Romance means different things to different couples, but part of the beauty and wonder of California is its variety. So we think our Gurus really have come up with a perfectly romantic hotel to suit everyone on their list of the most romantic hotels in California. Love a luxury spa, a wine lodge, a desert escape or a beach haven? We've found all of these and more; all selected on their romantic credentials including four poster beds, jetted whirlpool tubs, candlelit fine-dining and private balconies or terraces with epic views. Browse through our list of the best romantic hotels in California and start to plan your getaway for two.
For a Once in A Lifetime Occasion
- If you’re looking for an unforgettable hotel experience just look at the photos of Sacred Sands. This two suite hotel is remarkably located close to the entrance of the Joshua Tree National Park, and is surrounded by nothing but spectacular desert. Both suites have outdoor baths, showers and day beds, so you can make the most of the views day and night. There’s no restaurant, but guests are treated to a full fridge on arrival. Magical.
- The Post Ranch Inn is an incredible getaway with equally magical views, but of the Pacific Ocean. Standing on the edge of a wooded cliff 1200 feet above the ocean, this collection 39 rooms and suites are spacious, and the kind of contemporary which really takes the location into account. Hot tubs come as standard with the views, and there are three infinity pools, two spas, a gym and an award-winning restaurant. And Big Sur is just around the corner.
For a Romantic Escape
- If you and your love appreciate five star luxury then the Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe will hopefully please you with its alpine opulence and incredible views of Lake Tahoe and the mountains around it. This is a big resort, ski-in and out in season, and complete with all the trimmings of spas, hot tubs, heated pools, fine dining restaurants and cosy bars. It’s spectacular out of season too.
- The Enchante Boutique Hotel is an exquisitely put together hotel in Palo Alto, carefully modelled on a French chateau. 19 luxurious rooms and suites make up the hotel, all decorated with antique chandeliers, fireplace and furnishings, and complete with beautiful marble bathrooms. There’s a French/American bistro and a library with a fireplace. The most romantic suites have stand-alone tubs, fireplaces and four-poster beds.
For Oceanside Romance
- On top of the sand dunes of the Marina State Beach north of Carmel, the Sanctuary Beach Resort has got to be one of the best located beach hotels in California. Partly because the beach is wild and rugged, and partly because you don’t have to share it with many people. The resort is beautiful too, with 60 simple, yet luxurious rooms, which make the most of the location by having huge windows and terraces. They’ll pack you a picnic for the beach, but the restaurant is extremely pleasant too. And there’s a spa and pool.
For Peace and Romance
- The Inn at Europa Village feels as European as its name, but the name comes from the three wineries directly surrounding it, one inspired by the wines of Italy, one France and one Spain. The inn itself feels Mediterranean, with exposed beams and arched pillars, wood furnishings and expansive terraces. The most romantic of the ten rooms have heart-shaped jetted tubs for two and a terrace with views of the vineyards.
- The Chateau at Lake La Quinta is like an oasis in the desert just outside Palm Springs, in that its 24 rooms and suites surround a beautiful palm-fringed lake. All of the 24 rooms and suites have lake views, and most of them have balconies or terraces over the lake too. They’re also all individually designed and decorated, but all feature fireplaces and custom made furnishings. There’s a fine dining restaurant and a pampering spa, and no children allowed.
- For extra privacy stay in one of 16 individual cottages at the Cottage Grove Inn, which is discreetly hidden in a green Calistoga setting. The design and decor are traditional, and all rooms have a fireplace, spa bath and a private terrace. They make a luxurious base for exploring the Napa Valley.
For Food and Romance
- Yountville’s Hotel Villagio is large, elegant, and perfectly positioned amongst some of the Napa’s most scenic wineries. There are 113 rooms and suites, with simple, luxurious interiors which include details like fireplaces, private balconies and free-standing bath tubs. As well as Yountville being know as a foodie favourite, this hotel has impressive cuisine credentials, with its three restaurants run by Michael Chiarello. And there’s an ESPA spa for afterwards.
- The River Terrace Inn is a stylish, contemporary hotel on a spacious plot of land on the Napa River. The inn has 114 rooms and suites — some of the suites are huge! And the number of rooms corresponds to the variety of facilities: there’s a 24hour gym, an impressive spa menu, bike hire, and a fancy restaurant to start with. And of course there’s plenty to do in the area. Romantics should book one of the luxury rooms for the river front terrace and jetted marble tub.
For Boutique Romance
- The Villa Royale is a collection of luxurious, artistically decorated villas just five minutes drive from downtown Palm Springs, but offering incredible views of the San Jacinto Mountains. There are 38 rooms and suites to choose from, and they come in all different shapes and sizes, plus a choice of three pools onsite. There’s also a romantically moody California restaurant. The impressive art collection and confident design choices make this hotel stand out for us, but also serve as a reminder of the glamorous Hollywood heyday of Palm Springs.
- The Landsby is a Scandinavian inspired boutique hotel in the wine country around Solvang, just north of Santa Barbara. The hotel’s 51 rooms and suites are light and spacious, and tastefully decorated in blonde woods and neutral colours. The courtyard cocktail bar is both romantic and relaxed, and the onsite restaurant is very popular.
- Perfectly positioned between the beauty and wilderness of Fitch Mountain and the Sonoma Hills, and downtown Healdsburg, the Harmon Guest House is a beautifully designed hotel with 39 rooms and suites. The architecturally impressive exterior hides a simpler interior, which nevertheless is beautifully designed with its simplicity. There’s a stylish rooftop bar and terrace, which helps up the romance factor, and a pool and restaurant.
A Desert Holiday for Two
- La Maison Hotel feels more Mediterranean than its Palm Springs location would normally allow for, and that’s part of the romance of it. There’s a courtyard with a pool, and surrounding that the 13 rooms and suites and rows of palm trees. Inside the rooms feature dark wood antiques, terracotta floors, and French windows, and there’s a chic alfresco bar and restaurant. This is an intimate hotel in a bustling spot, so a good compromise.
- Palm Springs' El Morocco Inn & Spa takes the theme from the name with its colourful Moroccan decor and riad-like arrangement around a central courtyard pool. There are only 13 rooms and suites, dressed with colourful tiles, white linen and canopy beds, and there’s a brilliant spa — again, a la Morocco, and a hot tub and fire pits for maximum romance.
Great Value Hotels for Couples
- Just back from the grassy banks of the Napa River, the Milliken Creek Inn is an intimate, adults only inn, with just 12 rooms and suites. The decor is traditional, but luxurious, there’s an impressive spa menu, and the riverside gardens are romantic of an evening, when they serve complimentary wine and cheese, and of a morning, when they serve a complimentary breakfast.
- Also in Napa, the Cedar Gables Inn is another small inn with a luxurious air. Housed in a beautiful 1890s Arts & Crafts mansion, there are nine elegant rooms to choose from, all decorated with period antiques, and all unique, giving the house the feeling of being a friend’s luxurious home. Guests are able to share the kitchen if they want to self cater. The suites are our most romantic pick — all have two-person whirlpool tubs.
California’s Romantic B&Bs
- As you might have noticed, our Gurus love a little old charmer, and the Garden Street Inn is another pick along these lines: a beautifully converted mansion in downtown San Luis Obispo, with just 13 rooms and suites. They love the light-filled rooms and high ceilings, the antiques and patterned wallpaper, and the beautiful breakfast room, library, and romantic terrace.
- The Bergson is a Calistoga B&B with a Cape Cod feel with its gabled roof and white facade. Inside there are 21 rooms and suites, all carefully decorated with a mix of antiques and contemporary details, to offer a cosy feel — the most romantic have four-poster beds. Breakfast is served outside on the gloriously sunny terrace when possible.
- The Inn on Summerhill is a charming B&B by the beach in Santa Barbara, with just 16 rooms and suites, all complete with bespoke furniture and architecture. The feeling is cosy, and fireplaces and four-poster beds do a lot to encourage that. There’s no restaurant, but breakfast is included, and they offer wine and appetisers of an afternoon.
Still not sure where to book?
