Sunday brunch, that wonderful repast that borrows liberally from the best aspects of breakfast and lunch, is a featured meal at a handful of resorts around the nation. These establishments have perfected the art of staging a delectable buffet. A few have even put together a special menu for Mother’s Day. Whether celebrating a special occasion, or just rolling out of bed for a late tee time, these 10 resorts present an eclectic array of edibles sure to satisfy any appetite.
The Breakers – Palm Beach, Fla.
The Circle, an exquisite room with fine ocean views, 30-foot frescoed ceilings, and eight oval murals depicting Renaissance landscapes, has been the venue for this grande dame resort’s celebrated Sunday brunch for 25 years. Guests can choose from an extensive buffet of hot and cold selections—the raw seafood is exceptional, as are the desserts—or order from the a la carte menu. Bartenders are on hand to shake up the feast with their specialties, or stick with the free-flowing Champagne. The strolling harpist is a nice touch.
Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore – Santa Barbara, Calif.
A renovated seaside property located in one of California’s most gilded hamlets, The Biltmore offers a deluxe Sunday brunch in Bella Vista, an Italianate room featuring panoramic ocean views and a heated outdoor terrace. In addition to caviar served with sweet corn blinis, the sumptuous buffet includes a rotating selection of five salads, an omelette bar, a crepes and waffle station, a carving station with attendant, and specials like Avocado and Lobster Eggs Benedict. The best course nearby is Rancho San Marcos, which shares the same management as the hotel.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort – Kiawah Island, S.C.
Jasmine Porch, one of the signature dining rooms in Kiawah’s Sanctuary Hotel, stages a memorable Lowcountry-style Sunday brunch in a room accented by authentic Charleston brick, oak plank floors, and a dazzling ocean backdrop. Highlights include fresh local chilled seafood, shrimp and grits, house-made charcuterie, a bounty of desserts, and a father-son duo on guitar and violin who play a variety of jazz standards and popular tunes from various eras.
The Phoenician – Scottsdale, Ariz.
One of the grandest resort hotels in the Valley of the Sun, The Phoenician, fanned out at the base of Camelback Mountain, features a classic Mother’s Day brunch at Il Terrazzo, a sleek, contemporary, Italian-themed room. Opt for specials like Skuna Bay salmon or garlic lemon marinated lamb chop; or stick with breakfast staples like warm crepes, brioche French toast, made-to-order omelettes, or Phoenician crab cakes served with chipotle remoulade. The brunch includes unlimited sparkling wine.
The Coeur d’Alene Resort – Coeur d’Alene, Id.
Located on the resort’s seventh floor high above Lake Coeur d’Alene, Beverly’s is one of the finest dining rooms in the Rockies. The restaurant’s Mother’s Day brunch special features an array of salads (including a classic Caesar salad served in a miniature Parmesan bowl), a fruit and smoothie station, a carving station with baron of beef, house-smoked turkey, and organic north Idaho roasted leg of pork, an array of small plates, an Idaho ‘trio potato’ martini bar, and a crepe station with a variety of regional berry fillings.
Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa – Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Enjoy a special Mother’s Day brunch served at 619 Ocean View at the Cabana Beach Club, which offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. The crunchy French toast served with strawberries and bananas is excellent, as are the traditional egg dishes.
Wynn Las Vegas – Las Vegas, Nev.
The Country Club, a “New American Steakhouse” overlooking the horseshoe-shaped waterfall behind the 18th green on the resort’s greener-than-green Wynn Golf Club, features an eclectic jazz brunch on Sundays. Appetizer buffet items include breakfast smoothie shots, an artisanal cheese selection, and orange-tarragon gravlax served with traditional accoutrements. Entrées range from poached eggs with barbecue smoked pork to a grilled Wagyu beef hot dog (!).
The American Club Resort Hotel – Kohler, Wisc.
Now that the snows have melted and spring has arrived in the Midwest, it’s safe to head north from Milwaukee to this unrivaled 72-hole destination. A distinctive Mother’s Day brunch is served in the historic Wisconsin Room, its paneled walls accented by beautiful tapestries and stained glass windows. Start the meal with a mimosa, followed by a selection of artisanal breads and fresh pastries, house-cured and smoked pastrami-style salmon, walleye, and mussels, and an impressive range of hot entrees.
Grove Park Inn – Asheville, N.C.
This venerable century-old resort, commanding the west-facing slope of Sunset Mountain outside Asheville, features a stellar Mother’s Day buffet in its Blue Ridge Dining Room, which is renowned for its farm-to-table cuisine. Menu highlights include smoked trout and shrimp, she crab soup, smoked pork loin benedict, and a fantastic array of desserts, notably a crepe suzette station, a strawberry short cake station, crème brulee, apricot almond torte, black forest cake, baba rum with exotic fruit, and many more.
The Lodge at Torrey Pines – La Jolla, Calif.
Located beside the 18th hole of the famed South Course at Torrey Pines, this 175-room hotel recreates the look of the region’s Arts and Crafts-style architecture from the early 1900s. The Grill, the hotel’s casual dining spot, features a superb Sunday brunch with the accent on healthy choices: strawberry banana smoothies, blueberry and granola pancakes, steel-cut oats served with dried berries, and lemon poppyseed croissants. Traditionalists can opt for the Huevos Rancheros, served with black beans and corn tortillas.
