City of Dreams, Estrada do Istmo, Cotai, Macau, China | (888) 604-6432
Sleek and glitzy
interiors stuffed with music memorabilia
Set in upscale
entertainment and retail complex
Swish rooms with
high-end tech and floor-to-ceiling windows
Rockstar Suites
feature circular beds and in one, a mechanical bull
Choice of Fender
guitars or DJ desks available in-room
Large outdoor pool with swim-up bar and hot tub
Free shuttle service from Macau Airport
Fitness center and spa with a couple's room on-site
Free Wi-Fi
throughout
Not as
party-oriented as some might like
Frosted bathroom
panels lack privacy
Macau's outpost
of the Hard Rock Hotel is a 322-room, high-end property occupying a
shimmering tower in the ritzy City of Dreams casino and entertainment complex.
Those hoping for the Hard Rock experience won't be disappointed, as there are plenty of
music memorabilia and rock 'n' roll details throughout -- though guests
expecting wild parties might not find what they're looking for. Rooms are sleek and spacious with impressive in-room tech and loaner Fender guitars. Surrounded by lounge chairs, the outdoor pool with swim-up bar is a genuine hang-out and the hotel hub. This property also has a fitness center and spa. Guests looking for even more sophistication should check out the neighboring
Grand Hyatt Macau -- though rates are generally higher.
Scene
Rock-and-roll-themed, Vegas-style hotel typical of the popular franchise
Marked with the
distinctive Hard Rock badge, this shimmering cylindrical property is one of
four towers that form part of the Vegas-style City of Dreams casino, retail, and
entertainment complex. Once through its dazzling gold and marble
entrance, there's no mistaking that the hotel belongs to the Hard Rock family. The lobby is sleek and circular, featuring the franchise's signature glass-case displays
of items of hallowed rock-star paraphernalia.
While the look is strikingly slick and polished, the vibe is relaxed with friendly staff decked out in casual uniforms and sneakers.
Though perhaps lacking the hedonistic vibe of its Vegas or Cancun counterparts,
the hotel attracts a fair share of young revelers hoping to be part of the
rock-and-roll experience -- or at least a glitzy facsimile of it. The familiar
international brand, extensive resort facilities, and lack of any real raucousness
also mean families comprise a decent chunk of the clientele.
Location
Set in the glitzy City of Dreams complex on Macau's swanky Cotai Strip
This hotel is set
in the City of Dreams complex along with the Crown Tower Hotel and Grand Hyatt
Macau. The swish, high-end center features all manner of luxury boutiques and
shops, plenty of dining options, and even a casino, while the Cotai Strip is
home to many other upscale hotels. Taipa Village -- a touristy historic quarter
that offers a blend of local and Portuguese cultures as well as the Tapia Homes
Museum -- is about five minutes away from the hotel by road. Many of Macau's most interesting sights, and its liveliest neighborhoods, are across the harbor. It will take about 20 minutes
to reach destinations such as the historic Ruins of St. Paul's and the oldest
parts of the city by car or taxi. A free shuttle takes around 10 minutes to the
Macau International Airport and neighboring Taipa ferry terminal, from where
it's a one-hour ferry ride to Hong Kong.
Rooms
Sleek rooms with high-end tech, luxury bedding, and in-room Fender guitar loans
This hotel has 322
rooms, most of which are decorated in smart, contemporary decor with retro-style
furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows. The signature Rockstar Suites feature
plump, 1970s-inspired furniture, lighting, and glasswork, with louche, decadent
touches such as reptile-effect upholstery and circular beds -- one even has a
mechanical bull. Standard amenities are impressive too, and include drink mixing
stations, iPod docks, and 42-inch flat-screen TVs with on-demand movies and games. Luxurious Egyptian cotton sheets are found on the extra comfy beds and,
in the suites, there are goose-down duvets and pillows. Bathrooms are spacious and
well-maintained, though frosted glass panels don't afford much privacy; some rooms have shower/tub combos while others have spacious walk-in showers and separate soaking tubs. A
choice of Fender guitars or DJ mixing desks can also be ordered to the room for
guests to rock out with. Wi-Fi is free of charge.
Features
Outdoor pool with swim-up bar, hot tub, and grill restaurant plus fitness center, spa, and lots of rock memorabilia
Unsurprisingly,
the hotel's main eatery is the Hard Rock Cafe, which deviates little from the
tried-and-tested formula of American favorites served surrounded by musical
memorabilia. Breakfast isn't usually included in the rate. The other on-site
eatery is the Wave Pool Bar and Grill, offering a range of international dishes
and poolside barbecues. There are also two bars and a huge, lavish nightclub
that stays open until late. The large outdoor mosaic-tiled pool is the hub of
the resort, and includes a swim-up bar, a hot tub, and a volleyball court. The
Rock Spa offers the usual list of massage and beauty treatments, as well as a
couple's room with whirlpool tub and sauna. Wi-Fi is free throughout.