Room service has long been a hallmark of hotel luxury, but in today’s ultra-competitive hospitality landscape, some hotels are going off-menu and thinking outside the box.
Room service isn’t what it used to be
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Park Lane New York, USA – An All-Hours Caviar Hotline
Perched high above Central Park South, Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ member Park Lane New York is a reimagined icon in the heart of Manhattan, offering cinematic views of the skyline and a bold new take on modern luxury. It’s also home to one of the city’s most extravagant in-room experiences: the Caviar Hotline. Guests simply dial “5” from their room phone, and a decadent spread of Bemka Royal Ossetra Caviar arrives at their door, alongside all the traditional trimmings like crème fraîche, blinis and chopped onion; plus less traditional (but more social media friendly) chicken nuggets.
Portrait Roma, Italy – Rome’s Greatest Culinary Hits, Delivered to Your Terrace
Set in a grand townhouse near the Spanish Steps, Portrait Roma is a quietly opulent boutique hotel known for impeccable service and postcard-worthy views of the Trinità dei Monti. It also has a genius take on in-room dining: Instead of one hotel restaurant, guests can sample dishes from over 15 of Rome’s best eateries (including Michelin-starred Il Pagliaccio; Enoteca La Torre Aroma; and Zia) all without leaving their suite.
Nobu Hotel London Portman Square, UK – Sushi in Bed, Anytime You Want
Nobu Hotels have always blurred the line between luxury lifestyle and culinary prestige, thanks to their legendary founder chef Nobu Matsuhisa. At every Nobu Hotel worldwide, guests can enjoy the restaurant’s most iconic dishes—like miso black cod, rock shrimp tempura and yellowtail sashimi—all served right in their room. At Nobu Hotel London Portman Square, things go even further with the ‘Nobu All Night’ menu, available from 10:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Trisara, Phuket – A Thai Street Market in Your Private Villa
Tucked away on Phuket’s lush northwestern coast, Trisara is known for its privacy, palm-fringed villas and serene sea views, but it’s also quietly revolutionizing the idea of in-villa dining. Their newest concept is a bespoke Cultural Street Market brought directly to your villa. Guests are treated to live food stations replicating the sights, sounds and scents of a traditional Thai street market with stalls dishing out made-to-order Phad Thai, green papaya salad, satay skewers, tropical fruit and coconut ice cream.
Rome Cavalieri, Italy – The 15-Course Imperial Breakfast
With its hilltop setting, lush gardens and rare art collection, Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel feels every bit the Roman emperor’s playground. For those who want to feast like Caligula, the hotel offers an in-room Imperial Breakfast that’s more a tasting menu than a morning meal. This lavish 15-course spread includes Sicilian citrus lobster, black truffle scrambled eggs, tuna tartare on pineapple carpaccio, and canapés with everything from fried yolks to bottarga. Whether enjoyed in bed or on a private balcony, it’s the ultimate way to start your day in the Eternal City.
Alma Resort, Vietnam – Coffee by Bicycle, Delivered to Your Pavilion
Located along Vietnam’s Cam Ranh coast, Alma Resort is rethinking guests’ morning coffee order with its immersive in-room Vietnamese coffee service. Here, a barista pedals up to your pavilion by bicycle, ready to handcraft your perfect brew in front of you. Choose from iced black or white coffee; bạc xỉu (Vietnamese style coffee, with more milk than coffee); or savory-sweet salted coffee. The unique experience is a nod to Vietnam’s rich coffee heritage, as the country is the world’s second-largest coffee exporter after Brazil.
The Brecon, Switzerland – Après-Ski Cocktails at Your Door
Nestled in the heart of the Swiss Alps, The Brecon is a new chalet-style retreat known for its Wes Anderson-style design and all-inclusive service (a rarity in the Swiss Alps). Each night, post-ski and pre-dinner, the hotel’s bartender makes the rounds with an old-fashioned bar cart, knocking on guests’ doors to offer freshly made cocktails or coupes of champagne. Both unexpected and endearing, this après room service trolley tradition has become so beloved that many guests make a point to be in their rooms at cocktail hour just to catch the moment.
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