Eating Pink Pancakes at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel-Waikiki-Hawaii

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This is the way to start a morning. Sitting lazily on a pink-umbrella-dotted patio. Sipping Kona coffee. Looking out over an expanse of sand that ends at sparkling blue water. I imagined this moment since planning our Hawaii trip, I’m finally eating Pink Pancakes at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel.

The Royal Hawaiian Hotel has been a dominant landmark on the Waikiki shoreline, since 1927. Surviving The Great Depression and World War II, the Moorish architecture building, has been the setting for films like, “From Here to Eternity,” and television shows, like “Mad Men.” It has counted musicians such as Elvis and The Beetles as guests. Actors from Marilyn Monroe to Chris Pine, have slept within its walls. The historic, pink, hotel, is an icon among hotels, complete with a signature breakfast item, the Pink Palace Pancakes.

As epic as it would be to stay at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, we must pick and choose our splurges, so instead, we maximize our World of Hyatt points and stay at The Hyatt Place, in Waikiki. Not wanting to miss out entirely on the Royal experience, and being a fan of whimsically themed food, I set my dreams on eating Pink Pancakes at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel.

The hotel is sprawling, and contains several restaurants. Breakfast can be found at the Surf Lanai restaurant. Though there is indoor seating, the highlight of this morning spot, is the outdoor patio.

Our friendly server, hands us menus, and takes our beverage orders. Kona coffee is abundant in Hawaii, so we take advantage, savoring every cup.

I knew what I wanted months before opening my menu, but I still like to see a menu’s design. I sit reading like I’m an extra on the crossover episode of “Murder She Wrote” and “Magnum P.I.,” that was filmed here.

I inwardly squeal with delight, as our server sets the plate before me. The Pink Pancakes at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, are indeed pink.

The pancake flavor is strawberry-guava. They are topped with a mixed berry compote, toasted coconut, and come with a haupia (coconut cream) sauce. You can choose one meat for your side. Portuguese sausage, which becomes one of my Hawaiian food obsessions, sits next to my pancake plate. Shannon, not sharing my Pink Pancake, aspirations, orders the Short Rib Eggs Benedict.

The simple fact that we are in Hawaii feels unbelievable. Eating breakfast at a historic hotel, while sipping Kona coffee on a terrace, is like a dream. We are well aware that normally, we spend our mornings, working at desks, staring at computer screens. We don’t take for granted that this morning we are looking out on the beach, with a view of Diamond Head State Park in the distance.

The pancakes are fluffy and flavorful. The accoutrements go perfectly. Every sip of coffee is a pleasure. If you aren’t a sweet breakfast person, Shannon confirmed that the Short Rib Eggs Benedict, is tasty.

Food in Hawaii costs more than on the mainland, and at over $30, these are the most expensive pancakes I have ever consumed. Even for Hawaii prices, they are pricey, but you are paying just as much for the setting as you are for the food. I go into the experience knowing I am splurging on eating Pink Pancakes at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Breakfast is included during our stay at the Hyatt Place, so we feel we can afford one day of fancy breakfast. This is a good reminder, do some research before a trip, this way you avoid sticker shock, and you can pre-determine whether the price for a meal, entrance fee, tour, etc… is personally worth it to you.

After breakfast, we wander around the hotel and its beach.

It is a spectacular hotel.

All beaches in Hawaii are free, public, beaches. Though only resort guests can use the lounge chairs and umbrellas,

if you want to spend a day on Royal Hawaiian’s beach, you merely need your beach towel.

Though the pancakes are overpriced, the experience of eating Pink Pancakes at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, is not overrated. It’s one of our favorite, most relaxing, Hawaii breakfast memories, and in the end, that’s what travel is all about.

Find a great Place to Stay in Waikiki, Hawaii