750ml bottle of PIANO PIANO x Tawse red or white wine, or Prosecco
Your choice of a snack and an appetizer
Any two pizzas or pastas
A couple of tiramisus to wrap it all up
Family Style Dining
$69 per person for groups of four or more
The kitchen selects a variety of plates for the table
“Sometimes the best family-style dinners revolve around great company and large platters of food down the middle of the table!”
Piano Piano is known for being flexible when it comes to dietary needs, and this location is no different. Many of their pastas, appetizers, and mains can be made gluten-free. Plant-based and dairy-free options are also available.
The restaurant name, Piano Piano, is taken from the Italian phrase piano piano va lontano, meaning “slowly, slowly we go further.” The idea is to slow down, enjoy your meal, and enjoy each other.
We’ll be back soon for dinner. The Canestri alla Vodka, with ’nduja, guanciale, chili, tomato, and parmigiano, is calling our name. With a side of Nonna’s Meatballs!
Welcome to the neighbourhood, Piano Piano. We’re glad you’re here.
📍 Piano Piano Hamilton
62 King Street East, Hamilton, ON
🌐 www.pianopianotherestaurant.com
If you’re a Downtown Hamilton BIA member business and would like to be featured in a blog post, please email Melanie at melanie@downtownhamilton.org.