The 10 most romantic hotels in Europe
We love hotels, and as in previous years, we spent over 100 nights in hotels last year. Our passion for fine accommodation is not limited to luxury hotels, but extends to owner-operated boutique hotels, because infrastructure is only one of our rating criteria. We give equal weighting to the aspects of ambience, authenticity, location, room quality, culinary culture, and service. Today, in time for Valentine's Day, we present you with 10 romantic hotels that made a lasting impression on us – unique places for a romantic getaways, for pledging your love, or perhaps for making up and renewing your vows. So spread your wings and fly away to cloud 9, and it does not even have to be Valentine's Day.
Tip no. 1: Villa Honegg, Ennetbürgen
Watching the sunset from the infinity pool of Villa Honegg is an unforgettable experience. From the pool, you overlook Lake Lucerne and mountains all the way to the horizon. A great place to catch your breath and find time just for the two of you.
Tip no. 2: Giardino Mountain, St. Moritz
"Un po' die più" reads the claim of Giardino Group, and this hotel of theirs certainly goes the extra mile in terms of ambience, service, cosiness, and love of detail. It is perfectly plausible why the Giardino Mountain hotel is the up-and-coming star in Engadin hospitality, because it is such a wonderful place for getting back in shape.
Tip no. 3: Le Grand Bellevue, Gstaad
Dating back to 1912, this "grande dame" has been smartly upgraded to face the future, a particularly fine example of turning a musty vintage venue into a state-of-the-art fairy tale palace. Le Grand Bellevue is an easy going hotel that is perfect for a romantic retreat and for just having a great time! The lobby is a showpiece proving that colourful design and tradition are in no way mutually exclusive.
Tip no. 4: Schlüssel, Beckenried
The Schüssel boutique hotel high above Lake Lucerne is a romantic hideaway featuring the luxury amenities of our day and age: authenticity instead of artifice, environmentally friendly rather than exploitative tourism, outdoor experience rather than glitzy jet-set extravaganzas.
Tip no. 5: La Maison Favart, Paris
La Maison Favart is just like a meringue – fluffy and pastel-coloured but not too sweet. The rooms are decorated with a feminine touch, dominated by hues of grey, pistachio green, and old rose. A love for detail manifests itself everywhere you look, from the well-stocked library, to the antique suitcases in the lobby, and all the way to the creative breakfast menu. Perfect for the newly enamoured or those who want to freshen up their love.
Tip no. 6: Pavillon de la Reine, Paris
Fringed by 36 buildings, the "Place des Vosges" is a quiet oasis in the lively Le Marais quarter – and one of the most beautiful squares anywhere in Paris. An inconspicuous entrance leads from the square into the leafy inner courtyard. As soon as you see the façade overgrown with vines you will know that you have made the right choice, and the warm welcome at the receptions proves the point. The Pavillon de la Reine boutique hotel is genteel, opulent and très chic: a love nest extraordinaire.
Tip no. 7: Villa Cora, Florence
Princess for a while: In the imposing lobby – a hall of mirrors in the style of Louis XV – and the grand rooms, history becomes almost palpable at Villa Cora, although of course you have all the benefits of high-tech amenities.
Tip no. 8: Ca Maria Adele, Venice
An intimate gem – sensuous, playful, and eccentric. An accomplished symbiosis of a Venetian and a Moorish city palace. The Ca Maria Adele is a small-but-beautiful adults only hotel in a prime location, just one vaporetto stop from St. Mark's Square and a three-minute walk from the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
Tip no. 9: J.K. Place Roma, Rome
Not just the rooms at J.K. Place Roma are vast by Roman standards, but even the lift is big enough to accommodate a comfortable couch. In fact, its size would easily qualify it as a room of the "Standard" category. But even so, it is still nicer to check into one of the 30 rooms with premium fit-out standard and oversized walk-in showers. Most of the rooms come with huge, cosy four-poster beds – a trademark for the small-is-beautiful hotel group J.K. Places.
Tip no. 10: Villino, Lindau
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There is a touch of endless holidays and Tuscany in the air. Painted a sunflower yellow in the style of an Italian country cottage, the mansion is snugly tucked into a grove of tall old-growth firs and cypresses. Proprietors Sonja and Reiner Fischer have created a Mediterranean gem on the Hoyerberg hilltop high above Lake Constance. The Villino is definitely a romantic retreat with gourmet kitchen.
Ready for more? We have compiled 328 hotel and restaurant recommendations across Europe for you – each one of them tested in person, on location.
If you hate gambling when picking a room or having it picked for you by the hotel, get the number of the finest room with the most scenic view from our website, or take advantage of the option to let the Pillow & Pepper Concierge make your reservation for the most coveted room.
We wish you much excitement planning your next trip and yet more pleasure on the road!