HARD ROCK hallelujah
This hotel in the middle of Dublin’s city centre will be music to guests’ ears... By
Whether you’re looking to unwind with a city centre break or for the prime spot to get ready to take in some of Dublin’s music scene, the Hard Rock Hotel is sure to hit the right note. The first Hard Rock Cafe was opened in London in 1971, and has since expanded into more than 74 countries — and into not just cafes, but casinos and hotels. There are more than 31 Hard Rock Hotels around the world, with the Dublin location opening its doors in early 2020.
Located on the quieter end of Temple Bar — and with both Luas and bus stops just a couple minutes’ walk away — it’s an ideal spot for a mini staycation.
And its location is sure to delight music lovers, with both the 3Olympia Theatre and Whelan’s on the Hard Rock Hotel’s doorstep — and a number of record shops, including Spindizzy and Freebird Records, within walking distance.
The Hard Rock Hotel Dublin is located in the buildings formerly known as the Exchange Buildings and Fashion House, with the colourful and Instagram-friendly Rainbow Bridge linking the two buildings.
The entrance to the hotel is located on Fleet Street, just behind the red brick facade. And from the moment we set foot through the doors, the staff were warm and welcoming — and more than ready to assist with any questions that we had.
Musical memorabilia is highlighted through the rock-themed hotel and its restaurant, ranging from signed musical instruments to charttopping records; from one of Kurt Cobain’s sweaters to Hozier’s electric guitar.
The hotel has 120 rooms, ranging from the superior room to the Rock Star Suite.
The rooms were incredibly spacious and colourful, with vibrant artwork giving nods to its music theme — in our case, a vinyl-loving robin showcasing its B*witched album — and cushions encouraging guests not to give up on their daydream.
Decorated in a sleek and modern way, the rooms also had touchpads to navigate the temperature and lighting in the room — making it even easier to switch off once you’ve settled in for the night.
The large windows let in plenty of natural light and gave us a gorgeous view of Lord
Edward Street, but blocked out the noises of the busy street — and, combined with the thick curtains, it made it feel like we were in a world away, rather than in the middle of the city centre.
We had dinner at the Zampas Bar and Restaurant, which uses the best of Irish produce to create some delicious Peruvian-inspired dishes.
The grilled nikkei peri-peri black tiger prawns, which came with grilled sourdough, were definitely an amazing way to start the meal — and from the first bite, I was already planning my next trip to the restaurant.
The chargrilled dry aged Irish sirloin steak — which was roasted in a garlic, truffle and parsley butter and came with a side of hand-cut chips — was cooked a perfect medium rare.
And in good news for those with a sweet tooth, there are plenty of delicious offerings on the menu to finish up the meal — including the chocolate dessert plate and the dulce de leche cheesecake.
Zampas’ atmosphere — and delicious cocktails — make it a great spot for a night out, whether you’re looking for a midweek catch-up with pals or to kick off the weekend.
And more recently, the team have launched Bringyour Ownvinyl sessions, which take place every Thursday from 3pm until close.
Guests will have the chance to try their hand at playing their favourite tune in the DJ booth, with the Hard Rock Hotel’s resident Vibe Manager Joe Ballance is on hand to offer tips and tricks before you get to try your hand at the decks.
There’s a stage right beside the DJ booth, where a live band kicked off the evening during our stay — and hosts live music most Friday and Saturday nights.
There’s plenty of other gems to explore in the hotel, as the Hard Rock Hotel Dublin has a range of amenities that will suit everyone’s tastes.
DJ Drez and Marti Nikko lead the on-demand Rock Om classes, a series of yoga classes suitable for all levels available on the room’s TV as well as from your personal devices.
Guests can take part in the Sound ofyour Stay programme, where you can have a Crosley turntable — and a range of vinyls — in your room, or even try your hand at playing one of the hotel’s Fender guitars.
We had the Fender Tele — complete with an amp and headphones — in our room. And while our guitar abilities lay a little more on the novice side of things, there are video guitar lessons available for anyone looking to brush up on their skills.
QR codes dotted throughout the hotel, with carefully curated and themed playlists available to showcase a range of genres — and area guides curated by local artists, designed to show off some favourites spots and must-try locations around the city.
All in all, our experience at the Hard
“Musical memorabilia is highlighted through the hotel.”
Rock Hotel Dublin was absolutely pitch perfect — and an unforgettable way to immerse ourselves in musical history.
For more information about the Hard Rock Hotel Dublin, visit