I’d like to dedicate a post to talking about hotel breakfast. Breakfast is a thing that some hotel guests don’t think about at all, while for others, it’s top of mind when deciding on a hotel. Heck, one of the reasons that many people choose to pursue elite status with major hotel groups is for a breakfast benefit.
In this post I want to talk about hotel breakfast big picture. What’s a “free” hotel breakfast even worth? Is free hotel breakfast almost a curse sometimes? Does it depend on where in the world you are?
In this post:
The challenge with hotel breakfast
It’s of course nice to have breakfast included with your hotel stay. This can be because it’s included for everyone, because of the rate you booked (including through something like Virtuoso, or because you have elite status.
What’s the breakfast really worth, though, and do we maybe overvalue this at times? A few thoughts come to mind:
- The quality of hotel breakfast varies massively around the globe, as well as between hotel brands, as I’ll discuss in more detail below
- When I was younger, I’d get super excited about amazing breakfast buffets, but nowadays I don’t want to unnecessarily overindulge in an amazing breakfast every morning
- The value of a “free” hotel breakfast also varies depending on whether you’re traveling for vacation on your own dime, or are on a business trip on someone else’s dime, where you could expense breakfast
- In many situations, a free hotel breakfast might prevent you from going out and enjoying breakfast at your destination, which can often be part of the fun of travel
- Whether you’re traveling as a family or not could also make a difference; if you have small kids, having access to food first thing in the morning is especially valuable
How I view hotel breakfast around the world
With the above basics out of the way, I’d like to talk a bit about how I approach hotel breakfast, and when I really value it, and also when I don’t. With that in mind, let me share some of my main takeaways, in no particular order.
Breakfast in the Middle East & Southeast Asia is an experience
My absolute favorite hotel breakfasts are in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. These are generally the best breakfast buffets you’ll find in the world, and the selection is endless.
As much as I try not to overindulge too much, these kinds of buffets really are a treat, with a massive selection of high quality items from around the globe. I genuinely look forward to these kinds of breakfasts, and it never ceases to amaze me how over-the-top they can be.
As far as I’m concerned, an amazing breakfast in the Middle East or Southeast Asia does impact my hotel choice significantly.
Other parts of Asia in some cases have great breakfasts as well. For example, in Japan you’ll often find amazing breakfasts, with the choice of either a Western or Japanese selection. I appreciate that variety, since it makes the selection a bit more interesting if you’re staying multiple nights.
Breakfast is more valuable at resorts than hotels
Generally speaking, I value hotel breakfast a lot more when staying at a resort rather than a city hotel. That’s because in a resort I typically appreciate a more leisurely morning, there aren’t necessarily so many nearby dining spots outside the hotel, and the breakfast selection is also typically better at resorts.
Furthermore, if you’re staying at a super expensive and secluded resort, having an included breakfast can represent great value. I know many people will have a big, late breakfast, and that will tide them over until dinner.
Breakfast in Europe is almost a curse
I almost view breakfast at European hotels as being a curse rather than a benefit. That’s because in many parts of Europe, breakfast isn’t actually much to get excited about, despite there being lots of charming cafes with tasty options and great coffee.
I find that luxury hotels often still have great breakfasts, while more upscale properties often have less exciting options. Furthermore, as you’d expect, breakfast is a bit better in a place Italy or France, than in Germany or the Netherlands. A lot of carbs is a common theme, though, given what “continental” breakfast really is.
Breakfast in the United States is forgettable
In general, the hospitality experience in the United States is probably the weakest of anywhere in the world, given the extent to which so many businesses are based on short term profit maximization. That’s very much reflected in the hotel experience… if nothing else, it’s certainly the worst value hotel experience you’ll find anywhere in the world.
Along those lines, the United States is probably also where I value hotel breakfast the least. For one, the quality just typically isn’t that great, and hotels are often also “cheap” with what they include for those who have elite status.
At most hotels, I figure that best case scenario I can get an okay omelet, which is a healthy and filling breakfast. But honestly, I’m usually just as happy going to a local coffee shop and grabbing a cup of coffee and some sort of an egg sandwich, which does the trick for me. Or if I’m in a place like New York, who doesn’t like a great bagel?
Bottom line
The value of hotel breakfast can vary greatly based on where in the world you are, who you’re traveling with, and what the purpose of your trip is. Personally, I very much value breakfast in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, as well as at resorts. Meanwhile breakfast in cities in Europe and the United States is often less exciting, and I’m usually just as happy grabbing something at a local spot.
Where do you stand on hotel breakfast around the globe, and how do you approach it?
If I have cereal & a full cooked breakfast with coffee, I'm really fed for the rest of the day (I don't need lunch). Very useful for tourist situations.
My best hotel breakfast experience by a mile, included in the $ 89 cost for the stay was at the Anara hotel inside CGK. Just walk right into it from inside the terminal. The serving area was at least four times the size of your thumbnail, including a meat station, and an omelet station with everything made to order, plus the Americano brought to my table.
In the US it very much depends on the hotel. Often it is just a daily budget and sometimes it barely covers a dish, if at all. The only advantage to this is that it is off of a menu so therefore there is no over-eating.
As a European that banks hundreds of hotel nights a year for 10+ years, I don’t agree with ” (the US) is certainly the worst value hotel experience you’ll find anywhere in the world”. Perhaps if you only visit luxury properties, but it’s certainly not true for mid scale or budget properties, which often suck in Europe (and Asia). I actually think that the US hotel market still had a lot to offer in terms of value.
Like with all big countries, I think there's going to be variations by region, market type etc...but I stayed at a Best Western in Texas last year (for $200ish a night, I hasten to add) which was more than adequate in terms of room size, maintenance etc but literally only had bacon and bananas as the only options not based on super processed carbohydrates. There may have been some scrambled eggs somewhere, but there was...
Like with all big countries, I think there's going to be variations by region, market type etc...but I stayed at a Best Western in Texas last year (for $200ish a night, I hasten to add) which was more than adequate in terms of room size, maintenance etc but literally only had bacon and bananas as the only options not based on super processed carbohydrates. There may have been some scrambled eggs somewhere, but there was definitely nothing in terms of cheese, ham, mushrooms, other fruit etc.
If you don’t have a breakfast included in your rate or your status covers it don’t bother with hotel rip off charges, go where the locals go. I’ve found in the UK the best buffet breakfast can be found at Premier Inn ( don’t need to be a guest as the restaurant is open to non residents) or Wetherspoons ( Spoons) they get the same product from the same supplier ( Brake Brothers) as do most if not all 5* hotels.
If you're in the UK, the Toby Carvery pub chain has a great deal for buffet breakfast. You do have to pay extra for espresso-based coffee (though the price might include filter coffee), but it's unlimited proper cooked breakfast for not a lot of money.
When I am traveling, the last thing I do is want to do is go more than five feet to find a place to eat in the morning, especially in inclement weather. The Renaissance in Chicago offered a small Grab and Go breakfast for elites when it was snowing outside and the lounge was closed. Not a real breakfast either.
I never eat at breakfast buffet at hotels in the US. I've seen them and thought ok well if I want another tumor in my gut I guess I can eat some of that garbage. But fat Americans seem to love them. Europe and Asia are completely different in quality. I rarely eat breakfast but will do so on trips overseas so that I can skip lunch since the afternoons are usually busy. I don't want to spend the morning hunting for coffee so hotel breakfast is useful.
I stay in serviced apartment hotels in France. The breakfast is meager and 17€. You can brew your own coffee in your room, cook up eggs or whatever. I pass on free breakfast in the US, so it's a not important for me, just wasted calories. But, I do go buy a 2€ or pastry at a shop while in France. All in all, I don't get the obsession with breakfast a hotels, but chacune a son goutte.
Breakfast in US properties not good? Properties like Blue Duck Tavern in Park Hyatt DC, Atlantikos in St Reg Bal Harbor, Riva in St Reg Longboat Key (Your own review of this place called their breakfast nice), and my very favorite (probably in my top list from entire world) Ka'ana Kitchen at Andaz Maui would like to have a word with you.
Yeah but there are probably less than 1% of hotels in the US that are not partially or fully pathetic.
If breakfast were not included I'd nip into a local café for a coffee and some kind of sandwich/pastry/porridge. Depending on where I am in the world that's about £10 to £15 max. So that's the true value for me.
We traveled a lot last summer. Had some really exceptional breakfasts. Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay (variety), and Conrad Osaka (steak) were our favorites but Curio Maldives, Park Hyatt Siem Reap, and Hyatt Regency Kathmandu were also extremely good. I prefer when there’s a buffet and you can also order off menu, and most were that way.
During breakfast at the Park Hyatt Saigon last week a pastry chef approached my table with a tray of hot out of the oven/freshly baked croissants. It was a sublime experience.
It's such an awesome hotel, as is the Sofitel Metropole in Hanoi, where the club lounge breakfast options are numerous and delicious.
I had breakfast at the restaurant at the Sofitel Metrople Hanoi and would rank it even higher than the Park Hyatt Saigon.
The EDITION Bodrum. I am wanting to go back just for the breakfast.
Complimentary breakfast is one of my favorite perks of having status. As you mentioned, the hotels in Southeast Asia are on a different level. I also found many properties in Europe having decent albeit more simple offerings. The U.S. definitely has the weakest offering. The only reason why I still appreciate it is it’s one less meal to spend on for the day with my daily per diem during work trips.
When your flight leaves at 5am and breakfast doesn’t start until 6am.
A 5 am flight means you are leaving the hotel at 3 am. For international travel even flights departing at 8 or 9 am means you are missing the hotel breakfast.
I'm not paying for breakfasts for piggies. I suggest mandatory weigh-ins before entering breakfast and if you're categorized as obiese, you're turned away and given a shot of ozempic in your fat ass.
Try again fake Eskimo
Given how much Gary Leff writes on the subject of free hotel breakfasts and whether he's gotten one or not, I should imagine their value lies somewhere between "Ark of the Covenant" and "life-giving oxygen."
FWIW, hotel breakfasts in Scandinavia are an experience. Enjoyed some absolutely beautiful spreads in Norway and Sweden
Reading this article, I recall how my wife and I were impressed by the breakfast buffet variety and quality at the Hilton Helsinki Airport. The Hyatt in Stockholm and IHG Indigo in Helsinki were very enjoyable too (especially if you enjoy pickled fish).
Yes, one of my favorite included hotel breakfasts was at the Sommerro Hotel in Oslo. It came with a made to order entree, plus an expansive buffet.
This is like one of the Terrible Maps memes with global maps which exclude NZ etc. I don't massively disagree with anything in the post, but there are huge chunks of the world missing!
- A basic continental breakfast is far better for my taste than the congee that seems to reign supreme in many/most midscale Chinese hotels.
- There's no such thing as a 'Latin American breakfast'. Mexican ones are more similar to their...
This is like one of the Terrible Maps memes with global maps which exclude NZ etc. I don't massively disagree with anything in the post, but there are huge chunks of the world missing!
- A basic continental breakfast is far better for my taste than the congee that seems to reign supreme in many/most midscale Chinese hotels.
- There's no such thing as a 'Latin American breakfast'. Mexican ones are more similar to their US counterparts, Colombian/Venezuelan/Caribbean breakfasts can be rather limited (I've stayed in 5* in Maracaibo, Cartagena etc where the selection was next to nothing) but also have interesting local stuff like steamed plantain, and the vibe in the Southern Cone unsurprisingly is similar to Europe.
- African city hotels (I rarely go to resorts) don't normally try too hard when it comes to breakfast offerings.
- I have no idea about what's going on in the Indian Subcontinent as I've never even stayed overnight there (unless you count Sri Lanka as part of it), but I guess it's not the same as the rest of Asia.
My 5 cents to India
way closer to Thailand then to Europe
Nice Indian hotels have excellent breakfasts
The value is also very much related to what you eat. Lots of breakfast buffets in Europe tend to have British breakfast and are priced accordingly, but it's not like most people are gonna eat full lunch with bacon, sausages, omelette and whatnot at 9 AM. Thus it almost never makes sense to pay in cash unless you are a Brit/American.
For me, the value is what I'd pay for breakfast elsewhere. You can usually...
The value is also very much related to what you eat. Lots of breakfast buffets in Europe tend to have British breakfast and are priced accordingly, but it's not like most people are gonna eat full lunch with bacon, sausages, omelette and whatnot at 9 AM. Thus it almost never makes sense to pay in cash unless you are a Brit/American.
For me, the value is what I'd pay for breakfast elsewhere. You can usually get normal breakfast for 5€ or so in any supermarket, maybe 10€ at a cafe. That is if you even have one in the first place. I usually skip breakfast and just go straight to lunch, which is why at IHG I almost always take points over breakfast no matter how little the points are worth.
I personally value hotel breakfasts at approximately $7.50!
Try again fake Eskimo
The thing about super nice hotels is that breakfast has to be some grand affair where they sit you down at a table and treat it like dinner. I just want something quick and get started with my day
So, this seems a bit of a simplistic take so I'd like to add to it. Here in the USA, breakfast can be a great meal but in most hotels it is not. For the reasons stated by Ben; usually cutting corners. Different parts of the US do have some variations on what's for breakfast though not generally at chain hotels.
I've found that Latin American hotels can have some really fantastic breakfasts and I'd...
So, this seems a bit of a simplistic take so I'd like to add to it. Here in the USA, breakfast can be a great meal but in most hotels it is not. For the reasons stated by Ben; usually cutting corners. Different parts of the US do have some variations on what's for breakfast though not generally at chain hotels.
I've found that Latin American hotels can have some really fantastic breakfasts and I'd value them more highly. Breakfast in Europe is not as important a meal as it is here, so you get lighter fare of bread, some cold cuts, maybe some fruit and/or yogurt. You did forget the UK, where most hotels seem to offer a similar level of breakfast as you see in the States. However, really nice hotels do offer variations of the full English (or Scottish) breakfast which can be really great.
TBH, rarely do I bother much with hotel breakfasts unless it's something special. Which can be the case in a place like Costa Rica or Argentina or even France (I actually like continental breakfast).
I always look at if I am not eating breakfast at the hotel, where am I eating? In urban areas the alternatives are probably bountiful. IfIi am on a beach or an island, there probably arent alternatives to a hotel breakfast and i value that free breakfast.
As an Italian one (or two...) croissant, one espresso, one juice or one yogurt are all I need for breakfast. So I don't value huge breakfast buffets that much, i'm simply not used to eat too much food in the early morning. Basically I only value italian or french hotels breakfast. Just a different point of view
Unless using Semaglutide, lots of us keep one a meal a day small/zero - various people skip lunch, or eat nothing within 6 hours of going to sleep.
For me it's keeping breakfast very small, or sometime skipping it completely.
I often eat just two hard-boiled eggs - fine if the breakfast is included (although I am subsidising those who eat more - frustrating if has to be paid for at a resort.
French breakfast is great but you can go to any random boulangerie and have it for 5€ at a much higher quality than what hotels charge 25€ for.
If I'm traveling alone free breakfast is worth very little. If I am with my family of four, it's worth quite a lot.
I for one love breakfast buffets, especially in Asia. I would pay a breakfast included rate if there was no comped breakfast. Eating around 10:30 will last me till tea time. It takes me 4 to 5 days to work through the different options. You get to try out at least 3 different type of cuisines. Yeah, I usually eat 4x a day in Asia.
I value it a lot for airport hotels.
I've never been a breakfast person. I'm happy with a croissant, protein bar, etc.
We were once comped breakfast for our 3 night stay at the Park Hyatt in Milan where breakfast was something like 50 Euros pre covid days and it was just wasted on me since I don't eat anything fancy or even eggs anymore.
I do like the German type breakfasts with meats, cheeses and breads since that is sort of a...
I've never been a breakfast person. I'm happy with a croissant, protein bar, etc.
We were once comped breakfast for our 3 night stay at the Park Hyatt in Milan where breakfast was something like 50 Euros pre covid days and it was just wasted on me since I don't eat anything fancy or even eggs anymore.
I do like the German type breakfasts with meats, cheeses and breads since that is sort of a lunch. It is also why I enjoy the Chick Fil A chicken biscuit sandwiches since I get something with some protein that isn't an egg, and isn't a doughnut, muffin.
I just as soon skip it and eat lunch early.
The Value Of Hotel Breakfast: What’s It Really Worth?
DCS: $15
Oh and give me Anantara Phuket or Mandarin Singapore breakfast every day
I agree with all of this. Great at secluded resorts and meh otherwise. Even Asia I struggle as I just am not a big eater. It is too much.
Italy and France are the countries known for coffee and cigarettes for breakfast so with few exceptions breakfasts are meee…
but can somebody tell me whya continental breakfast is called continental breakfast? I am not aware of any country in Europe where the regional breakfast is „continental“.
The term continental breakfast comes from the UK as their description of normal European breakfast (some bread with cheese and ham, maybe a pastry, yoghurt and a juice/coffee) as opposed to the British custom of having a full lunch in the morning. Hence "continental" = what people on the continent (mainland) eat.
In general, it's nothing to get excited about, and I don't value it that much. Yes it's nice with the kids, but so are instant oatmeal packets and granola bars versus sitting around with wiggling children for a meal. I really just want a good cup of coffee (often lacking at these buffets), and at some point perhaps a pastry or a piece of bread.
If you read Marriott Bonvoy terms and conditions, you will be surprised at what elite benefits are exempted for virtually every one of its luxury brands.
Interesting that you don't love breakfast in Germany but do like it in Italy. I generally really enjoy hotel breakfasts in Germany, but tend to think Italy's are more meager.
I'm in Rome, at a 5 star now, and fully agree with you.
I stayed at the WA Rome this past summer and was surprised at how meager the spread was and the presentation left much to be desired. I did enjoy what they had, but I think my short stay at the Hilton Garden Inn LHR had a better presentation than the WA.
I agree with you, Jerry. My experiences with breakfast at hotels (both small and large) in Germany have been much better than those in Italy. French hotel breakfast experiences have been uneven.
Thanks for the article. What sort of reflections do you or others have on hotel breakfast offerings in Latin America?
Latin America - lots of carbs and processed meats. Hard pass!