Hyatt Regency Times Square Cue 48 Breakfast Review

If there is one thing we always say on Family Travel Genie, it is that a great hotel breakfast can set the tone for an entire day of sightseeing. So when we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Times Square, right on Broadway between 48th and 49th Streets, we were rather pleased to find Cue 48 Social Eatery waiting for us on the lobby level each morning.

The entrance to Cue 48, with its branded welcome mat reading "Cue 48 Social Eatery, Times Square" and the CUE48 signage on the wall as you head in.

Cue 48 is the hotel's all day dining spot, moving from a relaxed breakfast café in the morning to a proper cocktail lounge by evening, with sweeping views over Times Square thrown in. For breakfast though, it is all about ease, choice and genuinely tasty food, which as any family travelling with children will know is exactly what you need before a busy day of walking the city.

The steps leading down from the lobby into Cue 48, with a Grab & Go and Buffet sign pointing guests the right way, and the bar and food counter visible just beyond.

WHAT IS ON OFFER

The breakfast buffet runs daily and includes all the hot food favourites you would want to fuel a day of exploring New York. Think fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, turkey sausages and golden breakfast potatoes, plus a stack of buttermilk pancakes that our children absolutely devoured. Honestly, the pancakes were the highlight of the whole trip for them, and they asked for them again the next morning without any persuading needed.

The hot food station, with a row of chafing dishes keeping everything warm, set against the backdrop of the fully stocked bar that transforms this same space into a lounge come evening.

Alongside the hot dishes there is a lovely spread of fresh fruit, a proper bakery selection and a good range of drinks to get you going. If you fancy something a little lighter, or you are in more of a rush, there is an a la carte menu too. We tried the Brooklyn bagel with plain cream cheese and the Williamsburg ham and cheese croissant, both of which were fresh and generous.

The pickup counter, with a menu board listing everything from the breakfast platter to bagels, croissants and pain au chocolat, plus the full coffee and tea list above the pastry case.

The buffet counter loaded with pastries and croissants, stacks of plates ready for guests, and the morning sport playing on the screen above.

Fresh fruit, mini bagels and a tempting spread of muffins, cinnamon rolls and pastries laid out along the marble buffet counter, ready for guests to help themselves.

The yogurt and granola station, with Chobani pots and bowls of fresh fruit, a lighter option for anyone wanting something simple before heading out for the day.

DRINKS AND COFFEE

The drinks side of things is well thought out too. There is a proper coffee station with regular and decaf brews, plus fresh squeezed orange juice and cucumber infused water, ideal for topping up before heading out into the city heat.

The self serve drinks station, with Cue 48 branded coffee urns, fresh orange juice and cucumber infused water lined up neatly along the counter.

Just off the main buffet, there is also a well stocked grab and go table for anyone in more of a hurry, with snack bars, chocolate, nuts and cold drinks in the fridges behind.

The grab and go table, with bowls of snacks, chocolate bars and nuts, plus fridges stocked with cold drinks and juices for guests wanting something quick.

THE SETTING

What really elevates breakfast at Cue 48 is the setting. The dining area is smart and modern, with striking pendant lighting and comfortable seating dotted throughout, plus a wall of windows looking straight out onto the lights and billboards of Times Square. There really is nothing quite like tucking into pancakes while watching the world go by on Broadway below.

The dining area at Cue 48, filled with guests enjoying breakfast, with comfortable chairs and a screen showing the morning sport.

Another view of the dining room, busy with families and couples tucking into breakfast, with Times Square visible through the windows beyond.

A quiet corner table by the window, with a happy hour menu propped up, looking straight out over Broadway towards the bright billboards of Times Square.

The view down onto the street below, with the famous Times Square energy already in full swing even at breakfast time.

SERVICE

We found the staff at Cue 48 to be genuinely attentive throughout our stay. Plates were cleared promptly, drinks were topped up without asking and the team were happy to help our children find exactly what they wanted from the buffet. For a busy hotel restaurant in one of the most visited spots on earth, that level of care did not go unnoticed.

FINAL THOUGHTS

All in all, breakfast at Cue 48 was a real highlight of our stay at the Hyatt Regency Times Square. The buffet is generous, the a la carte options are a nice touch for anyone in a hurry, the coffee is strong and the views are unbeatable. Add in genuinely attentive service and a setting that feels a cut above your average hotel breakfast room, and you have a spot well worth building your morning around. If your children are anything like ours, just be prepared for a fair few requests for extra pancakes.