I can't help but having to think that the table cloths look really Bavarian... and thus kind-of un-Hard-Rock-ish.
(http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayern)
Unlike the Shanghai Hard Rock, which has been flagged as "opening soon" for a year after "closing to move," the Hard Rock Cafe Beijing was open for business. It was actually worth the insanely-long 2 hour drive it took to get there. Of course, considering the distance from my hotel was only 10 miles, perhaps not.
Anyway, the HRC Beijing is a surprisingly large dual-level property that's permanently affixed to the front of the Landmark Hotel in the Chaoyang District of Eastern Beijing. As far as properties go, it's actually quite impressive.
The following two shots were taken opposite, giving you an idea of how big the main floor is. When you add the space afforded by the upstairs level, there's quite a lot of room available for seating...
The foosball tables were a nice touch, and something I had never seen at a Hard Rock before...
I loved me the "Comrade Bear" but didn't have room in my suitcase to get one...
It's even prettier at night...
Service was impeccable, and my Veggie Burger was great (though spicier than I'm used to). After a very long day, I'm glad to know that I can count of the Hard Rock to make me feel at home once again... even when half-way around the world.
Collecting HRC's is an interesting travel hobby.
I find myself collecting Starbuck's. Not out of any particular devotion to the coffee behemoth, but rather that they tend to be conveniently located and inevitable.
My most useful travel Starbuck's was the one next to the Hackescher Markt in Berlin. It had free WiFi when I was there, thus making the €1.80 drip coffee a relative bargain and establishing it as my base of operations.
My most exotic Starbucks was the one in the Forbidden City. If you start by the big gates with the portraits of Mao, and move inwards through the palaces, you'll see it in the middle of the complex on the right. Yes, Starbucks inside the Forbidden City. I saved the register receipt - it read "Forbidden Starbucks".
Posted by Larry B on September 28, 2005 | Reply
There are Starbucks e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e, just like McDonalds.
This kind of depresses me, because just when you start to get the feel for being someplace foreign, you walk around a corner and BAM! There's a piece of Americana for you. :-(
Usually, there are Starbucks next to Starbucks because they don't want to have any competition. They worry that if there is a different coffee company across the street, lazy Americans won't want to walk the extra distance and buy from a competitor. Sadly, they are probably right. In Seattle, you can stand at certain points and see four or five Starbucks, all within view!
I'm collecting Hard Rock Cafe visits too, (and a shot glass from each). I've just read through most of your hard rock entries and I'm so way behind. My last visit however was to the (forever opening soon!) Oslo cafe, and nearly all was great, friendly, food good and great memorabelia! We went to the shop to get my shot glass and was devastated to find out that they were sold out! phrrrt! I wonder how I can wangle another trip to Norway...... x
Posted by Nicola on April 18, 2006 | Reply
Passed there so many times in a taxi but never been in. Think I'll check it out next time.
Why so empty looking? Early doors?
Posted by James in Beijing on March 08, 2008 | Reply
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