From Foie Gras Gyoza to Tipsy Tea Service, In-Room Dining at Hotels Has Never Been Better

For decades patrons would see the same few menu items on a hotel room service menu. Perhaps a burger, BLT, or club sandwich for dinner, or a stack of pancakes in the morning. Room service dining has traditionally been more about sustenance, useful for those times you arrive late in a famished state, or wake up jet-lagged and can’t bring yourself to get out of bed yet. But in recent years there’s been a shift towards crafting more creative, thoughtful options for those who choose to dine in their room — and some of the most delicious innovations are happening at luxury hotels.

Kaushik Vardharajan, the real estate program director for Boston University and a former hotel consultant with 20 years of experience, says room service used to exist simply because guests expected it. He explains that hotels “didn’t really focus on [room service] much as it was a lot of effort and not very profitable.” Many establishments offered limited menus with unexciting items and finite windows in which food and beverages could be ordered straight to the room.

But today high-end hotels are investing more in the amenity, and Vardharajan notes that “When luxury hotels offer room service, they ensure it is far beyond scanning a QR code and ordering a club sandwich, by offering extensive menus, artful presentations, and technology that enhances the overall experience.”

Related: From Smoked Fish Trolleys to Bottled Cocktails, These Hotels Offer Some Epic Amenities

As hotels around the world look to revolutionize their room service offerings, many are turning to technology. (This often means there’s no need to wait for an available staff member to take your order, no matter how busy they are.) Others have done away with the standard white china plates and stainless steel cloches, replacing them with tableware that reflects a more contemporary palate. Even small changes like these add up to make dining in your room a more memorable and pleasant experience — although some properties are making grand gestures too.

Leslie Wilde, an advisor for travel consulting firm Valerie Wilson Travel, says noteworthy room service offerings can help hotels stand out and remain top of mind amid a competitive landscape. The travel expert emphasizes to Food & Wine that properties that “go above and beyond are the ones travelers love going back to.”

If you’re on the hunt for hotels that are so delicious they’re a destination in and of themselves, then we have quite a few recommendations. These locales might just have you canceling your dinner reservations or happy hour plans so you never have to leave the comfort of your home away from home.

Equinox Hotel New York, New York City

This Manhattan hotel — which is owned by the same Equinox Group as the luxury gym collection you might be familiar with — has eschewed the traditional room service setup in favor of a modern approach. Guests order off of an iPad, a feature that’s becoming more commonplace, and the menu includes a guide to the functional, bioactive ingredients that are highlighted in quite a few dishes. (In search of a breakfast that will set you up for success while traveling? Try something from the Superfood Lattes section of the menu, or an anti-inflammatory smoothie.)

There are plenty of comforting dishes too, ranging from a smoked salmon Benedict in the morning to an alfredo pasta that’s available all day. Instead of an old-school dining cart, food is delivered in a compartmentalized tiffin-style box and insulated bag. This approach ensures that the food stays fresh, while also minimizing any odors that might drift into the room.

Blackberry Farm, Tennessee

This acclaimed Tennessee property is home to a James Beard Award-winning restaurant, and the dishes you enjoy in your room will reflect the same attention to perfection. Room service features food from the farm’s Bramble Hall, which highlights seasonal and local ingredients — like the Sea Island pea hummus and crudité that was a popular item on a recent in-room dining menu.

Everything is elegantly plated in plates or bowls made locally by Leann McQueen of McQueen Pottery out of nearby Maryville, TN, and if you like what you’re eating off of, you can buy your own set of plates or bowls from collections exclusively available to guests of the inn. Sarah Steffan, a 14-year Blackberry Farm veteran, is Bramble Hall’s executive chef, responsible for the in-room dining offerings as well as private events at the Farm.

The Newbury Boston, Boston

Formerly known as The Taj Boston, this property reopened as The Newbury Boston in 2021, and it’s been serving food curated by Major Food Group ever since. The dishes planned out by the famous restaurant group channel the experience of eating at one of its popular restaurants — like Carbone and Torrisi — all from the comfort of your room.

Related: 8 Incredible Hotel Breakfasts That Come Complimentary

Dishes feel and taste luxurious, so it truly seems like you're out at an upscale hotspot for the evening. You might start with oysters or caviar (the latter comes with honey, truffle, ricotta, and chive on brioche), then enjoy beef tartare, before finishing with rigatoni bolognese or some grilled Mediterranean branzino.

The Gwen, Chicago

Part of the Marriott chain of hotels, this Chicago hotel launched two exciting room service offerings this past spring, each of which will bring a personal party right to you. The “tipsy tea service” includes an assortment of teas (which can be spiked with spirits if desired) and a tea tower of sweet and savory treats like scones, macaroons, and deviled eggs.

Or if you're a big fan of dessert, opt for the ice cream sundae cart, which is basically like having an ice cream social in your hotel room — and there’s still an option to make it boozy, by adding a rum or whiskey float to your frozen concoction. Just make sure you pre-order either of these options at least 24 hours before you’d like to enjoy them, because they do call for a bit of planning.

SLS LUX Brickell, Miami

This acclaimed hotel teamed up with an equally acclaimed, Michelin Guide-recommended restaurant to ensure its room service would be one to remember. In May of 2024, the Miami hotel partnered with modern Asian hotspot Kaori to bring guests dishes and drinks from its menu.

Related: Hotel Staff Share 7 of the Strangest Room Service Requests They've Ever Received

The in-room dining offerings center around innovative dishes crafted with luxury ingredients — like wagyu and foie gras gyozas, or a cured local fish crudo. Alongside the curated bites, patrons can also order impeccably crafted cocktails to their room, such as a classic Daiquiri or an Old Fashioned made with Basil-Hayden bourbon, orange-lemon oleo saccharum, and bitters. When sampled from the comfort of the airy, modern suites designed by New York studio Yabu Pushelberg, the meal will feel exactly like you’re in the buzziest restaurant of the moment.

Read the original article on Food & Wine