Skip to content

The 11 hotel breakfasts we'd order for every meal if we could

Feb. 21, 2021
12 min read
Bodrum Edition Hotel Review
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

Editor's Note

This post has been updated with additional information.

Even though travel is on pause at the moment, we can still dream, right? So before you book your next hotel stay, enjoy some of these dreamy breakfasts for some inspiration!

Everyone knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and hotels all around are great at making the day's first meal also the best one. When you're shelling out lots of cash or points for a hotel room, having a lavish spread in the morning is an almost unparalleled luxury. However, you have to pay for all that food -- and at high-end properties, you may find yourself out well upward of $50 for the meal. Luckily, though, if you're a high-tier status holder or book stays through programs like Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts program, breakfast can be yours for free each day.

The Points Guy staffers put their heads together to brainstorm their favorite morning meals worldwide. Here are the 11 hotels that rose above all the others.

Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem — Brian Kelly

The breakfast at the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem is fantastic, although TPG had to wait until Shabbat was over to experience the full meal since this hotel is religiously observant.

"The spread was expansive, though it was kosher with no meat and only cheese," Brian said. "The buffet offered delicious Middle Eastern specialties like shakshuka, an egg dish baked with tomatoes, as well as things like mint salad, fettuccine, hummus and even pretzels. The usual breakfast fare was also available, like eggs, pastries, baked goods and fresh fruit."

(Photo by Brian Kelly/The Points Guy)

Maison Astor Paris, Curio Collection by Hilton - Ben Smithson

On a trip to Paris, TPG U.K. senior writer Ben Smithson chose the Maison Astor Paris hotel, and he wasn't disappointed -- especially on the room-service breakfast front. Would you just look at that pastry basket?

According to Ben: "Everything on [the table] was excellent, freshly prepared and tasty. I felt like I was in some romantic French movie enjoying this amazing breakfast in a beautiful boutique hotel room in the center of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I cannot really think of a more perfect way to enjoy breakfast in Paris."

(Photo by Ben Smithson/The Points Guy)

The St. Regis Mexico City - Nick Ellis

In our humble opinion, nachos are one of the best dishes on earth. And breakfast nachos? Don't even get us started. So imagine the delight of reviews editor Nick Ellis when he asked if the kitchen at The St. Regis Mexico City could whip him up a plate of chilaquiles for breakfast. And boy did they deliver: two sunny-side-up eggs, queso fresco, onions, two salsas all on top of fresh, crispy tortilla chips. We have no doubt that we could eat this each and every day.

Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
(Photo by Nick Ellis/The Points Guy)

Hilton Moorea — Nick Ewen

"Food and drinks in Tahiti are pricey", Nick said. "So when I redeemed points to stay at the Hilton Moorea Resort and Spa, the free breakfast benefit for Diamond members paid off mightily — as in nearly $75 savings per day for me and my wife. The spread was extensive and even included poisson cru, a national dish of French Polynesia similar to ceviche. The best part wasn't the cost savings, it was 'stealing' rolls each morning to feed the fish as we snorkeled later in the day".

Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa - arii vahine breakfast buffet poisson cru
(Photo by Darren Murph/The Points Guy)

The St. Regis Maldives — Zach Honig

Zach has been vocal about The St. Regis Maldives being "far and away" his favorite hotel resort of all time, and the breakfast spread is a huge part of the experience.

"Serving fresh food in the Maldives presents countless logistical challenges since each resort is so remote", Zach said. "But The St. Regis manages to not only provide an incredibly fresh breakfast each morning but to offer the full spread — including items from the expansive menu — free of charge to Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador guests".

(Photo by Ethan Steinberg/The Points Guy)

Park Hyatt Beijing — Katie Genter

One other suggestion from Katie comes from another region of the world altogether. At the Park Hyatt Beijing, "breakfast is served in the China Grill on the 66th floor, which provides excellent views over Beijing. There's ample selection, including a made-to-order menu included in the buffet, as well as a juice bar. I had breakfast included in my Amex FHR stay".

(Photo by Katie Genter/The Points Guy)

SO Sofitel Bangkok — Lori Zaino

"I love breakfast buffets in Asia because they offer both western and Asian options", TPG writer Lori said. "There's nothing like getting that perfectly cooked omelet followed by some noodles, veggies or congee and then all sorts of amazing fruits like dragonfruit, passion fruit, fresh mangoes and rambutans".

(Photo by Lori Zaino/The Points Guy)

"The SO Sofitel's breakfast buffet was in a gorgeous room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Lumphini Park, and to top it all off, they had an ice cream bar with 10 different flavors at the breakfast buffet. So yes, I obviously ate ice cream every single day for breakfast, and it was epic. And breakfast was included in the rate I booked on Hotels.com!"

Hotel Flora (Venice) — Dan Rauchwerk

"The sumptuous breakfast buffet was served in the hotel but could be eaten in the hotel's picturesque walled-in courtyard", Dan said. "It featured a variety of fresh and preserved fruit, jam, fresh Italian bread, local meats and cheeses, fruit juice and the best coffee I have ever had in my entire life. We paid cash for the hotel stay, but breakfast was included in the price of the room".

(Photo courtesy of the Hotel Flora)

Conrad Tokyo — Samantha Rosen

When TPG's resident food-obsessed editor thinks back over her most memorable meals on the job, a few, in particular, stand out.

"The epic breakfast at the Conrad Tokyo!" Sam said. "Because I have Diamond status, I was able to enjoy not only the entire buffet but also an a la carte dining option all for free! It didn't hurt that the restaurant was over 40 stories in the air, either".

hot dishes on a breakfast buffet
(Photo by Sam Rosen/The Points Guy)

The Bodrum Edition — Nick Ellis

TPG's reviews editor can't stop raving about this property's first meal of the day. Here's what you can expect: "A practically endless spread of Turkish coffees, teas, juices, eggs, breads, fruits, cheeses, vegetables, yogurt, fresh honeycomb and just about anything else you could fit on a table", Nick said. "And the best part? It was free for all guests until 4 p.m. daily. Yes. All. Day. Brunch.

"Second, and even better than the late cut-off time, was the fact that it was included with our room rate. And I’m not talking about a continental breakfast here — this was an extravagant affair. It’s a little unclear as to whether breakfast is always included for all guests, and I’ve read conflicting experiences from other guests, but we never signed a cheque for a breakfast, no matter how much we ordered, and it was not charged upon checkout. I’ll take it!

"That was just the beginning. In addition to all of that, you could choose as many 'main courses' as you liked. These included eggs any style, menemen (a scrambled-egg dish with tomatoes, peppers and onions), smoked salmon and avocado eggs Benedict, fried eggs cilbir style (served with warm yogurt, mushrooms, chili oil and nuts) and homemade granola bowls with Turkish yogurt, nuts, fruit and chia seeds.

"We’re not done yet. In addition to all of these unfathomably delicious breakfast foods, there was a full selection of fresh-pressed juices, wellness shots and Turkish coffee and tea. After late nights dancing until dawn, nothing was better than ordering just about everything on this menu and eating it well into the afternoon".

(Photo by Nick Ellis/The Points Guy)

Four Seasons Koh Samui — Zach Griff

The Four Seasons Koh Samui's restaurant is perched at the top of a hill overlooking the bay and surrounding islands. Zach told TPG that the "food was served buffet-style, but also had an extensive made-to-order menu. The best part was that it was totally free, thanks for the Amex FHR program".

(Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy)
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

TPG featured card

Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
4 / 5
Go to review
Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site

Rewards

1 - 4X points

Intro offer

As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

Annual Fee

$325

Recommended Credit

Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.
Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
4 / 5
Go to review

Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
3XEarn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
2XEarn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
1XEarn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
  • Annual Fee

    $325
  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.