Condes - Hard Rock Cafe

The building that now houses Hard Rock Cafe Lisbon has one of the longest cultural histories in the city. The site dates back to 1738, when the Theatre first opened as an opera house on land owned by the Count of Ericeira. The theatre had to be rebuilt in 1755 after being badly damaged by the great Lisbon earthquake, and a new theatre was constructed on the same location in 1888. By 1915, it had been converted into a cinema, and in 1951 it was torn down to make the new structure around the shell of the previous — designed by architect Raul Tojal, Condes Cinema was also equipped for 70mm film presentation, making it one of the more technically advanced venues in the city at the time. The Condes Cinema closed in 1997, and after lying unused for a period, it was converted into a Hard Rock Cafe. The exterior facade of the building was restored, though the conversion gutted the interior of the cinema, leaving the balconies, stage and back staircase. Today, the Lisbon Hard Rock Cafe features a restaurant, bar, shop, and significant memorabilia from both international and Portuguese musicians, transforming what was once a celebrated cinema into a lively music-themed landmark at the heart of Praça dos Restauradores.