Dine with a difference at Hard Rock Cafe

 

The stage was set since September 2021 and step-by-step, the team at Hard Rock Café at Puteri Harbour prepared to welcome fans of this renowned brand to experience its unique vibe in Johor.

 

The rockstar team at Hard Rock Cafe
Puteri Harbour, Johor

Photographs posted on social media created much hype to fan the eager anticipation for its opening and a date when it was safe to go for a dine-in with a difference.

 

Hard Rock International is one of the most globally recognized brands that owned/licensed or managed hotels, casinos, Rock Shops, live performance venues and cafés with venues in 68 countries across 241 locations.

 

In 2018, I had the privilege of a sneak peek into the Hard Rock Hotel that was about to open in Desaru Coast, Johor, and the opportunity to join a number of events with Pin Collectors and local celebrities who presented personal items to the Hard Rock Memorabilia collection.

 

Just follow the sign to Rock This Way

This memorabilia collection started with an Eric Clapton guitar and now Hard Rock owns the world’s largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia at more than 86,000 pieces, displayed at its locations around the world.

 

The most memorable experience for me must be being part of Hard Rock Hotel’s Grand Opening Party in Desaru Coast and the one-on-one interview with Johor-born legendary rockstar, Amy of Search fame, the featured artist in the event’s rock concert.

 

With Hard Rock Hotel opened in Desaru Coast, the arrival of the first Hard Rock Café in Johor was equally highly anticipated.

 

In September 2021, I joined the virtual Press Conference for the announcement of the opening of Hard Rock Café in Puteri Harbour planned for December, the brand’s fourth Hard Rock Café in Peninsular Malaysia after those opened in Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Melaka.

 

The guitar monument facing the
harbour at Hard Rock Cafe

It was January 2022 when the invitation from Hard Rock Café Puteri Harbour was received for a long-awaited media lunch event and I did not hesitate to accept.

 

Soon as I was warmly welcomed into the Café, a glance around the glass and chrome interior gave me the impression of a slick and contemporary décor, bathed in natural light pouring through tall glass walls.

 

I recognized familiar faces, waved to say “Hello!” and thought that I should congratulate Jimmy Wong, General Manager of the Hard Rock Café Puteri Harbour and his team for gathering the Who’s-Who of local media at this exciting event.

 

“No time to chit-chat,” I reminded myself as I focused my attention on what I was keen to see in the first Hard Rock Café opened in Johor. Firstly, the Monuments…

 

Just as Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast features an iconic Mandala Guitar in its forecourt, the Hard Rock Café in Puteri Harbour has its version of a similar guitar perched on a raised stand at the outdoor dining area.

 

A section of the Rock Shop within the Cafe

This alfresco dining area comes with a scenic harbour view and when the sun goes down, diners here can enjoy the stunning sight of the different shades of sunset.

 

Fans of Hard Rock Merchandise can conveniently reach the Rock Shop which is situated next to the Café entrance.

 

Here’s where Hard Rock fans and collectors can enjoy a rock star shopping experience for music inspired merchandise like the Hard Rock classic T-shirts, hats, pins, glassware and accessories.

 

At the entrance, my eyes were riveted to two mannequins standing within a glass showcase that displayed smart suits that belonged to rap stars, Joe Flizzow, and Nicky Minaj.

 

Eric Clapton's guitar is in Puteri Harbour, Johor

This started me on a quest to seek out the Memorabilia preserved within glass showcases that lined the walls of the dining hall downstairs. Here I discovered the beaded dresses that belonged to powerhouse singers, Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston.

 

My quest for more took me up a short flight of stairs to the mezzanine floor where a range of guitars were showcased on the wall in the private dining area.

 

My eyes zeroed in on the Fender Stratocaster, autographed by Eric Clapton, along with guitars from B. B. King, Bob Dylan and Chuck Berry among others.

 

An ornate beaded belt worn by
Elvis Presley, King of Rock and Roll

In the dining hall upstairs, I saw memorabilia from Asian superstars like Jacky Cheung – a Taylor guitar – and black boots that belonged to Jay Chou.

 

I was pleased to see that the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, was also honoured here with his ornate beaded belt that he wore with his fancy jumpsuits.

 

Speaking of fancy outfits, some of our media friends came dressed to the nines and rocked their glitzy bling-bling footwear and those black leather leggings and jackets topped with a felt hat.

 

When all the guests had arrived, the event kicked off with a word of welcome from GM, Jimmy Wong, and lunch was served with live music entertainment presented by Take Five, a seven-piece local band.

 

It was simply different to dine to the beat of live music, where we can bop to the rhythm and groove to the harmony as we enjoyed the menu of Hard Rock flavours.

 

The band, Take Five, providing live music entertainment at Hard Rock Cafe Puteri Harbour

I thought the talented band did well in presenting a good repertoire of popular music that ranged from Guns N’ Roses and Gloria Gaynor, to the Bee Gees and Queen.

 

With Ye Chin and Murray Aitken

Their rendition of the opening lines, “Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?...” sung in perfect harmony, seized everyone’s attention (who paused from eating!) and I watched as this interpretation of Bohemian Rhapsody, clearly rocked the house.

 

This was just one of those Moments when we caught a glimpse of how dining was distinctly different in a Hard Rock Café.

 

After the final farewells, guests trickled out of the Café while some stayed to capture creative photo mementoes at the many interesting spots in and around the premises.

 

As for me, I was simply delighted to finally meet with Ye Chin, wife of Murray Aitken, General Manager of Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast. She was a former classmate of my cousin Dennis Ng, who told me that she was now back in Johor with her husband.

 

Hard Rock Café Puteri Harbour is located at Retail Lot 2-B2 Residensi & Hotel Marina, Persiaran Tanjung, Pengkalan Puteri, 79100 Iskandar Puteri, Johor.

 

The Café serves Food and Beverages that are free from alcohol and pork products. Open daily from 12pm to 12am. Live band show from 8pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Tel: +607 – 276 9999.

 

Stay connected for updates and promotions on Hard Rock Café Puteri Harbour official pages on Facebook @HardRockCafePuteriHarbour and Instagram @hrcputeriharbour.