The 11 hotel breakfasts we'd order for every meal if we could
Editor's Note
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."

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."

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.

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".

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".

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".

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".

"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".

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".

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".

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".

TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.


