The 12 Most Romantic Big City Hotels to Surprise Your Partner

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Photo: Expedia

The crew behind The William Vale are masters of one of the most pivotal, and often overlooked, tenets of swooning accommodation — the fact that true romance begins long before a couple sets foot in their room. This boutique Brooklyn spot takes luxe, ultra-modern design and blends it seamlessly with Brooklyn’s ultra-trendy hipness, a recipe sure to light a fire in the heart of both lovestruck millennials and boomers refusing to let their age sink in. The lobby gives way to the wood-fired creations of chef Andrew Carmellini, who whets guests with Southern Italian–inspired cuisine before sending them to the 22nd floor for rooftop cocktails overlooking the New York skyline. The epic views continue once you finally make it back to your room, with floor-to-ceiling windows allowing enough urban glow that the light switch may just go unused.

Most romantic room to book: The Vale Garden Residence features a 1,630-square-foot patio that’s larger than the 1,320-square-foot penthouse suite. On the patio is a Jacuzzi that, while it isn’t heart-shaped, complements the accompanying city views.

Photo: Faena Hotel Miami Beach

The moment you step onto Faena’s red carpet and pass under gilded pillars into its mural-lined lobby, you might feel like you’ve wandered onto a Baz Luhrmann film set. In fact, the hotel’s lavish Art Deco-meets-Hollywood design comes courtesy of director and wife Catherine Martin, who infused the 1940s Saxony Hotel with the same glitz they brought to Moulin Rouge.

Everywhere you turn, there’s an extravagant flourish — from the lobby’s jaw-dropping murals to the 24-karat-gold woolly mammoth skeleton by Damien Hirst that peers out from a glass case by the beach. With Argentine asado feasts at Los Fuegos and upscale Asian fare at Pao on site, you’ll have little reason to leave this retreat.

Most romantic room to book: Oceanfront Corner Suite. This one-bedroom stunner has wrap-around floor-to-ceiling windows framing Miami’s turquoise Atlantic and glittering skyline, plus a private furnished balcony — all serviced by your very own Faena butler for a true movie-star experience.

Photo: Expedia

For couples who prefer intimacy and charm over high-rise glitz, this Edwardian boutique hotel in San Francisco’s posh Pacific Heights delivers romance by the bucketful. Hotel Drisco sits atop a hill in a residential mansion district, offering a quiet refuge with panoramic views over the city and bay. The century-old building has the feel of an elegant private manor — think crown moldings, antique furnishings, and a fireplace-accented lobby — yet it’s filled with modern luxuries after a recent top-to-bottom renovation.

Here, you’ll wake up to morning fog rolling past Victorian rooftops and perhaps take a stroll through Alta Plaza Park or the Presidio (the Golden Gate Bridge lookout is minutes away). In the evenings, the hotel invites guests to a complimentary wine-and-cheese reception, pouring Napa vintages and gourmet bites in the parlor that often suffice for dinner. (There’s also a lavish European-style breakfast each morning, on the house.) The idea is to live like local bon vivants: explore the neighborhood’s quaint cafes and Billionaires’ Row mansions by day, then curl up in luxury by night. And luxury abounds — from Bvlgari bath products to pillow menus and heated bathroom floors, Drisco pampers you at every turn. It’s no wonder this hideaway has hosted everyone from US presidents to movie stars over its 120-year history.

Most romantic room to book: Rector’s Repose Suite. Tucked on the top floor, this spacious suite is “imbued with historic romance,” featuring a canopy bed and even a deep limestone soaking tub right in the bedroom for intimate baths à deux. Throw open the vintage sash windows for a view of the twinkling city below, pour a couple of glasses from the evening wine hour, and you’ve got the perfect setup for a San Francisco love story.

Photo: The Langham, Chicago

The Langham occupies the first 13 floors of a 52-story riverfront tower designed by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Floor-to-ceiling windows in every room frame views of the Chicago River and skyline. Despite its contemporary polish, the hotel exudes warmth — you’re greeted in the lobby by a serene Jaume Plensa sculpture and staff who make you feel like VIPs.

Surprise your sweetheart with afternoon tea in the Langham’s lounge (a nod to the brand’s London heritage) or indulge in a couples’ treatment at the Chuan Spa, known for its Oriental hot-and-cold bathing rituals and Himalayan salt sauna. Stroll hand-in-hand along the nearby Riverwalk or pop over to Millennium Park to watch the city around “The Bean.” Back at the hotel, you can dine on seasonal American fare at Travelle restaurant, then sip nightcaps in the lounge while gazing at Marina City’s corncob towers across the water. This location puts you steps from Chicago’s architectural river cruises, Magnificent Mile shopping, and jazz clubs — but don’t be surprised if the Langham’s comforts tempt you to stay in.

Most romantic room to book: Infinity Suite. If you’re looking to truly wow your partner, the Langham’s two-bedroom Infinity Suite is an over-the-top aerie with views of Chicago’s skyline and Lake Michigan, plus a grand piano for serenading your beloved. For something cozier, a River View Junior Suite with club lounge access will still have you both feeling on top of the world.

Photo: Expedia

Set in a collection of 19th-century buildings — including a former Catholic church, rectory, convent, and schoolhouse — Hotel Peter & Paul might be New Orleans’ most atmospheric urban retreat. When you arrive in the artsy Faubourg Marigny neighborhood, just outside the French Quarter, you’ll sense this place is special.

Pastel-painted balconies and old oak trees line the street, and the hotel’s historic red-brick church towers above, now serving as an event space for concerts and gatherings. Inside, local owner Nathalie Jordi and design firm ASH NYC preserved original details like stained-glass windows and heart-of-pine wood floors while layering in antique chandeliers, canopy beds, and toile wallpapers. The result is a whimsical romance — each room is unique, filled with heirloom furniture and plush Italian linens, making you feel like you’re staying in a European hideaway (with a southern twist). Don’t miss sitting in the brick courtyard strung with fairy lights — it’s dreamy at night and perfect for a quiet tête-à-tête over a Sazerac. When you’re ready to explore, step outside and you’re a three-minute walk from Frenchmen Street’s famed jazz clubs and just a ten-minute stroll to the French Quarter’s historic streets and cafes.

Most romantic room to book: Rector’s Repose. This aptly named hideaway is perched in the former rectory’s attic, with exposed wood beams and an emphasis on historic romance throughout.

Photo: Aman Venice

The Aman Grand Canal is George Clooney’s venue of choice in Venice. In 2014, the Hollywood star wed Amal Clooney in this high-end property set inside a refined 16th-century palazzo, steps from the Grand Canal. Few spots remain in Venice where you can walk into the city’s storied past in the way you can here, and the experience starts before you even check in. The hotel is a 35-minute boat ride from Marco Polo Airport, giving you and your honey plenty of time to set the mood as you cruise through the heart of the city’s famed waterways. The lobby rooms are set with artistic works from Italian masters including Tiepolo and Sansovino, and the hotel’s concierge has the inside line on exclusive Venice excursions including market tours with the hotel’s chef and private box seats at the La Fenice Opera House. Your first stop, however, needs to be a picnic in the hotel garden, set just off the canal.

Most romantic room to book: The Sansovino Suite gives you the chance to warm up in front of an original 16th-century fireplace or gaze over the canal from the terrace, all while sipping a glass of fine Italian wine.

Photo: Shangri-La Hotel

You haven’t seen the Eiffel Tower until you’ve watched the sun fall over the top of it from the terrace at the Shangri-La Hotel in Paris. This luxurious retreat is characterized by the finest French design aesthetic, with large walk-in closets and furniture cut to remain as timelessly in-fashion as the hotel’s cocktail bar, Le Bar Botaniste, set within a historic salon. The hotel is the former residence of none other than Prince Roland Bonaparte, Napoleon’s grandnephew, so you might pick up a bit of emperor syndrome, especially while walking down the grand staircase into one of the most grandiose lobbies in the City of Light. The downside to all of this is that you may end up missing most of the city’s cultural hotspots for no better reason than an unwillingness to leave the hotel, but hey — there’s plenty of Nektar cocktails in the bar and the dining at the Shangri-La is as good as the views, so you’ll still experience that classic French hospitality.

Most romantic room to book: The Terrace Eiffel View Room nearly guarantees that your entire stay will be spent inside your suite, gazing out of the window in awe. For upwards of $4,700 per night, you can actually feel like you’re inside Instagram.

Photo: Expedia

If you’ve ever wanted to experience for yourself how well classical music from legends like Beethoven and Mozart complements Romanesque architecture, Prague’s Aria Hotel is the place to do it. The hotel’s architects, Rocco Magnoli and Lorenzo Carmellini, were awarded the project after building a reputation working with iconic fashion designer Gianni Versace. This, of course, means that you should show up expecting to be overcome with feelings of both envy and unadulterated desire, probably the best possible emotional state for a romantic getaway. Each room in the hotel is designed around a musical theme, with floors dedicated to different genres and rooms celebrating artists and composers across classical, jazz, opera, and contemporary music.

Most romantic room to book: The Mozart Luxury Suite is lined with pieces of art designed either because of Mozart’s work or that just seem to go incredibly well with it. The suite is equipped with unparalleled views of the Baroque Vrtba Garden, along with two bedrooms and a kitchenette, and plenty of the legendary composer’s work to fill the nearly 1,000-square-foot penthouse. There’s never been a better excuse to play “Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major” on repeat.

Photo: Expedia

If Paris is the suave gentleman who approaches you at the bar, glass of bubbling Brut in hand, Amsterdam is the smooth cat tucked in a corner table sipping a neat pour of whiskey and waiting for you to swivel your head in his direction. The dank and historic Netherlands capital isn’t often thought of as a romantic city, but boutique hotel Canal House will change your mind about that, putting you right in the heart of the Jordaan District’s action. Maybe it’s the city’s dark facade or the fading haze from the “coffeeshop” down the street, but peering out the window of a hotel room as canal boats pass by on the waters below sure seems to set the mood for a night in. Rooms are decorated primarily in purples and blacks and room service will happily deliver Champagne. Once you do make it out of the room, plan your bike excursion through the city over a drink in the hotel garden.

Most romantic room to book: The Best Room is all about being what it so boastfully claims to be. You’ll feel like you’re chilling with Prince as you lounge on the purple couch or sip bubbly in the clawfoot tub.

Photo: Expedia

The Peninsula is located riverside in Bangkok’s Khlong Ton Sai district, a vibrant part of the city bustling with vendors, shops, and trendy bars along the water. The spa, so extensive that it necessitates its own building, spruces up the Thai massage with notes of European and ayurvedic styles. The hotel’s casual pool scene is the best place to relax over a cocktail before dinner at the adjacent River Cafe & Terrace, where ferries and commercial boats pass by on the bustling Chao Phraya River. The hotel offers a free ferry for guests to the river’s east bank, where you can easily walk to dining and nightlife in the equally popping Bang Rak neighborhood.

Most romantic room to book: Have a look at the Grand Balcony Room in the tower, overlooking the “River of Kings” down below. Sipping wine on your private balcony, with Bangkok’s sprawling cityscape on full display behind the river, is among the world’s most stunning views — just be sure your room is on the east side of the building.

Photo: Park Hotel Tokyo

For jaw-dropping skyline views sure to make your partner swoon, Tokyo’s Park Hotel is the spot. Filling the top 10 floors of the 34-story Shiodome Media Tower, this luxury high-rise is vintage Japanese in design, aesthetic, and service. The 10-story atrium opens up the property and casts aside any feeling of entrapment, and the hotel has multiple art galleries open for browsing. Surprise your honey with a skin treatment from the in-house THANN Sanctuary, then stroll hand-in-hand through the B2F Elevator Hall, which Japanese artist OZ-Yamaguchi Keisuke has elegantly painted into an “interstitial space” between everyday life and an escape from reality. The hotel promises that this exhibit “leads all guests to once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” so you have a head start on making this a trip to remember.

Most romantic room to book: To help you set the mood, all rooms on the artist floor are stamped by the work of a local artist in residence. Built on the mantra “Infinite time and space amid cognizant Japanese beauty,” each room is designed as an actual work of art itself, and you’ll find zen-inspired paintings covering the walls.

Photo: Expedia

Moroccan luxury hotels are renowned for their opulence, bright colors, and blend of both Mediterranean and Middle Eastern vibes. La Sultana in Marrakech doesn’t spare a bit of any of this. This five-star property in the medina is the kind of place you bring your partner to get lost in sumptuous abundance, surrounded by blues and greens. Sip Moroccan mint tea by the pool, then head in for the Hammam where you’ll soak in a Turkish bath before being treated to the hotel’s signature massage. The hotel also offers the uniquely romantic experience of desert dining in a setting as au naturale as it gets — they’ll be wowed with fine wines and Mediterranean cuisine on dining furniture hand-carved in the sand.

Most romantic room to book: The Exclusive Suite has separate his and hers showers along with a cozy fireplace and private terrace overlooking the Riad Bahia. As a private apartment, there’s plenty of space to lounge and relax after your Hammam.