The 10 Most Romantic Cities in the U.S.

Looking for the perfect American city to date it up with your beloved this Valentine’s Day?

Whether it’s a date weekend with somebody you’ve just fallen head over heels for or an anniversary romantic getaway with the love of your life, here are some choice options in all corners of the country. Without further ado, let’s explore some the most romantic cities in the U.S.

10. Savannah, Georgia

Deep history, ornate architecture, and subtropical luxuriance help define the sultry riverfront city of Savannah. From carriage rides to sunset riverboat cruises, it certainly isn’t hard to arrange the perfect itinerary with your main squeeze in the Hostess City of the South.

AAA Diamond Recommendation: With its languid glamour and balcony perches, the historic Marshall House is a great place for a couple’s stay in Savannah.

9. Chicago, Illinois

The Midwest’s greatest metropolis is famously unpretentious, but also underrated for romance. Outstanding music festivals, a sensational Lake Michigan waterfront, and world-class museums, theaters, and gardens—not to mention such soul-nourishing fare as deep-dish pizza and decked-out dogs—make Chi-Town an awesome choice for a sweethearts’ idyll.

AAA Diamond Recommendation: The luxury riverside hotel of The Langham (which enjoys a AAA Four Diamond designation) has everything you need for a romantic escape in the Windy City, from its exquisite Chuan Spa to the private haven of your guest room, featuring granite, travertine, and marble elements, a rainfall shower, and a soaking tub.

8. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The City of Brotherly Love also knows a thing or two about romantic love. You’ve got the Instagram-ready LOVE sculpture in LOVE Park to kick things off, the AMOR sculpture in Sister Cities Park to follow it up with, and then museum-hopping and side-by-side walks through Longwood Gardens to attend to.

AAA Diamond Recommendation: You likely won’t find a more romantic dining room than the intimate and elegant one at Vetri, the seasonal menu and note-perfect ambience of which earned this Center City establishment a AAA Five Diamond designation.

7. Santa Fe, New Mexico

The ancient city of Santa Fe—and not many American cities can really claim to be “ancient”—seduces its lovers with high-desert charm and scenery. Adobe sightseeing, mountain-and-desert daytrips, fantastic art everywhere, and Southwestern cuisine give you and that flame of yours rich pickings.

AAA Diamond Recommendation: For a luxurious place to snuggle up in New Mexico’s capital, look no further than La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa, a AAA Four Diamond hotel that offers gourmet on-site dining, couples massages in the world-class Spa Sage, and casita-type lodging overflowing with artwork.

6. New Orleans, Louisiana

When it comes to culture and atmosphere, few American cities can compete with the Big Easy. Whether you’re going full-bore tourist on Bourbon Street, smooching under the Spanish moss, or seeking out hole-in-the-wall jazz clubs and eateries, the sensuality of New Orleans is irresistible.

AAA Diamond Recommendation: The boutique Troubadour—a AAA Three Diamond hotel—offers one of the great date-night perches in New Orleans from its rooftop bar, which delivers a knockout view of the city.

5. San Francisco, California

One of the loveliest cities in America, San Francisco’s hilly vistas, cable cars, vibrant culture, and maritime character give the smitten a wonderful West Coast playground. The Golden Gate Bridge at the magic hour downright exudes romance.

AAA Diamond Recommendation: The historic AAA Four Diamond Fairmont is a grand Nob Hill hotel with great ambience, an awesome location, and tiki delights awaiting in the Tonga Room.

4. Boston, Massachusetts

Rated by Instacart’s “Romance Index” as the most romantic city in the country in both 2017 and 2018—hard data and all, you know—Boston treats couples to some of America’s most historic and beautiful architecture and plenty of gorgeous greenspaces. From ambles in Boston Common and on cobblestone streets to a serenade by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the City on a Hill comes chockablock with date destinations—and if the two of you happen to be sports fans, well, there’s no better getaway!

AAA Diamond Recommendation: For a memorable dining experience with that special somebody, visit the modern farmhouse ambiance of Menton. This AAA Five Diamond fine-dining restaurant is enhanced with fresh florals and expansive windows overlooking the brick buildings of Fort Point.

3. Jackson, Wyoming

With the Teton peaks providing a dreamy mountain-front backdrop, a vibe that’s both Old West and artsy, and that celebrated arch of elk antlers in the town square to smooch under, Jackson serves as a year-round lovebird retreat. In winter, consider a sleigh ride among the wapiti at the National Elk Refuge for a one-of-a-kind date.

AAA Diamond Recommendation: Call the Four Diamond Hotel Jackson your romantic headquarters in the shadow of the Teton Range: Some guest rooms boast soaking tubs and balconies, while the rooftop hot tub delivers sensational views.

2. Honolulu, Hawai‘i

Perfect tropical weather, palm-tree sunsets, one of the world’s most famous urban beachfronts: The capital city of Hawai‘i is a place to swoon over while also, of course, swooning over each other. You might just hear Elvis’ voice in your ears as you soak up the shores of Waikiki.

AAA Diamond Recommendation: The sumptuous AAA Four Diamond Kahala Hotel & Resort puts you just a coconut’s toss from Waikiki Beach and puts at the disposal of you and your sweethearts an honest-to-goodness dolphin lagoon—hard to beat!

1. New York City, New York

An obvious and inevitable choice, the Big Apple is a quintessential backdrop for amore. Just look at all the iconic romantic movies—from Moonstruck to When Harry Met Sally…—set here. From hand-in-hand go-rounds on Central Park’s Wollman Rink and strolls around Lincoln Center’s Revson Fountain to sunset rides on the Staten Island Ferry, New York City makes any couple feel like they’re the stars of their own fairytale love story.  

AAA Diamond Recommendation: NYC claims an abundance of romantic restaurants, but one of the champs is One if by Land, Two if by Sea in the West Village. This beautiful Four Diamond restaurant calls Aaron Burr’s 18th-century carriage house home, and its candlelit dinners are absolutely classic foundations for a Big Apple date night.

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—Written by AAA Southern California Staff.

—This article was originally published on Feb. 3, 2020.

—Top photo: Tamani Chithambo/peopleimages.com/AdobeStock