Amsterdam, Netherlands
From the photos I had seen, I had imagined that this would be a massive property... but was surprised to discover that's not the case. Though the entire building is plastered with Hard Rock logos, only two floors are actually occupied by the restaurant, making this a much cozier cafe than you would think. Even so, this HRC still boasts a great memorabilia collection, and awesome location right on the canal (and near the museum square), good food, and great service. When you add all of this to everything else the city has to offer, Amsterdam is well worth a visit.

Barcelona, Spain
This is a standard cafe that's fairly well done, and would be unremarkable if not for the great staff and amazing location in beautiful Barcelona (right near the head of the famous Las Ramblas). Every time I come to a city with such fantastic local cuisine, I can't help but be a bit disappointed in the "standardized menu" that all of the cafes adhere to. There was no way I was going to sacrifice a meal at one of Barcelona's excellent tapas bars in order to eat here, so I ended up just having desert instead. Barcelona is a "must-visit" city, and the cafe is worth a stop. Read more about my visit at — Blogography 2005.

Belfast, Northern Ireland
CLOSED! Blech. I came expecting a Hard Rock and got a generic-looking sports bar. Located in a slick glass and steel pre-fab building in the Odyssey Center Arena, I hoped they would at least attempt to make up for the very boring exterior with a nicely appointed interior... no such luck. This property deviates so drastically from the norm that only the sparse memorabilia gave you a clue you were actually IN a Hard Rock. Even worse, the merch shop was "out of stock" on numerous staples (like shot glasses and shirts!). About the only saving grace was the staff, who were both hard-working and friendly... not an easy task in a property where so little care was taken to create a warm and friendly atmosphere. Belfast deserves better, and so do Hard Rock fans.

Berlin, Germany
Maybe it's because I had just spent the last 16 hours traveling. Maybe it's because of the gloomy weather. Or maybe it's just because I had been looking forward to visiting Berlin for so long. Whatever the case, this visit has the distinction of being my first poor Hard Rock experience. The food was abysmal (my veggie burger was burnt beyond recognition and served on some crusty mass not in any way resembling a bun), the service horrible (after my "food" was delivered, I never saw my server again, and had to practically light myself on fire to get anyone to hand me my check). Overall not my best Hard Rock experience, but I guess every property has an off day.

Birmingham, England
After a train ride through the amazing English countryside, I was happy to find a very nice cafe awaiting me in Birmingham. They have rennovated a wonderful old brick building with spacious open-air ceilings and lush wood flooring and accents (including a large curved bar with suspended lighting)... at least, I think they have. The outside looks prestine and modern, so either they worked very hard to create a "lived-in" and inviting interior, or the exterior has been modernized on the front of this grand old building. Either way, a lot of love went into the HRC Birmingham, making it one of my favorites. I will absolutely stop in then next time I make it to the U.K.!

Bristol, England
Lets face it, some cities just can't support a full-fledged Hard Rock Cafe. Either there's just not enough tourism, or maybe it isn't a good fit for the local population. But now, these cities might have a shot at a Hard Rock property after all... introducing the Hard Rock Bar. Given Bristol's active nightlife (we were there on a Thursday night and the bars were packed!) it seems like a good idea. There's not a lot of memorabilia, and the interior doesn't really look like a classic Hard Rock, but it does make for a fairly good bar and has a stage for live music. The pity is that the dark woods and brass of the original Hard Rock theme would be a good look for this property, and I'm mystified as to why they chose to abandon it. And, since this is England, why not a Hard Rock Pub? — Read more about my visit at: Blogography 2004

Cardiff, Wales
At first glance, this Hard Rock had all the makings of a disaster... the entrance looks like a hole in the wall, and any expectations you have for the first Hard Rock in Wales are quickly dashed. Until you step inside. The amazing property has a fantastic bar (with a stage), three levels with excellent Hard Rock theming, a back terrace with outdoor seating, and a friendly & enthusiastic staff. Basically, everything you visit a Hard Rock for are well represented in this property, and I highly recommend it if your travels take you to the Western side of Great Britain. — Read more about my visit at: Blogography 2004

Cologne, Germany
The HRC Cologne is a fairly nice dual-level property, but kind of abandons the classic Hard Rock "look" that is the signature of most cafes. The cream-yellow paint is replaced by mustard and rust... and the beutiful wood and brass accents are missing. Still, the memorabilia is well distributed and the staff terrific, making this a worthwhile addition to the chain. — Read more about my visit at: Blogography 2004

Copenhagen, Denmark
A nifty property attached to the hugely popular Tivoli "theme park," this Hard Rock is larger than it first appears, extending out the back end into the park itself. After my disastrous experience in Berlin, I was almost dreading the thought of being disappointed again, but was rewarded with a great visit in every way. Even though the cafe was completely packed when I arrived for dinner, everybody from the merch shop cashier to the greeter to my server took the time to make sure I felt "at home." Recommended.

Dublin, Republic of Ireland
After the raging tragedy of metal and plastic that is the Hard Rock Belfast (which looks like a slick sports bar masquerading as a Hard Rock), I was a little bit nervous about visiting the new Hard Rock Dublin. Turns out I needn't have worried. The Dublin location is quite nice, returning to the classic design formula that we know and love. The interiror is a nice blend of classic Hard Rock styling and modern touches of aluminum and glass. Memorabilia is not quite as dense as you could hope for, but the cafe is deceptively large, providing a downstairs with a small bar and large second dining room with additional items to look at. The staff was eclectic and friendly, a reflection of the city itself, making this Temple Bar located cafe worth a stop when visiting the Emerald Isle. — Read more about my visit at: Blogography 2004

Edinburgh, Scotland
I am such a Hard Rock junkie that planning a vacation to see the original London HRC was not enough... I had to also take British Rail up to Scotland so I could visit the Edinburgh location as well! Interestingly enough, my joy at visiting another property was drastically overshadowed by the city of Edinburgh itself. The staff was extremely friendly, and the restaurant was not very crowded both times I ate there (a pleasant change from London's 2-hour wait!).

Leeds, England
The Hard Rock Cafe in Leeds is a bit hard to figure out. It's not a bad cafe, but it a bit of a departure from the Hard Rock formula with a cold look of glass and steel instead of the warm and inviting brass and dark woods we've come to expect. It's not quite the embarrassment that Belfast turned out to be, but could have been better had they worked on it a bit more. Still, it is worth the short trip from Manchester if you're in the area.

London, England
My pilgrimage to the original Hard Rock Cafe was, to say the least, a profound experience. There's something electric about going to the place where everything started! Sure the lines are long, the wait seems like forever, and the restaurant is always crowded... but this is the first! The food was as good as any Hard Rock (i.e. excellent). The one downside was that the property was under construction when I was there, so I didn't get a great view of the exterior. Overall, a "must-see" for any HRC fan (as if you really needed to hear that from me)!

London, England
Unlike the spectacle that is the Orlando version of The Vault, this is an actual vault which was used when the building was formerly a bank. Also unlike the property in Orlando, if you ask Jimmy the tour guide really nicely, he'll also let you take a closer look at the goods (including the original guitar that Eric Clapton hung on the wall, which started the entire Hard Rock Collection in the first place: it's the red one in front). After all is said and done, I actually prefer London's more intimate experience to Orlando's more "museum-like" atmosphere. If you are a true Hard Rock fan, this is a must-see (say "hi" to Jimmy for me!). — Read more about my visit at: Blogography 2004

London, England
I suppose that if you had never been to Vegas, then this London property might be pretty cool. But, in the end, I have been to Vegas (and Atlantic City for that matter) so this seems more like a private gaming club than any kind of "real" casino to me. They've got a few slot machines, and assorted gaming tables (including roulette, blackjack, 3-card poker, all with fairly high minimum bets) staffed with friendly and entertaining dealers. The theming is pretty good, with a small but classy collection of memorabilia, and the bar here is worth a visit even if you have no interest in gambling. It's a nice addition for Hard Rock fans visiting the original cafe in London, but not quite the spectacle anybody who's been to vegas might expect.

Manchester, England
England gets all the good properties! The Hard Rock Manchester is an amazing rennovation in the hot "Printworks" development that features great brick architecture, the tallest bar I've ever seen, and a stage for live music. Add to that a Hard Rock Casino (which, unfortunately, wasn't open when I visited) and you've got a very destination-worthy attraction whether you are a Hard Rock fan or not! Two of my favorite bands (New Order and The Smiths) come out of Manchester, so I was hoping for a bit more memorabilia attributed to them, but I guess you can't have everything (this cafe does come close though!). The merch shop staff was terrific.

Manchester, England
Like the London Casino, this doesn't really match up to any Vegas casino experience but, if you like gambling, you could do a lot worse. Located in the exciting Printworks complex in the city, this is an intimate gaming club with a small assortment of slots and gaming tables (with more approachable minimums than you'll find in London).In addition to the games, they've got a bar and a small restaurant that overlooks the casino floor which is pretty cool. The memorabilia is nicely integrated into the structure, and boasts some classic finds for the HR faithful. About the only significant negative is the merch shop (in the reception area) which is not really staffed, and makes buying shirts, pins, and glassware a joke.

Munich, Germany
This cafe is pretty sweet, which was an unexpected surprise. The architecture is classic with a large, open area dining room, and nicely appointed second-seating area that doubles as a private-function room (and is packed with gold and platinum record awards). The theming is classic, and the numerous stained glass panels behind the bar adds a unique touch to an already impressive property. Much like the city of Munich itself, the cafe is well worth a visit. — Read more about my visit at: Blogography 2004

Nottingham, England
In planning out the route for the run that would include my 100th Hard Rock visit, it worked out nicely that the Nottingham cafe ended up being the place. I am a huge fan of restoration properties and classic architecture, and this cafe has it all (including a nice stained-glass backed bar much like Cologne). As if all that weren't enough, fellow Hard Rock Runner Perry tipped the staff off to the significance of my visit, which made my #100 especially memorable. Not only did they make me a cake, but they also presented me with a T-shirt that was signed by the entire staff! Highest recommendation (and thanks to everybody!). — Read more about my visit at: Blogography 2004

Paris, France
Paris is one of those cities that I've always wanted to visit. The culture, art, architecture, and history of this city makes it a goal that every traveler should strive for once in their life. I know that Paris has a reputation for the poor way the French treat Americans, but nothing could be further from the truth! Both the Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood Paris were terrific... the staff was kind, courteous, entertaining, and even helped me find my hotel! The HRC itself is an ordinary enough property, but when married to the terrific location near the Grands Boulevards on Montmartre, it's magic! Highest recommendation.

Reykjavik, Iceland
CLOSED! A classic cafe with plenty of warmth and memorabilia packed to the rafters, the HRC Reykjavik has the distinction of being the north-most cafe in the chain. For an older property the merch shop is a bit large, but the space is wasted because they had NO CITY SHIRTS! And then I received another shock... the have NO SIZE LARGE SHIRTS either! Every time I run into something stupid like this, I picture the manager ceromoniously burning hundreds of dollars every day. I mean, merch sales are GRAVY to the bottom line, so there isn't really any excuse to run out of something so common as large-size shirts! Sad, because it's probably the poor staff that takes the heat from Hard Rockers who make the trek all the way to Iceland and can't get a shirt.

Rome, Italy
My decade-long goal of visiting fifty Hard Rocks was realized in the Eternal City of Rome on the occasion of the local restaurant's two-year anniversary. Located on the trendy Via Veneto, this property turned out to be quite a bit smaller than expected for such a new addition to the chain, but a great experience nevertheless. The staff (particularly in the Merch Shop) went out of their way to be friendly and helpful, which help to make up for the unusually subdued atmosphere. The architecture inside was a bit of a missed opportunity (heck- Bali's cafe, with its Michelangelo inspired dome painting, seemed more appropriate!) but given the small space considerations, I guess a rock-n-roll interpretation of the Sistine Chapel was out of the question. Anyway, if you can tear yourself away from the many sights and flavors of Rome, this one is worth a visit.

Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm was a pretty big shock when it came to nightlife... those Swedes are crazy! I had a blast during my vacation, and part of the credit is due to the nifty Hard Rock here. Both Friday and Saturday night from 11pm to 3am the cafe turns into a nightclub with dancing and much big fun. Since this cafe was #7 (opened in 1985!) it recently went through a rennovation that is not quite in-line with Chicago and Montreal, but the neon on the bar doesn't detract from the historic stylings that makes this property such a classic. Surprisingly, the merch shop is pretty small, so I have to give them props for not gutting the dance floor and seating to put in a shopping mall (which seems to be the norm when it comes to remodels now-a-days). Great cafe, great staff, great city, and worth a visit.