Steve D.
Yelp
This new bar recently opened up inside the Hard Rock casino, and, as befits the massive pile of money behind it, is extremely well done. They've done a great job training the staff and the decor is really nice. It's a little pricey, so you won't see much of the penny slots crowd up here. It's also well away from most of the action, unlike the Center Bar, so it's a lot more of a chill atmosphere.
Let's start with the staff. The crew working on Saturday were extremely helpful and attentive, and also damn good at mixing drinks. I had a few couple of Old Fashioneds and a Whiskey Sour, and each of these was excellent. Our bartender, Bryan, added a little twist to each one. A red wine float on the sour, which balanced it out nicely, and a black cherry for the Old Fashioneds. He also put up with our occasional antics extremely well, and was a great sport. The staff displayed good knowledge of their craft and took the time to make the drinks correctly. My only complaint is that the liquor selection is quite limited. No Oban? They need some more single malts.
The place is a little pricey, so each craft drink will set you back between 10 and 15 bucks, but if you go to the hard rock and expect not to spend money, well, I can't help you. Even the pizza is 4 bucks a slice there. Overall, Lobby Bar's prices are about equivalent to other upscale bars in SoFla. If you're on a budget, keep track of your bill!
Ambiance is very nice. It sort of has that hotel bar feel, but it has a wide sweeping view of the casino floor which makes it more fun than the typical hotel bar. The patrons are more of the upscale type. I saw a lot of nice suits and dresses. I am also pretty sure I saw Kim Jong Il, and that he tried to light me on fire with some sort of crazy cigar lighter.
If you're at the Hard Rock and you're in the mood for a well made cocktail, definitely give Lobby Bar a try!