Is the Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos Right for You?

by Maria Haase

Are you planning a trip to Cabo and can’t decide on your hotel? Then let me help you decide if the Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos is the right choice for you!

I was recently invited to spend a few days at the Hard Rock Hotel in Cabo San Lucas and I want to share my insights and tips on the hotel, what I liked and didn’t like, and which kind of traveler I think this hotel is a good choice. So let’s dive in, shall we?

Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos Pool with Hard Rock logo in the pool

How is the Food at the Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos?

If you have been following this site for a while, you know that I am a big foodie. Food is an important part of travel for me and I find it a great way to dive deeper into the culture of the place I am visiting. I try street food, hole-in-the-wall places, and fine dining restaurants. I’ll go where the food is good.

So to be honest, I was a bit apprehensive about the food at the Hard Rock Hotel in Cabo San Lucas. Usually, all-inclusive hotels are not known as a top choice for foodie travelers. But I was blown away by the quality, variety, presentation, and deliciousness of the food at the Hard Rock Los Cabos.

There are 8 restaurants on-site and you can also order room service 24/7. Whether you feel like a little nibble on some chips and guac or fresh ceviche while sipping a cocktail by the pool, an opulent breakfast in bed, a quick bite from the buffet, or a sit-down dinner, the Hard Rock has you covered.

view of the Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos from the beach

Awaken Your Senses

This specialty 6-course dinner was by far my favorite foodie experience during my trip to Cabo. I did not know what to expect from this but let me tell you: It was soo cool!!!

The Setting

First, we were welcomed with a delicious cocktail in a little reception area before we entered the private dining room. At first, I was taken aback a little. The room was completely barren, except for a large table with just enough chairs for our group. And when I say barren, I mean it. White walls, no windows, no lights, no visible doors. Everything was bathed in blue light as we took our seats. At any moment, I expected the lights to turn off and we would do one of these “dine in the dark” dinners. But no…. it was way better!!!

All of a sudden, the white walls turned into the interior of an airplane through projections and we took off to London. Our hostess greeted us and shared a little about Awaken Your Senses and what was to come in the next 90 minutes. During our flight, we were served champagne and a little amuse bouche to tickle our tastebuds before diving into this foodie adventure.

The Food & Decor

After “landing” in London, the walls showed iconic images and videos of London and we were served our first course: a mini Yorkshire pudding with cream cheese, salmon, and caviar with a refreshing gin cocktail served in an adorable tea cup. But the best was the presentation: the course was brought to us in a little miniature red phone booth and the tabletop turned into an interactive decoration of all things “UK”. Every time we tapped the table with our fingers, stickers showing the Union Jack, Big Ben, the Underground symbol, etc. would appear and we could decorate our own table with them. How fun is that?

I don’t want to give away too much of the experience, but after London, we traveled to 5 other countries and locations, each presented with a unique virtual background, interactive table decor, and paired with fantastic food and incredible cocktails.

Each dish was delectable and prepared perfectly. The presentation was fun and entertaining as well, including dry ice “fog”, stunning glassware, and plates. Everything was coordinated and fit the theme of the night with great attention to detail. I highly, highly recommend Awaken Your Senses. If you are a foodie, this is a MUST-DO.

Restaurants at Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos

With 8 restaurants on the property, you’ll have plenty of variety. You can choose between casual buffet style (The Market), food delivery to the pool or your room, a beachside pizza place (Pizzetta), a casual Mexican restaurant (Los Gallos), and 4 elegant sit-down restaurants (Torros, Ciao, Ipanema, Zen), and not to forget the coffee shop that offers gelato, pastries, and delicious coffee concoctions (Cafetto).

I had the pleasure of eating at Los Gallos, Toro, and Ciao during my stay and each meal was fantastic. I was surprised by the quality of the food and the beautiful presentation.

Toro Steakhouse

Toro is a steakhouse and we enjoyed our meal family-style, so we could try more things, such as tender short ribs, and juicy new york strip. The sides were also noteworthy. In some steak houses, the sides are often hit or miss. Either they are bland and boring, or so buttery and heavy that they take over the dish. At Toro, they were simple, yet well-seasoned and a perfect addition to round out the meaty mains.

Ciao

Italian food is always a good idea and an easy crowd-pleaser if you have some picky eaters in your group. I loved the menu at Ciao’s as it included favorites like Lasagne and Spaghetti Carbonara, but also more elevated dishes like seafood risotto and pappardelle with wild mushrooms (I had that and it was fantastic). I also had breakfast here twice and the breakfast buffet was fantastic. My favorite were the green Chilaquiles spiced up with a bright orange habanero salsa. Sooo good!

Los Gallos

Imagine you are sitting on a shady terrace overlooking the ocean, feeling the salty sea breeze on your skin, and tasting the remnants of lime and salt on your lips. You hear the sound of people splashing and having fun in the pool around the corner. The waiter brings you a bowl of warm tortilla chips and salsa, followed by a plate of delicious tacos. That’s Los Gallos. Vacation doesn’t get better than that, does it?

Zen

This place was high on my wish list as I love Asian food. They have a Teppanyaki table, which is always a fun way to enjoy your dinner with a show. If you love sushi, you are in luck as they have a sushi counter with a wide variety of sushi, sashimi, nigiri, and handrolls. Of course, you can also order a variety of Asian dishes ranging from Japanese to Chinese and Thai delicacies from the menu.

hotel restaurant at Hard rock Hotel Los Cabos with Japanese themed mural

Ipanema

I wish I had made it to this Brazillian steakhouse. Hopefully next time I will get to try this place! The salad bar is massive, but don’t fill up on that, especially if you love your meats. In traditional Brazilian steakhouse fashion, the meat is brought to you on long skewers and you can let the waiter know which cuts and how much you like. I always love these places as I get to try such a variety of meats. So delicious!

The Rooms

The rooms at the Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos are absolutely stunning. I was treated to the Rock Suite Swim Up Ocean Front, which included a full-size dining room with a table for 6, a living room, 2 full baths, and a bedroom with ocean views and a King-size bed. But then get this: I had a huge terrace overlooking the ocean with my own private plunge pool and a jacuzzi tub. How amazing is that? It was absolutely stunning.

Usually, when I travel, I don’t spend much time in my room, but this time? I could not get back there fast enough. Don’t get me wrong, the Hard Rock property is beautiful. But the peace and quiet luxury of my own pool? Nothing beats that! If you are looking to splurge and make this a very special and memorable getaway, then treat yourself to one of the suites with a private pool.

Oh and then there was the bed. I wish I could have brought it back with me. The mattress and pillows were just perfect. Not too hard, not too soft, not too flat, not too plump. I slept like on a cloud. It was dreamy!

The suite came with all the amenities a guest can wish for in a luxury suite, including Nespresso coffee makers, 2 big TVs, an iPad, a mini bar, comfy robes, and all the toiletries you could need.

The Rock Spa® Wellness Experience

If you are looking for some pampering during your Cabo vacation, then the Hard Rock Hotel is a fantastic choice. The legendary Rock Spa® offers everything for a full wellness regimen, including a wide selection of different massages, facials, and hydrotherapy.

Many of the massages are music-themed, which is a fun twist. I enjoyed a 50-minute Synchronicity massage, which was fantastic. Over your head is a speaker. You choose your own music or genre and your massage follows the rhythm of the music. What a unique experience!

I also really enjoyed the Hydrotherapy session, which included a sauna, steam room, bucket shower, pressure shower, cold plunge pool, and jacuzzi. I especially loved the icy towel to keep me refreshed during the sauna and steam room. Afterward, I relaxed on a heated lounger and I felt so rejuvenated and calm.

If you want to relax by blowing off some steam or burn off some of the calories (which obviously don’t count while you are on vacation – wink wink), check out the gym or basketball and tennis courts.

And if you want to get your hair or nails done, the Hard Rock Posh Beauty Salon has you covered in style.

Fun Things to Do at the Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos

Aside from the food, the beautiful rooms, the stunning pools and lounge areas, and the relaxing spa, there is a lot more to do at the Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos.

For Music Lovers

The Music Lab: Have you always dreamt of recording your own music and creating your own music video? That is possible at the Hard Rock Hotel Music Lab! You get access to your own recording studio, a sound expert who will help you make you sound just right, and a production crew that will film your very own music video. Even if you don’t know how to play an instrument or sing well, they will show you. What a fun experience, right?

Play & Listen To Music: You can have your very own Fender guitar and amplifier delivered to your room to rock out. How cool is that? I wish my husband had been with me as he plays guitar and would have had a blast. You can also have a vintage-inspired turntable and some vinyl delivered to your room or create your own music playlist to get you jamming out on your vacation.

Parties & Entertainment

The Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos offers soooo much entertainment that you certainly won’t feel bored. Every evening, there is either a show, karaoke, or a party that you can attend, hang out at the bar, play games at the arcade, go bowling, play pool, or go to the nightclub to dance the night away.

During the day, you can have fun at pool parties with live DJs, games, and classes such as aqua aerobics, Zumba, or yoga.

To be honest, this was my least favorite aspect of my stay there, as this type of entertainment isn’t really my thing. However, the good part about this is that there are enough areas at the hotel to “escape” from the party atmosphere. All the entertainment takes place in one central spot, so if you want to enjoy your peace and quiet time at the pool, just avoid the main pool and you can relax without disturbance. And the insulation is really good, so you won’t be bothered by the party noise in your room at all.

Day Trips

The hotel offers various Cabo day trips and activities that you can book during your stay. The advantage of booking these tours through the hotel is that transportation is always included and you meet your tour right in the lobby.

Here are some of the tours on offer:

  • Swim with Dolphins
  • Horseback Riding on the Beach
  • Snorkeling
  • Cabo San Lucas Shopping Tour
  • Jazz & Wine Sunset Sail
  • Luxury Day Sailing (I did this and it was fantastic!!!)
Los cabos Arch rock formation in the ocean

Final Verdict

I think the Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos is a fantastic choice for couples, families (they have a fun kids club with lots of cool activities), and groups of friends who are looking for a fun, relaxing, and entertaining getaway, as well as larger groups like weddings, and corporate workations.

Personally, I love that I can just book the hotel, book a flight and not have to worry about organizing anything else. I travel a lot and proper research, planning, and booking of a trip can take up hours and hours or time and includes a lot of back and forth, decision making, and sometimes frustration. Planning this trip will be no mental drain, I promise. It is FAST and EASY and REWARDING!

Sometimes you just want to kick back and relax, have a good time, lounge lazily on the pool for hours, and have a drink or two (or as many as you want, because you have nothing else to do). Not every trip has to be about cultural immersion and exploring off the beaten path. And for this kind of trip, the Hard Rock Hotel in Cabo San Lucas is perfect.

Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos Review – Pin for later:

collage of photos of the Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos, including pools, guitar

Maria Haase wrote this Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos Review for San Diego Explorer. Maria joined a Press Trip sponsored by the Hard Rock Hotel Cabo San Lucas to check out the hotel and spend a few days in Cabo to write this article. This invitation did not influence her opinion and review of the Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos.

Last Updated on March 27, 2023 by Maria Haase

The post Is the Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos Right for You? appeared first on San Diego Explorer.

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