The Most Romantic Getaways in New England
These inns and hotels have all the cozy vibes couples need to lean into love and romance.
By Bill Scheller|Oct 12 2023|
Because the Weekapaug Inn had been cared for by one family for so long, the charming lobby still has many of the original furnishings and antiques.
Photo Credit: Aimee TuckerWhat makes a New England getaway romantic? Each of us has our own answers, but there are a few constants that go into the recipe when you’re choosing an inn or hotel for a romantic stay. A fireplace would be nice. So would candlelight dinners right on the premises. Adults only? Always a plus. As for location, New England is blessed with country inns, beachside retreats, grand estates in the mountains, and even intimate hotels in big-city destinations.
The Most Romantic Getaways in New England
Rabbit Hill Inn | Waterford, Vermont
One Vermont hideaway that ticks all the boxes is the Rabbit Hill Inn, tucked into the charm-filled village of Waterford near the banks of the Upper Connecticut River. Each of the 19 rooms and suites has its own special romantic character (we like the rustic Cedar Glen room, with its massive, rough-hewn four-poster bed); most have gas fireplaces, and several feature White Mountain views from private balconies. Dine on site at 24 Carrot, or enjoy a light bite at the pub. Both—and the entire inn—are just for adults.
Stone Hill Inn | Stowe, Vermont
Stowe’s Stone Hill Inn offers the luxury of seclusion in one of Vermont’s most popular resort towns. Set within nine manicured acres, the inn’s nine rooms offer fireplaces in bedrooms and baths, along with Jacuzzi tubs for two and private access to the gardens. It’s even possible to book an in-room couples massage. Rates include a sumptuous three-course breakfast; later in the day, enjoy Vermont cheeses and charcuterie, wine, and local artisan beers on tap. And it’s all couples only.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Notchland Inn
Notchland Inn | Hart’s Location, New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s White Mountains are the backdrop for the Notchland Inn, an 1860s mansion with a welcoming parlor, designed by Arts and Crafts master Gustav Stickley. Set on 100 acres along the Saco River in the tiny settlement of Hart’s Location, the romantic inn features wood-burning fireplaces in all rooms and suites. For added seclusion, choose one of two cottages. Breakfast is included; a four-course dinner is a wise guest option, given the vast array of appetite-building outdoor activities in the area.
Sugar Hill Inn | Sugar Hill, New Hampshire
Sugar Hill Inn, in the White Mountains town of the same name, began modestly as a 1789 farmhouse. Later additions to the age-14-and-over property made room for gas fireplaces, big whirlpool tubs, rooms with spectacular views, and—in some accommodations—a private deck overlooking perennial gardens. Full breakfasts and white-tablecloth dining focus on local produce and cheeses, and there’s a cozy tavern with a blazing hearth. Sore after hiking the Presidential Range? Book a massage, right in your room.
Pentagöet Inn | Castine, Maine
Not all of northern New England’s romantic lodgings are out in the woods. Just two blocks from the harbor in Castine, Maine, small coastal town charm is the special ingredient in a getaway at the Pentagöet Inn. This turreted Queen Anne, built as a summer hotel in 1894 harbors cozy, antique-filled rooms, as does its century-older next-door annex. Maine seafood and produce are foundations of the dinner menu. Mister’s Pub is the spot for small plates and libations, and there’s jazz on the porch on summer Tuesdays.
Black Point Inn | Prout’s Neck, Maine
Artist Winslow Homer’s beloved Prout’s Neck is home to the rambling, shingle-style Black Point Inn, a nearly 150-year-old resort where more than two dozen rooms and suites offer some of Maine’s finest ocean-view accommodations. Ramble along three miles of sandy beach, take a dip in the geothermally heated pool, or wander off by bike or kayak. Dine indoors or out at the Chart Room, where there’s always a freshly caught seafood special.
The Lenox | Back Bay, Boston, Massachusetts
Hotels large and small have been built in Boston in recent years, but none have quite the cachet of The Lenox, which calls itself the city’s original “boutique” hotel. No need for the trendy appellation—this is a hotel that does a fine turn as a smart urban pied-à-terre, with an extra dollop of romance. The star accommodations at the Lenox are the Executive Fireplace Rooms, where a wood-burning hearth and Back Bay views create the perfect romantic Boston retreat. Dine downstairs at City Table … or have dinner sent up to enjoy fireside.
Winvian Farm | Litchfield, Connecticut
Winvian Farm in Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills might be the last word in romantic privacy, New England style. Eighteen distinctive, architect-designed cottages are spaced discretely apart, and these themed refuges offer amenities like fireplaces, wet bars, waterfall showers, and … well, how to describe a “cottage” with a restored helicopter inside? There’s a luxurious on-site spa and a dining room that draws not only on local suppliers but Winvian’s own gardens.
Mayflower Inn & Spa | Washington, Connecticut
Three stand-alone cottage accommodations are also among the posh options on offer at Mayflower Inn & Spa in Washington, Connecticut. Suites range up to 1,200 square feet; several have gas fireplaces and private balconies. Pampering awaits at The Well (as in “wellness”), where spa treatments, skin care, fitness classes, and outdoor adventures populate an expansive service menu. Opt for health-centered fare here, or enjoy dinner with a New England accent at the restaurant or pub.
Castle Hill Inn | Newport, Rhode Island
Castle Hill Inn, a long-time favorite for couples seeking romance, is set above a half-mile of coastline in Newport, Rhode Island. The choice here is between the airy, private accommodations in beach cottages, situated right along the sands, or the seven spacious rooms and suites in the sprawling Queen Anne mansion. A gorgeous bi-level turret suite is the ultimate splurge, but gas fireplaces, rich wood paneling, and sweeping sea views make all of the mansion rooms enchanting. Celebrating an anniversary? A six-course dinner menu is served indoors or al fresco.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Weekapaug Inn
Weekapaug Inn | Westerly, Rhode Island
Down in the Ocean State’s southwestern corner, the Weekapaug Inn occupies an exquisitely reinvented 1899 property on a protected Westerly cove. Accommodations range from rooms in the rambling, Shingle Style main building to the ultimate in privacy: carriage house suites with outdoor soaking tubs and kitchen/dining areas or grand, 1,800-square-foot suites with a kitchen, a gas-fireplaced den, and water views in all directions. Why would you cook, though, when there’s a farm-to-table restaurant on the premises?
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