If you're going somewhere that's offering a continental breakfast, you may be confused by the term. What is a continental breakfast, really? Should you be excited for or fearful of it? As someone who has eaten hundreds, if not thousands, of continental breakfasts throughout the world, let me guide you through the ins and outs of this specific meal. I'll explain the continental breakfast, break down a typical continental breakfast menu, and detail the differences between the very worst and the very best continental breakfasts. A continental breakfast is a light morning meal. It’s served buffet style, and it typically has fewer offerings than a traditional breakfast at a restaurant. Normally, it consists of bread products, fruit, fruit juice, coffee, and tea. Most often, you’ll find continental breakfasts at hotels, motels, and events. As a rule of thumb, a continental breakfast usually doesn't have hot food like eggs or sausages. Products will usually be cold or room temperature. The hotels or motels that provide continental breakfasts will usually offer them for free for their guests from 6-9 or 6-10 in the morning. If you go on vacation, I wish you luck in your attempt to wake up in time to take advantage of the the free continental breakfast. It’s unclear exactly when the term “continental breakfast” originated, probably in the mid-19th century, but the “continental” in “continental breakfast” refers to the countries of continental Europe where light breakfasts were the norm. Makes sense, right? A continental breakfast is supposed to stand in contrast to a standard English breakfast, which is extremely heavy. The standard English breakfast includes eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, and coffee or tea. Additionally, it can include fish, beans, and English pudding. That's a whole lotta food to start your day. The continental breakfast consists of lighter fare and is based primarily on bread products. Continental breakfasts became common at American hotels as more Europeans traveled to the US in the late 19th century, and the hotels tried to meet the tastes and expectations of the tourists. Now, “continental breakfast” typically refers just as much to the price as the food options. Meals used to be included in the price of traditional American hotels; however, tourists began opting out of the hotel meals, but they still wanted breakfast. Thus, the free continental breakfast was born. Here's a rundown of the food items you'll often find in a continental breakfast:
What Is a Continental Breakfast?
How Did the Term “Continental Breakfast” Originate?
What Items Does a Continental Breakfast Include?
Bread Products
At the traditional continental breakfast, bread products reign supreme. You can often find donuts, muffins, bread, bagels, croissants, cereal, and pastries.
At nicer continental breakfasts, you may be able to feast on waffles, pancakes, or french toast.
You'll also have the necessary condiments to enhance your bread products, including butter, cream cheese, and jam/jelly.
Fruit
Most continental breakfasts provide fruit as a healthier option. Typically, there will be apples and bananas, so you'll be able to get your fiber and potassium. If you're lucky, you'll be able to indulge in melon, pears, grapes, and an assortment of berries.
Fruit Juice
Another continental breakfast staple is fruit juice. Generally, you'll be able to choose between orange and apple juice. Other possible fruit juice options include cranberry, grapefuit, and grape juice.
Coffee and Tea
Most continental breakfasts will provide coffee and tea. Ideally, your coffee will be freshly brewed. If you prefer tea, you'll probably have to get yourself some hot water and a tea bag. There should be cream and sweeteners to add some flavor to your hot beverages.
Miscellaneous Items
Here are some other foods that you'll sometimes see at continental breakfasts:
- Yogurt
- Oatmeal
- Eggs
- Bacon
- Sausage
- Cheese
What Makes a Good Continental Breakfast?
The quality of a continental breakfast is dependent on the quantity and quality of its offerings. Basically, how many products does it have, and how good are those products? Here are your different levels of continental breakfasts:
Bad Continental Breakfast
I’ve seen some pretty sad and gross continental breakfasts. The worst ones I’ve seen only provided stale bagels and old cereal. There was no milk (was I expected to eat dry cereal?), no fruit juice, and no freshly brewed coffee. It was obvious that the continental breakfast wasn’t well-maintained and the very limited products weren’t regularly replaced.
Standard Continental Breakfast
The standard continental breakfast will be well-organized and provide mostly fresh products, but there will be limited offerings. The standard continental breakfast will have some combination of fruit, muffins, bagels, cereal, bread, croissants, pastries, waffles, yogurt, juice, milk, tea, and fresh coffee. Additionally, there will be butter, jam/jelly, cream, and sugar available.
Here’s a pic of a standard continental breakfast:
You can see the cereal, milk, fruit, and coffee. In the right corner of the pic, it looks like there may be a waffle maker. Most often, you'll have to make your own waffles at the continental breakfast.
Good Continental Breakfast
The primary factor that separates a standard continental breakfast from a good one is the number of food options. A good continental breakfast looks more like a breakfast buffet at a restaurant.
The most impressive breakfast spreads include eggs, bacon, sausage, french toast, and pancakes, in addition to all of the options at a standard continental breakfast. You may even get some fancier breakfast entrees like quiches, omelets, or Eggs Benedict. (To be fair, at this point it stops being a traditional continental breakfast and becomes more of an Everything breakfast.)
Look at all these options:
Bev Sykes/Flickr
How to Do a Continental Breakfast Right
As a connoisseur of continental breakfasts, let me advise you on how to make the most out of your free breakfast experience.
Step #1: Arrive On Time
For many people (myself included), the biggest obstacle to taking advantage of the free continental breakfast is waking up in time to partake in the breakfast fun. Some continental breakfasts end as early as 9:00 AM, and if you're on vacation and have a rare opportunity to sleep in, you may not want to get out of bed before noon.
I recommend arriving to the continental breakfast at least 20 minutes before it's supposed to end. If you show up at the last second, hotel staff may be taking away items as you're trying to serve yourself. You also want to give yourself enough time to get seconds.
If you love breakfast, but you aren't ready to start your day during the designated breakfast hours, you can always grab your continental breakfast, take it back to your room, eat, and then head back to dream land. That's a savvy move.
Step #2: Survey Your Options
Before grabbing food, see what’s available and briefly inspect your options. Even though continental breakfasts are all-you-can-eat, it’s better not to take food you’re not going to eat or won’t like.
For example, you may typically like bagels and fruit, but often, the bagels and fruit at the continental breakfast are far from fresh. I’ve seen some continental breakfast bananas that look a few months old and bagels that were hard enough to break a car window. I love eggs, but there are continental breakfast eggs that are as rubbery as car tires.
You’ll probably have the most enjoyable meal by selecting the highest quality products available.
Step #3: Consider Your Goals
Think about what you’re trying to get out of this meal. Do you want the tastiest meal possible? Generally, this is my goal at the continental breakfast. I want to satisfy my hunger and enjoy my food.
If you’re like me, you’ll probably want to look for the muffins, donuts, or pastries at a standard continental breakfast. If you have the patience, making your own waffle is also a good call.
If you’re at a good continental breakfast, you’ll want eggs and meat. My ideal continental breakfast is eggs, bacon, sausage, two muffins, a donut, and apple juice. Yummy.
Are you trying to gain muscle or lose weight? If you’re looking to add muscle or lose weight, go for lean protein and fruit. Hard boiled eggs, turkey bacon, oatmeal, yogurt, and fruit would be ideal options for you.
Do you want a combo of healthy and tasty? For healthy and tasty, I recommend a moderately-sized balanced meal. As an example, you can do a bagel with low-fat cream cheese, fruit, eggs, and yogurt. For your beverage, try to stick to water, but if you need some caffeine, take it easy on the sweeteners.
Step #4: Take a Little Less Than You Plan on Eating
I think we’re all guilty of letting our eyes be bigger than our stomachs. If you hit up the continental breakfast when you’re rather hungry, you’re likely to get too much food. You don’t want to waste food, and you don’t want to eat so much that you feel bad when you’re done.
Admittedly, I’ve been guilty of gluttony and needed to lay down after five donuts, six sausage links, and five pieces of bacon. Remember the continental breakfast is all-you-can-eat. If you’re still hungry after your first plate, you can always return for seconds.
Step #5: Lower Your Expectations
Because the continental breakfast is usually free, don’t expect world-class food. If you’re a food snob who can only enjoy the finest of foods, you’ll undoubtedly be disappointed at any continental breakfast. If you go in just hoping for bread that isn’t stale and food that tastes better than stale bread, you have a good chance of being pleased with your continental breakfast.
If the food is free, remind yourself that free food is the most delicious. It’s very possible to get a satisfying meal with pretty good food at a continental breakfast, and it’s free and all-you-can-eat. Nothing wrong with that.
Justin Berkman
About the Author
Justin has extensive experience teaching SAT prep and guiding high school students through the college admissions and selection process. He is firmly committed to improving equity in education and helping students to reach their educational goals. Justin received an athletic scholarship for gymnastics at Stanford University and graduated with a BA in American Studies.
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FAQs
What comes with a continental breakfast? ›
The continental breakfast is a light option typically consisting of pastries and baked goods, fruits, toast, and coffee. It is usually served buffet-style and modeled after the European help-yourself breakfast, similar to what one would enjoy in France or in the Med.
Does continental breakfast include eggs? ›A continental breakfast is a light morning meal that is provided by many hotels and motels. It traditionally includes bread products, fruit juice and hot beverages. Some lodging facilities also include other types of food, such as cereal, fruit, meat and eggs.
What is the difference between a continental breakfast and a full breakfast? ›Breakfast (sometimes called Continental Breakfast) is usually pastries and bread, etc. whereas American Breakfast includes hot items like eggs, sausages, etc. Hope this helps. over a year ago.
What is included in continental food? ›Continental food refers to dishes made and consumed in the European countries. Dishes of French, Spanish and Italian cuisine fall under the category of 'Continental food'. The key specialty of this food is, they concentrate more on ingredients like olive oil, wine, herbs and minimal spices.
What is a deluxe continental breakfast? ›Complimentary Deluxe Continental Breakfast Includes: Pastries, Specialty Breads, Bagels, Toaster Waffles, Hard Boiled Eggs, Sausage, Yogurt (two kinds), Cereal (Cheerios, Frosted Flakes, Raisin Bran), Instant Oatmeal, Apples, Oranges (slices), Grapefruit segments, Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Milk, Juices.
Why do they call it a continental breakfast? ›The term “continental breakfast” originated in Britain in the mid-19th century. To the British, “the continent” refers to the countries of mainland Europe. A “continental breakfast” describes the type of breakfast you'd encounter in places like France and the Mediterranean.
What are the items in an English breakfast? ›The Full English Breakfast (AKA The Fry Up)
The 'common' full English breakfast is a substantial meal consisting of back bacon, eggs, British sausage, baked beans, bubble and squeak, fried tomato, fried mushrooms, black pudding, with fried and toasted bread on the side.
Full American Breakfast - Large portion of eggs, breakfast meats such as bacon or sausage, potatoes or hashbrowns, pancakes or waffles, toast, and coffee.
How do I start a continental breakfast? ›- Cereal. Nutritious and great-tasting cereal is an essential part of any continental breakfast buffet. ...
- Fruit. Fresh fruit is another staple of continental breakfast. ...
- Beverages. Coffee, tea and fruit juices are must-haves at your continental breakfast.
Did you guess correctly? Bacon is crowned America's favorite breakfast food! It's salty and savory flavor is what makes this breakfast side so addicting. You can add it to your favorite sandwich, wrap or just eat it on its own.
How many courses are in continental breakfast? ›
The menu may consist of from two to eight courses.
Which is the lightest breakfast American or Continental? ›Continental Breakfast – A light breakfast which includes coffee, teas, juices, fruits and pastries. This is the lightest type of breakfast and is usually least expensive.
Are continental breakfasts healthy? ›Continental breakfasts often overload on sugary carbohydrates (like pastries & muffins) and lack fresh food, breakfast buffets can easily lead to overeating and made to order breakfasts are not guaranteed to be healthy.
Why are American and Continental breakfasts different? ›The main differences between the three hotel breakfast types is that continental usually has no cooked food, and is lighter. American and English breakfast have cooked eggs and some form of meat, and from there they diverge into various bread types, sides, and drinks.
What are continental starters? ›- Corn and Rice Balls. There can't be a more interesting way to make use of cooked rice! ...
- Corn Cheese Balls ( Starter ) corn cheese balls recipe | cheese corn balls | ....
- Pasta in Red Sauce. red sauce pasta recipe | pasta in red sauce | ....
- Sizzling Potatoes in Cheese Sauce. Sizzling potatoes in cheese sauce is a perfect.
...
| Continental Food | Italian Food | |
|---|---|---|
| Example | Steaks, pies, etc. | Pasta with pesto sauce |
As a rule of thumb, a continental breakfast usually doesn't have hot food like eggs or sausages.
What Time Is Best Western continental breakfast? ›7 answers. Breakfast starts at 6 to 1030 am Monday to Friday and 630 to 11 am on Saturday and Sunday. We do serve hit eggs, meat, and potatoes as well as cereals, oat meal, muffins, bagels, hard boiled eggs, waffle station and toast with jams, cream cheese and a variety of juices and coffee and tea.
What is a typical European breakfast? ›Pastries, cold and hot, are also common breakfast items. Porridges and cereals have become quite common, though breakfast cereals are usually plain rather than sweet. Cornflakes and muesli – similar to granola, though not nearly as sweet as American granola – are popular dishes.
What is a German breakfast? ›A German breakfast consists of hearty Brot (breads) and Brötchen (rolls), decorated with butter, sweet jams and local honey, thinly sliced meats, cheese and even some Leberwurst.
What is a Good to Go breakfast? ›
- Share via Pin. Apple Sandwiches with Almond Butter and Granola. ...
- Paleo Morning Glory Muffins. ...
- Overnight Oats in a Near-Empty Jar. ...
- Egg Muffins. ...
- Skinny Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Shake. ...
- Baked Tomato and Egg Cups. ...
- Breakfast Sweet Potato with Quinoa Pumpkin Seed Granola and Almond Butter. ...
- Avocados on Toast with Ricotta.
Full breakfast
It is sometimes referred to as an English breakfast or a "full English breakfast". Sometimes it may be shortened to "full English" or "fry-up".
Despite the rise of trendy alternatives like shakshuka, huevos rancheros and smashed avocado, the good old-fashioned fry-up continues to reign supreme. The 'Full English' came out on top as the UK's favourite breakfast, with 83% of Brits saying they love this classic dish.
What does English breakfast tea consist of? ›English Breakfast tea is actually a blend of various kinds of black tea; particularly Assam, Ceylon, Kenyan, and Keemun. The Assam is malty and bitter, the Ceylon piney and sour, the Kenyan fruity and floral, and Keemun citric and smoky. Together these teas combine into one with layers of flavor.
What is a full Irish breakfast? ›Traditionally, the most common ingredients in Ireland are bacon rashers, pork sausages, fried eggs (or scrambled or poached), white pudding, black pudding, toast and fried tomato. Sauteed field mushrooms are also sometimes included, as well as baked beans, hash browns, and brown soda bread.
What is a full French breakfast? ›A French breakfast is sweet. It is composed of slices of buttered bread and jam spread on it, sometimes croissants or other pastries and cereals. Usually, the drinks are coffee, orange juice or milk. Let's take a closer look at the principal ingredients of a Made in France breakfast.
What is a Scottish breakfast? ›What's in a Scottish Breakfast? Ingredients vary from place to place, but the basic ingredients to a traditional breakfast include square lorne sausage, link sausages, fried egg, streaky bacon, baked beans, black pudding and/or haggis, tattie scones, fried tomatoes and mushrooms, and toast.
What do you put on a breakfast buffet? ›- Ham and Cheese Hash Brown Waffle for Two. ...
- Waffle Omelet Recipe. ...
- Breakfast Pizza – As Heard on WROK. ...
- 45 of Our Favorite Easter Brunch Recipes. ...
- Ranch Bacon Potato Quiche. ...
- Fireman's Overnight Breakfast Casserole With Country Gravy. ...
- Jimmy Dean Sausage Quiche.
The Correct Way To Lay The Breakfast Table - YouTube
How do you plan a breakfast buffet? ›Start with meats, if you have any, then egg dishes and then other hot items such as pancakes, waffles or French toast. Next to those will be hot side dishes, such as potatoes. Keep some space behind the dishes for the hot lids to be set down as needed.
What do people normally have for breakfast? ›
In the United States, breakfast often consists of either a cereal or an egg-based dish. However, pancakes, waffles, toast, and variants of the full breakfast and continental breakfast are also prevalent.
What paid breakfast means? ›means that you can pay the room with breakfast included or with another fee, breakfast excluded.
What does full breakfast mean in hotels? ›The full English is a traditional hearty meal. This breakfast includes sausages, toast/fried bread, tomatoes, mushroom, beans, bacon, eggs (fried or scrambled), black pudding, and tea/coffee/fresh juice.
What are the different types of breakfast at the hotel? ›- Continental Breakfast. Continental Breakfast Covers.
- American Breakfast. American Breakfast Covers. American Breakfast Menu. American Breakfast Beverages. Other American Breakfast Foods.
- English Breakfast. English Breakfast Cover. English Breakfast Menu.
- House Breakfast.
9 Types of Breakfast
Types of breakfast: continental and English breakfast – Salabar
24 Classic American Breakfast Foods To Start Your Day Off Right
By definition, an American breakfast involves two eggs, a side of bacon or sausage, toast or cereal and your choice of juice. Pancakes may be offered as a side or alternative.
What are the items in an English breakfast? ›The Full English Breakfast (AKA The Fry Up)
The 'common' full English breakfast is a substantial meal consisting of back bacon, eggs, British sausage, baked beans, bubble and squeak, fried tomato, fried mushrooms, black pudding, with fried and toasted bread on the side.
The standard English breakfast includes eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, and coffee or tea. Additionally, it can include fish, beans, and English pudding. That's a whole lotta food to start your day. The continental breakfast consists of lighter fare and is based primarily on bread products.
What is a typical European breakfast? ›Pastries, cold and hot, are also common breakfast items. Porridges and cereals have become quite common, though breakfast cereals are usually plain rather than sweet. Cornflakes and muesli – similar to granola, though not nearly as sweet as American granola – are popular dishes.
What do Germans eat for breakfast? ›Breakfast (das Frühstück)
Germans are serious about their baked goods and that starts with breakfast. A German breakfast consists of hearty Brot (breads) and Brötchen (rolls), decorated with butter, sweet jams and local honey, thinly sliced meats, cheese and even some Leberwurst.
What is the number one breakfast food in America? ›
1. Bacon. Did you guess correctly? Bacon is crowned America's favorite breakfast food!
What is the most common breakfast food? ›Eggs. Eggs are the most versatile breakfast food and a key source of protein, fat, and nutrients. It's also a crucial foundation ingredient for many other breakfast foods like pancakes, waffles, and other baked goods. Every culture on earth makes use of eggs as a beloved breakfast centerpiece.
What is the most popular breakfast in England? ›Despite the rise of trendy alternatives like shakshuka, huevos rancheros and smashed avocado, the good old-fashioned fry-up continues to reign supreme. The 'Full English' came out on top as the UK's favourite breakfast, with 83% of Brits saying they love this classic dish.
Why does English breakfast have beans? ›Beans are believed to have become a breakfast standard after Heinz' 1960s ad campaign, Beanz Meanz Heinz, which launched after research showed 1.75m British housewives bought Heinz baked beans every day.
How do I start a continental breakfast? ›- Cereal. Nutritious and great-tasting cereal is an essential part of any continental breakfast buffet. ...
- Fruit. Fresh fruit is another staple of continental breakfast. ...
- Beverages. Coffee, tea and fruit juices are must-haves at your continental breakfast.
Continental breakfasts often overload on sugary carbohydrates (like pastries & muffins) and lack fresh food, breakfast buffets can easily lead to overeating and made to order breakfasts are not guaranteed to be healthy.
What is a light continental breakfast? ›A continental breakfast is a light morning meal typically consisting of pastries and baked goods, fruits, toast, and coffee. It is usually served buffet-style and modeled after the European breakfast, similar to what one would enjoy in France or the Mediterranean.
What is a Dutch breakfast? ›Dutch breakfast can vary. Most common are bread slices with sweet or savoury spreads, as well as muesli and yogurt. Dairies such as cheeses, milk and eggs often play a role in the first meal of the day in the Netherlands.
What is a typical Russian breakfast? ›Traditional Russian breakfast features their famous big & thin pancakes (Blini), cottage cheese pancakes (Syrniki), buckwheat porridge (Kasha), and more goodness!