HARD ROCK HOTEL NEW YORK

For a quintessentially excellent experience in the heart of the Big Apple, there’s nothing quite like staying at the Hard Rock Hotel New York. Its location alone makes the hotel a great spot for a home base on a New York City visit, sitting at the nexus of Manhattan on 48th Street, just off Seventh Avenue. Walk west for a nanosecond to Seventh, and you’re already in the heart of the Times Square beast, a few blocks from every Broadway theater’s front door. Walk east on 48th for less than two blocks, and Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral appear.

LOCATION…LOCATION
Meanwhile, the inside of the hotel is so inviting (and interesting) that you might want to stay in, at least for a while. What began as two guys opening a café in London is now a massive hospitality company known as Hard Rock International. The Seminole Tribe of Florida has owned Hard Rock International since 2007. That ownership includes the massive music memorabilia collection, which includes over 86,000 pieces, including instruments, clothing, costumes, and more.

It’s that collection that makes each hotel unique. It’s where rock ‘n’ roll lovers can get stopped short in a hallway, spotting a display wall dedicated to guitar legend Les Paul, complete with one of his “trademark turtlenecks.”

That specific wall is found in Hard Rock, New York, along with a spectacular ever-changing costume display that greets guests as they enter the eye-popping two-story lobby atrium. Think Lady Gaga’s gowns, Rihanna’s glam leather looks, and other famous females’ fabulous stage outfits. Guitars are everywhere, including a massive collection of those over the hotel’s convivial Sessions Restaurant & Bar that were once played by legends like Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and Bruce Springsteen. Find more seriously cool memorabilia on the 34th floor’s RT60 Bar, with outdoor terraces and famed New York DJs spinning tunes.

SING A TUNE…OR TWO
Speaking of tunes, one of the hotel’s unique offerings for guests is the brand’s “Sound of Your Stay” program. First, book a night (or more) in one of the 446 rooms and suites at Hard Rock, and they will bring you a Crosley record player and some vinyl to play on it. And if you’re a budding rock guitarist, they’ll rustle up a Fender electric guitar to noodle on in your room. And since the hotel is dog friendly, you can sing the blues to your pooch if your sweetheart’s left you behind!

The rooms are surprisingly spacious for a midtown hotel, with high-end bed linens and an assortment of pillow choices. Sound-impervious windows keep the hustle and bustle noise to a minimum, and there’s a fully stocked minibar in case you’re ready for a little jam session. The hotel also boasts a workout gym, yoga classes, and concierge services designed to help guests snag those hard-to-score concert tickets, Broadway show seats, and coveted restaurant reservations.

As lifelong rock ‘n’ roll fans, it’s easy for us to love a New York stay at the Hard Rock Hotel, and you never know when a real rock star is going to pass you in the hall, for we hear that this ideally located luxury hotel is a place that well-known musicians like to call home, too.

For more information on Hard Rock Hotel New York, visit hardrockhotels.com/new-york