Getaways
10 Romantic Getaways in NJ: Historic Inns, Spas and Wineries
Romantic getaways in NJ for couples: historic inns with fireplaces, resort spas, vineyard tasting rooms and adults-only Cape May, all open for 2026.
By Tessa Moretti, our virtual host
Researched and edited by the Chefbouyon team
Updated · 7 min read
Quick picks
- Adults-onlyThe Virginia Hotel & CottagesAn 1879 adults-only hotel in Cape May with The Ebbitt Room downstairs.Directions
- For a spa weekendGrand Cascades Lodge at Crystal Springs ResortAn Adirondack-style lodge with gas fireplaces and the Reflections Spa.Directions
- For a vineyard afternoonUnionville VineyardsA tasting room in buildings dating to 1858, on more than 300 preserved acres.Directions
- With a fireplaceStockton InnA 1710 inn by the Delaware with fireplaces in its rooms.Directions
Romance in New Jersey is mostly a matter of slowing down in the right building. A 1710 tavern with a fireplace. A grand old hotel on a Cape May side street. A tasting room on a hill in Hunterdon County, where the only traffic is a tractor.
These ten romantic getaways in NJ are built for two: historic inns, spas at resort and heritage hotels, and family vineyards you can pair with dinner nearby. Some are a long weekend, others a lazy Saturday you can drive home from. All of them were confirmed open in fall 2026.
If you're planning for an anniversary, a proposal or simply a quiet weekend away, start with the mood you want. Do you want a fireplace, a spa, a vineyard or the sea? Then pick from that section. Most of these pair nicely, too. A vineyard afternoon flows into a river-town dinner, and a spa morning leads into a beach walk. The itineraries near the end show how to string them together.
How I picked these
I looked for historic buildings, stated features couples tend to want (fireplaces, adults-only policies, spas, on-site dining) and walkable surroundings. Every property's details come from its own website or reputable reporting. There are no prices here, since rates change by season, so check each site for packages.
Historic inns with a fireplace glow
The Peacock Inn
Known for A 16-room inn in a 1779 house, home to The Perch restaurant.
20 Bayard Lane, Princeton, NJ 08540
More in Princeton
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
The Peacock Inn is a 16-room inn in a house built in 1779. The house was moved to Bayard Lane in 1875 and opened as the Peacock Inn in 1911. During Prohibition its Peacock Alley was a speakeasy, and Albert Einstein stayed there in 1933. The Perch, its restaurant, is decorated with murals by John Held Jr., the illustrator of the Jazz Age. It sits a few minutes' walk from Palmer Square, so dinner at the inn can turn into a stroll past the university's lit-up Gothic buildings. Our things to do in Princeton guide has ideas for the next morning, and the free Princeton University Art Museum, in its new building since October 2025, makes a calm rainy-day date.
Hopewell Valley Vineyards
Known for A family winery on a 75-acre estate, known for brick-oven pizza and weekend live music.
46 Yard Rd, Pennington, NJ 08534
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
For an afternoon add-on, Hopewell Valley Vineyards is a short drive west of Princeton. Sergio and Violetta Neri opened it in 2001 on a 75-acre estate with about 20 acres of vines, drawing on three generations of Tuscan winemaking. It serves brick-oven pizza and has live music on weekends.
The Bernards Inn
Known for A 1907 inn in the Somerset Hills, home to Red Horse by David Burke.
27 Mine Brook Rd, Bernardsville, NJ 07924
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
The Bernards Inn opened in 1907 in the Somerset Hills and was raided as a speakeasy during Prohibition, according to the local historical society. Its kitchen became Red Horse by David Burke in 2023, and there's also The Bernie, a cellar supper club. The inn lists guest rooms and takes online reservations, but some of its pages look dated, so call to confirm room bookings. Bernardsville has a historic station on NJ Transit's Gladstone Branch, which makes this a rare romantic dinner you can reach by train.
Stockton Inn
Known for A restored 1710 inn with a tavern, a small dining room and guest rooms with fireplaces.
1 S Main St, Stockton, NJ 08559
Also in 12 NJ Weekend Getaways
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
The Stockton Inn dates to 1710 and was a speakeasy during Prohibition. After more than seven years closed, it reopened in 2024. It has nine rooms across the main inn and two carriage houses, and the inn says its rooms have fireplaces. There's a patio with a waterfall and the Dog & Deer tavern with its raw bar. In the morning, walk to Prallsville Mills and the D&R Canal towpath, or browse the river shops in Frenchtown a few miles north.
Lambertville Station Restaurant and Inn
Known for A restored 19th-century train station on the Delaware with a restaurant, tavern and river-view inn rooms.
11 Bridge St, Lambertville, NJ 08530
- Wi-Fi
- Outdoor seating
More in Lambertville
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Lambertville Station is a restored 19th-century train station on the Delaware. It has a restaurant, a tavern called The Dugout, outdoor dining by the canal and inn rooms with river views. The Riverview Suite has a double fireplace. From here you can walk into Lambertville's galleries and across the bridge to New Hope. Lambertville is small enough that you can leave the car parked all weekend. Spend Saturday among the antique shops, have dinner by the water, and walk the bridge at dusk, when the lights of both towns come on. Our Lambertville guide maps out the rest of the weekend.
A spa weekend in the mountains
Grand Cascades Lodge at Crystal Springs Resort
Known for An Adirondack-style lodge with gas fireplaces and the Reflections Spa.
3 Wild Turkey Way, Hamburg, NJ 07419
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Crystal Springs Resort is a full mountain escape in Sussex County, and Grand Cascades Lodge is its Adirondack-style hotel, rated AAA Four Diamond. Rooms have gas fireplaces, and some have outdoor fireplaces on their decks. The Reflections Spa is at Grand Cascades, and the resort says it ranks on the Spas of America Top 100 list. A second spa, Elements, is at the resort's Minerals Hotel. The resort's Biosphere has indoor and outdoor pools. When you get hungry, the resort's restaurants include Latour, The Wine Cellar, Crystal Tavern and Gino34. It's a good choice for couples who want to arrive Friday night and not get back in the car until Sunday. Plan an early-winter visit, when the hills are bare and the fireplace earns its keep. In summer, the same hills are good for hiking; see our NJ hikes for trails nearby.
Wineries for two
Hunterdon County's rolling farm roads are made for a slow tasting afternoon, especially in harvest season. These are family places, many on preserved farmland, where the view across the vines is half the point. Pick one designated driver, or keep it to a tasting each, and have dinner in a river town afterward.
Unionville Vineyards
Known for A Hunterdon County winery on preserved farmland, with a tasting room in buildings dating to 1858.
9 Rocktown Rd, Ringoes, NJ 08551
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Unionville Vineyards sits on land that was once a peach orchard and later a dairy farm. Its house and the oldest part of the winery date to 1858. Vines were first planted in 1987, and the winery opened on April 1, 1993. Today it farms more than 300 preserved acres, over 40 of them under vine, and harvests its grapes by hand. From here it's an easy drive to dinner in Lambertville or Stockton.
Beneduce Vineyards
Known for A family farm winery making estate-grown wine on 77 acres in Hunterdon County.
1 Jeremiah Lane, Pittstown, NJ 08867
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Beneduce Vineyards is a 77-acre family farm where every wine is estate-grown. The Beneduces are fourth-generation farmers, and the family lives in a farmhouse from around 1757. There's weekly live music and a wine club called the Moonlighters. The winery notes that Uber and Lyft are unreliable out here, so plan your ride home before your first glass. Frenchtown, on the Delaware, is a short drive away for dinner.
William Heritage Winery
Known for A family farm winery on land the family has worked since 1853.
480 Mullica Hill Rd, Mullica Hill, NJ 08062
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
For South Jersey couples, William Heritage Winery is a family farm in Mullica Hill that the family has worked since 1853, now in its sixth generation. It runs a busy events calendar and a second tasting room in Haddonfield, a pretty historic town that makes an easy evening stroll afterward.
By the sea
The Virginia Hotel & Cottages
Known for An adults-only 1879 hotel on Jackson Street, home to The Ebbitt Room.
25 Jackson St, Cape May, NJ 08204
More in Cape May
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
The Virginia Hotel dates to 1879 and is adults-only, which already sets the mood. Its restaurant is The Ebbitt Room, breakfast is served on the front porch, and guests get beach service. There are also rooms in cottages nearby. It's on Jackson Street, a short walk to the beach and the Washington Street Mall. Cape May's whole historic district is a National Historic Landmark, so an evening walk past lit gingerbread porches costs nothing and feels like a set piece. Our things to do in Cape May guide covers sunset at the Point and the lighthouse climb. For more Cape May romance, see our Cape May bed and breakfasts, and in December, Cape May at Christmas.
The Reeds at Shelter Haven
Known for A year-round bayfront hotel in Stone Harbor with the Salt Spa and several restaurants.
9601 Third Ave, Stone Harbor, NJ 08247
Also in 12 NJ Weekend Getaways
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
The Reeds sits on the bay in Stone Harbor and carries on the name of the 1912 Shelter Haven Hotel. It's open year-round and has the Salt Spa, along with several restaurants, among them SAX Seafood & Steaks and Water Star Grille. Off-season, the town quiets down beautifully. Walk out to Stone Harbor Point, a protected shorebird preserve, for a long beach walk at the edge of Seven Mile Island.
Asbury Ocean Club Hotel
Known for A 54-room oceanfront hotel with a spa, a pool terrace and The Drawing Room.
1101 Ocean Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Also in 12 NJ Weekend Getaways
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
If your idea of romance includes a concert, the Asbury Ocean Club is a 54-room oceanfront hotel with one MICHELIN Key. It has an in-house spa, a yoga studio, a pool and garden terrace and The Drawing Room. Some lofts have 11-foot ceilings and private terraces. Spend the evening at a show in town, and in the morning walk south into Ocean Grove's Victorian streets.
Three easy romantic itineraries
The river and the vines (Hunterdon County). Check into the Stockton Inn on Friday. On Saturday, walk the D&R Canal towpath past Prallsville Mills, then drive inland for a tasting at Unionville Vineyards. Save Sunday for Lambertville's galleries and a walk across the bridge to New Hope. Every stop is within a short drive of the others, so you spend the weekend together instead of on the highway.
Princeton, slowly. Stay at The Peacock Inn and have dinner at The Perch. Spend Saturday morning at the free Princeton University Art Museum, followed by pizza and a glass at Hopewell Valley Vineyards. On Sunday, drive to Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, which needs a timed ticket booked ahead. Our Princeton coffee shops guide covers your morning cups.
Two shore towns, one bridge apart. Book two nights at The Virginia Hotel in Cape May for the porches and the beach. Then drive up the coast to Stone Harbor for a spa morning at The Reeds and a walk at Stone Harbor Point. For a third day, the Cape May–Lewes Ferry turns a weekend into a little sea voyage to Delaware.
When to go
Every season has a romantic case. Fall brings harvest at the Hunterdon wineries and color along the Delaware, and the shore towns empty out after Labor Day while the water stays warm. Winter is fireplace season, the best time for a spa weekend at Crystal Springs, and the season of Victorian Christmas in Cape May. Our Christmas lights and Christmas markets guides help you plan a festive date night. Spring brings blossoms and easier bookings. Summer is beautiful but busy, so book shore rooms early and check minimum stays.
Planning a romantic weekend
- Ask about fireplaces when you book. At most inns, only some rooms have them.
- Reserve spa treatments with your room. Weekend spa slots go first.
- Mind the drive home from wineries. Rural Hunterdon roads have little rideshare coverage.
- Off-season is your friend. November through April brings quieter towns and easier bookings.
For more two-day plans, see our NJ weekend getaways, or browse things to do in New Jersey and the Jersey Shore towns to build your own.
Every place in this guide, on the map
- The Peacock Inn20 Bayard Lane, Princeton, NJ 08540
- Hopewell Valley Vineyards46 Yard Rd, Pennington, NJ 08534
- The Bernards Inn27 Mine Brook Rd, Bernardsville, NJ 07924
- Stockton Inn1 S Main St, Stockton, NJ 08559
- Lambertville Station Restaurant and Inn11 Bridge St, Lambertville, NJ 08530
- Grand Cascades Lodge at Crystal Springs Resort3 Wild Turkey Way, Hamburg, NJ 07419
- Unionville Vineyards9 Rocktown Rd, Ringoes, NJ 08551
- Beneduce Vineyards1 Jeremiah Lane, Pittstown, NJ 08867
- William Heritage Winery480 Mullica Hill Rd, Mullica Hill, NJ 08062
- The Virginia Hotel & Cottages25 Jackson St, Cape May, NJ 08204
- The Reeds at Shelter Haven9601 Third Ave, Stone Harbor, NJ 08247
- Asbury Ocean Club Hotel1101 Ocean Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Questions people ask
Where is the most romantic place in New Jersey for a weekend?
Cape May is the classic answer, with Victorian streets, sunsets at the Point and adults-only stays like The Virginia Hotel. For something inland, the Delaware River towns of Stockton and Lambertville have historic inns with fireplaces, and Crystal Springs in Sussex County pairs a mountain lodge with a full spa.
Are there adults-only hotels in New Jersey?
Yes. The Virginia Hotel & Cottages in Cape May describes itself as adults-only. Some other inns have age policies for certain rooms, so check each property's site before booking. Smaller historic inns tend to feel quiet and grown-up even without a formal policy.
Which New Jersey hotels have a spa for couples?
Several historic and resort hotels have spas on site. Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg has the Reflections Spa at Grand Cascades Lodge and Elements Spa at its Minerals Hotel. Congress Hall in Cape May has the Sea Spa, The Reeds at Shelter Haven in Stone Harbor has the Salt Spa, and the Asbury Ocean Club has an in-house spa. Book treatments when you book the room.
What are good romantic day trips in NJ?
A vineyard afternoon is easy and low-key. Unionville Vineyards in Ringoes, Beneduce Vineyards in Pittstown and Hopewell Valley Vineyards in Pennington are all within reach of Princeton and the Delaware River towns. Add a walk across the bridge from Lambertville to New Hope, or a stroll on the D&R Canal towpath in Stockton.
When is the best time for a romantic getaway in NJ?
Fall is the favorite: harvest season at the wineries, foliage along the Delaware and in Sussex County, and quieter shore towns after Labor Day. Winter is ideal for fireplace rooms and spa weekends, and inns are often easier to book. Cape May at Christmas is a popular December choice, so reserve early.
Spot something out of date, or know a place we should add? Tell us. Corrections are read first.
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