As a kid, nothing made me feel like I’d hit the jackpot like staying at a hotel with free buffet breakfast. I treated that breakfast counter like a mini supermarket, doing laps of the aisles, piling my ‘trolley’ high with pancakes and pastries, and always going back for seconds… or thirds, or even fourths.
I’d heard on the grapevine that the buffet breakfast in Australia is served at The Epicurean – a luxe restaurant inside Crown Towers in both Sydney and Perth. On my most recent trip to Western Australia, I was lucky to spend a night at Crown Towers Perth – the country’s only Forbes five-star luxury hotel – and experience the famed buffet for myself. Here’s what it was like.
The Epicurean is located on the ground floor of the Crown Towers Perth, right next to the gym (if you need to work up an appetite) and the day spa (if you need to recover from your post-buffet food coma). The dining room itself is incredibly elegant, featuring plush upholstered chairs, chandelier-style lighting, mirrored columns and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Crown’s impressive lagoon pools.
First up, you’ll encounter a salad station filled with fresh veggies and dressings that range from the classics, like thousand island and balsamic, to more adventurous options, like yuzu and raspberry. Sure, salad isn’t the first thing most people reach for in the AM, but it’s great to have the option if you’re aiming for a bit of balance before diving into the good stuff.
Next to the salad, you’ll find a marble counter with premium cold cuts and seafood, including a grand ice bucket with delicately rolled smoked ocean trout. The charcuterie and seafood are replenished regularly and pair perfectly with the artisan cheeses and gourmet crackers – everything you need to build the most bougie breakfast cheese board. The only thing missing is a glass of red... but we’ll let it slide – it is breakfast, after all.
If you’re craving a classic Western brekkie (boring, but hey, no judgement), there’s no shortage of options – from good old-fashioned cereals to housemade granola, bircher muesli and chia pudding. Top it with yoghurt, fresh-cut fruit, poached figs, goji berries and a sprinkle of wholesome seeds.
The most impressive feature of The Epicurean’s buffet breakfast is its open kitchen, showcasing a series of culinary stations from around the world. You can pile your plate high with Asian breakfast staples, including steamed dim sum, basil fried rice, stir-fried noodles, spring rolls and rice congee. Or wake up in India with vegetarian curries, stuffed paratha bread and cooling chutneys.
Of course, all your classic Western hot breakfast favourites are on the menu, including eggs cooked four ways, crispy potato gems, housemade baked beans, sizzling bacon, grilled sausages and confit cherry tomatoes. Slap them on a slice of toast – white, wholemeal, seeded, sourdough or rye – or switch things up with an English muffin, crumpet or brioche roll.
If you’re more sweet-inclined, then you’re spoiled for choice at The Epicurean. Pastries are baked fresh daily, there’s a high-tea-style tower of bite-sized treats, and you’ll find every spread imaginable. Think international jams, sweet lemon curd, thick peanut butter and even a DIY honey station. But the undeniable star of the dessert buffet is the chocolate fountain, perfect for drizzling over churros, waffles or pancakes – or all three. Warning: let the kids loose at your own risk.
The staff at The Epicurean are incredibly attentive and took our coffee orders almost immediately after we sat down. After your morning caffeine fix, refresh your palate with a glass of fruit juice – I’d highly recommend the Green Booster of apple, lemon and kale (#healthgoals).
The Epicurean breakfast buffet is open daily to both guests and the public from 6.30am to 10.30am. It’s $54 for adults and $27 for children on weekdays, with a slight increase to $58 and $29 on weekends. Having sampled many buffet breakfasts across Australia, I can confidently say this one ranks among the very best.