The Hard Rock Café’s dates back to 1971, when its first location opened in London. Shortly after, musicians such as Eric Clapton and The Who’s Pete Townshend began donating their instruments to the venue—and the rest is history. Today, the Hard Rock Café is home to the world’s largest collection of rock collectibles, and the Chicago location features objects once owned by Billy Joel, Jimi Hendrix, and Prince.
Conveniently located in Downtown Chicago—and unmissable with its enormous, illuminated guitar out front—the Hard Rock Café Chicago serves a range of hot food and drinks. Book in advance to guarantee your spot, or purchase a voucher online for an even more seamless experience.
Looking for a souvenir? Head to the on-site Rock Shop, where you can buy Hard Rock Café Chicago T-shirts and other gift items.
For dinner and a show, swing by the Hard Rock Café Chicago on Fridays and Saturdays, when it hosts live music performances.
Want to take to the stage yourself? Every Thursday, the Hard Rock Café Chicago hosts DJ-soundtracked karaoke sessions.
The Hard Rock Café Chicago is located at 63 W Ontario Street, in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, just a few blocks west of Michigan Avenue. The nearest L station is Grand Street on the Red Line, and the area is also served by several bus lines and the Chicago Water Taxi (which stops at the Michigan Avenue ferry terminal).
Hard Rock Café Chicago is open daily, from lunchtime until late in the evening—time your visit for late afternoon for happy hour specials. The Hard Rock Café is particularly crowded during the summer high season and on weekends, while Chicago Restaurant Week (held every January) is a good time to take advantage of set-menu deals.
Every Hard Rock Café location displays objects and instruments once owned by famous musicians, and Chicago’s is no exception. Some of its particular highlights include a purple shirt worn by Prince, a music box formerly owned by Elvis, a signed guitar from Stevie Ray Vaughn, and an outfit that belonged to Madonna. See if you can spot them all during your visit.
