Turkey starts rocking as US diner arrives

Met Studio is designing the exterior, interiors and graphics for two new branches of the Hard Rock Café soon to open in Istanbul and Ankara.

The brief for the new cafés has been to take its original concept, linking food from the traditional American diner with rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia, into the twentieth century.

A Hard Rock Café spokesman says: “Hard Rock has a classic style, but we want to see a futuristic look incorporated into our image, one that reflects the age we are in and uses its technology.”

The Istanbul site has yet to be found, but the one in Ankara houses a central atrium linking the two-floor dining area catering for 250 people, with bars on each floor. Diners pass through the atrium area over a clear glass bridge, which will turn opaque as they move across it.

Three further branches are expected to open later this year in Dubai, Bahrain and Oman. Design details are not available, but Met Studio is not involved.