Rock your world
IAN STURGESS checks into New York City’s Hard Rock Hotel for a music-infused visit of note
NEW YORK has a rich musical heritage and the Hard Rock exploits this to the full in the famous tradition of the brand which reaches back to its beginnings in London in 1971.
From the $15,000-a-night Rock Star penthouse suite on the 36th floor to the Venue concert hall in the basement, the 446-room hotel celebrates the Big Apple’s musical energy while offering a luxurious base from which to explore.
While you can breakfast to the backdrop of Amy Winehouse or the Rolling Stones, the rock element is a subtle presence, allowing a pleasant stay for those who don’t know their Muse from their Metallica.
Rooms offer floor-to-ceiling windows, a king-sized bed, a large flatscreen TV, Lavazza espresso machine, fridge, safe, armchairs and a table. There’s a well-stocked bathroom with shower, and a semi-transparent life-size image of Bruce Springsteen set into the door!
Music is woven into the very fabric of the building. Metal ropes run from floor to ceiling in the lobby atrium mimicking guitar strings, soundwave patterns are built into the marble flooring and even the push buttons in the lifts look like tiny cymbals.
But the big attraction for music fans is the wealth of memorabilia on display.
Entering the hotel, you step into an Instagrammer’s dream with a silver mannequin on a plinth wearing an Alicia Keys yellow dress.
The walls are lined with cabinets displaying items such as Bob Dylan’s 12-string Martin acoustic, a love letter from Frank Sinatra to Mia Farrow, a James Brown jacket, and a large assortment of guitars.
The hotel offers an ‘immersive guest experience’ which allows you to dive into a curated playlist inspired by the city you are staying in. You can even order a Fender [guitar] from room service!
Sessions is the main culinary hub of the hotel set in an expansive circular space on the first floor. There’s an extensive breakfast menu, with cooked fare, a bagel cart (white sturgeon caviar, anyone?) and fruit platters. The soft scrambled eggs with crab flakes hit the spot.
Lunches range from huge club sandwiches, octopus carpaccio and burgers to salmon, chicken breast with mushroom ragout and mac and cheese. Starters are around $18 with mains going up to $38 for the prime ribeye.
For fine dining, head downstairs to elegant NYY Steak, an atmospheric haven with low lighting, wood-panelled walls and a well-stocked bar. This carnivore’s paradise has a wide selection of cuts and for the true connoisseur with a fat wallet, you can even sample exclusive Kobe wagyu beef at $65 an ounce (minimum order 4oz).
The coolest place to relax is the RT60 bar and lounge on the 34th floor, with its endless selection of cocktails, shareable bites and two rooftop terraces from which to sip an old fashioned and gaze across the twinkling lights of Manhattan.
If you want to hunt out real-life music, Times Square is on your doorstep and Broadway’s theatreland and Carnegie Hall just around the corner.
New York and the Hard Rock Hotel definitely form a perfect duet.