Best Breakfast – This is how you start your day at sustainable hotels

Am I the only one who thought that a “continental breakfast” would consist of breakfast delicacies from all seven continents? Think again! If you have booked accommodation with this type of breakfast, you can expect little more than a roll with butter, jam and a few slices of cheese and meats alongside your coffee. That’s not enough for me! (And we can skip the meat altogether!)

If you (like me) are looking for a hotel breakfast that is not only delicious and varied, but also climate-friendly and sustainable, then I would like to introduce you to the breakfast options of our partners. In almost all hotels you can have breakfast without being a hotel guest! It’s best to book the day before. But before we dive in, I was curious about another question

How can hotels make their breakfast buffets more sustainable?

Hotel breakfast is traditionally served as a buffet. This type of food presentation has many advantages and is also typical of a hotel. And honestly: Is there anything better than a hearty breakfast on vacation? And a buffet is part of the experience. You can wander around during opening hours, take as much and as often as you like, and everyone (in the family or travel group) will find something to their liking. However, there are a number of challenges and solutions for sustainable breakfast buffets that we would like to address here:

1 Non-packaged food (Zero-Waste)

The reusable glasses at the breakfast buffet are not only more environmentally friendly, but also more elegant than disposable ones.

As you may know, it is not allowed to reuse unpackaged food that has been served to guests (including buffet food) in the kitchen. This is due to strict hygiene regulations in catering establishments. As a result, it is tempting to simply serve packaged portions. However, this is not environmentally friendly and creates a huge pile of packaging. Besides, do you really like jam from a plastic jar?

Homemade jam from mason jars

Most of our partners offer homemade jams made from local produce (often from their own gardens. This means no emissions from transportation or packaging waste. And it tastes a lot better, too. “My mother’s elderflower jelly is a real hit,” says Fabienne Anthamatten from the Biohotel Bella Vista Zermatt.

The SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in the spa town of Bad Herrenalb has implemented a number of alternatives to avoid packaging waste while complying with all hygiene regulations. They have an exemplary zero-waste breakfast buffet. For example, instead of mini jams in plastic jars, there are small mason jars. Instead of packaged butter, there is a butter churn.

“The highlight of our zero-waste buffet are the fresh hard-boiled eggs from organic farmer Reiser. Not only are they regional and organic, but they also support the Bruderhahn initiative.” – SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA

Bruderhahn-Initiative

The Bruderhahn initiative takes care, that one rooster is raised for each laying hen on organic farms. Roosters are usually not “profitable” for farmers. They don’t lay eggs, grow more slowly and their breasts are not as pronounced. Germany has banned “chick shredding” since 2022. This led to the following result: 1) Those who can afford it use expensive machines to determine the sex in the egg (since 2024 only allowed until the 6th day) 2) Those who can’t afford the machines take the eggs abroad (e.g. to Poland or the Netherlands) and then get the hens back (this means that the roosters have been killed anyway and there is another transport and further costs). The third option is to raise the roosters, and this is where organic farms and initiatives such as Bruderhahn are at the forefront.

2 Only local organic ingredients for the buffet/ their own farm

Farm staff picking lettuce for the hotel kitchen

Many sustainable hotels use only (or mainly) certified organic food or produce from their own farms. For example, Gut Guntrams near Vienna (where the “Guntrams Ark” also promotes the preservation of rare fruit varieties), Gut Sonnenhausen near Munich, and Farmhouse Smiling Gecko in Cambodia have their own farm. The Smiling Gecko project also aims to provide the local population with a livelihood through training facilities and fair jobs.

The sustainable benefits of using organic ingredients include:

• Protection of soil and groundwater by eliminating the use of pesticides
• Preserving biodiversity
• No genetic engineering

The benefits of local food sourcing are:

• Reduced CO2 emissions due to shorter travel distances (many Eco-Hotels consciously avoid exotic fruits that have a negative carbon footprint due to air travel and refrigeration)
• Supporting local agriculture
• As a tourist, you will get to know the specialties of the region

3 Mixed form of buffet and table service

Breakfast buffet is complemented by egg dishes upon request

You’ve been there: you open the silver lid at the hotel buffet, see a mountain of scrambled eggs – and close the lid! You won’t experience this scenario with our partners! At sustainable hotels, eggs are prepared only upon personal order. Not only are they fresh, but made the way you want them.

Egg and smoothie station

There is an “egg station” at STURM in the Rh?n, which also offers a chickpea-based option for vegans. Additionally, you can have a STURM-Smoothie mixed for you by the “breakfast lady”. These may taste different every day, as she mixes everything growing in the hotels’ snack garden or from local farmers.
At the Lifestylehotel SAND on the Baltic Sea, your favorite egg dishes are prepared for you at the front cooking station. Here, fresh bread is served from the oven and homemade “breakfast cakes” are available

Warm dishes by request

The Tyrolean Hotel Klosterbrau offers a breakfast buffet based on the principles of TCM and 5 Elements Cuisine. This includes an alkaline vegetable broth, fruit and brewed teas. Hot dishes with quinoa, chia and psyllium seeds are prepared upon request and served at the table. You will also be provided with bread/rolls, local cheeses, spreads and eggs prepared for you in the open kitchen.

TCM is also used at the Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten on the Moselle River. Both in treatments and in the kitchen:

“The 5 elements cuisine is a form of nutrition in harmony with the seasons and the 5 elements fire, earth, metal, water and wood, to which various foods are assigned in addition to human organs”. – Zum Kurfürsten Lifestyle Resort

4 Plan for and making use of leftovers

Another step is proper planning – one of the foundations of any successful commercial kitchen! Our sustainable partners distinguish themselves by not simply throwing away the inevitable leftovers. Even if the food from the buffet can no longer be processed into new food, there’s still use for it.

Some ways for hotels to use leftover food:

• Fermentation (energy production)
• Composting (also possible in your own garden)
• Further processing into animal feed (for this purpose, the leftovers are first heated in order to kill off any germs)

For all of these methods, there are specialized companies that hotels can contract with. Usually, these companies also provide appropriate bins and collect the food waste.

Buffet etiquette – what you can do yourself

As guests, we can also help ensure that no food is wasted at the breakfast buffet. And let’s face it, following these tips is really no effort at all

1. Take a little several times rather than too much at once.
2. Make sure everything stays appetizing when you serve yourself from a large bowl.
3. Ask about the origin, organic and fair-trade labels of the meals and foods offered (we know from experience that some hotels have already changed their food offerings simply because more and more guests are asking critically about this.)
4. Inform the reception ahead, if you do not wish to attend breakfast the next morning.

Are you allowed to take food from the buffet?

According to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, there is no law that prohibits taking food in the possession of the guest (i.e., on his or her plate). This includes buffets.

However, travel lawyers advise that in many places it’s not allowed to take food from an all-you-can-eat buffet. After all, you are only paying to help yourself to one meal, not to stock up on food for the rest of the day. The easiest solution is communication. Just ask politely if you are allowed to make yourself a sandwich to take with you. In most cases, no one will refuse.

Breakfast at the hotel – these exceptional specialties await you
Canarian cacti

Of course, what constitutes a “local breakfast” varies from region to region. Especially on vacation, you can often enjoy exotic flavors. At the OCéANO Health Spa Hotel on the Spanish vacation island of Tenerife, off the coast of West Africa, you will be delighted by the variety of fruit beautifully arranged on the buffet.

My favorite fruit is the dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, a member of the cactus family that grows in the Canary Islands. Another very popular fruit with our guests is the papaya, which is also native to the Canary Islands and not only tastes much better here, but is also very healthy thanks to its powerful enzymes. It aids digestion and has an anti-inflammatory effect”. – Simone Schleicher, OCéANO Health Spa Hotel

Another highlight: OCéANO breakfast can be enjoyed almost year-round on the restaurant’s terrace, overlooking the garden and the Atlantic Ocean.

Ayurvedic breakfast – Start the day with a glass of ginger water!

At the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgau, the Ayurvedic philosophy of life has a strong influence. Even in the composition of the breakfast buffet. One of the guests’ favorites is fruit compote with natural yogurt – the healthy alternative to fruit yogurt. There are also various cheeses from the surrounding Alps, and ginger water is an essential morning drink. “Not just for yogis,” says the Traubel family.

The buffet at the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio also serves fresh waffles (sweet and savory) daily. Find the recipe here.

Signature blends for cereal fans

Muesli fans can look forward to “Signature Muesli Mixes” at the newly opened OLM Nature Escape in Sand in Taufers, South Tyrol. The energy-autonomous aparthotel developed the ingenious nutrition and dinner concept together with star chef Theodor Falser. Muesli provides energy (carbohydrates), is filling and contains vitamins, vital substances and fiber.

Beekeeper’s honey buffet

If you are one of those sweet breakfast lovers who likes honey on your bread, you should definitely visit the APIPURA Hotel Rinner! Located in South Tyrol on the Ritten, the senior owner Paul Rinner is a passionate beekeeper. As a result, you will find the largest selection of fresh (organic) honey at the breakfast buffet of all Green Pearls? hotels. There is also a TV in the breakfast room where you can watch the activity of the beehive. It’s located near the hotel, next to the Api Wellness Area. In the latter, you can inhale the air from the beehive through a special device, which is believed to have a positive effect on your health.

At the Hotel Das Rübezahl in Füssen, Germany (near Neuschwanstein Castle), the Thurm family has found that their honey is a hit with guests. Many hotels have their own beehives – not only for the honey, but also to protect and preserve biodiversity

Chia pudding on Kor?ula, Croatia

At The Eco-Aparthotel Dreamers Club on the Croatian island of Kor?ula, guests stay in apartments with their own kitchen – but breakfast is served on the terrace. It consists of local specialties such as Croatian olives, olive oil, goat cheese, homemade jams, and fruits and vegetables from the region. A specialty is chia pudding with yogurt. Particularly popular with guests, the owners believe this superfood will give you an extra kick for the day.

Info: Chia seeds are the seeds of the Salvia hispanica plant (related to sage) and contain healthy fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids. Originally, they were grown almost exclusively in Mexico. However, due to its popularity, efforts have been underway for some time to cultivate the plant in other latitudes. In 2021, the German Federal Plant Variety Office approved the first German chia variety called “Juana”.

Vegan breakfast

The Bazaar breakfast restaurant at CERVO Mountain Resort serves only vegetarian food – vegan options, such as a soy drink with your coffee, are of course available.

With all the eggs, cheese, honey and yogurt, you may be wondering where the vegan options are. Fortunately, all hotels now cater to vegans, and you can enjoy a hearty and delicious breakfast without animal products. “We have many vegan alternatives such as hummus and other spreads,” reports the My Arbor Hotel in South Tyrol. They’re particularly proud of the bread from the organic bakery Profanter in Brixen.

Vegan momos

The CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt has three restaurants, one of which is completely vegetarian/vegan. Here you can enjoy vegan momos for breakfast, Nepalese/Tibetan dumplings from the Himalayan region that are delicious even in the Alps (with a view of the majestic Matterhorn).

Italy’s first fully vegan hotel

If you prefer a buffet where you can be sure that EVERYTHING is vegan, LA VIMEA is the place to go. Best enjoyed after your morning yoga class. For your cappuccino you can choose between almond, oat, rice and soy.

Breakfast nostalgia – here it tastes like it used to

While superfoods and plant-based milk alternatives are certainly the new breakfast trends, some hotels are going back to the classics. The Naturhotel Outside in East Tyrol, Austria, recently started serving rice pudding with apple sauce and cinnamon to start the day. “It reminds many people of their childhood,” say the owners.

At the Hotel Weihrerhof on the shores of Lake Wolfgruben in South Tyrol, your hosts, the Pichler family, serve homemade “Buchteln from Grandma Zilli”. These sweet pastries are a local specialty and delicious with plum jam and vanilla sauce.

Personally, I love these sweet and rich breakfast options – and a vacation is a perfect excuse for it – because (and I’m probably not alone) breakfast is not only about sustainability and health – it’s also about your figure.