Lazy Sundays are for sleeping in, reading the paper, watching the sun dance around your bedcovers and finally—but most importantly—indulging in brunch. That hour when it’s way too late for breakfast but not quite time for lunch is the best time to indulge in a languorous meal. So we scoured the country for the best brunch experiences, where you can sip and sup in style. Whether you’re looking for freshly squeezed juice and an egg or two, or a full-on carnivorous meal, here are some of the best hotel brunch spots in the country designed to curb your mid-morning Sunday hunger pangs.
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CALIFORNIA
Beverly Hills
The Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows:
Polo Lounge
Set inside the renowned pink Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows, the Polo Lounge, once an iconic hotspot synonymous with old Hollywood glamour, is still a favorite brunch spot with both the glitterati and Hollywood’s most powerful movers and shakers. The Moet et Chandon Champagne Sunday Brunch is served from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Champagne is the perfect accompaniment to scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. Don’t like your eggs scrambled? Then take them poached, or try the eggs Benedict. If that’s not enough to cure the munchies, then try the vegetarian pasta, some steak or one of the myriad fish dishes. Dungeness crabs anyone? Try the chicken tortilla soup appetizer, but be sure to leave room for entrees that include such delectables as Maine lobster risotto and Dutch apple pancakes.
San Francisco
The
Palace Hotel:
The
Garden Court
The
rarefied atmosphere of this beloved local grande dame
turns Sunday brunch into a very special occasion. There's
no prettier room in San
Francisco. Beneath a spectacular glass roof, elegant
tables, chairs and willowy palms are arranged over a richly
patterned carpet. Enjoy a selection of traditional breakfast
items, plus Japanese sushi and sashimi, Chinese delicacies
and a crêpe station. The grand dessert buffet, with
its display of cakes, pastries and chocolates, is especially
impressive. Free-flowing fizz is included, along with
live jazz.
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FLORIDA
St. Pete Beach
The Don CeSar Beach Resort:
King Charles Ballroom
It's appropriate that you find a brunch fit for a king in the King Charles Ballroom of The Don CeSar Beach Resort. With over 180 offerings to choose from, coupled with spectacular gulf views from the hotel’s windows, you’ll find yourself indulging in the royal treatment, especially when brunch runs from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. You can feast on made-to-order crepes, more fish choices than you thought were humanly possible, meats, fruit and an array of dizzying desserts designed to leave you in a hazy, delectable sugar coma.
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ILLINOIS
Chicago
Four
Seasons Hotel Chicago:
Seasons
Restaurant
A brunch of contemporary American cuisine starts
at one of the world's great hotels with traditional breakfast
favorites that include hash browns and homemade doughnuts.
Savor a taste of the Midwest with basil-crusted rack of
lamb in a Cabernet reduction, then follow a global trail strewn with individual
quiches, Malaysian style beef, tabouleh with mint and
cucumbers, and shaved Parma ham with black mission figs.
The usual omelet and waffle stations are enhanced with
a smoothie bar composed of a variety of fresh juices,
ices and more.
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NEW YORK
Long Island
The Garden City Hotel:
Polo Restaurant
There’s nothing like indulging in a long brunch on Long Island. The Garden City Hotel’s Sunday brunch provides unlimited Bloody Marys and Mimosas along with your meal. If you’re a teetotaller, though, don’t despair. Freshly brewed tea and coffee are also part of your dining experience, which covers everything from omelets and waffles to sushi and pasta. Dine simply on muffins and fresh fruit, or really splurge with a seafood extravaganza that includes a choice of lobster, shrimp and crab legs. Sliced meats, cheese platters and sticky sweet dessert pastries will leave you sated and licking your lips.
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PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia
The
Rittenhouse Hotel:
Lacroix at The Rittenhouse
Situated
in a gorgeous minimalist space, Lacroix promises an adventure
in dining that should not be missed. Start with raw bar
specialties—smoked trout, peppered mackerel, American
caviar, Windy Point oysters—paired with the restaurant's
own Cuvée Lacroix, an elegant Blanc de Blancs Premier
Cru Brut. Move on to hors d’oeuvre selections that
include deviled quail eggs and crayfish mousseline married
with a white Côtes du Rhône, and then finish
with charred scallions drizzled with black truffle vinaigrette
and a glass of crisp Riesling.
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RHODE ISLAND
Newport
Castle
Hill Inn & Resort:
The
Ocean Room
Situated
on a 40-acre peninsula and offering breathtaking views
of Narragansett
Bay, Castle Hill Inn & Resort offers guests oceanfront
seclusion and fabulous dining. The resort's quartet of
restaurants supports local farmers and fishermen, especially
those who employ sustainable practices. Come Sunday, each
of the dining rooms serves the same brunch menu,
created from delectable organic ingredients. Try the tofu
napoleon, the lobster hash and a luscious cheese plate
composed of local artisanal cheeses served with poached
pears, candied nuts, honey and toasted rustic bread.
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TEXAS
Houston
Alden
Houston:
17
Restaurant
17
takes its name from days gone by, when Houston was a city where seventeen railroads met the sea. Its
three-course Sunday brunch is deceptively simple. Start
with house-cured salmon on a toasted bagel or rock shrimp
tacos spiced with cucumber salsa. Second courses include
a croque madame (a variant on croque monsieur) and duck
hash over poached eggs topped with black truffle hollandaise.
Dessert poses a happy dilemma: your choice of crème
caramel, sticky toffee pudding with ginger ice cream or
banana ice box pie with hot fudge.
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WASHINGTON
Seattle
The
Edgewater:
Six
Seven
Perched
over Elliott
Bay in a historic property, Six Seven offers a lovely
waterfront setting with spectacular views. Dine indoors
or out as you enjoy a buffet created from chef Hans Reisinger's
contemporary Pan-Asian twists on classic—mostly
seafood—dishes of the Pacific Northwest. Enjoy beautifully
presented traditional breakfast selections or tuck into
a plate of oysters, crack a few crab legs, make your way
through a mound of mussels, treat your taste buds to the
smoked salmon and throw back a complimentary Mimosa.
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WASHINGTON,
D.C.
Jurys
Washington Hotel:
DuPont
Grille
This
upscale eatery features a casual setting with glass doors-as-walls
that let the outside in and vice versa, while the menu
is ideal for those who want to sample American cuisine
infused with flavors from France, Spain and Asia. Spend your time surveying the DuPont Circle
scene and nibbling on vanilla pecan waffles with homemade
caramelized banana syrup, crabmeat and exotic mushroom
cheesecake or smoked salmon hash. Or simply head for the steak frites, a tender cut of grilled steak surrounded
by thick, crisp fries.
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