Words by Shari Mycek, Jake Emen, and Kathryn Romeyn. Each hotel is being equally honored in no particular order.
Most travelers will admit: One of the greatest attributes of travel comes in the luxury of room service. And especially breakfast. There’s something almost spiritual about watching a white-linen table being wheeled into your room, complete with fresh flowers and gleaming silver, and dining — in room, in robe, — to a stunning view. Be it water, mountains, forest, or city.
There’s also something equally magical about a server arriving on foot — tray perfectly balanced atop his head as he flashes a wide smile — while moving to dance-like steps. This was our experience this past at Half Moon in Jamaica. The longtime, iconic resort was devastated by Hurricane Melissa and will reopen in segments in 2026 (starting with the Eclipse villas). The resort has actually launched the Half Moon Spirit Relief Fund to support its more than 800 team members (including those fabulous servers) — many of whom have been part of the Half Moon family for decades.
More stellar room service we enjoyed this year — the Very Best ones.
Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, Hungary
The Four Seasons Gresham Palace Budapest delivers with its room service menu by meeting you right where you are. Room service is about comfort and indulgence. It should provide you with exactly what you’re craving, but at the same time, it’s all the better if you get a taste of local cuisine, too. Here, that means ordering a solid club sandwich but perhaps backing it up with the goulash or the chicken paprikash for the best of both worlds. The menu is further divided into fun sections, including local specialties, as well as offerings such as a lineup of snacks tailor-made for a lazy movie night, and a quick 15-minute delivery menu when you need a bite asap, whether you need to rush out the door or rush to eat before the hangry sets in.
Green O, Greenough, Montana
The culinary program at Green O, the adults-only section of Paws Up, Montana, is unrivaled, with two-time James Beard best chef finalist Brandon Cunningham pulling the strings to create a sensational lineup topped off by a thrilling tasting menu in the evenings. You don’t need to bother heading to the restaurant, though. All of their gourmet food throughout the morning and afternoon can be delivered to your room — which is a great bonus, as you probably don’t want to leave your fantastic accommodations. Every day also starts in a very special way. Let the team know your preferred choice and timing for coffee or tea, as well as specialty, fresh-baked pastries, and they will all be delivered to your doorstep. Rise and shine, or go back to bed. The choice is yours.
Veligandu Maldives Resort Island
There’s just something unmatchable about a floating breakfast perfectly placed in your own private plunge pool overlooking the Indian Ocean. And Veligandu Maldives Resort Island executes it perfectly. After selecting from the digital in-room menu, change into your bathing suit and relax on the private terrace to await the purring motor of the golf cart. Then watch as your server meticulously floats your breakfast tray into the pool, the aquamarine ocean as backdrop.
Capella Sydney, Australia
Australians are famous for pretty food presentations, including abundant use of edible flowers, each a miniature work of art. And this attention to detail and aesthetic care is on full display when it comes to room service at Capella Sydney, the city’s most stunning hotel, meticulously designed within a restored landmark sandstone building. There are fresh flowers, beautiful ceramics, little ramekins of sauces, perfectly arranged dishes, and all the other accoutrements, prolific silverware, salt and pepper shakers, the works.
Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, San José del Cabo, Mexico
We loved the presentation of our server — wearing traditional guayabera shirt, on our private deck overlooking the Sea of Cortez at the new Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. While the on-site Mexican restaurant, El Barrio, is worth the trip for its colorful blown glass and Frida Kahlo murals, the same breakfast and lunch menus can be delivered in suite. Our decadent order of chilaquiles (with both red and green sauce) resulted in an elaborate, two-handed pour by our server that still makes us smile.
Feature image courtesy of Shari Mycek
