10 Insanely Romantic Hotels in New York City

Although it doesn’t have the pop culture legacy of some of the other hotels on this list, The Nomad is as romantic as they come. Inspired by the Parisian apartment French designer Jacques Garcia grew up in, the 1903 Beaux Arts gem is a plush retreat complete with freestanding claw-foot tubs, antique Persian rugs, and leather headboards that complement the mahogany writing desks in each of the 168 rooms. The moody bi-level library, cocktail bar, and restaurant, helmed by Daniel Humm and Will Guidara, are equally elegant in both setting and menu; don't miss the foie gras and truffle–stuffed roast chicken for two.

It makes sense that a hotel owned by actor Robert DeNiro feels like a living movie set. Located on a cobblestone street in Tribeca, arguably one of New York’s most picturesque neighborhoods, The Greenwich combines stylish midcentury design with accessories that look like they were sourced from flea markets around the world, including oriental rugs and Moroccan tiles in the 88 individually decorated guest rooms and leather club chairs and marble-topped bistro tables in the lobby. With its cozy fireplace, the eclectic drawing room sets the scene for an amorous tête-à-tête, though the charming courtyard and rooftop pool and spa are worthy runners up.

For sheer history alone, few hotels can compete with the romantic star power of The Plaza—just ask anyone who’s seen The Way We Were. A stay in the iconic Beaux Arts landmark at the corner of Central Park South and Fifth Avenue is the ultimate New York experience thanks to 24-karat gold–plated faucets, French-style furnishings, and crystal chandeliers in the 282 period-appropriate rooms. You’d be forgiven for holing up in your love nest for the length of your stay, but do venture out. The Palm Court’s over-the-top garden décor makes it a must-see for afternoon tea; those looking for something stiffer can enjoy a cocktail with a side of live jazz in the Rose Club.

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If these walls could talk, they’d reveal tales of Hollywood royalty (Humphrey Bogart married his first wife on the rooftop) and political intrigue (John F. Kennedy, lived here for a time). The 1925 icon was restored to its former glory by Ian Schrager and Julian Schnabel back in 2006, and Gramercy Park Hotel has since become a magnate for stylish couples with a discerning eye—think sumptuous velvet and Dutch still life hues in the 185 guest rooms, while artwork by Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat line the walls in the checkerboard-floor lobby. With its imposing fireplace and jewel-hued walls, the Rose Bar sets the scene for candlelit conversations, but the real draw for guests is a key that gains you exclusive access to the private grounds of Gramercy Park, just steps away.

British designer Kit Kemp’s richly patterned jewel box is a plush landing pad for Soho couples looking for a place to declare their love. The 86 individually appointed rooms at Crosby Street Hotel, housed in an 11-story brownstone, are playful yet sophisticated, with upholstered headboards and fabric-clad walls in vibrant hues, all backlit by the brilliant sunlight that streams in from floor-to-ceiling factory-style windows. Though there’s a restaurant and sculpture garden tucked away in the heart of the property, guests will likely take to the surrounding streets: for breakfast croissants at Balthazar or a shopping spree at Bloomingdales, around the corner.

If a Parisian getaway was on the agenda but proved out of reach, you’ll find a worthy alternative in The Lowell, a family-owned refuge nestled behind a restored Art Deco façade on New York’s tony Upper East Side. The 70 rooms exude old world European glamour with silk curtains, polished oak floors, canopy or four-poster beds, and marble baths; many also have wood-burning fireplaces, and the hallways that lead to them are embellished with French landscapes. Downstairs, afternoon tea in the Pembroke Room has all the elegance of an English high service, while parquet floors, sumptuous sofas, and elegant crown moldings set the scene for a dimly lit nightcap in the Club Room.

For an intimate hotel that feels more like a stay in a friend’s home downtown, consider The Marlton, in Greenwich Village. The hospitality begins in a toasty wood-paneled lounge lit by a fire, its leather and velvet sofas and marble-and-brass side tables beckoning guests to rendezvous. The scene is just as welcoming at Margaux, the on-site café outfitted in Argentinean tile, midcentury-inspired lighting, and perfectly dangling greenery. But it’s the rooms that really encourage displays of affection with herringbone floors, brass sconces, and faux-fur throws on the bed. Despite their snug proportions—or perhaps because of them—you may never leave.

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After a $500 million renovation that turned the former office building and writing haunt of Edgar Allen Poe into a 287-room hotel, The Beekman has become the Financial District’s buzziest new opening. Much of it has to do with the oft-Instagrammed Victorian atrium and skylight at the center of the hotel, as well as architect Martin Brudnizki’s idiosyncratic rooms (think foo dog lamps, leather headboards, custom armoires, and modern art) and public spaces. The dark wood-paneled lobby—and the wrought-iron backed landings above it—offer plenty of opportunities to steal away with your paramour. Of course, Keith McNally’s elaborately tiled French bistro Augustine proves that the way to any lover’s heart is most definitely through his stomach.

With its storied Fifth Avenue at Central Park address and enviable roster of celebrity clientele (everyone from Hollywood elite to foreign dignitaries like Prince Philip have stayed here), The Pierre is New York glamour at its best. A $100 million renovation of the historic 1930s property has restored public spaces thanks to the work of Alexandra Champalimaud, while 189 guest rooms maintain their stately grandeur, from the nail head trim on the headboards to the Turkish marble baths; elaborately patterned fabrics are the touch of new owners, the Indian hotel chain Taj. Feeling amorous? Order the fresh-shucked oysters downstairs at Two E bar, or hire the hotel’s Jaguar for a sunset spin around Manhattan.

If the High Line Hotel looks like a place where the lead couple in a Gothic drama sidle up for illicit moments away from prying eyes, that’s because the 1800s red-brick seminary’s interiors were revamped by former Hollywood set designers Roman & Williams. The 60-room boutique belies its hip Chelsea neighborhood with a studied collection of throwback antiques, from Tiffany lamps that echo its stained-glass windows to oriental rugs and vintage-inspired wallpapers. You can take your Intelligentsia coffee in your room or on one of the velvet settees in the lobby, or better still, under the gas lamps in the hotel’s Parisian-inspired courtyard.