U.S. Hotels with great breakfasts
February 26, 2024 12:01 PM Subscribe
I love a good, European-style breakfast buffet. But U.S. hotel breakfasts have been going downhill for a while. For reasons, I want to stay in the US right now, but I want a fantastic breakfast! Where have you found one?
I think hotel recommendations will vary depending on area. What areas will you be visiting?
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 12:13 PM on February 26
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 12:13 PM on February 26
Best answer: The American Club in Kohler, WI does a good brunch. It might be only weekends though.
posted by sulaine at 12:18 PM on February 26
posted by sulaine at 12:18 PM on February 26
I've been tempted by the Four Seasons DC brunch (Sunday only), but have been deterred by the price. Still, $125 is cheaper than going to Europe.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 12:36 PM on February 26 [1 favorite]
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 12:36 PM on February 26 [1 favorite]
You can do a lot worse than the breakfast at Embassy Suites IMO- they usually have a hot breakfast bar made to order, usually an omelette + eggs bar, +hot and cold buffet included in the price of the room
posted by wowenthusiast at 12:47 PM on February 26 [1 favorite]
posted by wowenthusiast at 12:47 PM on February 26 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks all--since you've asked for clarification:
I have no geographic restrictions other than US. I will literally consider structuring a trip around these recommendations (assuming there are one or two other interesting activities in the area where the hotel is located).
I would prefer a hotel that includes breakfast as part of the room rate, but I am open to buffets that must be paid for separately.
I prefer buffet to a restaurant style breakfast (because if it's just a restaurant, then I could go to any old restaurant nearby). I like the leisure of perusing options, going back for an extra glass of juice, etc. But a limited continental style breakfast + hot options to order would be ok too.
Mainly, I am looking for a place that prides itself on offering a top notch breakfast.
(B&Bs + inns are ok too, so long as they are not too small/intimate.)
posted by CiaoMela at 1:07 PM on February 26
I have no geographic restrictions other than US. I will literally consider structuring a trip around these recommendations (assuming there are one or two other interesting activities in the area where the hotel is located).
I would prefer a hotel that includes breakfast as part of the room rate, but I am open to buffets that must be paid for separately.
I prefer buffet to a restaurant style breakfast (because if it's just a restaurant, then I could go to any old restaurant nearby). I like the leisure of perusing options, going back for an extra glass of juice, etc. But a limited continental style breakfast + hot options to order would be ok too.
Mainly, I am looking for a place that prides itself on offering a top notch breakfast.
(B&Bs + inns are ok too, so long as they are not too small/intimate.)
posted by CiaoMela at 1:07 PM on February 26
Breakfast buffet at the Red Rooster, in the Woodstock Inn in Woodstock, VT. It's exceptional.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 1:30 PM on February 26
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 1:30 PM on February 26
La Quinta Hotels include breakfast as part of their rate. IMO the quality is so highly dependent on location as to be incomparable, but they have breakfast meat, eggs, breakfast pastry, yogurt, and cereal. I'm not sure I'd travel to the US to eat it, but if you are there it's fine, but then I'm not a breakfast person. I stay in them a lot because they allow pets, and we travel with our dogs. The hotels are also of variable quality, from terrible to awesome in terms of interiors and locations.
Great Wolf Lodges have a paid buffet, starting at $18 per person. They also have attached water parks and attractions.
The ultimate US hotel breakfast is Las Vegas, but those are add-ons. The Bellagio probably rates pretty high, and probably Ceasar's Palace. They can be expensive.
posted by The_Vegetables at 1:33 PM on February 26 [1 favorite]
Great Wolf Lodges have a paid buffet, starting at $18 per person. They also have attached water parks and attractions.
The ultimate US hotel breakfast is Las Vegas, but those are add-ons. The Bellagio probably rates pretty high, and probably Ceasar's Palace. They can be expensive.
posted by The_Vegetables at 1:33 PM on February 26 [1 favorite]
The breakfast buffet at the restaurant in the Watergate Hotel (yes, that one) in Washington DC is very good. It's basically a subset of the a la carte breakfast menu. There's also an indoor pool and a ridiculously expensive bar.
posted by caek at 2:04 PM on February 26
posted by caek at 2:04 PM on February 26
I don't know if it's at all of their locations, but many Embassy Suites include a made-to-order breakfast free in the morning (this was something they promoted and advertised). This breakfast is considerably better than the free continental breakfast that a lot of hotels put out for free. I'd call your specific location to doublecheck what's included though, as some stuff may have changed post-covid.
Plus, with Embassy Suites, all rooms are suites, with a separate living room/bedroom.
posted by hydra77 at 2:22 PM on February 26 [3 favorites]
Plus, with Embassy Suites, all rooms are suites, with a separate living room/bedroom.
posted by hydra77 at 2:22 PM on February 26 [3 favorites]
Might you consider crossing the northern border? In Montreal, the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) has just reopened their hotel and the breakfast was delightful.
Looks like breakfast buffet not on offer until September--perhaps that's soon enough? Canadian dollars, a good deal.
posted by xaryts at 2:32 PM on February 26 [2 favorites]
Looks like breakfast buffet not on offer until September--perhaps that's soon enough? Canadian dollars, a good deal.
posted by xaryts at 2:32 PM on February 26 [2 favorites]
Best answer: It's been a while since I've been, but the Ace Hotel in Portland used to offer an excellent breakfast. They definitely still offer it, I just haven't eaten it myself in 10 years, and don't want to promise that it's still excellent.
They've converted one of the larger hotel rooms into a breakfast room, so there's a dedicated space, not just a corner of the lobby. It was much more like my recollection of European hotel breakfasts than the usual American chain hotel fare. There were good pastries, fruit, meats and cheese, some really excellent pickled onions and smoked fish, and eggs made to order. No weird little plastic tubs of cereal, though. And even better, it's offered until noon, if you're someone who likes to sleep in on vacation.
The Ace is a really charming hotel, in my opinion. It's not fancy, but it's got a lot of personality and comfy rooms. The part of town it's in isn't as nice as it used to be, but there's still a ton of fun stuff to do in Portland! They also have locations in a few other cities, but I have no idea what their breakfast situations might be. It seems like a hotel where different locations might have a very different vibe.
posted by duien at 3:27 PM on February 26
They've converted one of the larger hotel rooms into a breakfast room, so there's a dedicated space, not just a corner of the lobby. It was much more like my recollection of European hotel breakfasts than the usual American chain hotel fare. There were good pastries, fruit, meats and cheese, some really excellent pickled onions and smoked fish, and eggs made to order. No weird little plastic tubs of cereal, though. And even better, it's offered until noon, if you're someone who likes to sleep in on vacation.
The Ace is a really charming hotel, in my opinion. It's not fancy, but it's got a lot of personality and comfy rooms. The part of town it's in isn't as nice as it used to be, but there's still a ton of fun stuff to do in Portland! They also have locations in a few other cities, but I have no idea what their breakfast situations might be. It seems like a hotel where different locations might have a very different vibe.
posted by duien at 3:27 PM on February 26
The two breakfast buffets in LA that come to mind are the weekend brunch at the Four Seasons (unsurprisingly, spendy!), and the breakfast at the Intercontinental downtown.
posted by kickingtheground at 3:49 PM on February 26
posted by kickingtheground at 3:49 PM on February 26
Best answer: Four Seasons Hualalai on the Kona side of the big island of Hawaii has a fantastic breakfast buffet, best I’ve ever had, complete with fresh malasadas. VERY ridiculously spendy, but that breakfast is so good (as is the rest of the resort).
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 4:09 PM on February 26 [2 favorites]
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 4:09 PM on February 26 [2 favorites]
Best answer: OMG, run, don't walk, to the Thayer Hotel in West Point, NY.
And then run to the Red Lion in Stockbridge, MA.
posted by JimN2TAW at 4:55 PM on February 26 [1 favorite]
And then run to the Red Lion in Stockbridge, MA.
posted by JimN2TAW at 4:55 PM on February 26 [1 favorite]
Yeah, you'd be hard pressed to beat Four Seasons Hualalai. Continental US, Bouchon at the Venetian in Las Vegas was very good. But yeah, straying into 'it's just a restaurant' territory.
posted by so fucking future at 5:36 PM on February 26 [1 favorite]
posted by so fucking future at 5:36 PM on February 26 [1 favorite]
The Hotel Roanoke (Roanoke, Virginia) breakfast buffet is outstanding. When you book, it can be part of a package (scroll down).
posted by bluesky43 at 5:40 PM on February 26 [2 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 5:40 PM on February 26 [2 favorites]
Best answer: The Grove Park Inn in Asheville has a fab breakfast buffet.
posted by neroli at 6:42 PM on February 26 [1 favorite]
posted by neroli at 6:42 PM on February 26 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The people who are telling you Embassy Suites do not understand the assignment here. In Minneapolis I'd try Alma or the Nicollet Island Inn or maybe the Saint Paul Hotel . In that order.
posted by shadygrove at 8:30 PM on February 26 [1 favorite]
posted by shadygrove at 8:30 PM on February 26 [1 favorite]
It's been a long time since I was there, but Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort (in San Antonio, TX) had an amazing breakfast buffet on the weekends, I'm not sure if you can get it as part of a room package (we would go just to eat at the buffet).
posted by muddgirl at 10:28 PM on February 26
posted by muddgirl at 10:28 PM on February 26
No one has suggested Vegas yet?
I mean get yourself to Vegas, stay at Caesars palace and eat at bacchanal. It's pretty amazing. Tons of fresh seafood. Cold cuts a la Europe, Japanese, Mexican, American favorites, roasts, made to oder eggs.
Honestly just Google best buffet Las vegas. There's a ton. I just find bacchanal very good and very tasty.
posted by chasles at 4:53 AM on February 27 [2 favorites]
I mean get yourself to Vegas, stay at Caesars palace and eat at bacchanal. It's pretty amazing. Tons of fresh seafood. Cold cuts a la Europe, Japanese, Mexican, American favorites, roasts, made to oder eggs.
Honestly just Google best buffet Las vegas. There's a ton. I just find bacchanal very good and very tasty.
posted by chasles at 4:53 AM on February 27 [2 favorites]
Best answer: The Kendall Hotel across the street from MIT in Cambridge has a lovely breakfast.
posted by nat at 8:17 AM on February 27
posted by nat at 8:17 AM on February 27
The most wildly spectacular hotel brunch buffet that I've had, if it can be referred to as a mere breakfast or brunch, was at Navio at the Ritz Carton Half Moon Bay, 30 miles south of San Francisco. It was both truly delicious and truly opulent, and I'm not sure I've ever experienced anything quite like it before or after. I'll let the menu speak for itself.
It is also wildly, ludicrously expensive. It is a splurge, a birthday or an anniversary kind of splurge. An "I'm not going to eat anything for two days so I can take advantage of this" kind of splurge. But, if you're explicitly travelling to America for the best hotel breakfast, it needs to be mentioned.
(If you decide to go, call to ensure that they're doing the buffet brunch and confirm pricing; there is contradictory information on the web site.)
posted by eschatfische at 11:07 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
It is also wildly, ludicrously expensive. It is a splurge, a birthday or an anniversary kind of splurge. An "I'm not going to eat anything for two days so I can take advantage of this" kind of splurge. But, if you're explicitly travelling to America for the best hotel breakfast, it needs to be mentioned.
(If you decide to go, call to ensure that they're doing the buffet brunch and confirm pricing; there is contradictory information on the web site.)
posted by eschatfische at 11:07 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
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posted by greta simone at 12:05 PM on February 26