What’s the best part of a hotel breakfast?

[ABowlOfPorridge]

Assuming that you like them.

I very rarely eat breakfast as I’m not hungry until around 1pm, sometimes later but I will make the occasional exception for a hotel breakfast.

One of the best I had was in a hotel in Jersey which offered many choices including an entire side of hot smoked salmon. I ate so much of the salmon that I’m surprised that I didn’t die of sodium poisoning.

I’m going away this weekend and curious to see what’s on offer. More often than not I usually just have fruit juice and coffee, occasionally cereal but I still enjoy seeing if they have any interesting options.

For some reason those tiny glasses of fruit juice taste incredible in the morning and the pack of 2 wrapped Weetabix tastes better than it does at home.

So what are your favourite hotel breakfast items and which hotels offer the best?

I had the best Eggs Royale at a lovely little B&B somewhere in Wales a couple of years ago. Perfect poached eggs, hot smoked salmon and homemade hollandaise on seeded sourdough toast, served with rocket and watercress. It’s one of my favourite indulgent breakfasts anyway but this one was top notch.

I enjoyed the churros and chocolate as “breakfast pudding” in a nice Spanish hotel I visited last year

Did not enjoy the “fish balls” bar at the breakfast buffet at a hotel in Singapore

Centrepoint in Bangkok catered for all manner of tastes and nationalities. Continental meats/cheeses/breads, hot options like beans/bacon/sausages, cereals, yoghurts, tropical fruit, omelette chef and also a congee bar with multiple toppings to choose from.

In the UK, I did a stink of night shift at a place near Cambridge so breakfast, was essentially my evening meal before bed. They had poached haddock with a boiled egg on top. I've never had that for breakfast since, but at the time, in freezing winter, it felt warming and tasty.

I used to travel a lot for work, and it got to the point where I chose hotels based on their breakfasts; so usually the Midland Hotel in Manchester and the Russell Hotel in London. I was very lucky to be in the position to pick and choose.

I just love the fact that there's no washing up, and if you want to go full out you can, but the best bit is that you can take your time!

I love those international luxury hotels all over the world that try to cater to every nationality in one buffet. When there, I’m partial to a Chinese chicken noodle soup for breakfast.

Love a hotel breakfast, especially a boujee one. Seeded breads, Avocado, salmon, poached eggs.....
BUT....
My kids dont appreciate that so when we have a night away with them it's premier inn and we all absolutely love it.
First thing I do is half a bowl of fruit salad (pineapple, grapes, apple, orange ) with granola and raisins sprinkled over it. That fruit and the crunch / chewiness is just 👌🤤 I'd never do it at home or anywhere else but ignore the unlimited hot breakfast it's all about the fruit salad and granola. Sometimes ill go for a second one which is mixed berries and granola on top

I was going to say this! But food wise it’s Birscher muesli with a topping of berry compote, I love it but can’t be bothered to make it for myself. I’d eat it every day if available.

I love Birchermuesli too, despite the fact that I detest "overnight oats".

Polish hotels usually have great breakfasts, often unusual breads and charcuterie and smoked fish, and trays of sticky honey cakes. A favourite of mine was a large bowl of creamy cottage cheese served with finely chopped fresh herbs to wake up the taste buds.

Belgian hotels are good at breakfast too. One place we often stayed at always had a bowl of poached cherries to have with thick yoghurt. There's usually a selection of sprinkles to put on thickly buttered bread too, lovely with a huge cup of hot chocolate.

My favourite thing about hotel breakfasts though, is being served breakfast. At a hotel on the Med, when you were ready for breakfast, you phoned reception, and very soon your breakfast was served to you on your balcony overlooking the shore. Perfect bliss!

The best one I had was at a hotel in Bristol many years ago where the component parts of muesli and granola were in separate bowls on the buffet table so you could "mix" your own. I did go a bit overboard with the amount of sultanas I added...

Homemade granola with little pots of seeds and dried fruits etc you can add to it.
Decent sour dough bread and real butter
Thick Greek yogurt
Fruit compote

Not bothered with cooked foods....
Although I do like a porridge if made with cream !!!

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250815-the-slow-death-of-the-breakfast-buffet

Fill your boots (or bellies) folks, it's soon to be a thing of the past according to the BBC

Best one I’ve had was at Bless hotel in Ibiza the choice was absolutely amazing.I could have sat there all day just grazing.We have just come back from Portugal stayed at a Sheraton hotel the breakfast was bountiful too plus they gave you boxes so you could take stuff away with you which was great.

I’m very envious of all your wonderful breakfasts and holidays. Thank you for sharing the details.

No, it was the Palace.

I'm waiting for someone to say, "Buttering a couple of rolls, wrapping them up in a napkin, and sneaking them into my bag along with a banana to save me from having to buy lunch."

Worst thing about hotel breakfasts are when they don't cook the bacon until the fat is crisp. Such a let down. And scrambled egg made by the boatload, overcooked then kept warm for ages. Urgh.

I had a brilliant breakfast at New World Millenium Hotel in Kowloon recently.
All the standard things in a western hotel buffet but amazing quality:
homemade Danish pastries
fresh baguette, seeded bread, rye bread and delicious spreads
bagels and tear and share “party bread” with different flavours
Pandam bread
waffles
pancakes made as you watched
scrambled egg, bacon, beans, hash browns, omelette cooked to order
tropical fruit
fruit computes and dried fruits for porridge
Cereal, porridge, muesli

then a whole other area with hot duck udon, sautéed veggies, fried rice,
two different halal friendly curries and roti,
about 5 different kinds of steamed and friend dumplings and dimsum with rice
small plates of sushi and other smoked fish
congee and toppings
fresh juice, great coffee.

I’m sad I didn’t eat more but I can only do so much eating!

An full English but not a huge plate, followed by natural yoghurt , wholemeal toast and decently strong black coffee. Perfick 😎

The best I've ever had was at the SAS in Tallinn. They had everything you'd want for a fry up, including black pudding. There was also fruit, salad stuff smoked salmon, and on Sunday smoked sturgeon.

Ryan's Daughter, a tiny b&b in Tipperary, best breakfast ever. Soda bread, scones, toast to start then a full Irish, great quality and delicious.

I also love a hotel buffet, Lounge brunch and don't turn my nose up at a spoons brekkie.

Bag dale Hall Hotel in Whitby, around 20 years ago. The absolute best scrambled eggs and smoked salmon I’ve have ever tasted, before or since. I can still taste it when I think back. And it kept me full until tea time. It must have been full of cream and butter!

Love the good international hotels in Asian cities - amazing choice of Chinese dumplings, pho, rice dishes, spiced vegetable dishes, plus full selection of continental meats and cheeses, full English selection, excellent breads, tropical fruits, fresh local juices, cereals.... Have only experienced this a few times, but it was very difficult to walk away from and I dream of going back.

I’m embarrassed to admit to a soft spot for (American chain restaurant) Cracker Barrel’s fried apples.