Whether you’re planning a day of thrill rides at Universal Studios Florida or Universal Island of Adventure, or a day of splashing and slides at Universal Volcano Bay, getting a delicious (and filling!) breakfast at your Universal Orlando Resort hotel is the best way to start. No matter which of the eight hotels you’re waking up in — or even if you’re just stopping in before you head out on your adventures — you’ll find amazing breakfast options for everyone in your family.
Trattoria del Porto at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
This is the place to be for whatever kind of breakfast you’re looking for before setting out for the day. You get to enjoy a gorgeous view of the Harbor Piazza and immerse yourself in the Italian atmosphere while waking up with some coffee — or a mimosa if you’re so inclined. My personal favorite way to go is the breakfast buffet because you can always find something for everyone in your travel party without having to think or plan.
If you’re more of an entrée person, the Italian French Toast is an incredible, sweet treat that includes banana and Nutella — two of my faves. For a unique dish, the Benedetto, two poached eggs on toasted ciabatta bread served with breakfast potatoes, prosciutto, tomatoes, and pesto hollandaise, is hearty and delicious and authentically Italian tasting. It feels like you’re eating breakfast at someone’s grandma’s house.
The Kitchen at Hard Rock Hotel
When I’m over at the Hard Rock, I like to visit The Kitchen for basically any meal, including breakfast. It is delicious, beautiful and is just a quick walk to the gate at Universal Studios park, which means you can get right to the rides super fast. I’m going to be honest here — if there’s a breakfast buffet to be had, I’m almost always on board. I’m a sucker for having a tiny amount of EVERY dish and the buffet at The Kitchen is a great option. Plus, you can add the Rock Star, which gets you unlimited sangria, mimosas and Bloody Mary drinks, along with your buffet.
You can’t go wrong with any of the entrées, including the Elvis French Toast — baguette slices, bananas, peanut butter and caramel sauce. A guest-favorite! The Remedy (featured above) is the way to go if you need to fuel up before a day of thrill rides: butter toasted kaiser roll, two eggs over hard, applewood smoked bacon and American cheese. But if you want to stick to the classics, go with the Classic Eggs Benedict — it is called a classic for a reason and The Kitchen nails the poached eggs and hollandaise sauce (I almost need an extra English muffin to get every last drop of sauce off my plate!)
Pro Tip: Brunch with live music? Yes, please! Make reservations for the Acoustic Brunch, which happens on Sundays from 10:30am to 2pm.
Islands Dining Room at Loews Royal Pacific Resort
If you forced me to choose one breakfast entrée across all of Universal Orlando, the Hawaiian Pancakes might be my choice. To be fair, there are few flavor combinations I like more than coconut and pineapple, but the way these are presented with the warm, fluffy pancakes is worth dragging myself out of bed for. A (very) close second is the Tahitian French Toast L’Orange, caramelized bananas and cinnamon butter with an orange syrup.
The Avocado Toast is a yummy vegetarian option that is light but filling if you’re looking for something less sweet. The toast is crispy and holds up to the mashed avocado, blue cheese and eggs. Plus, it is a great option for any of the vegetarian members of your group.
There’s also a buffet here on the weekends with an omelet station!
Amatista Cookhouse at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
Did I mention that I like breakfast buffets? In addition to having a beautiful view and airy atmosphere, Amatista has an amazing buffet with all of the typical breakfast food, like scrambled eggs and bacon, and some special treats, like hot cinnamon rolls and biscuits and gravy. Everyone in your family will find something to love here, even your pickiest eaters. Plus, you can hop on the water taxi (it’s right by the restaurant!) to make your way to the parks quickly and easily once you’re done eating.
PRO TIP: This venue has a wide variety of delicious vegan and vegetarian options, too!
Bayliner Diner at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort
One of my personal traditions when staying at Cabana Bay is waking up and walking down to Bayliner Diner for a Smoked Salmon Bagel and coffee. It may not sound like anything special, but this bagel comes with a serious amount of salmon — you will definitely have the protein boost to fuel your theme park day without feeling too full.
If you want to relax and ease into the day, you can grab a plate of eggs and your choice of sides.
For a unique breakfast you can’t get anywhere else, the savory waffle has a great combination of parmesan cheese and spinach and a creamy avocado sauce – be prepared to want to fill in all the waffle squares with this sauce. It is amazing.
Urban Pantry at Universal’s Aventura Hotel
This spot has all of the classic breakfast favorites you’ll need before setting out for the day. From the All-American Breakfast of eggs, bacon or sausage, hash browns and biscuit to the pancakes and waffles (with blueberries or chocolate chips as an option!), everything is fresh and delicious.
My pick, though, is the Breakfast Burrito. I love jalapeño jack cheese, so it’s already a winner based on that alone, but add in hash brown, and it really elevates this burrito to a new level.
This is definitely my favorite place to grab a quick bite before walking down to Universal Volcano Bay and floating around the lazy river.
Beach Break Cafe at Universal’s Endless Summer Resort — Surfside Inn and Suites
I have two words: Breakfast Pizza. You can get this amazing creation at Beach Break Cafe during breakfast hours and I implore you to try it. Imagine taking everything great about a pizza: sauce, cheese, toppings, crust… But transformed into breakfast. Sausage gravy is the sauce and there’s scrambled eggs and bacon as toppings, and it includes not one, but two types of cheese. There are other things you could get for breakfast here, but I choose the pizza every time because I can’t stop.
Pier 8 Market at Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites
In addition to traditional breakfast food, Pier 8 Market has three great entrees that foodies will want to try: the Steak and Egg Quesadilla and the Chicken and Waffle Sandwich. I love both of these dishes because they are an unusual take on your typical breakfast. The quesadilla is crispy and cheesy and has big, satisfying pieces of steak, so you really feel like you’re getting a hearty breakfast. And while definitely a little messy (I eat mine with a knife and fork), the chicken and waffle sandwich is a perfect blend of savory and sweet, soft and crispy, salty and syrupy. Either of these are my go-to for roller coaster fuel when staying at Dockside!
All Resorts
Maybe you somehow made it to the end of this article and still aren’t sold on the idea of a sit-down breakfast? Maybe you like to run full sprint from your room to the parks without stopping? In that case, I definitely recommend checking out the quick service options at each of the resorts. They all have coffee and quick grab-and-go pastries if you can’t bear to stop for a meal.
What’s your favorite place to eat breakfast at the resorts? Comment below or let us know on social media!
2 Comments
The Eggs Benedict at Trattoria del Porto are excellent. They are also excellent at Islands Dining Room and the Kitchen! They were also good at Amatista Cook house too. If you can sit outside at any of those locations it makes breakfast even better!
Hi Laura! We’re so glad you enjoyed your experience, and appreciate you sharing these awesome recommendations! We hope to see you again soon!