Dinner in a Music Museum? Hard Rock Cafe Orlando Lets You Dine Among the Stuff of Legends
Open from morning til midnight, Universal CityWalk is home to dozens of restaurants, shops, and nighttime entertainment. This energetic “epicenter of awesome” is the gateway to the Universal Studios theme parks. It’s also a great place to start (or end) a night out!
One of the biggest – and oldest – restaurants on the premises is Hard Rock Cafe Orlando. With restaurants, hotels, and concert venues, the Hard Rock brand is a little bit of everything. At Hard Rock Orlando, you’ll find music, food, and a pretty spectacular venue. But does it make the cut for your next night out in Orlando?
What’s the Vibe at Hard Rock Cafe Orlando?
From the outside, Hard Rock Cafe Orlando certainly lives up to the idea of “go big or go home.” It’s gargantuan! Often branded as the “Roman Coliseum of Rock,” its design pays homage to historical architecture and also makes Hard Rock Cafe Orlando the largest Hard Rock establishment in the world.
Once inside, you can see how they put that space to good use. This two-floor dining establishment is also home to a massive museum filled with music memorabilia. Where else can you find stage costumes worn by Prince, The Beastie Boys, or Freddie Mercury? Not to mention their collection of famous instruments and even more famous photos.
While much of the seating is on the mezzanines, this CityWalk restaurant has multiple open-air rooms that are themed around specific artists, venues, or movements, too. The Florida room is devoted to musical artists originating in the state, including Tom Petty, Jim Morrison, and Jimmy Buffet. In the Woodstock Era room, you’ll find Jimi Hendrix’s Red Fender Mustang among memorabilia from other artists like Janice Joplin, Neil Young, and Roger Daltrey.
The CBGB room pays homage to the classic New York City venue where acts like Korn, Spinal Tap, and The Ramones once played. On the outdoor patio, you’ll even find a piece of the Berlin Wall (no, we’re not kidding – it’s real). Of course, legendary singer Elvis Presley has his own room on the second level where you’ll find costumes, photographs, and more.
The centerpiece of the restaurant is a circular bar crowned with a full-sized 1959 pink Cadillac – that spins. If you can catch a spot at the bar, we highly recommend settling in for a drink and checking out the décor. Obviously, you don’t have to dine in to look around, but trust us. Music lovers will want to soak in some ambiance over an appetizer or two!
If you want to make sure you don’t miss any of the most notable items in the collection, you can ask for an unofficial tour of the restaurant. That way, you’ll get to see the coolest pieces of memorabilia and, if you’re especially lucky that day, maybe catch a peek into the VIP John Lennon room. Filled with a combination of items donated by Yoko Ono and others purchased by Hard Rock, you’ll find all things The Beatles in one spot.
There is a huge shop on the bottom floor where everything is emblazoned with the Hard Rock logo, from t-shirts to drinkware and even commemorative pins. They also offer musical accessories and other items for sale depending on what’s currently in stock. The classic logo t-shirt is still a fan favorite for just about everyone.
What’s on the Hard Rock Cafe Orlando Menu?
Generally, we’ve found Hard Rock food to be fairly standard across their locations. If you’ve eaten in one Hard Rock Cafe, you’ve got the general feel of the menu. The food is basic American cuisine with an emphasis on steakburgers. The signature item on the menu is the Legendary Steakburger, which they’ve been serving since 1971 (if the menu is to be believed). There are a few other sandwiches, salads, and steaks to round out the menu, but there aren’t many vegetarian options available.
Because of its proximity to Universal Studios, the Orlando location often offers seasonal drinks and menu items mirroring celebrations in the parks. These can be a little more exciting than some of the regular offerings. For example, they offered a Gator burger for Mardi Gras and a Guinness & Bacon Jam burger for St. Patrick’s Day. They also frequently have unique drink specials that are a little more interesting than the standard cocktails served at the full bar.
Ultimately, we’d suggest grabbing some appetizers and drinks from the menu unless you’re trying one of the specials. There’s not much to set the food apart from other burger establishments. Nevertheless, it does appeal to a wide range of tastes, making it an easy selection if you have any picky eaters in your group.
Hard Rock Orlando History
Hard Rock Cafe Orlando has been a Universal Studios Florida staple for over 30 years. It opened in April 1990, two months earlier than the original Universal Studios theme park. At the time, it was the 13th location to open (today, the chain has over 165 restaurants worldwide) and also the one with the most unique design. Initially, the Orlando Hard Rock Cafe was three stories tall (two filled with tables for diners and the ground floor featuring a large gift shop). More importantly, it was elevated on top of a giant platform shaped like a giant guitar when viewed from above.
The obvious music motif played into the restaurant’s ties to rock ‘n’ roll, but the platform also served another purpose. A bridge tied the restaurant to the Universal Studios theme park. The original Hard Rock Orlando could be accessed two ways: via a parking lot on the outside and from the theme park! Park guests could dine at Hard Rock and then resume their day.
While that original location closed (and was partially replaced by the former Kidzone expansion within the park), the restaurant was moved to CityWalk, where it became home to the adjacent Hard Rock Live.
What About the Music?
With a brand like Hard Rock, it’s no surprise that music is a major facet of their entertainment. At CityWalk, you’ll also find Hard Rock Live, a concert venue attached to the Hard Rock Cafe. Admission to Hard Rock Live is completely separate from the restaurant, though they often have some menu items available at the concert hall’s bar. Don’t expect a full-service meal here, however! The bar is more similar to a concession stand.
Hard Rock Live is a gigantic venue with 3,000 seats on the balcony, a large open stadium level, and a special VIP section to the right and left of the stage. Some of the biggest names in music and comedy have shared the stage at Hard Rock Live since it opened in 1999. It’s also hosted countless other events too – children’s events, pageants, award ceremonies, and other competitions. It’s a fantastic venue for big shows, and the sound system is state-of-the-art, so you’ll get a great show from anywhere in the building.
Because it’s such a big venue, we do recommend getting there early, so you have time to find your seat or stake out a spot on the floor for the show.
Final Thoughts
While this is a family-friendly venue, it can get pretty loud inside the restaurant (especially on weekends). The combination of music and a robust crowd may be a little overwhelming for small children who are sensitive to noise. The music and chatter are part of the vibe there (as well as in every other Hard Rock Cafe). However, older kids might enjoy the memorabilia and the décor, and the standard menu will appeal to picky eaters.
Despite having over 1,000 seats at the restaurant, you can usually expect a wait at Hard Rock Cafe Orlando for lunch and dinner. It’s a great spot for larger groups, as they can usually accommodate a big crew fairly quickly. Hard Rock Cafe Orlando reservations can help minimize your wait on weekends or during busier hours. You can reserve a table up to 30 days in advance, but eating there is not required. To make Hard Rock Cafe Orlando reservations, call 407-351-7625 or reserve a spot online.
Overall, the venue is more fun than the food, but that’s not necessarily bad for anyone looking to grab a burger and fries during a night out at CityWalk. The memorabilia makes the restaurant a captivating place to explore! Music history buffs and rock ‘n’ roll lovers will definitely want to check it out. Hard Rock also makes for a nice break from Universal Studios during the day if you want a spot to cool off and enjoy some music.
Do you usually include Hard Rock Cafe Orlando in your CityWalk plans? Tell us about your CityWalk itinerary in the comments below!
Cover photo: Unsplash
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