Updated January 2024
Everyone wants to know what to expect for breakfast at a B&B. It is, after all, a significant part of the experience. After a good night’s sleep in a comfy bed, waking to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, sizzling bacon, and home-baked muffins and pastries seems almost de rigueur.
What’s on the Menu?
Breakfast can vary from inn to inn. Some feature a continental-style buffet with fresh fruit and juices, quiches, hard-boiled eggs, yogurt and granola, cheeses, and sliced meats beside muffins and other decadent pastries. Others feature an entrée of the day, alternating between sweet and savory.
Occasionally, you’ll find an inn offering a complete menu and a daily special. And once in a while, you’ll happen upon an inn that offers breakfast in bed.
A Passion for Good Food
Every breakfast at a B&B is something to look forward to, whether plated or buffet style. Innkeepers know that a memorable breakfast experience will set the tone for the day and can factor into excellent word-of-mouth marketing and potential repeat visits.
Not all innkeepers are culinary experts or have state-of-the-art professional kitchens. But what they do have is a genuine passion for good food and exceptional service. And, almost without exception, breakfast will feature locally sourced ingredients and the freshest food available.
Served with Style
Breakfast service may be at set times with early and late seating to accommodate guests’ schedules or an open seating arrangement with expanded hours. Some may offer an early to-go bag for guests hurrying to catch a flight or off on an early morning adventure.
Seating arrangements also vary according to the size of the dining area and the number of inn guests hosted. While many inns stick with the family-style communal dining table that many loyal B&B travelers have come to love and expect for its friendliness, some inns now offer a choice of individual tables for two or the option to join other guests at a larger table. And, if space allows, outdoor seating may be offered when weather permits.
Have It Your Way
If you have dietary restrictions, hate egg dishes, are allergic to mushrooms or strawberries, or prefer something simple, let your innkeeper know when you book. Allergies, dietary restrictions, or preferences can be accommodated when the innkeeper is aware before your arrival.
Read the breakfast description on the inn’s website to know what to expect in the morning. Because breakfast is such an essential part of your stay, knowing if you are going to be offered a choice, have to sit at a communal table, or are restricted to set breakfast hours will go a long way to ensuring that the experience will be to your liking.
Breakfast at Berry Manor Inn
At Berry Manor in Rockland, Maine, breakfast is served from 8:00 to 9:30 AM at individual tables for two or configured for larger groups when traveling together. This arrangement allows guests who prefer to dine alone or enjoy reading the morning paper quietly. Guests who prefer to meet and chat with others also can do so quite comfortably.
Sample menus and photos of some of our specialties are featured prominently on our breakfast page. We post the next day’s breakfast by 3:00 PM daily so that guests checking in and staying over can peruse the breakfast fare and let the staff know if they would like an alternative breakfast choice.
The Complete Experience
Knowing what to expect for breakfast at a B&B makes booking a stay comfortable. Comfortable rooms, luxurious amenities, and charming hospitality are the hallmarks of Berry Manor Inn. And a delicious breakfast served in relaxed surroundings is just icing on the cake.