Hard Rock Cafe

Hard Rock Cafe on the Parkway is closing sometime this year, which honestly breaks my heart a little. We've been going there since they moved from Gatlinburg back in 2014, and it's one of those places that actually delivers on the whole rock-and-roll experience. The memorabilia collection is insane — real guitars from famous musicians, stage outfits, the works. Our kids could spend an hour just wandering around looking at everything before we even order.

The happy hour is where it's at though. Monday through Friday from 3-6pm, you can get nachos and wings for $8-10, and beer is only $5. We usually hit it around 4pm on weekdays to avoid the dinner rush and actually get a table without waiting forever.

One thing that'll catch you off guard is the parking situation during peak times. Don't even try to find a spot right out front on weekend evenings — just park near WonderWorks and walk the couple blocks. Trust me on this one.

The dog-friendly patio is actually pretty cool if you're traveling with pets. They have a whole dog menu, which is more than most places around here offer. But fair warning — when they have live music going, that patio gets loud and crowded fast.

Since they're shuttering for good to make way for some Chicago pizza place, you might want to get over there soon. The food's typical Hard Rock fare — burgers, ribs, nothing groundbreaking but solid — and yeah, you'll pay tourist prices. But honestly, where else are you going to eat surrounded by actual rock history?