8 Romantic Hotels in NYC | Plan Your Next Romantic Getaway or Staycation

Built in 1881 as one of Manhattan’s first skyscrapers, The Beekman restored the building’s original Queen Anne architecture and 19th-century design to give guests a taste of old New York. Nestled in Lower Manhattan at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in the oldest part of the city, The Beekman is perfect for history lovers. Edgar Allan Poe worked here when it was an office building, New York University held its first classes here, and the city’s debut of Shakespeare’s Hamlet took place inside these walls.

The hotel’s 287 rooms with high ceilings and oak floors have a vintage feel but come with modern conveniences like flat-screen TVs and a craft-cocktail mini-bar. Adorning the roof of this landmark building are its two iconic “turrets,” which the hotel converted into penthouse suites. These come with massive, private rooftop terraces offering stunning and rare views of One World Trade Center, the Woolworth Building and City Hall Park.

The Lowell is a timeless classic that has long been a hideaway for the rich and famous. With its wood-burning fireplaces, antiques, and large, stunning floral arrangements, it feels like you’re stepping into someone’s elegant New York townhouse. In fact, The Lowell sits next to some of Manhattan’s wealthiest townhouses on the Upper East Side between Park and Madison Avenues.

The 74 gold and cream-colored rooms and suites have the look and feel of a private apartment, and many come with their own wood-burning fireplaces. Thirteen suites have terraces and many of the suites come with fully equipped kitchens which you can personalize with your favorite food and beverages. The marble bathrooms have his and her sinks, deep soaking tubs, and the rooms come with down pillows and comforters, custom slippers, frette bathrobes, and sheets.

The Club Room, open only to guests during the day, serves as the hotel’s living room, with deep, comfortable sofas, and wingback club chairs. For dinner, eat at Majorelle, one of the most romantic restaurants in the city, serving French cuisine with hints of Morocco. Try the grilled bass with sorrel, duck with figs, and roasted peach. And make sure to come thirsty; each course is paired with a different wine.

For those looking for a different type of beverage, The Lowell serves one of New York’s most celebrated afternoon teas on the second floor, in the charming, Pembroke Room. It includes homemade scones with Devonshire cream, English tea sandwiches, and sweets. Choose from one of three tea menus.

This scholarly hotel is filled with 6,000 books that line the shelves of the lobby, the second floor and all of the rooms. The Reading Room is on the second floor where you can borrow a book while eating breakfast in the morning or enjoy wine and cheese in the evening.

The Library Hotel is just one block from the New York Public Library, whose signature stone lions look out onto Fifth Avenue toward the hotel and abuts Bryant Park in the back. In the summer, New Yorkers flock to Bryant Park to eat lunch during the day and to watch movies on a big screen at night. In winter, couples stroll through the Christmas market stalls, sipping hot chocolate or ice skate at the pop-up ice rink.

Each room in the hotel is named after a different subject in the Dewey decimal system and has books from that subject. Couples interested in spicing up their stay would enjoy the sexy atmosphere of the Erotic Literature room or the romantic decor and feel of the Fairy Tales and Romance Languages rooms.

The Baccarat impresses from the minute you get off the elevator and enter through the second-floor lobby. Check-in comes with a glass of champagne in the Petit Salon, which opens onto the opulent Grand Salon. The hotel’s main living and dining area is designed in neutral colors that cover the walls and the plush, high-backed banquettes. Hanging from the high ceilings are a number of oversized Baccarat crystal chandeliers, and there are decorative bookcases full of crystal bowls and cups, making the whole room sparkle. Guests take their meals here and mix with New Yorkers who socialize over cocktails from cut-crystal tumblers.

Rooms have a contemporary Parisian design, elegantly decorated in white and grey with bursts of red, from fresh roses. The mini-bar comes with Baccarat crystal wine and champagne glasses, which you can order by pressing the “champagne button” on your phone. Downstairs is an exclusive, 50-foot indoor pool with day bed cabanas and the only La Mer spa in the United States.

Sexy, sultry and romantic, the dimly lit NoMad Hotel, which gets its name from the historic district “North of Madison Square Park,” is perfect for those who want to stay in Manhattan’s new “it” neighborhood. The 12-floor hotel has a Beaux-Arts facade and was designed by architect Jacques Garcia with romance in mind. That is if you find that classic French look romantic. He does this with little touches, like richly textured, velvet fabrics, clawfoot bathtubs, lush antique carpets, and dim lighting.

Make a reservation with the Michelin-starred NoMad restaurant and order the signature dish: a whole roasted chicken with foie gras and truffles for two. Owners Daniel Humm and Will Guidara are also the brains behind Eleven Madison Park, which means guests can get score a reservation at the world’s best restaurant. Walk through the restaurant, past the Elephant Bar into my favorite room at the NoMad: the two-level Library. Reserved for hotel guests after 4 pm, it looks like a classic, university reading room, with custom-made furnishing, and serves coffee, wine, cocktails and finger foods.

Eco and dog-friendly, The Crosby Street Hotel is an eclectic mix of brightly colored furniture and contemporary art. You’ll see dogs in the halls and puppy art on the walls. On a recent visit, The Crosby Bar, the hotel’s restaurant, was buzzing with energy and packed with locals. This is the perfect location for couples who love SoHo’s trendy boutiques and eateries.

Once you come back from a busy day and go upstairs, the room feels like a tranquil sanctuary. Both rooms and suites come with high, floor-to-ceiling windows with spectacular downtown views.

The sculpture garden is a relaxing outdoor courtyard during the day that lights up at night. The adjacent Drawing Room is open 24 hours a day and for guests only. Mix yourself a drink from the honesty bar and relax.

All of the art throughout the hotel is individually selected by owner Kit Kemp. Book a tour of the hotel’s collection, including Fernando Botero’s iconic 12-foot cat sculpture, before heading over to the Judd Foundation on neighboring Spring Street.

Old-world romance reigns supreme at The Plaza, which sits on the edge of Central Park at Fifth Avenue. This iconic hotel has welcomed guests from around the world to enjoy its “magic at the castle” for over a hundred years.. The entrance is painted in golds, blacks, and whites.

The Plaza Hotel is large by any measure with 282 rooms, including 102 suites. Expect white-glove service that lives up to its reputation as one of the finest hotels; home to movie stars, diplomats, and the exceptionally wealthy. Looking for nightlife? The stylish Rose Club, which overlooks the Plaza’s grand Fifth Avenue lobby, is the best place to have a drink. There’s jazz every Wednesday night, a nod to the legendary Persian Room nightclub, which previously occupied the space and played host to the likes of Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Billie Holiday.

Located on the corner of the exclusive Gramercy Park (New York City’s only private park), this hotel has a long history of romance. When it opened back in 1925, it was a hot spot for celebrities—and not much has changed since. Humphrey Bogart got married here, Babe Ruth used to drink here, and JFK once lived at this famous address.

In 2003, Ian Schrager and artist Julian Schnabel renovated the hotel with an entirely bold, new look that makes a statement. A gigantic, oversized crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling, over the hotel’s signature black and white checkered floor, and the furniture is bathed in lush, vivid crimson reds and velvet fabrics. While the ambiance is obviously contemporary, the glam look is meant to remind guests of the property’s “haute bohemian heritage” which has been updated for the next generation.

Perhaps Gramercy Park Hotel’s most romantic amenity is the access it gives guests to the private park—one reason why it’s such a popular wedding venue. Assuming you’re not coming here for a wedding, enjoy the park-like a real New Yorker: sit on a bench, enjoy your coffee and read the paper.

This hotel is also known for drawing a rock-‘n’-roll crowd that dates back to the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Madonna, and U2. Today, it maintains its edgy feel, hosting major acts at its legendary Rose Bar.