Where to Book a Romantic Weekend on the East Coast This Summer
There’s a certain kind of East Coast summer that feels almost cinematic—salt air drifting through open windows, candlelit dinners that stretch late into the evening, mornings that begin slowly with coffee and ocean views.
Explore our edit of the most romantic stays below—click through each photo to discover the property, or keep scrolling for a closer look at what makes each one worth the trip:
The Chanler at Cliff Walk — Newport, Rhode Island
Perched directly along Newport’s iconic Cliff Walk, The Chanler feels like stepping into a private Gilded Age residence—with the Atlantic just beyond your window.
Rooms are individually designed, many with soaking tubs and terraces overlooking the water. Evenings here are the draw: dinner on the lawn as the sun sets over the ocean, followed by a nightcap in one of the richly layered interiors.
Best for: a classic, oceanfront escape with just enough drama.
Courtesy of The Chanler
White Barn Inn — Kennebunk, Maine
Few places do romance quite like White Barn Inn.
Set within a restored 19th-century barn, the restaurant is one of the most celebrated in New England—candlelit, intimate, and worth planning an entire trip around. Rooms lean classic and comfortable, many with fireplaces and soaking tubs.
Best for: a food-driven getaway with unmistakable Maine charm.
Courtesy of White Barn Inn & Spa, Auberge Collection
Castle Hill Inn — Newport, Rhode Island
Set on a peninsula just outside Newport, Castle Hill Inn offers one of the most cinematic settings on the East Coast.
Adirondack chairs face the water, sailboats drift past, and sunset dinners stretch into the evening with views of the lighthouse. It’s romantic in the most effortless way.
Best for: a sunset-driven weekend that feels straight out of a film.
Courtesy of Castle Hill Inn
White Elephant — Nantucket, Massachusetts
Few places capture Nantucket quite like White Elephant.
Set right along the harbor, it offers front-row seats to sailboats drifting in and out, with rooms that feel bright, relaxed, and quietly luxurious. Mornings begin with coffee overlooking the water; evenings end just steps from town.
Best for: a classic Nantucket weekend, right in the center of it all.
Courtesy of White Elephant
Canoe Place Inn & Cottages — Hampton Bays, New York
One of the Hamptons’ oldest inns, Canoe Place feels both historic and newly refined.
Garden cottages, soft interiors, and a tucked-away setting near the water give it a slower, more intimate feel than the typical Hamptons stay—without losing any of the charm.
Best for: a quieter, more romantic Hamptons escape.
Courtesy of Canoe Place
Chatham Bars Inn — Chatham, Massachusetts
Chatham Bars Inn is Cape Cod at its most iconic.
Private beach, striped umbrellas, and sprawling lawns overlooking the Atlantic—this is the version of summer people imagine. It’s polished without feeling overly formal, and made for long, sun-filled days by the water.
Best for: a classic, oceanfront Cape Cod getaway.
Courtesy of Chatham Bars Inn
The Pridwin Hotel & Cottages — Shelter Island, New York
The Pridwin feels like a place you weren’t supposed to find.
Set along Shelter Island’s quiet shoreline, it blends nostalgic charm with a refreshed, understated design. Days are spent by the water; nights feel slower, more private, and a little removed from everything else.
Best for: a low-key coastal escape that still feels special.
Courtesy of Cape Resorts
Beach Plum Farm — Cape May, New Jersey
Tucked just outside Cape May, Beach Plum Farm offers something rare: total privacy, paired with a sense of place you can feel.
Guests stay in standalone cottages scattered across a working farm, where mornings begin with fresh eggs and afternoons drift between the garden, the pool, and the nearby beach. Dinner is often sourced directly from the land around you.
Best for: a slow, secluded weekend that feels completely your own.
Courtesy of Cape Resorts
Weekapaug Inn — Westerly, Rhode Island
Weekapaug Inn is the kind of place people return to year after year—and quietly hope no one else discovers.
Set between the ocean and a peaceful salt pond, it offers understated coastal luxury at its best. Think breezy rooms with water views, morning bike rides, and evenings that end with cocktails overlooking the dunes.
Best for: a refined New England summer, without the crowds.
Courtesy of Weekapaug Inn
The Charlotte Inn — Edgartown, Massachusetts
The Charlotte Inn feels less like a hotel and more like a private home—one filled with antiques, layered textures, and an unmistakable sense of history.
Tucked just off Edgartown’s main streets, it offers a quieter, more intimate version of Martha’s Vineyard. Evenings are best spent in the garden or dining room, where everything feels considered and timeless.
Best for: a storybook stay with old-world character.
Courtesy of The Charlotte Inn
