Kanata, ON
CLOSED! Thanks to the horrors of flying via Canada 3000 Airlines during their acquisition of Royal Airlines, I missed the very narrow window available to me for visiting the Hard Rock Kanata before it closed for the week... all I got for my trouble was to take this photo of the outside. And, since once again the evil people at HRC Corporate decided to close a cafe with NO NOTICE, I had no opportunity to go back and see it before it was gone (bastards!). Oh well, since I at least tried to make a go of it, the HRC Kanata has the distinction of being my first (and hopefully last) "1/2 visit!"

Montreal, QU
Located on the outskirts of the Old Montreal district, the HRC Montreal is a beautiful restoration property that is actually worth your time and effort to visit (as opposed to the recent crop of "mall cafes" that seem to be popping up). Apparently, the main level can be cleared as a dance floor, but upstairs seating is fairly limited, so it must be a rare event. The Beatles (in Sgt. Pepper outfits) are immortalized in an odd "Lucy in the Sky" stained glass window that I wish somebody could explain to me!

Niagara Falls, ON
This is a decent cafe in the Niagara Casino complex that is marred by the fact that it has stupid parking. Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid parking. I can say without reservation that the parking here is the worst I have ever experienced. When I am elected president of the United States, I fully intend to end my stance against nuclear weapons, declare war on Canada, then nuke the parking garage at the Niagara Casino/Hotel complex until nothing remains but a radiation-soaked crater. I will then hunt down the person who created the automated parking payment machine there and beat him... severely! Is this Hard Rock worth visiting? Certainly. Is it worth the aggravation associated with parking here? Not unless a root canal is your idea of a good time. If you plan on visiting, I suggest that you walk, swim, taxi, or parachute to the property.

Ottawa, ON
I had fairly low expectations for Ottawa, as it is one of those cities you rarely hear about here in the States... the only thing I knew about it was that it was the capital of Canada. Well, as it turns out, the city is filled with surprises... majestic old buildings, beautiful gardens, and friendly people. The Hard Rock is perfectly located in the historic Byward Market area, and has fantastic outdoor table service. Well worth a visit, this property is the perfect finish to an afternoon of rumaging through the numerous shops and stalls of the market. Highly recommended.

Skydome, ON
A very cool addition to the Hard Rock chain, this nice property is attached to the Toronto SkyDome and overlooks the home playing field of the Bluejays baseball team. With most of the "wall space" occupied with a huge bay window, memorabilia is a bit scant, but a real effort was made to make the most of it. When I visited, the Yonge Street Toronto cafe was closed, so business here was booming... I can only imagine how insane it gets when there is an actual game being played!

Toronto, ON
When I first stopped here in July of 2001, it was closed for remodeling (and it probably deserved it... it is Hard Rock #2 after all!). Trying again in December of 2002, I found that the new interior closely models the Chicago renovation, with big glass showcases hilighting memorabilia in a rainbow of rotating colors. While this is not my favorite of the Hard Rock "styles" it is not totally out of place, and does at least attempt to keep some ties to the established Hard Rock "look." Overalll a nice part of the chain, but nothing spectacular. Next door is the Hard Rock run "Club 227," a nightclub for people who want a little more action than a restaurant provides.

Vancouver, BC
CLOSED! At first, this Hard Rock appears to be a disappointment... a generic storefront on a non-descript street. Until, that is, you walk inside! The old addage "don't judge a book by its cover" definitely holds true here. This beautifully appointed property has an imaginative multi-story layout featuring a cool guitar-shaped bar and plenty of funky memorabilia. One of the more unique Hard Rocks I've visited, and well worth a stop for anyone finding them self in the beautiful city of Vancouver.

Whistler, BC
CLOSED! As anybody who has made the scenic 2 hour drive from Vancouver to the Whistler Ski Resort can tell you... half the fun is getting there! This incredible property is a ski lodge with all the trimmings... from a rock fireplace to beautifully hand-carved wood fixtures. The atmosphere is soothing and cozy, the memorabilia noteworthy, and the hand-painted ceiling mural a must-see. Probably one of the more unique "uses" of a Hard Rock property that I've seen. I am devastated to think what has become of all the hard work that was put into this building now that they've closed it. If anybody has interior photos, I would love to see them!