The 8 Best Hotel Chains for Free Breakfast

A free hotel breakfast can save a family of four $40-60 per day—that's $280-420 over a week-long trip. But not all complimentary breakfasts are created equal. We've all suffered through the grim continental spread: stale bagels, watery coffee, and a waffle iron that hasn't been cleaned since 2019.

The chains we recommend below offer reliably good free breakfasts with hot options, fresh ingredients and enough variety that you won't dread going down to the lobby each morning. These aren't just "free." They're actually worth eating.

Important note: At some hotels, the only way to get free breakfast is by joining loyalty programs and working your way toward earning elite status (often you can easily earn elite status through holding certain credit cards). For example, Marriott Platinum members and Hyatt Globalists get complimentary breakfast at most properties.

We didn't include those here because this guide focuses exclusively on hotels where everyone gets free breakfast with a standard reservation, no strings attached.

Drury Hotels offers the best total package for travelers who want to maximize their food value. You get a hot breakfast every morning (scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, cereals, fruit, yogurt, bagels) plus the 5:30 Kickback every evening with enough hot food to count as dinner. Menu items vary by night but have been known to include tacos, hot dogs, nachos, chili, baked potatoes, plus popcorn, soda and free alcoholic beverages for adults over 21.

is is the only chain on our list that includes both meals. For a family of four, you're looking at $70-90 in daily food savings. The breakfast spread is reliably good across locations, with hot options that go beyond the bare minimum. The evening Kickback genuinely provides dinner-level sustenance, not just sad cheese cubes.

The Orlando location even features Mickey Mouse-shaped waffle irons, which is an absurd but delightful detail that kids love. The biscuits and gravy are consistently mentioned in reviews as surprisingly good for hotel food.

SpringHill Suites is Marriott's most underrated chain for breakfast value. You get a solid hot and cold breakfast buffet with reliably fresh options, all-suite rooms with 25% more space than standard hotels and prices that typically undercut similar brands.

The breakfast stands out for its rotating menu made by a chef who understands the power of herbs and seasoning. On a recent two-night stay at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Napa Valley, we got a cafe-free egg, ham and cheese croissant as well as a mozzarella, egg white and rosemary frittata on one day. On the next day, we got a sausage biscuit as well as a tomato, kale, feta and egg white frittata.

That was in addition to regular staples including an oatmeal and yogurt bar with dozens of toppings including fruit, chocolate chips, graham cracker cookie crumbles, coconut flakes and raisins. Plus, separately-packaged peanut butter, gluten-free muffins and oat milk accommodated a range of diets.

All rooms include a mini-fridge, microwave, and separate sleeping/living areas with a sleeper sofa. The breakfast area is usually well-designed with enough seating, and staff keep things stocked and clean throughout the morning rush.

Embassy Suites takes free breakfast seriously. Every location offers a full cooked-to-order breakfast with an omelet station where staff will make your eggs exactly how you want them. The spread also includes hot items like bacon, sausage, and potatoes, plus a full continental selection.

The made-to-order aspect means you're getting restaurant-quality omelets, not buffet steam-tray eggs that have been sitting out for an hour. The evening reception includes beer, wine, and mixed drinks for adults, plus light snacks. The breakfast rooms are typically larger and more pleasant than other chains, with atrium-style seating at many properties. You're looking at a legitimate $15-20 per person breakfast value here, not $5 worth of continental items.

Besides the breakfast, the rooms also add to why this is such a great Hilton brand for families. Every room is a two-room suite, which is clutch for families. Yes, you get a separate bedroom and living room with a sleeper sofa.

Hampton has over 2,800 locations worldwide, making it the easiest chain to find when you need a reliable free breakfast. The quality is consistently good. It's not spectacular, but you know exactly what you're getting at any Hampton anywhere.

The breakfast includes hot items (scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, breakfast bread of the day), cold cereal, fruit, yogurt and their signature waffles. Hampton regularly rotates specialty waffle flavors by season. Depending on when you go, you might get red velvet, lemon, pumpkin spice and even limited-edition options like sparkling strawberry with edible glitter.

Some locations have expanded to include biscuits and gravy or breakfast sandwiches. The "Make It Hampton" platform lets you grab bags to-go if you're in a rush.

Homewood Suites is Hilton's extended-stay brand, offering one- and two-bedroom suites with full kitchens. But what sets it apart is the surprisingly creative breakfast — most notably, the make-your-own breakfast taco bar that rolled out across U.S. locations in 2024.

The taco bar is genuinely fun and different from standard hotel breakfast fare. You get corn and flour tortillas, pickled onions, jalapeños, cremas, salsa, hot sauces, plus proteins like smoked pulled pork, chicken carnitas and chorizo. It's become something guests actually look forward to rather than just tolerate.

Beyond tacos, Homewood Suites offers health-conscious options like overnight oats and chia pudding made with oat milk (nut-free), which you can top with dried fruit, nuts, and seeds.

Hyatt House combines extended-stay features (full kitchens in every room) with a surprisingly good free breakfast that includes made-to-order items at most locations.

The breakfast goes beyond typical extended-stay fare. Many locations offer made-to-order omelets or breakfast sandwiches, plus a full spread of hot and cold items. The quality feels more upscale than competitors, with better coffee, fresher fruit and real plates instead of disposables at some properties.

Every room has a full kitchen with full-size fridge, dishwasher and cookware.

If you're using World of Hyatt points or building toward status, this is where you want to stay. World of Hyatt points are considered one of the most valuable hotel currencies out there, and they typically go far at lower-priced Hyatt brands like Hyatt House.

Hyatt Place is Hyatt's answer to Hampton. It has more locations than Hyatt House and it has standard rooms instead of suites, but still it has a solid free breakfast. The setup is designed for efficiency, making it ideal if you need to grab breakfast and get on the road quickly.

During breakfast hours, you get hot items like eggs and meat, plus an extensive cold selection. The coffee is genuinely good (Starbucks coffee at most locations), and the breakfast sandwiches are available to-go.

The open-lobby design with the Gallery kitchen makes it easy to grab coffee and food without feeling like you're in a crowded cafeteria. Some locations offer made-to-order items during peak hours.

Tru by Hilton is Hilton's budget-friendly brand aimed at younger travelers, with a playful aesthetic and prices that typically are significantly cheaper than Hampton or Home2 Suites. The breakfast reflects this vibe: it's called the "Top It Breakfast Bar" and centers around an automatic pancake maker where you can load up toppings.

The pancake machine is genuinely entertaining (it dispenses perfectly round pancakes automatically), and the toppings bar includes fun options like crushed pineapple, candy pieces and nut butters alongside more traditional choices. It's not trying to be fancy. Alas, it's trying to be fun and Instagrammable, which it succeeds at.

Beyond pancakes, you get standard hot breakfast items like scrambled eggs and sausage, plus healthier options including cereals, yogurt, fresh fruit and oatmeal. The breakfast area is usually bright and modern with communal seating that encourages socializing, a different vibe from the traditional hotel breakfast room.

The rooms are compact but reasonably designed, with built-in furniture and space-saving features. Everything feels new and clean, even at properties that have been open for a few years. The lobby often includes games, a market and workspace.

Our team has stayed at collectively dozens of hotel chains over the past year, eating breakfast at each one. We tested: Best Western, Choice Hotels (Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn), Drury Hotels, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hampton by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Hyatt House, Hyatt Place, Holiday Inn Express, Avid Hotels, Staybridge Suites, Residence Inn by Marriott, Fairfield Inn & Suites, TownePlace Suites, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, and various Wyndham brands. 

Hotels were rated on factors including dietary accommodations (e.g. separate sections or packages of gluten-free pastries, sufficient milk options including dairy-free and nut-free milks), hot and fresh breakfasts as opposed to only cold items, made-to-order sections and diversity of menu items.