To paraphrase the Starship song, the American co-founders of the original Hard Rock Café in 1971 London "built this café on rock 'n' roll." (And on the desire to bring Europe a decent American hamburger!) Successfully sprouting from that original venture, Hard Rock Cafés have blossomed worldwide to become veritable culinary shrines to rock 'n' roll. Hard Rock's vast musical memorabilia collection (referred to as the "Smithsonian of Rock 'n' Roll" by Andy Warhol) came about quite by accident when Eric Clapton asked if he could hang his guitar over his favorite bar stool at the first Hard Rock. A week later, Pete Townsend of The Who sent his guitar with the message, "Mine's as good as his! Love, Pete." And the Hard Rock phenomenon was born.
San Antonio's Hard Rock Café, ensconced along the picturesque River Walk, rocks as hard as its sister restaurants. A mind-boggling array of guitars, flanked by signed photos and other memorabilia of their famous owners, line the walls -- Bob Dylan, Santana, Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Red Hot Chili Peppers and, yes, Willie Nelson and George Strait -- are only a few. There's Keith Moon's (The Who) drum, James Brown's white jacket worn at a performance at The Apollo, Madonna's black-and-gold bustier from the "Who's That Girl" tour, a tuxedo worn by Elvis on Frank Sinatra's TV show and Sinatra's dress duds as well. A raised dais with carved wood rails and velvet, fringe-trimmed valance serves as a shrine of sorts to Texas' rock "martyrs" Buddy Holly, Janis Joplin and Stevie Ray Vaughn, the trinity immortalized in stained glass windows at the platform's rear.
The San Antonio café's centerpiece is a 23-foot-long Cadillac hearse, suspended upside down from the ceiling and inhabited by rockin', life-size skeleton figures. No, it's not The Grateful Dead (though the grinning skeletons may very well be grateful to be hanging around such a cool place), but a tip of the sombrero to San Antonio's Spanish heritage and "Day of the Dead." You'll also find tributes to area music icons of national fame, such as Flaco Jimenez' accordion and the outfit worn by Selena at Hard Rock's San Antonio grand opening. The brick wall with graffiti by Aerosmith from the café's groundbreaking also has been properly framed and preserved, and there are plenty of mementos from those well-known Liverpudlians, The Beatles.
Hard Rock is probably the only museum or memorial where you can order and enjoy a tasty meal of casual American fare, ranging from Lovely Rita's Pot Roast to Hard Rock's classic Natural Veggie Burger. A guitar-shaped bar features take-home souvenir glasses and such imaginative beverages as Lynchburg Lo-Rider and Frozen Strawberry Fields daiquiris. And when it comes to dessert, the delicious Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie and Outrageous Hot Fudge Brownie are "'nuff to share."
Of course, there's the music -- but the hymns in this "house of worship" are strictly rock 'n' roll, accompanied by music videos playing on numerous monitors throughout the sumptuous surroundings that include two levels, plus outdoor dining overlooking the River Walk. There's plenty of the famous Hard Rock merchandise available at both entrances, too, including the best-selling classic T-shirt. (You'll want something to prove you visited the "shrine.") And the affable, casually dressed waitstaff eagerly live up to Hard Rock's mission: "To spread the spirit of rock 'n' roll by delivering an exceptional entertainment and dining experience."
Street-side, you'll know the café by the white Cadillac convertible embedded in the red brick second story and Hard Rock's trademark "Save the Planet" rotating globe. Down at the Hard Rock Café, "the road goes on forever and the party never ends." Rock on!
Hard Rock Café, 111 W. Croskett Street; 210.224.7625.
Sunday - Thursday: 11 am - 11 pm
Friday and Saturday:
11 am - midnight to 2 am
Retail shop opens 10 am
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