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The second—and now only—Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas opened in 2009 right on the Strip. The 42,000-square-foot (3,902-square-meter restaurant boasts three floors of seating, and is also home to the biggest Rock Shop across the entire Hard Rock universe. Inside, a multifunction venue space with a built-in stage hosts global musical acts.
Las Vegas’ first Hard Rock Cafe opened in 1990 and was located at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino; it was demolished in 2019, and the hotel and casino closed its doors in 2020 to be transformed into Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
The second cafe, located in the Showcase Mall, features the same Americana grub and signature decadent dishes that the franchise is known for such as Twisted Mac, Chicken & Cheese and the 24-Karat Gold Leaf Steak Burger, as well as breakfast fare. Purchase a prix-fixe menu option, which comes with a main entree choice, dessert, and tea, coffee, or soda. Or, swing by to simply sip a cocktail and catch local live music.
Located in the Showcase Mall on the Strip, next to the MGM Grand and across from the Park MGM and the T-Mobile Arena, the Hard Rock Cafe in Vegas is easy to spot thanks to the giant glowing guitar on its facade. Paid parking is available in the Showcase Mall garage (only credit cards are accepted there).
The cafe is open daily, 8am–11pm. Expect the biggest crowds on Friday and Saturday nights, especially during high season in the spring and fall. The weekends also tend to be busier in general due to visitors from nearby cities coming into Vegas for quick getaways. Check the café website for updated information on live performances and happy hour DJ sets.
While Sin City is known for its over-the-top, glitzy Broadway-style shows, there are smaller, more intimate venues that host local acts as well as big-name headliners. For example, the House of Blues is a Vegas mainstay that showcases a range of acts, along with soulful performances during its gospel brunch on Sundays. Other spots to consider: The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan, the Brooklyn Bowl, and the Sayers Club.