Whatever your idea of a romantic retreat is, Romantic Getaways in California surpasses it. This includes beachside resorts, wine country bed and breakfasts, chic downtown hotels, and $2,000-per-night ryokans on the Malibu cliffs. Beyond the fact that California is huge, has some of the top hotels in the nation, and, let’s face it, sunsets are prettier on the West Coast, the valid reason we choose it for weekend getaways is that it does romance in that carefree, distinctly Californian style. All year long, these are the most excellent spots to sneak away to, regardless of whether you live in the state or are considering flying in.
The Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur is the Highway 1 Road-Trip Stop.
Readers’ Choice Awards for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 $$$ | GOLD LIST 2022, 2025
A nineteenth-century homestead that offers romantic ocean views and elevated, peaceful spaces, the iconic Post Ranch Inn clings to the Big Sur cliffs 1,200 feet above the Pacific. Slate, marble, and wood elements blend in with the dramatic natural setting rather than overpower it, and the floor-to-ceiling glass walls allow guests to spend hours admiring it all. With 39 rooms, including many treehouses and two private homes for rent, it’s easy to forget there are other visitors. Instead, you may concentrate on the company you came with.
Enjoy long meals while perusing the hyperlocal menu at Sierra Mar restaurant (they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with daily prix-fixes and an extensive wine list), and take advantage of the spa (or even better, let them come to you for a couples massage in your room). Throughout the day, you can take a free Lexus for a drive down the Pacific Coast Highway or go hiking, probably alone.
It takes three hours to get there by automobile from San Francisco.
Treat yourself to the Post House private home, which has vintage details (such as the original fireplace used by the property’s original owners, the Post Family), a private outdoor hot tub, and a patio that faces away from the rest of the Inn, giving you the impression that the grounds are all yours. This is the perfect way to truly enjoy the views.
Timber Cove, Sonoma: A Modern Take on a Rustic Retreat
The 2017 Readers’ Choice Awards Hot List for the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024
Every feature of Sonoma’s Timber Cove Resort, including its cliffside location, unhindered views of the Pacific, blazing fireplaces, and gloomy, wood-beam features, seems to combine to provide an ideal setting for a romantic weekend getaway. It’s self-described “one part hippie chic and two parts rustic modern” appeals to a distinctly NorCal mix of couples who prefer to combine active outdoor time with their leisure activities, such as wine tasting on the balcony overlooking the ocean or spending afternoons by the fire.
Private guided treks among the redwoods (the property has over two miles of hiking paths) or kayaking in the Pacific Ocean below are among the available activities. Additionally, the location is an ideal starting point for seeing the wines of Sonoma County and nearby oyster farms, such as Hog Island Oyster Co., which can be reached in 30 to 60 minutes, depending on your destination.
To get there, drive north from San Francisco for around three hours.
Invest in the Ocean View Jr. Suite and select the Romance Package add-on, which costs only $50 more per night and comes with breakfast for two and a sparkling bottle of wine in your room, to turn the romance up to ten. (You can act as though you came up with the notion to have the bottle waiting in the room; we won’t tell.) The second-largest suite features a 180-degree view of the Pacific, a redwood terrace, an in-room fireplace, and a soaking tub unlike the larger apartment.
The Once-in-a-Lifetime Treat: Malibu, Nobu Ryokan
$$$ | 2021, 2022 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
Although chef Nobu Matsuhisa is well-known for his sushi, his eponymous restaurant in Malibu now has a sister restaurant called Nobu Ryokan. Inspired by Japan’s ryokans, this high-end masterpiece is far from your typical JapInnse inn. Innom dining from Nobu, teak soaking tubs under skylights in the bathrooms, and prime Malibu real estate are just a few of the opulent elements. A luxurious once-in-a-lifetime retreat, it’s private (rooms start at $2,000 per night during off-peak hours, with a two-night minimum) and everyone who stays here cherishes their privacy. Even better, everyone’s M.O. is quietly relaxing. Typically, couples take in the unique surroundings and vistas.
Travel time: Twenty minutes by car outside of Los Angeles.
Just being here is an extravagance since these accommodations start at $2,000 per night. Reserve a cottage by the sea and inquire about one with an outdoor Japanese soaking tub to up the ante. You’re worthy.
Ojai Valley Inn, Ojai: The Wellness Retreat
Readers chose the following awards: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023
Time seems to slow down at Ojai Valley Inn, where every square inch of the 200-acre property has been thoughtfully planned to promote relaxation. Farm-to-table meals, daily yoga and pilates classes, and ubiquitous fresh juices seem like standard features of any wellness resort. Still, Ojai Valley Inn’s unique selling point is its ineffable charm. Enjoy evenings over wine at The Oak restaurant and the spa on-site,
renowned for its distinctive treatments influenced by the Chumash Native American tribe, who were the valley’s original occupants. Yes, we can’t guarantee that it will be simple to draw yourself away, but who says you have to? You may go into town for a long trek or the weekend farmer’s market.
Travel time: About two hours from Los Angeles or 45 minutes from Santa Barbara.
Spend lavishly: All spa services are luxurious, but reserve the couple’s suite and book the 100-minute Shangri-La Body Treatment (which includes a complete body buffing, wrap, and mini-facial, all of which use lavender and honey grown here). You can also choose from any massages (from a Warm Himalayan Salt Stone massage to one that uses CBD oil).
The Wine Country Retreat: Napa, Las Alcobas
Readers’ Choice Awards for 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2022 | $$$
Private hot tubs, wine tastings, and sunsets—if the tried-and-true methods are so effective, why reinvent the wheel for your next romantic retreat? This restored Victorian mansion stands out with its turn-of-the-century architecture, sleek, modern interiors, and a restaurant by renowned chef Chris Cosentino that serves wine-supporting dishes in a decidedly NorCal fashion (think fresh rigatoni with kale pesto).
Sure, some wine country stays can feel a little predictable. Enjoy the saltwater pool and the farmhouse-style spa, and sample as many of the valley’s wines as you can throughout your days there. However, nothing is quite as romantic as enjoying apéritifs on the shared patio, watching the sunset over the state’s cabernet grapes.
It takes more than two hours to get there by car from San Francisco.
Go ahead and indulge: If you’re prepared to pay, it can become more romantic than watching the sunset on the porch. To enjoy the sunset, reserve a room with a private fire pit or tub (ask for a west-facing room). Even if it’s just for one night, it will feel like the whole house is yours.
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe: The Mountain Retreat
$$$ | AWARDS FOR READERS’ CHOICE 2018–2019–2021, 2023
For couples seeking a mountain refuge, the Ritz-Carlton is a tried-and-true resort with facilities, nestled among North Lake Tahoe’s dense pines. This ski-in/ski-out hotel strikes a comfortable balance in the winter: end days on the slopes with warm, relaxing evenings by the in-room fireplaces, or forego it all and spend a day at the spa, where you can take in views of the snowy hills outside. During the summer,
use its handy North Shore location as a basecamp for days on the lake (the hotel can set you up with kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding) or rent a cabana by the pool with individualized service for two. You may anticipate a stay surrounded by romantic mountain views throughout the year.
Travel time: Four to five hours by car from San Francisco, or 45 minutes from Sacramento.
Enjoy: The French-inspired Manzanita, one of North Tahoe’s top restaurants, is located within the hotel. For $175, you can reserve Chef Roman Garcia’s chef’s table and partake in a private tasting menu that Garcia himself will lead. Manzanita requires reservations to be booked by phone in advance.
The Chic City Stay: Los Angeles’s Kimpton La Peer Hotel
$$ | 2020 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
Mountains and beaches might be romantic, but a cutting-edge hotel in the center of L.A.? That whispers sexiness if it doesn’t shout it. With its Scandinavian high-end design that incorporates organic materials like leather and wood, Kimpton’s most recent Los Angeles location blends in perfectly with the Design District, where it is located. If you’re itching to explore the city, utilize the hotel as a starting point to visit must-see museums like The Broad and make reservations at places like N/naka or Trois Mec. Then, sneak back for cocktails at the little courtyard bar in the evening.
Travel time: From Los Angeles International Airport, it takes 40 minutes by car.
Treat yourself: Let your butler entice you into something a little cozier, such as a bubble bath in your in-room soaking tub. If you want the Signature La Peer Bath, which costs only $75, a waiter will fill the tub with fresh herbs like lavender and rosemary. A cold bottle of champagne should be ordered as an accompaniment.
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