Lazy Sundays are for sleeping in, reading the paper and — most importantly — indulging in brunch. This languorous meal is the favorite of those who love to linger over good food … and perhaps a little Champagne before the noon hour. For those who appreciate the benefits of a little Sunday morning culinary hedonism, we scoured the country for the best places to sip and sup in style. Whether you’re craving classic scrambled eggs and bacon or braised short ribs with chilaquiles, your hunger pangs will be more than satisfied at one of these top 10 hotel brunch spots.
CALIFORNIA
Beverly Hills
The Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows
Polo Lounge
Set inside the famously pink Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows, The Polo Lounge, once an iconic hotspot synonymous with old Hollywood glamour, is still a favorite brunch destination for the glitterati and Tinseltown’s most powerful movers and shakers. Along with bellinis and mimosas, you will (of course) find Champagne — the perfect accompaniment to scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. And if you don’t like your eggs tumbled around? Then take them poached with corned beef hash, or try the classic eggs Benedict. But make sure to take only a nibble of each so you can save room for more … much more. A traditional favorite, French toast is adorned with Nutella and marinated strawberries, and shares the spotlight with unique items like Thai crab cakes and chicken tortilla soup. Read a complete restaurant review of the Polo Lounge
COLORADO
Colorado Springs
The Broadmoor
Lake Terrace Dining Room
Located on 3,000 acres in the shadow of Cheyenne Mountain, The Broadmoor is dedicated to a greener planet with its environmentally-conscious programs. Knowing that you’re dining in an eco-friendly atmosphere only adds to the pleasure of indulging in the lavish Sunday brunch served here. With ice sculptures and live piano music, this mid-morning extravaganza features more than 70 items. Tuck into a feast of prime rib, honey-baked ham, made-to-order eggs Benedict and omelets, pâtés, Belgian waffles, blintzes, bagels and lox, and fresh fruit and salad, as well as a wide-ranging pastry and dessert selection, highlighted by The Broadmoor’s famed Bananas Foster and a to-die-for chocolate fountain. While you don’t have to wear your Sunday best, the code is “dressy casual,” so leave your shorts and flip-flops at home and bring your week to a close in style. For more information, visit www.broadmoor.com
FLORIDA
Miami
Four Seasons Hotel Miami
Edge, Steak & Bar
Although best-known as being a leader in haute luxury, the Four Seasons takes to the streets at its Miami outpost with a Sunday brunch inspired by the nation’s food truck craze. Purists will find all their favorite dishes, while culinary adventurers will relish the Viva La Mexico taco “truck” station serving braised short ribs and chilaquiles or the Cuban food “truck” station offering crispy roast suckling pig served on Cuban bread with mojo onions. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to sample the vast variety, which includes Peruvian seafood and a mojito tropical fruit salad. For dessert, you can opt for ice cream churned to order, freshly made churros or key lime panna cotta. Best of all, a kiddie menu is complemented by activity stations to keep the wee ones occupied while mom and dad get creative at the build-your-own-Bloody-Mary bar. For more information, visit www.fourseasons.com/miami
NEW YORK
New York
The Waldorf=Astoria
Peacock Alley
Sure, we love all of the André Balazs and Ian Schrager hotels that are now de rigeur in the Big Apple, but there’s still nothing like old school New York. At Sunday brunch at Peacock Alley in the main lobby of The Waldorf=Astoria, you’ll feel as if you’ve returned to the days of Edith Wharton and Henry James. Live piano music and stunning Art Deco details provide a backdrop for twelve themed food displays that are a culmination of more than a century’s culinary heritage. The menu includes all your favorites: eggs Benedict with lobster, filet mignon, crêpes, a raw shellfish bar, pastries adorning a chocolate fondue fountain and, yes, caviar. Other things to love about this brunch — it’s not served during the summer, which shows that it’s first and foremost a local institution, and the dress code is oh so NYC: “chic and elegant.” Read a complete restaurant review of Peacock Alley
PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia
The Rittenhouse Hotel
Lacroix at The Rittenhouse
Situated in a gorgeous minimalist space, Lacroix takes diners away from the usual, Victorian-era-inspired Sunday brunch. Creativity is at a maximum here, with dishes such as jalapeño shortbread, black garlic shoofly pie and foie gras granola bars. Who can be bothered to care about cereal and hard-boiled eggs when there are giant diver scallop sausages and whole wheat peanut butter pancakes? The menu suggests wine pairings for each dish, including the house Cuvée Lacroix, an elegant Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Brut. Check with the hotel for weekend packages that include brunch, so that you can meander back to your room after you’ve had your fill of malted milk chocolate foam and cocktails from the “Make Your Own Bloody Mary” bar. Read a complete restaurant review of Lacroix at The Rittenhouse
CALIFORNIA
San Francisco
InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco
Top of the Mark
For more than 70 years, the Top of the Mark on the nineteenth floor of the InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco has been a favorite with locals and tourists — not to mention celebrities, from Elizabeth Taylor to Brad Pitt. Most come for the exhaustive martini menu and gorgeous nighttime vistas, but those in the know also make their way to this Nob Hill landmark for the Sunday Champagne Brunch. With live piano music playing in the background and views overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands and Fisherman’s Wharf, diners graze among tables filled with smoked fish, assorted pâtés, fresh fruit, artisan breads, cracked Dungeness crab, caviar, prime rib and much more. Along with offering favorites such as classic eggs Benedict, the brunch gives a nod to the diversity of the City by the Bay, with dishes that include dim sum and San Francisco cioppino. For more information, visit www.intercontinentalmarkhopkins.com
HAWAII
Princeville, Kauai
The St. Regis Princeville Resort
Makana Terrace
When it comes to the fresh catch of the day, few places can beat Hawaii. The same goes for views, which is what makes it so hard to select a Sunday brunch favorite on the islands … so many breathtaking vistas to choose from. But in the end, The St. Regis Princeville Resort claims our hearts. Served on the Makana Terrace overlooking Hanalei Bay and Makana Mountain, this culinary showcase unites old favorites with new flavors: snow crab claws come with a mango horseradish sauce, while macaroni and cheese gets fancy with lobster and truffles. From heart of palm with citrus and mint to baked eggs with pipi kaula (Hawaiian jerky) and cheddar, every item is memorable, especially when complemented with a freshly brewed cup of Kona coffee. For more information, visit www.stregisprinceville.com
UTAH
Salt Lake City
The Grand America Hotel
Garden Café
Sumptuous in Salt Lake City, The Grand America’s Sunday Brunch lives up to the hotel’s name. Held in the casually elegant Garden Café, it features a vast selection of self-serve hot and cold buffets. Every expected item is on hand here, as well as a few culinary surprises, such as Cornish game hen with peach barbecue sauce and raspberry-studded Ebleskivers with chocolate sauce — the latter, a Danish-style filled pancake, is a house specialty. From a seafood martini station to an artisan cheese cart to a pastry and dessert selection called “The Grand Display,” no craving will go unfulfilled. There’s even a special kiddie menu with baked chicken tenders, turkey meatball spaghetti and more. As for those of you dining en masse, reserve one of the semi-private alcoves and make a party of it. For more information, visit www.grandamerica.com
VIRGINIA
Richmond
The Jefferson
Rotunda lobby
The Sunday Champagne brunch at The Jefferson is a Richmond tradition that draws loyal diners from miles around. Served in the Rotunda lobby amongst marble columns and around a mezzanine, its mood is charmingly old-fashioned — complete with a trio of musicians playing in the background as you make your way through the vast buffet. Because the chef uses seasonal, regional ingredients, new dishes are ensured on a regular basis. Among standards such as made-to-order omelets and oysters on the half shell, you will find specialties like The Jefferson’s Signature Spoonbread and housemade charcuterie. If you still have room after helpings of poached shrimp and glazed ham, top it all off with a treat from the sundae station, which includes stuffed crêpes, waffle cones and cherries jubilee. For more information, visit www.jeffersonhotel.com
WASHINGTON
Seattle
The Edgewater
Six Seven
The Edgewater is a Seattle institution, and not just because The Beatles once fished from one of the hotel’s guest rooms. It’s a place locals count on for special occasions, beginning with Sunday brunch at Six Seven restaurant overlooking Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains — arguably one of the most majestic views in America. Indoors or out, diners can choose from a three-course prix fixe menu or à la carte dishes consisting of contemporary Pan-Asian twists on classic (mostly seafood) favorites. Along with a complimentary mimosa, you can enjoy Dungeness crab and spinach Benedict or perhaps Washington apple pancakes with cinnamon butter and Grand Marnier. Best of all is the use of local ingredients, such as pastrami from neighboring Vashon Island and fish straight off the boats from Alaska. For more information, visit www.edgewaterhotel.com
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