Even a brief stay at the Guitar Hotel at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL is the next best thing to a full-blown vacation. The newest addition to the South Florida tourism scene is part of a $1.5 billion expansion project unlike anything that has ever been seen or done in South Florida. Indeed, there is plenty to see and do in this hotel that feels like another world on its own.
The resort is located 15 minutes away from Fort Lauderdale’s beaches and 30 minutes away from Miami. The Guitar Hotel adds 638 new luxury guest rooms and suites to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino resort. It is the world’s first guitar-shaped hotel.
This engineering masterpiece is designed to resemble back-to-back guitars. It comes complete with guitar faces and brightly lit strings and is outfitted with floor-to-ceiling glass panes. From each room you can enjoy the sights of the South Florida skyline.
There is no shortage of liquor bars. The L Bar is the resort’s more intimate, laidback lounge, while Center Bar offers a unique Las Vegas-style nightclub experience. The Center Bar offers 125 seats, video poker machines and a DJ on weekends. Daer Nightclub and Dayclub offer a vibrant social scene experience as well with plenty of cabanas and chairs to relax in the sun by the pool during the day or to party at night with your friends.
There is also the Council Oak Bar & Lounge, Kuro Bar & Lounge and Oculus Bar that round out the options and provide tasty foods and cocktails. A more upscale venue, Entice, is advertised on the Hard Rock website as “Coming Soon” and promises three full liquor bars, cutting edge audio and a high-energy dance club atmosphere. Premium cocktails and premier VIP bottle service will also be available.
Another sight to behold at the new hotel is the Hard Rock Live, a 7,000-person capacity concert and show venue. The new venue hosts state-of-the-art technical capabilities that can host A-list celebrity performances, award shows, sporting events and nationally televised programs. Upcoming events include concerts from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tony Bennett and Bret Michaels to name a few. The Comedy Club caters to stand-up comedy for those of you that prefer that kind of entertainment, too.
Dining options abound as well with the categories of fine dining, contemporary dining and sweets & snacks. Diners have the option of eating from 4 different fine dining restaurants: Kuro ( Japanese restaurant and cuisine), Council Oak Steak & Seafood (sophisticated, classic-American steakhouse), Abiaka (overlooks the pool area and is inspired by South Florida’s unique, bold flavors) and Cipresso (contemporary twist on Italian-American fare).
Contemporary and more laid-back dining options include the Hard Rock Cafe, Pool Bar & Grill, The Bol, Fresh Harvest, Beach Club Bar & Grill and Rise. There is also a food court for quick grab-a-bite-to-eat foods such as pizza, burgers and fresh deli sandwiches. For sweets & snacks, you have Constant Grind that offers freshly ground gourmet coffee and delicious pastries and specialty sandwiches. Along with restaurants, there is also available group and private dining, Hard Rock Signature Brunch and in-room dining.
There are gaming options currently being offered inside the hotel as part of the Hard Rock “Las Vegas” experience. The new 30,000 square-foot gaming area offers slots, table games and poker. Guests can enjoy live dealers at the tables along with video Poker and Roulette games. Different types of slot machines are available in the new slot machine room. Some of the new popular slot machines are Batman, The Walking Dead, and The Rolling Stones.
Several amenities also make this hotel paradise worth visiting. You can try the full-service Rock Spa and Salon, new retail stores, beach-style pool & cabanas, meetings & convention rooms, golf courses and a new music experience, “The Sound of your Stay” program, meant to cater to your specific musical needs while you are a guest of the hotel. Choose from hundreds of songs that can be curated for you to listen to in your room or through headphones.
William is the Managing Editor at FloridaInsider.com. His years of experience in journalism, broadcasting and multimedia include roles as a Writer and Web Producer. He graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Science and Communication.