Where to stay in New York

By Stacey Zable

New York City is the one of most romantic cities in the world, and an ideal backdrop for a couple’s much-needed alone time.

A key part of this amorous adventure is the right property. Fresh from a $10 million renovation, Manhattan’s Hotel Chandler oozes boutique elegance, with the right amount of warmth and coziness that you might find at a larger New England bed and breakfast—but it’s located on 31 Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues. With only 138 guest rooms and suites, the Hotel Chandler is able to offer something many New York City properties do not: intimacy. Guests are greeted with genuine smiles and “hellos” from staff, while the hotel’s welcoming library room, and cocktail and wine bar make for excellent areas to simply relax. A new high-end organic restaurant, Juni, by Executive Chef Shaun Hergatt is set to open shortly and is sure to add to the romantic feel of the property.

Where to stay in New York CityGuest rooms at the Hotel Chandler bring classic bay windows and such pampering touches as Frette Italian linens and Molton Brown bathroom amenities. The neighborhood location is quiet, despite being only a few blocks from one of the city’s most romantic icons, the Empire State Building. Book the “Chandler Refresh Package” for rates starting at $350 for all of Hotel Chandler’s romantic elements wrapped up together including late check-out, complimentary cocktails, breakfast, and tickets to the Empire State Building. Call 866-627-7847 to check dates.

Using Hotel Chandler as a base, the city has many Valentine’s Day week-specific events and/or anytime fun for two. For another incredible view, the Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Center (topoftherocknyc.com) hosts its Winter Starlight Music Series through Feb. 23. On Valentine’s Day itself, visitors can explore the Metropolitan Museum of Art and end their day with a three-course prix fixe meal including a glass of sparkling wine for $60 per person at the museum’s Petrie Court Café and Wine Bar. Call 212-570-3964 for reservations.

Many restaurants are offering special Valentine’s Day menus, but here is the dessert: The Valentine’s Sweetheart’s Sugartooth Tour (sugartoothtours.com). This is a two-hour escapade featuring a minimum of six stops to enjoy delicious sweets. The tour is available multiple dates in February, including the 14th. Cost is $52.74 per person, plus tour guide gratuity.

A sweet add on for couples is a “Side-by-Side Massage” at Oasis Day Spa (oasisdayspanyc.com), located on Park Avenue between 32nd and 33rd Streets, a short walk from Hotel Chandler. $240 buys 60 minutes of pampering and makes a great beginning, middle or end to a romantic New York escapade.

* Stacey Zable is an award-winning veteran travel writer and family travel expert who has written about destinations, resorts and cruise lines around the world. Send travel questions and comments to Stacey at [email protected].