Breakfast is supposed to be the most important meal of the day, right? Well at home I’m more likely to grab a protein bar on my way out the door than enjoy a filling and healthy breakfast. But our recent stay at the Palais Hansen Kempinski in Vienna really opened my eyes to the joys of a good hotel breakfast.
I’m always happy when a hotel includes breakfast with your stay, but at the Kempinski, we aren’t talking about the Holiday Inn waffle maker and breakfast “buffet.” Oh no, this buffet offered an omelet station, breakfast meats, a wall of fabulous pastries and fresh breads, a selection of cereals, a cheese display that puts Whole Foods to shame, local meats and more than your usual selection of fruits. If all that sounds good, I haven’t gotten to the best parts yet. I can’t decide which beverage was better, the self-serve champagne or the freshly-squeezed fruit and veggie juices (and a do-it-yourself juicer.) Ah, the joys of Virtuoso luxury amenities!
This experience really got me thinking about what I’ve been missing. So I reached out to my fellow travelers to get their tips on the best hotel breakfasts around the world. Should I be building a whole new bucket list around breakfasts? Their recommendations circle the globe and have my stomach growling. Have another to add? Leave your favorite hotel breakfast in the comments!
Best Hotel Breakfasts Around the World
Europe
Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna
Europa Hotel, Belfast, Ireland
Belfast’s Europa Hotel has the “unique” distinction of being “the most bombed hotel in Europe,” but in the decades since the ceasefire and Good Friday Agreement, Belfast has evolved into a bustling and cosmopolitan centre with a booming film and TV industry, and the Europa is the ideal home base to explore from. Starting your day with their glorious (included in most rates) buffet breakfast will fuel you up enough to skip lunch. Help yourself to all the fixins’ of a traditional Irish fry-up–including rashers and bangers (Irish bacon and sausages), eggs, fried tomatoes, and potato scones–or dive into a bowl of their special Bushmills Whisky porridge.
Corrine McDermott, Have Baby Will Travel
Augustine Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic
Prague’s Augustine Hotel’s breakfast feels indulgent. Don’t worry, though, it’s filled with surprises. Since the hotel is in an old monastery, the restaurant’s charm has been layered over centuries. This, combined with the modern Czech Cubism decor, gives it both a luxurious and comfortable atmosphere. The food is a buffet, but not a typical buffet. It’s curated. It’s a variety of the continent’s favorite breakfasts. The high quality ingredients are served in single-serving, small-bites fashion. Each item is its own artistic experience – not just in the plating, but in its taste too. The small dishes suggest it’s ok to return for seconds (and thirds and fourths). Best of all? Kids will love it, too. Tasty food and special plates for kids makes it the best way for families to start the day.
Ann Belle, Kids Travel Books
Asia
Peninsula Bangkok
My favorite breakfast in the world is at the Peninsula Bangkok. It’s one of my favorite hotels anyway, but the breakfasts are what I look forward to most. First there’s the food. The mango is the best in the world – consistently. I don’t know how they always find the best mango but they do. Then add in amazing dim sum, other local fruits, fried rice, excellent breads and pretty much any Western items that you could want. Second, there’s the setting. Watching the sun rise over the Chao Phraya river, with the local traffic and the iconic Peninsula boats crossing back and forth, is simultaneously magical and mesmerizing. Can you tell that I’m counting the days until my next visit?
Eric Stoen, Travel Babbo
Park Hyatt Tokyo
On our way home from snow skiing in Japan, we stayed one night in Tokyo at the beautiful Park Hyatt Tokyo before we had to catch our flight home. Made famous from the movie Lost in Translation, the Park Hyatt Tokyo occupies the top 14 floors in the 52-story Shinjuku Park Tower. We ordered room service for breakfast and it was one of the best ever! Dressed in our Park Hyatt jammies, we enjoyed breakfast in the clouds with the endless Tokyo skyline just out the window. The food was delicious, the views were never-ending, and the memories are forever.
Middle East
Kempinski Hotel Aqaba Red Sea, Jordan
The Kempinski Hotel on the shores of the Red Sea in Aqaba, Jordan, offers a family-pleasing, tour-de-force breakfast buffet. Catering to well-heeled guests from around the world, the buffet features a jaw-dropping assortment of fresh fruit and juices, European pastries and baked goods, American hot breakfast favorites (think pancakes, scrambled eggs and bagels), and of course, Middle Eastern specialties. Don’t shy away from the fresh hummus, olives, labneh yoghurt, as well as the sheep’s milk salty string cheese. Break off a piece of fresh honey comb from the hot honey bar, and you’ll be set to begin your day poolside or snorkeling in the Red Sea.
Claudia Laroye, The Travelling Mom
Dan Tel Aviv Hotel
Israeli breakfasts are a wonderful addition to the world breakfast landscape. One of my favorite memories from my trip to Israel was enjoying the expansive and delicious breakfast buffets at each hotel during my trip. In addition to many breads and jams, you’ll also find eggs, meats, cheeses, and fresh fruit. The breakfast at the Dan Tel Aviv Hotel was so large that it took up one whole side of the long dining room. Another decadent joy of Israeli breakfasts are the fresh cappuccinos and fresh oranges with hand presses that were featured at the Dan Tel Aviv. My best tip for travelers visiting Israel is not to rush through breakfast time!
Park Hyatt Dubai
The East meets West in an exquisite breakfast buffet at the Park Hyatt Dubai, where I’ve had my most memorable morning feast. The bright dining room, beautiful china and impeccable service alone
would make this place special. However, it’s the delicious assortments of fresh fruit, Middle Eastern dishes, amazing olive oil and freshly baked breads that are ingrained in my memory. And I’m typically not a breakfast person!
Patricia Monahan, Our Whole Village
North America
The Logan Philadelphia
Breakfast at the newly opened The Logan Philadelphia, a historic, recently-renovated hotel, which is part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, is beyond delicious! Breakfast and brunch are served in the Urban Farmer’s modern “farm to table” restaurant on the ground floor (with fabulous views of the fountains and one of Philadelphia’s grandest streets). After debating what to order, we feasted on their perfectly prepared Avocado Benedict and an airy Brioche French Toast with blueberry preserves. The gracious staff, the gorgeous upscale yet homey setting and the view combined with the high-end farm-to-fork menu to create one of our favorite hotel breakfasts!
Surf’s Up! Breakfast with Mickey & Friends at the Paradise Pier Hotel
An entertaining and tasty choice for families is Surf’s Up! Breakfast with Mickey & Friends at Disney’s PCH Grill at the Paradise Pier Hotel in Anaheim. Between bites of Mickey-shaped waffles, children can dance, sing and frolic with the head cheese himself, Mickey Mouse. Expect to see other classic Disney characters like Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Pluto, as well as everyone’s favorite mischief maker, Stitch. This buffet breakfast includes exciting options like build-your-own-yogurt parfaits, frittatas, Minnie pancakes, and bananas foster French toast. You can also choose from breakfast standards like cereals, eggs, and fresh fruit.
Colleen Lanin, Travel Mamas
The Urban Tavern, Hilton San Francisco Union Square
Located just off the lobby of the Hilton San Francisco Union Square, there’s a good reason why the Urban Tavern is almost always filled to capacity at breakfast time —- the buffet here is to die for! This place offers something for every desire one might have for the most important meal of the day— eggs, bacon, sausage, lox, capers, and red onion, and a generous amount of salad fixings. If your ideal breakfast leans more towards that enjoyed in the Far East, there’s a variety of dim sum at your disposal along with Miso soup. You can even select from an assortment of mini smoothies (including a Super Food blend) and my personal favorite, baked Greek yogurt! If you manage to leave this place hungry, you have really messed up!
Kristine Dworkin, Northern California Travel Expert, Trekaroo
Fairmont Vancouver
Last week I explored western Canada with Rocky Mountaineer. The Fairmont Vancouver was my first hotel and I think it may be the most amazing breakfast I’ve ever seen. With a section similar to a European breakfast, another for traditional American foods, and another for breads and muffins, there was something for everyone. I ordered oatmeal, and the steaming bowl was perfectly cooked, with a crust of sweetness like a creme brulee. The Fairmont Vancouver would be my first choice in staying in Vancouver again, but if they were booked, I would go just for the breakfast!
Kelly Stilwell, Food, Fun and Faraway Places
Beaches Resort, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos)
Overlooking the crystal blue waters of Turks and Caicos sits an open-air restaurant that tops my list of best hotel breakfasts in the world. Though I tend to enjoying sleeping in while on a family vacation, Neptunes is one restaurant that will have me up at the crack of dawn. There’s nothing quite like enjoying a meal while listening to the waves crashing along the beach. My favorite dish – the Mediterranean Benny. This entree consists of poached eggs on a crispy potato cake with pancetta, arugula, sun blushed tomatoes, and basil hollandaise. A trip to Neptunes is a must while in Providenciales!
Debra Muccio, Finding Debra
I think breakfast fans need to start seeking out Kempinski and Park Hyatt Hotels when they travel! My favorite hotel breakfast still has to be the Kona Village Resort on the Big Island (still so sad it is gone). There, you had a choice of ordering from the menu such treats and chocolate chip Macadamia nut pancakes with coconut syrup or tropical fruit plate, or enjoying the buffet. This was the first place that Hannah realized you could go back up and get more from a buffet — her face was priceless! I also loved the breakfast at the Aldrovandi Hotel in Rome (picture above). Maybe it was just the champagne — catching a trend?
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This was a great article. I am a foodie and a bit of a hotel snob so i take care when planning family trips. Now i was looking for the best hotel in tel aviv with a stand out Free breakfast. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
These all make me hungry! some of my favorite breakfast spots have included the Resort at squaw creek in Lake tahoe and hyatt ziva los cabos. mouth watering as i write those words!
Don’t you wish we could have those breakfasts every day?