The Hard Rock Hotel oozes good times — from its rockin’ concerts and its lush pool complex to its sleek nightclub and swanky restaurants. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself partying instead of sleeping at this hotel.
The vibe:
Young, fun, rock ‘n’ roll all night, party all day
What we love:
The Hard Rock Hotel is a mecca for music fans. You can bang your head all day long to the music being piped in everywhere from the casino to the restaurants to the elevators. The hotel is also home to dozens of display cases of impressive music memorabilia including clothing, instruments and other belongings from famous artists. You can see everything from the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s jumpsuit to the King of Pop’s glove.
Live music reigns supreme at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and The Joint has an awesome reputation. Pretty much anyone who’s anyone has played here from Bon Jovi to Paul McCartney to The Killers and Linkin Park. The state-of-the-art facility boasts pristine sound, projection and lighting systems that are so advanced they defy any simple description. Simply put, there’s no better place in town to see and hear your favorite performers.
Insider tips:
As we’ve already established, the pool area at the Hard Rock is the place to see and be seen so when it’s time to have a bite to eat, we recommend eating at either Pink Taco or Culinary Dropout, which both have outdoor patios near the pool. Take a seat on the patio at Pink Taco on a weekend afternoon, sit back and enjoy the best people watching you can imagine as the partiers parade past on their way to the pool. The patio at Culinary Dropout is a bit more laid back but is a great place to eat al fresco amongst the lush setting of the pool area.
The Joint may be the place to see big shows at the Hard Rock but the hotel also has a very cool, much more intimate venue called Vinyl that hosts smaller bands, local acts, and comedy stars.
The Hard Rock Hotel has some pretty awesome suites. If you’re in town for a bachelor party, check out the Bachelor Pad Suite, which has a full bar, dancer pole, two private lap dance booths and a mirror over the bed. You can also stay in the Real World Suite, which was featured on the MTV show. It sleeps up to 10 guests, has a large mosaic hot tub with views of the Strip and there’s a single-lane bowling alley inside. These rooms will make you feel like a rock star. But unless you have an American Express Centurion Card, make sure you don’t trash them like one.
Good to know:
The Hard Rock Hotel is not on the Strip. It’s located about a mile off Las Vegas Boulevard on the corner of Harmon Avenue and Paradise Road. If you’re in shape or you’re trying to rack up steps on your Fitbit, it is walkable, but definitely not in the summer heat or in your clubbing heels. The hotel does have a free shuttle to the Strip that runs from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., but most people other than your grandparents are out past 5 p.m., so be prepared to pay for a cab ride back.
Crazy pool parties, loud rock music and a younger party crowd are what make the Hard Rock fun for the 21 and older crowd, but it’s not really the best place to stay if you have kids traveling with you or if you’re looking for quiet, laid back vacation.