Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, it’s rare and exciting when a hotel offers breakfast that goes beyond wet scrambled eggs and mini pastries. These 10 hotel breakfasts will inspire you to get down to the dining room early or to splurge on room service.
Archer Hotel, Austin, TX
When the Archer Austin hotel opens in September, it will be more than the new go-to spot to lay your head; inventive food and the hip, rustic atmosphere at Second Bar & Kitchen will be a large part of the appeal. For brunch, don't miss the Black and Bleu Quiche -- a decadent mix of eggs, black truffles, bleu cheese, red onion, pork belly, and Medjool dates.
Yve Hotel, Miami, FL
Miami is known for its body-conscious citizens, but -- while there’s no shortage of diet-friendly breakfast options at the Yve Hotel -- sometimes yogurt and fruit just won’t cut it. Wave away the guilt, and go for the Key West Crab Benedict -- a stack of poached egg, peekytoe crab cakes, and hollandaise sauce. Trust us: You won't regret it.
Grand Hyatt, New York, NY
The Grand Hyatt's New York Central restaurant knows how to do comfort food right. What better way to start your morning than with Mac n' Cheese Carbonara: elbow pasta loaded with peas, asparagus, and pancetta mixed into an arugula-beer cheese sauce. The poached-egg topper adds an extra shot of protein to a thoroughly hearty dish.
Westin Hotel, Charlotte, NC
JP Charlotte restaurant at the grand Westin hotel has a massive breakfast buffet, serving everything from fresh pastries to Blueberry-Orange Granola Pancakes. But for a real taste of the south, try the Biscuit Benedict: a tower of buttermilk fried chicken, two poached eggs, spinach, and sausage gravy loaded onto a proper southern biscuit.
Mason & Rook, Washington, DC
The district’s newest hotel Mason & Rook struck gold with the Nutella French Toast, which is topped with roasted bananas, whipped cream, and cocoa nibs. A dish this rich can inspire guilt, though, so you may want to add something nutritious -- like their beet-ginger-watermelon smoothie -- to balance it out. Or, better yet, borrow one of the hotel’s free bikes and burn it off with a ride around town.
Hotel Vitale, San Francisco, CA
Vegetarians have loads of breakfast options at Hotel Vitale's Americano Restaurant on Mission Street, near the San Francisco Ferry Terminal. But the one that stands out is the Wild Mushroom Scramble, laced with grana padano cheese and truffle oil and served with a side of toasted sourdough bread. This one's a no-brainer.
Hotel Palomar, Chicago, IL
Sable Kitchen & Bar, inside the downtown Kimpton Hotel Palomar, serves out-of-the-ordinary, yet deeply satisfying dishes. Our favorite: The Filipino Breakfast Plate -- a flavor-bursting combo of tocino (sweet grilled pork slices), garlic rice, sunny-side up eggs, and tomato salad.
Pontchartrain Hotel, New Orleans, LA
The historic Pontchartrain Hotel, located in NOLA's Garden District, has hosted famed guests like Tennessee Williams since it opened in 1927. This year, the property completed an ambitious renovation, which included its Silver Whistle Cafe, where it continues to serve a local favorite: a Pimento Cheese Omelet made with blue-crab, sharp cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, and -- of course -- pimento peppers.
Loews Hotel, Minneapolis, MN
Eleven miles from the Mall of America in downtown Minneapolis, the Loews Hotel uses produce from its rooftop garden to bring fresh ingredients to the tables at Cosmos Restaurant in minutes. The Wild Rice Buttermilk Pancakes topped with Minnesota wildflower honey butter, and the Wild Rice and Chicken Sausage patty are the stars of the show.
Palace Royal, Quebec City, Canada
Poutine -- Canada’s most iconic contribution to junk food -- is definitely not for the light of stomach. But the Breakfast Poutine from the Palace Royal hotel's Beffroi Steakhouse touches a whole other level. With Yukon Gold breakfast potatoes, a trio of meats, Gilbert cheese curds, hollandaise sauce, and veggies (mostly for show), there's no doubt that this dish tops the hangover-cure list. Luckily, they offer room service -- so you can eat it from your bed.