9 Great Romantic Hotels In NYC That Are Sexy As Hell

How did we narrow the list of Romantic Hotels in NYC to just a handful? Well, obviously, this is nowhere near exhaustive. There are over 500 hotels in New York City.

And, of course, many, even the chain hotels, can be romantic by virtue of location, location, location.

It was tough. For this lineup, we left out a few Old World favorites, like St. Regis, The Taj Pierre, and The Plaza – all on Central Park South. Plus, The Carlyle (with its famous Bemelmans Bar), and The Surrey on the Upper East Side. All of those have offered gracious and elegant service for decades. Some, for over 100 years.

But the following, from a groovy hotel in New York’s downtown to boutiques in Times Square and Midtown have been personally scoped out by the Getaway Mavens. Each has that something extra – whether it’s a rooftop pool, a hidden garden patio, astounding art, or proximity to a Manhattan icon.

These elements, plus a standard of luxury beyond compare, place the following NYC Hotels in the Most Romantic category.

While you’re in the mood, check out these few dozen other Romantic Getaways in New York State.

Blue Bar in lobby of the Algonquin Hotel NYC

The Algonquin Hotel Times Square

How does the oldest continuously operating hotel in New York City the Algonquin Hotel Times Square make this “Most Romantic and Sexy” list? By virtue of a recent renovation that added the uber-cool Blue Bar, but kept the spirit of the high-jinx played by feisty members of the Algonquin Round Table – writers and actors who met there every day for lunch for ten years. One was the provocative Dorothy Parker who very famously wrote,

“I like to have a martini,
Two at the very most.
After three I’m under the table,
after four I’m under my host.”

Read our Algonquin Hotel Times Square review for all the details.

Empire State Building aglow as seen from Archer Hotel Guest Room 18th Floor

Archer Hotel

The Empire State Building seems within reach at the Archer Hotel – in NYC’s Garment District. That you can fall asleep to the sight of this illuminated icon from your cozy, art-filled guestroom window is romantic enough.

But add a rooftop bar lined with a row of chairs positioned for optimal views of the said building (not to mention some of the best craft cocktails in town), and a quick block’s walk to the spectacular Bryant Park, and you’ve got the recipe for an amorous overnight.

Check out Archer Hotel review for all the deets.

Bonsai restaurant at Concorde Hotel NY

Concorde Hotel New York

Midtown Manhattan is hardly known for its sexy lodgings, because most cater to the business traveler. But the Concorde Hotel New York has a couple of secret weapons that zing up the romance factor.

Number one – it is lovely, and the rooms, with floor-to-ceiling windows, are Zen tranquil. That’s one huge benefit in an area where car horns and construction machinery vie for decibel dominance. 

Number two – the backroom Bonsaii Restaurant is one of the prettiest dining spaces in NYC. Fringed with flowers and featuring a greenery wall, the enclosed patio is the perfect spot for a glass of wine, tapas, and a tete-a-tete.

Finally, number three – the service is so friendly, it challenges everything you believed about brusk New Yorkers. It’s the best reception to put you in a most romantic mood.

See our Concorde Hotel New York review for more.

Lobby at The Langham with Alex Katz mural behind reception

Langham Hotel

The Langham Hotel revealed its over-the-top hospitality chops in a moment of public panic. Prior to vaccines, and during the worst of the pandemic, the Langham lavished guests with balloons and champagne, along with masks and hand sanitizer.

Even now, the modern-luxe hotel, boasting a collection of Alex Katz artwork throughout, remains one of the most romantic lodgings in Manhattan. Especially because it houses the uber-dreamy, floral-forward, Michelin-starred, Ai Fiori Restaurant.

Get the full scoop on our Langham Hotel review.

Renovated guest room at Dream Midtown Hotel NYC

Dream Hotel Midtown

Dream Hotel Midtown is sexy by virtue of its eye-catching room decor. And, its three very distinct in-house bar scenes. There’s one above, one below, and one in the middle.

From your lofty perch on high, in the triple-decker PHD Rooftop Lounge, you can gaze down at Stephen Colbert’s Late Night Theater, while nibbling bar bites and swigging Manhattans.

Underground, in The Fishbowl, the action in the blue glow of an actual cylindrical fishbowl surrounds complimentary Skee Ball, bowling, and 80’s era video games.

Just off the lobby, find The Rickey – a classic bar for those who just want their drinks neat. Guest rooms up the romance ante, dressed in a funky-gorgeous 1920s meets 2020’s style.

Our Dream Hotel Midtown review covers all the info.

Knickerbocker hotel restored facade at night Times Square NYC

Knickerbocker Hotel, Times Square

Built as a celebrity hotel in the early 1900s, and closed shortly afterward due to naughty behavior, the Knickerbocker Hotel in Times Square shines once again. How did this previously dreary retail and apartment building become one of our choices for the Most Romantic Hotels in New York City?

The renovation of both the interior (modernist) and exterior (Beaux Arts red brick and terra cotta preserved façade) was masterful. The “Saints and Sinners Fitness Center” says everything about the in-house gym. But the pies de resistance is the St. Cloud Rooftop Bar – so close to the New Year’s Eve Ball, you can practically catch it as it drops.

If you’ve got the jack, you can rent out your very own intimate corner of the rooftop bar the night of December 31st. Private Sky Box, $4000 per person (minimum 6, maximum 20) includes appetizers, drinks, dedicated butler service, heaters, hand warmers, and party favors.

Read all about the Knickerbocker Hotel in our Times Square travel guide.

ModernHaus SoHo rooftop pool

ModernHaus SoHo – Romantic Hotel in Downtown NYC

ModernHaus SoHo fits a lot of romantic elements into a compact, stand-alone tower. Art-gallery-like public and private spaces? Check. Cool in-house bars and restaurants? Check. Walls of windows overlooking lower Manhattan and other views of the city? Check. Rooftop bar with swimming pool? Check.

That it’s located in one of the most charming, cobblestoned areas in NYC is just icing on the cake.

Learn all about it in our ModernHaus SoHo hotel review.

Conrad Hotel Lobby in Green NYC
Conrad Hotel Lobby in Green NYC

Conrad New York Downtown

You cannot deny the Conrad NY Downtown’s sex appeal the second you walk into the lobby. The enormous 100×80 foot blue and purple work of art by conceptual op-art genius, Sol LeWitt, titled Loopy Doopy, looms a full ten stories high.

It’s just one of over 2,000 works of art by contemporary favorites like Stella, Flavin, Koons, Schnabel, and others sprinkled throughout The Conrad’s 463 guest rooms and common areas.

At night, the soaring atrium is tinted in rotating shades that begin barely there and deepen as the minutes pass. Red then blue then purple then green, renders the Jetson’s-era lobby of curvy couches and orb lamps a fantasia of color, and one of the sexiest places on the planet – let alone NYC.

Read our Downtown NYC travel guide for all the best things to do near the Conrad Hotel Downtown.

WestHouse Hotel NYC

WestHouse New York

The WestHouse NYC demonstrates a keen attention to detail and anticipatory, customer-is-king service. The staff really want to make your stay as amazing as possible. Sincerely.  Entering WestHouse is like walking into Bruce Wayne’s mansion and having a bevy of Alfred’s and Alfreda’s at your service – and what could be more sexy than being spoiled rotten? Read our full review of WestHouse NYC here.

Sexy NYC Hotels On The Map

More Hotels We Love In NYC

Weekend Getaways In New York City

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Author

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  • Malerie Yolen-Cohen

    Malerie Yolen-Cohen is the Author of the cross-country travel guide, Stay On Route 6; Your Guide to All 3562 Miles of Transcontinental Route 6. She contributes frequently to Newsday, with credits in National Geographic Traveler, Ladies Home Journal, Yankee Magazine, Shape.com, Sierra Magazine, Porthole, Paddler, New England Boating, Huffington Post, and dozens of other publications. Malerie’s focus and specialty is Northeastern US, and she is constantly amazed by the caliber of restaurants and lodging in the unlikeliest places.