Does Booking a Hotel with Breakfast in NYC Actually Save You Money? (Times Square Hotel Hacks)

When planning a trip to New York City, one of the biggest questions travelers face is whether to book a Times Square hotel with breakfast included. It sounds convenient—wake up, head downstairs, grab food, and start your day. But does it actually save money on hotels, or are you paying a premium for something you could get cheaper elsewhere?

In this guide, I'm breaking down four Times Square hotels where breakfast is included, showing you what you actually get, and sharing Times Square hotel hacks that help you figure out which option—if any—makes sense for your budget.

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How I Selected These Times Square Hotels

I looked at the top-rated three and four-star Times Square hotels that include breakfast, then filtered them based on recent guest reviews from the past 12 months. The prices shown are based on a four-night stay in July (peak season), so your actual rates might be higher or lower depending on when you visit. But what matters is how these hotels compare to each other, which stays pretty consistent year-round.

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Hotel #1: Riu Plaza New York Times Square - $345/night

What You Get:

The Riu Plaza offers an buffet breakfast with variety. We're talking hot stations, cold stations, pastries, eggs, meats, cheeses, fruit, yogurt, cereals—enough options for big groups.

Guest reviews consistently mention the breakfast. And here's something interesting: you can walk in and pay $26 per person to eat at the Riu's breakfast buffet even if you're not staying there. That's important for later.

The Rooms:

The rooms are larger than you'd expect for Times Square—many are corner rooms with three big windows that let in tons of natural light. If you're on a higher floor, you can get city views.

Best For:

Families who value variety and convenience. If you have picky eaters or kids who want different things every morning, the Riu's massive buffet covers all bases.

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Hotel #2: Embassy Suites by Hilton Manhattan Times Square - $270/night

What You Get:

The Embassy Suites serves a cooked-to-order breakfast with an omelet station, fresh pancakes, and hot food made while you wait. This isn't a cold buffet—someone's actually cooking for you. Every evening from 5:30-7pm, there's a FREE reception with beer, wine, and cocktails. That evening reception can easily save you $50-80 per day if you'd normally go out for happy hour drinks.

The Rooms:

The rooms are not as big as what you'd find at other Embassy Suites. They still have a seperate area to sit and sleep but there is less space in NYC than other places so don't expect the same space to spread out as you would in other places.

Nearby Option:

One block from the hotel is Culture Espresso, a local coffee shop that won New York City's Chocolate Chip Cookie competition against over 40 bakeries. If you want to grab fresh-baked cookies with your morning coffee before exploring, it's right there.

Best For:

Families who need space and people who like free drinks . If you'd normally spend money on happy hour, the Embassy Suites is a good option.

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Hotel #3: The Carnegie Hotel - $209/night

What You Get:

The Carnegie offers a high-quality continental breakfast (not a hot buffet) with pastries, fruit, yogurt, and coffee. Every evening, there's a wine and cheese social hour.

The Strategy:

Just two blocks away is Carnegie Diner, a classic American diner where you can get a full breakfast—pancakes, omelets, eggs—for about $23-27 per person.

Want to try something unique? Order the Egg-Strami Sandwich: two sunny-side-up eggs, half a pound of naval wagyu pastrami, and Swiss cheese on rye for $24.95. It's a creative way to experience classic New York pastrami for breakfast.

The Carnegie Hotel gives you flexibility: eat the included continental breakfast when you want something light, or walk to the diner when you want the full experience.

The Rooms:

The rooms are small—about 220 square feet—but smartly designed with floor-to-ceiling soundproofed windows. Despite being across from Carnegie Hall, it's one of the quietest hotels in Midtown.

Best For:

Couples who want a quiet, sophisticated hotel with the flexibility to mix in classic New York diner experiences when the mood strikes.

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Hotel #4: Belvedere Hotel - $144/night (THE BUDGET HACK TO SAVE MONEY ON HOTELS)

What You Get:

The Belvedere is an Art Deco hotel with no breakfast included, but here's why it's one of the smartest Times Square hotel hacks: location and options.

The Belvedere sits 30 seconds across the street from the Riu Plaza. You could stay at the Belvedere and walk to the Riu's breakfast buffet for $26 per person.

But there's an even better option: two blocks away is Mom's Kitchen, a local diner with pure '90s nostalgia—cartoons on TV, vintage lunchboxes on the walls. Breakfast runs $20-26 per person for items like:

• Bedrock Pancakes (Fruity Pebbles): $20
• Pancake Burrito: $24
• Breakfast Sandwich: $19
• Avocado Toast with poached eggs: $21

The Rooms:

Every room has an in-room kitchenette with a microwave, mini-fridge, and sink. You can store leftovers, reheat takeout, or grab bagels and coffee from a deli and eat in your room for even less.

The Math:

For a couple over four nights:

Strategy 1: Belvedere + Mom's Kitchen

• Belvedere: $144/night × 4 = $576
• Mom's Kitchen: $23/person × 2 people × 4 mornings = $184
• Total: $760

Compare to:

• Riu Plaza: $1,380 — $620 cheaper
• Embassy Suites: $1,080 — $320 cheaper
• Carnegie Hotel: $836 — $76 cheaper

Strategy 2: Mix and Match

• Stay at Belvedere, eat at Mom's twice, eat at Riu buffet twice
• Total: $772

That $500-800 you're saving? That's two Broadway tickets. That's shopping. That's nicer dinners. That's actual vacation money.

Best For:

Anyone who wants maximum flexibility with their breakfast budget and doesn't mind a two-minute walk to a local diner or crossing the street to a hotel buffet.

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Times Square Hotel Hacks: Which Hotel Should You Book?

Book the Riu Plaza if:You're a family that values variety over everything else. The international buffet has something for picky eaters, adventurous eaters, and adults who want real coffee. The corner rooms with three big windows make the space feel bigger than it is. You're paying a premium, but you're getting maximum convenience—everything under one roof.

Book the Embassy Suites if:You're a family that needs space. These are actual suites—not just hotel rooms—with a separate living area so the kids can watch TV while you decompress with a glass of wine from the evening reception. The cooked-to-order breakfast means you're not eating cold scrambled eggs from a buffet, and at $75 less per night than the Riu, you're getting more room and better food for less money.

Book the Carnegie if:You're a couple who wants a quieter hotel in a better neighborhood. It's small, sophisticated, and soundproofed—you won't hear your neighbors. The continental breakfast is good enough, the evening wine and cheese hour is a nice touch before a Broadway show, and you're two blocks from Carnegie Diner if you want the full New York diner experience.

Book the Belvedere if:You want maximum flexibility with your breakfast budget. The in-room kitchenette means you can grab bagels and coffee for $8, or walk 30 seconds to the Riu buffet for $26, or go to Mom's Kitchen for $25-30, or hit Carnegie Diner for pastrami and eggs. You're saving $700 over four nights compared to the Riu—that's two Broadway tickets, that's shopping, that's actually enjoying New York instead of just paying for a hotel.

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Complete List of Hotels & Restaurants Mentioned

Hotels:

Riu Plaza New York Times Square

• Address: 145 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036
• Phone: (212) 768-2700
• Website: riu.com

Embassy Suites by Hilton New York Manhattan Times Square

• Address: 60 W 37th St, New York, NY 10018
• Phone: (212) 912-0111
• Website: hilton.com

The Carnegie Hotel

• Address: 160 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019
• Phone: (212) 397-6000
• Website: thecarnegiehotel.com

Belvedere Hotel

• Address: 319 W 48th St, New York, NY 10036
• Phone: (212) 245-7000
• Website: belvederehotelnyc.com

Restaurants & Diners:

Mom's Kitchen & Bar (Hell's Kitchen)

• Address: 701 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019
• Phone: (646) 657-0080
• Website: eatatmomsnyc.com
• Vibe: '90s nostalgia diner, kid-friendly, fun atmosphere
• Average breakfast cost: $20-26 per person

Carnegie Diner & Café

• Multiple NYC locations including:
  • Times Square: 828 8th Ave, New York, NY 10019
  • Central Park: 205 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019
• Website: carnegiediner.com
• Vibe: Classic American diner
• Average breakfast cost: $18-27 per person
• Note: Not associated with the old Carnegie Deli (which closed in 2016)

Brooklyn Diner

• Multiple NYC locations including Midtown
• Website: brooklyndiner.com
• Vibe: Classic NYC diner
• Average breakfast cost: $23-27 per person

Culture Espresso

• Address: 72 W 38th St, New York, NY 10018 (near Embassy Suites)
• Vibe: Local coffee shop, won NYC Chocolate Chip Cookie competition
• Specialty: Award-winning cookies, Heart Coffee Roasters specialty coffee

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Final Thoughts: How to Save Money on Hotels in Times Square

The question isn't whether Times Square hotels with breakfast save you money—it's whether the specific breakfast justifies the price difference.

For some travelers, the convenience of the Riu's massive buffet or the Embassy Suites' cooked-to-order breakfast plus evening drinks makes the higher rate worth it. For others, the Carnegie's flexibility or the Belvedere's budget-friendly approach makes more sense.

These Times Square hotel hacks show you that the key to saving money on hotels is understanding what you're actually getting and making an informed decision based on your travel style, not just booking "breakfast included" because it sounds like a good deal.

Need help planning your NYC trip? At Khonsu, we build custom travel guides for first-time visitors who want to save money and maximize their time in the city. Check out our free trip planner tool or learn more about our custom guide services.

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