Romantic Getaways in New Jersey: 8 Hideaways for Couples in the Garden State

Design-centric Bungalow Hotel is a chic and modern boutique hideaway a block from the pier. It’s close enough to walk to all the delicious dining options, but on a quieter stretch for maintained privacy. Rooms feel like quirky city lofts with all white bedding and furnishings and bright pops of contemporary art. Suites add lipstick red couches and fireplaces to the mix, perfect for a cozy, cold weather beach getaway. Stay in to experience Bungalounge, the hotel’s guest lounge and rotating art gallery with live music and craft cocktails.

The art-filled The MC, Autograph Collection is set right in the middle of the action and feels like an extension of the museum, featuring show-stopping canvases from local painters such as Siona Benjamin-Kruge and Ryan Chin, among others. The hotel is stocked with artisanal products made nearby, including beer from Montclair Brewery, fresh elixirs from Juice Basin, and handmade bath products from Montclair favorite Dolly Moo.

After a busy day in town, retreat to Allegory (the hotel’s restaurant) for globally-inspired New American cuisine and a shared bites menu that changes along with the in-season ingredients. Brunch is especially memorable, with weekend delights cut as homemade blueberry acai bowls, rich brioche french toast, and a hold-no-stops smoked pork belly fried egg sandwich. Ascend to the ninth-floor rooftop where you can gaze at sweeping views of the sparkling Manhattan skyline to the east while cozied up around a fire pit sipping craft cocktails at Alto.

Just across the street is The Reeds at Shelter Haven, an upscale waterfront retreat nestled on the bay. Rooms are reminiscent of an elegant beach home with white oak floors, a coastal sea palette, and expansive picture windows facing towards the town, over the ocean, or directly out at the calm bay. All have balconies, so you can sip your morning coffee while the sun comes up or share a toast while the sun sets into a cotton candy sky in front of you.

Spend some time together enjoying the two-story, luxury Salt Spa with couples’ massages, a Himalayan salt and light lounge, flotation therapy, or, most uniquely, a private session just for the two of you in the steam-filled marble Turkish bath.

After you’ve detoxed, retreat to the roof deck of the hotel’s Water Star Grille for a prime cocktail sun downer setting. Then head inside to cuddle by the fireplace at the Sax at the Reeds restaurant.

To immerse yourself in turn-of-the-century elegance, spend the night at the circa 1860s The Southern Mansion. The luxurious B&B offers every comfort for couples, including fireplaces, four-poster beds, and claw-footed tubs in addition to opulently carved woodwork and lush fabrics.

The decadent breakfast menu is included in your stay, so the two of you can start your day with fluffy pancakes filled with Jersey fresh blueberries or poached eggs with a homemade sun-dried tomato sauce, gratis, plus fresh baked pastries, juice, and coffee.

You may need to head back to the comfy beds after that; better yet, go lay on the golden Cape May beach – the Mansion will give you chairs and towels.

Not a beach day? Southern Mansion even has its own Willow Creek winery nearby, with tastings, 50 acres of vines, and a villa tasting room for sipping varietals such as pinot noir, cabernet franc, and sauvignon blanc.

On the grounds of the sculpture park, you’ll also spot gentle peacocks strolling and posing for photos. Their namesake inn is where to spend the night after your art experience.

The luxe 19th-century Peacock Inn offers 16 posh modern rooms in a 19^th-century mansion. High end touches include heated marble bathroom floors, rain head showers, and decadently thick down comforters. Suites also have whirlpool tubs for two and king size beds.

There’s no need to leave the serene property for dinner; the Perch at Peacock serves seasonal local produce and fish in elegant surroundings, with dishes such as Cape May Salt Oysters and New Jersey Line Caught Black Bass alongside pickled heirloom spring onions and charred fairy tale eggplant. Not full yet? There’s also a decadent high tea and brunch on offer in the charming inn.

After the sun sets, head to the nearby Hilton Short Hills where you can watch the twinkling lights of Manhattan from the rooftop bar while you sip some bubbly. Then head indoors to the sybaritic spa where you take a dip in the indoor or outdoor (summer only) pools.

In warm weather, volley on the hotel’s tennis courts, too. Then relax in the crisply decorated rooms that combine plush beds with sleek furnishings for a modern stay.

Grand Cascades Lodge, a contemporary resort property, excels at using natural materials to create luxurious indoor spaces that give you a continued sense of the natural world, even when you’re safely tucked inside.

Many rooms sport indoor fireplaces, too, plus gourmet kitchens, so you’ll truly never want to leave your private space. Suites even have gas fireplaces on outdoor decks for a private glamping experience with all the comforts of a well-appointed hotel.

It’s easy to stay in your room, but make a plan to pull yourself out of your nest for two to experience Latour Restaurant, considered by many to be the best restaurant in the entire state. Prix fix dinners include local produce and artisan makers, plus indulgent ingredients from wagyu beef to Ossetra caviar. The 1-acre wine cellar is truly a treat for oenophiles, with 6,000 labels of the world’s finest vintages and the Wine Spectator Grand Award for every year it’s been open (yup, one of the best wine cellars in the country is right in rural New Jersey).

Another Delaware River Town with great appeal for couples is quaint Lambertville, the setting for a relaxing stay at historic Lambertville House. The 26 rooms are all uniquely decorated and include pampering amenities such as four-poster beds, gas fireplaces, and jetted tubs for two where you can enjoy a bubble bath with glasses of bubbly.

The inn is well-known for its exceptional on-site restaurant, ideal for a romantic dinner “in” after outdoor explorations. Extend your weekend stay to a Monday, and you can try the “Locals Love” prix fix menu that offers three courses of delights for a very affordable price. Of course, any day is a good day to trythe Mediterranean-inspired dishes including grilled artichokes, braised octopus, and burrata-filled ravioli.