Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife - One Night Review
Property Overview
- Category: 5-star resort
- Size: 600+ rooms across two towers
- Layout: Main hotel complex with pools + separate beach club area connected via bridge
- Rate paid: £350 (Easter Sunday); standard rate approximately £250/night
- Inclusions: Bed and breakfast only — nothing else included
First Impressions — Lobby & Memorabilia
Described as the coolest lobby either traveler had ever walked into. Upon entry: a grand piano, and an Elton John concert outfit displayed front and center. Music memorabilia is distributed throughout the entire property — guitars, costumes, artwork, and instruments on every floor and around the pool areas.
Notable pieces spotted:
- Guitar used by Beyoncé's guitarist during her 2009 tour
- King double bass played by bassist Tim Scope with Marilyn Manson on tour
- Michael Jackson tour robes — gifted to all musicians and dancers on his tour
- Lady Gaga outfit and coat
- John Entwistle (The Who) guitar
- Stevie Nicks and Elvis Presley memorabilia
- Historic photographs of The Beatles taken during a pre-fame holiday in Tenerife
The lobby converts to a bar in the evening with live entertainment.
The Room — Standard Room, Tower 2, Floor 6
Most basic and least expensive room category in the hotel.
Bathroom layout — genuinely unique: The sink unit sits in the middle of the bedroom — almost like a breakfast bar — with his-and-hers sinks, hand soap, lotion, and two hanging mirrors with built-in ring lights suspended from above. The toilet is in a separate concealed room behind sliding doors with automatic lighting. The shower is a dedicated walk-in room with a large waterfall showerhead plus a second handheld head; clean overall though some limescale visible on black tiles. Shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel provided.
Bedroom:
- Enormous, very comfortable bed — possibly memory foam
- Excessive decorative pillows including a guitar-print pillow
- Suede-effect wallpaper behind headboard with art deco detail and backlit headboard lighting
- Phone with a screen (notably modern)
- Plug sockets and reading lights on both sides of the bed
- Bose portable Bluetooth speaker — standard in every Hard Rock Hotel room; a genuine differentiator
- Leather sofa with animal-print texture (positioning makes TV viewing awkward from this seat)
- TV — standard, not smart; hotel info available via the in-room screen and app
- Gymnastic ring-style hanging lamps — a design highlight
- Complimentary cakes left on arrival — described as moist and tasty
Storage and extras:
- Large double wardrobe with Hard Rock branded hangers, robes (no logo — noted as surprising), and logo slippers
- Safe, ironing board, iron, hairdryer
- Tea and coffee station; kettle; complimentary bottled water
- Wine fridge
- No minibar — notable absence for this type of property; minibar packs can be ordered via the app (8 soft drinks + 2 crisps: €39 / 6 beers + 2 crisps: €48 — flagged as expensive given a supermarket is nearby)
Balcony: Spacious with two chairs; partial sea view between the two towers.
Sleep quality: Blackout curtains made the room completely dark. Both travelers reported an excellent night's sleep.
Resort Grounds & Pools
The property is larger than expected — split across two areas connected by a bridge, with a map provided at the hotel entrance.
Main hotel side:
- Adult pool — Heated (not cold to get into), DJ pool bar, comfortable sunbeds; described as a relaxed vibe despite the music
- Family pool — Separate area with its own bar; plenty of seating
Beach club side (across the bridge):
- Main pool — Massive; DJ in the center; very busy; day access available for non-guests
- Private cabanas — Come with a personal plunge pool, large sofa, and indoor shaded area
- Bar and restaurant on site
- Live stage
- Beach access — Direct access to the Atlantic; pebble/rock beach rather than sand; water cold
Sports and activities:
- Basketball court
- Football pitch
- Ping pong tables
- Multi-sport area
- Kids club, teens club, and baby club
- Spa and gym (not visited due to one-night stay)
Bars: Multiple bars throughout the property — poolside, beach club, lobby, rooftop, and restaurant.
Dining
The Steakhouse — Dinner
The fanciest restaurant on property; dress code in effect. Reservation made via the hotel app. Note: Cancellation policy charges €25 per person if you arrive more than 10 minutes late.
Ordered: 1kg kilo steak (shared) with sides including mashed potato, gravy, asparagus, Canarian potatoes with mojo sauce, and chimichurri.
Verdict: "Probably the best steak I've ever had. Easily." — 10 out of 10.
Rooftop Bar — Sunset Drinks
360-degree views; busy at sunset with most railside seats taken. Blankets available as it gets cool in the evening.
Pricing:
- Cocktails: €17
- Moët by the glass: €25–€30
- Wine by the glass: €9
- Beer: €9
- Soft drinks: €5
Breakfast Buffet
Runs 8 AM–11 AM (later start than most hotels). Hotel recommends arriving between 8–9:30 AM to avoid wait times during high occupancy. Complimentary champagne or orange juice on arrival.
Scope of the buffet: Described as massive and seemingly never-ending.
| Category | What Was Available |
|---|---|
| Hot food | Full English components, Spanish tortilla, fresh omelettes, roast pork, churros, pancakes, fried eggs, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, calamari, falafel |
| Bread & pastries | Toast, fresh bread, croissants, donuts, donut wall, more pastries |
| Cold items | Cheeses, cured hams, smoked salmon, mackerel, smoked herring, salads |
| Fruit & dairy | Extensive fresh fruit, every milk variety (whole, skim, lactose-free, oat, soy), branded yogurts |
| Drinks | Fresh-squeezed orange juice, apple juice, water, coffee machine, hot chocolate, porridge |
| Extras | Pick-and-mix sweets, seeds and nuts, cereal |
Food temperature: Actually hot — noted as a genuine positive, since hotel breakfast buffets often disappoint on this front. Fresh orange juice confirmed as genuinely fresh-squeezed.
The Hotel App
Useful throughout the stay for:
- Restaurant reservations
- Viewing room service and minibar menus
- Entertainment schedule and hotel information
- Access to a Spotify playlist ("Tenerife Memorabilia") — connectable directly to the in-room Bose speaker
Final Verdict
Going in, the expectation was a party hotel. The reality was a modern luxury resort that was stylish, well-designed, and surprisingly sophisticated — even the most basic room category impressed. The music memorabilia adds a genuinely unique layer that no other hotel category can replicate. The steak dinner and breakfast buffet were both standout experiences.
Would return: Yes — and now curious to compare other Hard Rock properties globally to see how consistent the experience is.
Best suited for: Couples, families (strong kids' programming), anyone who appreciates design-forward hotels, music fans, and travelers who want a resort-style stay with genuine personality.
"All in all, this is a really, really cool hotel."