Madrid hotel breakfast or eat out

I think that amount is very pricey, and I would not want to be locked in to eat a huge breakfast at that price each morning, so I would not choose the breakfast option when making my reservations. Once you check-in, most hotels will allow you to pay-as-you-go if you do choose to eat at the hotel a few mornings.

Even if you are a big breakfaster, that is a lot of money for breakfast. I'd select a hotel that provides a coffee maker in the room, and bring in breakfast rolls from a nearby market or bakery to start the day. Or scope out a nearby restaurant for breakfast and the possible bonus of mingling with locals. I enjoy a good buffet, but more in the E20 range is my dream.

What do you need for breakfast? If you fail to function until you get coffee and a big breakfast in you by 8:00 AM, then the hotel may be your best bet.

If you are able to wait a bit, and do not need a lot, then you can find some options.

We rarely eat hotel breakfasts, and certainly would not pay that for one. There are some Churro houses that offer early hours for coffee, chocolate, and churros, a few some other items. Starbucks is dependable for being open early, and you might luck out and find a local bar or cafe that serves the early workers with a wide array of meals. Some examples, Chocolateria San Gines is the place for churros, and open 24 hours a day. Nearby is a little bar, Taberna Los 4 Robles, they open at 7 AM serve coffee and pastries, as well as hot breakfasts. Even though it is steps from Placa de Sol, it is a very "local's" type of place, lots of people stopping on their way to work.

Breakfast is not a big meal in Spain, most get up, have some coffee and something light, then at 9 to 10 AM, they go for coffee and something to eat. So most cafes do not open until 9

Thanks, everyone. That did seem pricey to me. We are your basic coffee and bread type of breakfast eaters, so I think I will skip the breakfast option. I'll check to see how close the hotels we are looking at are to some restaurants.

If you had a coffee maker in the room (or a kettle) you could make coffee, tea, instant oatmeal. If you have a refrigerator, you could do yogurt.
There is no way in the world I'd spend that much for breakfast unless it was a special occasion brunch.

We were just in Spain and breakfasts were in the 10 to 14 pp range. Even then we only had the hotel breakfasts a few times in 15 days. I check them out the first day and decide if they appeal and fit our schedule. There are pastry and coffee shops everywhere, so anywhere central will have options.

If in Madrid DO stop at the bakery La Mallorquina. You can go upstairs and sit down, but the fun is standing at the coffee bar ordering cafe and a pastry - total cost for 1 would be about 3 euros. Ton of fun.

When in Madrid, we always just had the bread topped with olive oil & crushed tomatoes, along with coffee and sometimes an orange juice. There were shops that offered this instead of the large offering at a hotel. But, if it’s the morning after a flight I do like to have a hotel breakfast and not need to go find anything…but not for that price!

That amount seems totally out of sync with my experiences, even in upmarket chains like NH. We like a buffet breakfast, but if you are not fussed, then go out and have a Spanish breakfast of tomato on toast, or a croissant or other pastry. Every othe bar will provide that.
You can always book the without option, and then pay for a buffet breakfast if you want one.

Are you sure that it is PER PERSON?

I'm on the opposite side: I like to eat breakfast and then go up to my room to prepare for the day. That amount sounds very high, unless it's for two people or it's a 5-star hotel. I've had some exceptional breakfasts in Spanish hotels; many of them have buffets but also let you order cooked dishes, like eggs, to order at no charge. And I like the array of local cheeses that let me sample, so I can then buy the ones I like at a market, to bring home

I almost never eat lunch so the breakfast holds me for the entire day.

Thanks, everyone!

I double checked it and it was per person and it was a 4 star hotel. In the comments people said great things about the food, but
$70 for breakfast is a bit much, I thought. Especially when we are not big breakfast eaters.
I appreciate all the responses!

We stayed at a hotel recommended on this forum: Only You Boutique Hotel. It is walking distance to the train station and the Prado. We opted for breakfast and to this day we still talk about all the options that were offered. It was one of the best breakfast we have had in our travels.

I'm on the opposite side: I like to eat breakfast and then go up to my room to prepare for the day. That amount sounds very high, unless it's for two people or it's a 5-star hotel.

This is exactly me as well. However, my breakfasts have never been anywhere near $35.00. For that, I'd find one in the neighborhood and then return to my room to finish organizing for the day.

Olga. I can say the same about the breakfasts at ONLY YOU in Valencia. Astounding! We had to tear ourselves away at 11am---I've never seen such an array of great foods for breakfast outside some of the luxe Asian hotels.

When we were in this situation in Florence, it was a Sunday morning and local bakeries were closed, but we were able to walk to an inexpensive venue-McDonald's. The McDonald's in Florence had more breakfast choices(pastries, Halloween cookies!) than the ones in the US.