Dropping $2,000 a night on a swanky New York City hotel?
You’d think breakfast would at least be included when paying a wildly high nightly rate, but think again.
In Gotham, even the morning meal comes with a side of sticker shock.
It’s a head scratcher that posh hotels charge an arm and a leg for the most important meal of the day, while less expensive options often include a free continental breakfast.
Sure, it might be some soggy scrambled eggs or sugar-filled cereals, but it’s something.
Here are some of the most outrageously overpriced breakfasts Big Apple hotels are serving up.
The Plaza Hotel
At The Plaza Hotel (768 Fifth Avenue), breakfast at the legendary Palm Court is an upscale, paid affair.
Yogurt parfaits start at $20, fruit plates at $22, while a classic American breakfast will set you back $52. Feeling fancy? A caviar-topped omelet clocks in at $45.
Coffee isn’t a bargain either — expect $12 per cup. Even sides like a lone bagel or a few strips of bacon hit $14 apiece.
Rooms start around $850–$1,000 a night, which is basically a rent payment for a single night on Fifth Avenue.
And if you want to go full Gatsby, the Royal Suite — three bedrooms, a private elevator, sweeping Fifth Avenue views, and a dining room fit for a billionaire’s brunch — starts at $40,000 per night. Peak season can push that even higher.
Four Seasons Hotel
Over at the Midtown location (57 E 57th St), breakfast isn’t part of the luxe package unless your credit card pulls strings.
À la carte at the hotel’s The Garden or via room service, a fruit bowl or oatmeal will cost $20+, avocado toast and smoked salmon bagels flirt with $30, and a full breakfast can hit $36.
Add $14 for coffee and juice each, and suddenly your “casual” morning meal is a three-figure affair.
Rooms start around $1,700–$1,800, suites often exceed $3,500, and the ultimate flex — the Ty Warner Penthouse — occupies 4,300 square feet on the 52nd floor for $50,000–$80,000+ a night, complete with a private butler and 360-degree views of the skyline.
Aman New York
At the Iron Jungle’s notoriously most expensive hotel, Aman New York (730 5th Ave), breakfast is anything but a freebie.
Guests who opt for a room-inclusive plan can drop over $300 for meals, including two eggs, sides, and lattes sent up to their room from Arva, the hotel’s Italian restaurant, according to a TripAdvisor review.
And that’s on top of room rates starting at $2,300 per night, climbing to $3,200 for suites, $14,000 for specialty suites, and soaring to $45,963 for Aman “homes” with private pools, kitchens, and sweeping Central Park vistas.
Waldorf Astoria
Waldorf Astoria New York (301 Park Ave) follows the same rule: breakfast is only included if you book a package with a daily food-and-beverage credit.
Otherwise, a modest meal at Lex Yard or Peacock Alley runs about $63 after tip, according to a recent reviewer, with classics like eggs Benedict, smoked salmon, and coffee easily pushing totals into the triple digits.
Standard rooms start mid-$600s to $700 per night, often closer to $1,000+, while the Empire Suite — 3,000+ square feet with living, dining, kitchen, and Park Avenue views — can cost about $35,000 a night.
Ritz Carlton
At the Ritz-Carlton Central Park (50 Central Park South), standard rooms unsurprisingly don’t include breakfast, and ordering à la carte at Contour Gastro Lounge will run $25–$35 for yogurt or scrambled eggs, $42–$58 for eggs Benedict or smoked salmon.
Rooms start around $800–$1,240 a night, mid-tier digs hover near $1,500, and suites soar to $2,400–$4,600+.
The Royal Suite here can exceed $30,000 a night, with 1,980 square feet, panoramic views from the 22nd floor, two bedrooms, a library, dining room, and personalized butler service.
The Langham
Nearby at The Langham, Fifth Avenue (400 Fifth Avenue), brekkie is simple but pricey: à la carte breakfast from the on-site restaurant Ai Fiori is $30–$50, with full spreads easily pushing the bill higher.
Club guests enjoy a buffet and all-day bites, but standard rooms start around $600–$800 and climb to $1,800+ for mid-tier digs.
The Empire State Presidential Suite — perched on the highest floor with floor-to-ceiling views, Roche Bobois design, Hermès touches, and Alex Katz artwork — runs up to $16,000 a night depending on when you book.
Ultimately, in Manhattan, even your morning toast comes with a side of financial panic at the borough’s most luxurious hotels.
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