The 15 most romantic hotels in America
For a night (or several) to remember, get a room at one of the most romantic hotels across the country, from NYC to Maui
What turns you on? For some, it’s a glittering skyline; for others, an unplugged desert oasis or an ocean view. These romantic hotels set the scene for seduction, whether you prefer an NYC love nest or a California beachfront retreat. The many extravagant perks at these properties make them ideal for no-need-to-leave romantic getaways. Just check in, hang up the Do Not Disturb sign and enjoy.
Most romantic hotels in America
Amangiri in Canyon Point, Utah
Located in an isolated stretch of the Utah desert, the jaw-dropping Amangiri resort is framed by a dramatic rock escarpment. (The hot tub is hidden at the base of the rock wall.) The property maintains 34 suites, each with a private courtyard, central fireplace (alongside a conveniently placed lounging mattress) and twin rain showers. Take a dip in your private pool, then watch the sunset from the suite’s sky terrace. The rooftop daybed is an ideal spot for stargazing.
Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford, California
The five-star Auberge du Soleil is nestled on a 33-acre olive grove in prime wine country—the infinity-edge soaking pools overlook the vineyards. Each of the 50 one- and two-bedroom suites features a wood-burning fireplace, extra-large soaking tub and private terrace, but in 2014, the hotel unveiled Maison Biarritz, four retrofitted guest rooms inspired by the South of France that tout open-air showers and heated limestone floors. Meander hand-in-hand through the Ma(i)sonry Gallery, an outdoor sculpture garden dotted with 110 works by California artists, then indulge in spa treatments that incorporate mud, minerals, olive oil, grapes and fresh herbs—you can upgrade your pampering session with a wine pairing selected by the Michelin-starred restaurant’s sommelier.
Audubon Cottages in New Orleans
Though they’re located just a block from the bustle of Bourbon Street, these historic Audubon Cottages feel serene and secluded, hidden behind a private gate and facing a landscaped central courtyard. The French Creole cottages are named after famed ornithologist (and occasional guest) John James Audubon, and though the storied spot was given a 1.5 million dollar face-lift in 2012, the artist’s avian prints still adorn the walls. Each of the seven dwellings is more akin to a home than a hotel room, with exposed brick walls, beamed ceilings and eclectic antiques (plus welcome updates like iPod docks and free Wi-Fi). They all have private patios overlooking the heated saltwater pool, which was originally installed in the 1920s. A butler is on call at all hours to make restaurant reservations or provide directions.
Calistoga Ranch in Calistoga, California
The woodsy Calistoga Ranch presents a decadent version of indoor-outdoor living, where decks and trellised walkways connect the rooms of your private lodge. Each of the 50 guest dwellings have floor-to-ceiling windows to show off the verdant surroundings, and the outdoor shower is framed by oak trees and towering redwoods. Take a long soak in the spa’s natural mineral pools, then head over to the Lakehouse for dinner, where produce is sourced from the ranch’s on-site greenhouse. Don’t miss the wine cave, a cozy stone-walled dining room carved into the hillside and lit by iron chandeliers.
Enchantment Resort & Spa in Sedona, Arizona
The 70-acre Enchantment Resort & Spa spans Sedona’s scenic Boynton Canyon, known for its striking red rock formations. The 218 abodes all have private decks—prime spots for watching the sunset paint the sandstone in brilliant hues each evening. (Spring for a junior suite, which also includes a gas fireplace.) The resort is known for its Native American–inspired Mii amo spa, offering reiki, craniosacral, and Watsu water therapy treatments. Afterward, take in 360-degree canyon views from a private cabana at the newly expanded pool bar.
Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado in Santa Fe, New Mexico
The spacious casita-style rooms of the Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado are adorned with contemporary Southwestern artwork and high beamed ceilings, lending them an airy, sophisticated vibe. Each of the rooms has its own patio or terrace, a prime spot for watching the sunset over the Rio Grande River Valley. The open-air desert spa is designed to resemble the kiva rooms of the indigenous Pueblo Indians. Request a Vista Casita, a second-story room that has heated floors, a deep-soaking tub and a wood-burning fireplace. When you’re ready, a fireplace butler is on call to assist in lighting the fragrant pinyon pine wood.
The Greenwich Hotel in NYC
In contrast to standard-issue beige-and-cream hotel quarters, a room at the Greenwich is akin to staying at a fabulously stylish—and fabulously wealthy—friend’s abode. (In this case, that fantasy pal is Robert De Niro, who co-owns the hotel.) None of the 88 rooms are alike, and each is adorned with hardcover books, potted plants, worldly antiques and contemporary art. Suites include private saunas, oversize soaking tubs and in-room fireplaces, while the duplexes feature 30-foot-tall slanted windows for taking in city views. Though you’ll be tempted to hole up in your room (the minibar snacks are complimentary, after all), the dreamy spa beckons. The swimming pool is housed within a reconstructed 250-year-old Japanese farmhouse and moodily lit by lanterns. For an intimate meal, have dishes from the hotel’s restaurant, Locanda Verde, served in the cloistered, guests-only courtyard.
Hotel Wailea in Maui, Hawaii
After a $15 million renovation in 2014, this hillside enclave feels even more luxurious. Hotel Wailea is perched 300 feet above the sea—providing views of three Hawaiian islands—and sprawls across 15 acres of lush tropical gardens. The 72 one-bedroom suites offer private lanais, deep-soaking tubs and rain showers. Take a tour of the hotel’s tropical orchards, then retire to one of the poolside cabanas and order an “orchard to glass” cocktail made from fresh-picked and -pressed juices. This spring, the hotel unveils an ocean-view tree house, where massages and spa treatments are performed amid a canopy of mango trees.
The Langham in Chicago
The Langham flaunts Chicago’s rich architecture, offering views of the skyline and the Chicago River in a landmark building designed by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The 316 guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows to show off city vistas, but the glass turns opaque at the press of a button to create a private retreat. Other romantic touches include separate dining parlors for in-room meals à deux, plus fireplaces in the suites. (You can also cozy up before the fireplace in the Pavilion lounge, where musicians tinkle the ivories of a grand piano nightly.) The travertine-limestone-swathed bathrooms are some of the sexiest around—outfitted with a soaking tub, rain shower and wet room.
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa in Little Torch Key, Florida
It’s hard to get more secluded than this five-and-a-half-acre private island in the Florida Keys, devoid of TVs, alarm clocks and phones. Upon arrival at the Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, you’ll be served a Gumby Slumber, a tropical cocktail made with coconut and spiced rum, fruit juices and boozy shredded coconut. The 15 thatched-roof bungalows contain just 30 suites, which means empty white-sand beaches, hammocks swaying among tropical plants and groves of Jamaican coconut palms. All suites have private outdoor showers and verandas, and the Island Grand Suite also touts an outdoor hot tub and exclusive beach area. Take one of the resort’s well-appointed picnics—bread, charcuterie, foie gras, cheese and more—and follow the crushed-seashell pathway to find hidden outdoor alcoves.
The NoMad Hotel in NYC
If you can’t arrange a Parisian rendezvous with your bien-aimé(e), check in to this 168-room Manhattan hotel for a convincing facsimile of the experience. Not only did the NoMad Hotel’s designer, Jacques Garcia—known for designing Rue Saint-Honoré A-list crash pad Hôtel Costes—create the opulent public spaces, he modeled the room decor on his old Paris apartment. The slightly bohemian domestic vibe, fostered by distressed-leather chairs, antique travel-themed art and vintage Heriz rugs, reinforces the illusion of a Left Bank assignation. A claw-foot bathtub takes pride of place in the middle of some rooms, so you can scrub each other’s backs (using aromatic Côté Bastide products) in comfortable surroundings. If you can snag reservations at the hotel’s wildly popular restaurant, try for a table in the intimate nook off the atrium, where you can get cozy by an ornate marble fireplace imported from a French château.
Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island
Originally opened in 1868 as a beach resort, this butter-yellow Victorian will transport you to the genteel world of Edith Wharton and Henry James. Though the Ocean House underwent a $146 million renovation in 2004, the five-star hotel maintains its historic charm. (In fact, more than 5,000 original furnishings and artifacts adorn the property.) The 49 guest rooms and 15 suites are decorated in English Colonial style, but include modern amenities like iPod docking stations and marble bathrooms. True to the property’s name, every room—and the indoor lap pool—has views of the sea, bordered by a private white-sand beach and picturesque dune grasses. Charter the Dandy, a 32-foot wooden picnic boat, for romantic excursions.
Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, California
Situated just off Highway 1 in Big Sur—arguably the most scenic drive in the country—the sprawling Post Ranch Inn is all about the breathtaking view. Forty-one guest rooms, suites and private homes are perched 1,200 feet above the Pacific, offering vistas of the ocean and the Santa Lucia mountains. All quarters include a wood-burning fireplace, an extra-deep spa tub and a private deck, but the Peak House, with its glass-walled bedroom and hot tub on the terrace, is especially aphrodisiac. Alternatively, hide away in one of the property's luxurious takes on a tree house, which are elevated nine feet off the ground on stilts. The spa offers two couples' rooms—one with a fireplace, the other with a walk-in shower—and heated infinity pools overlooking the water.
The Setai in Miami Beach, Florida
The Far East meets Miami Beach at this hotel, where the vibe is beachy by day and sultry at night. The Setai seamlessly blends the old and the new, from the intimate waterside pergolas to the lobby, built from bricks repurposed from crumbling Art Deco buildings in Shanghai’s old city. The hotel includes 120 suites and three pools, one of which is flanked by a 90-foot bar. Sip Asian-inspired cocktails from a chaise lounge with sparkling views of the Atlantic.
Twin Farms in Barnard, Vermont
Spanning 300 acres of woodlands and meadows just north of Woodstock, Twin Farms has 20 lodges, all with a wood-burning fireplace and screened-in porch. Though each folk art–inspired dwelling is unique, with such details as hand-painted murals, maple and pine woodwork, antique quilts or four-poster beds, the Moroccan-inspired Meadow lodge is a particular stunner. It’s decked out with a mosaic-tile fireplace, ornate wooden screens and a glimmering colored-glass chandelier dangling from the tented ceiling. Choose a vintage from Twin Farms’ 26,000-bottle wine cellar—we recommend the house champagne—then take a dip in the clothing-optional furo, a traditional Japanese soaking tub heated to 104 degrees.
Staying at the Setai was one of the most breathtaking experiences. The view from the top is to die for.
The food was superb as well, and they provided some well-thought-out meals that didn't ruin my fitness camp stay from the week before at all.
Over-all, top scores, highly recommended!