Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk: Breakfast on the Grand Lanai

Cute sayings on the guest room key cards reminds one daily of the
complimentary breakfast service.

My breakfast this morning.
(above photos: TheHopefulTraveler)

This is one a series of posts covering aspects of the Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk.

The Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk includes one of the hotel chain's most popular features: the complimentary cook-to-order breakfast. Plus it's served on the Grand Lanai of the hotel. Sit beneath the sky or the shade and you'll still feel like you're in outdoors enjoying the cool breeze and morning sun of a Waikiki morning.

Breakfast is served 6:30am to 10am. Guests should have their meal voucher ready in case it is needed to be presented to staff. Two separate buffet lines provides all the basics guests may want for breakfast from eggs, toast to fruit. A made-to-order station allows guests to choose fillings placed into a cup that a cook folds into the omelette. Some may feel it is inconvenient that the drinks, coffee and juices are served from a different structure but it allows to spread out the line of people in the morning. This drink hut also has two lines.

I think it's pleasant to have the Grand Lanai on the same level as the swimming pool which is lined with palm trees and the floor comprised of stone tiles. The Grand Lanai is also the location of the Manager's Reception which I missed on the night I checked-in.

Reading my USA Today newspaper at my table I never felt rushed by the staff or guests looking for a table. This brings up an issue that can be problematic with the complimentary breakfast service at Embassy Suites hotels. At some locations the dining room is not large enough to accommodate the flow of guests especially when the hotel is fully booked. There might be waits for tables and then waits in the buffet line and longer waits at the made-to-order station. Rather than risk this problem I headed to the buffet when it opened at 6:30am.

Despite the constant flow of guests at this Waikiki hotel, the line at the buffet was always moving. There was no line at the drink station and there were always tables to spare for other guests in the hour I spent on the Grand Lanai. One really can't offer generous words when it comes to a basic well-made breakfast. In the end it tastes fine but it satisfies and is filling.

The shaded dining area on the Grand Lanai.

Signs on the fourth floor directs guests to the Grand Lanai.
(above photos: TheHopefulTraveler)