The world’s most romantic hotel rooms

By Juliet Kinsman

October 1, 2022

After a temporary closure in the wake of Hurricane Beryl, Mandarin Oriental, Canouan will reopen its doors on 15 November 2024. The team will be delighted to help with any questions

Check into one of the most romantic rooms imaginable, from a Barcelona penthouse to a sumptuous suite in Bangkok.

Romance is about escaping the ordinary, hiding from the humdrum and feeling as if you’ve stepped into a fantasy life. Creating a seductive space takes more than red roses and petals on the bed – it’s about conjuring a feeling that makes your heart smile and your toes tingle. From come-hither beds that you’ll never want to leave to nothing-is-too-much-trouble service, these six seductive stays have all the right ingredients.

Panoramic Suite at Mandarin Oriental, Paris

This Art-Deco-inspired address on the Rue Saint-Honoré is rich in history and timelessly elegant. Feel like 1950s film stars in the City of Love as you sweep through the lobby and up to your Panoramic Suite of choice. Each has a different, light-filled layout (ask if you’d prefer split-level), along with a terrace or balcony for sunset aperitifs. The pared-back décor and details are impeccably chic, including marble bathrooms stocked with Frédéric Malle toiletries.

Hyde Park Suite at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London

There’s no smarter address for a city sojourn than Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, a stately Edwardian pile overlooking its namesake park. The Hyde Park Suites are endlessly romantic, with their grand master bedrooms, curated libraries and delightfully leafy views. Silk wall coverings and Greek marble bathrooms are among the tactile touches, while a personal butler is on hand to ensure your stay runs smoothly. It’s worth emerging for a table at the two-starred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, or a foray to The Spa, with its 17-metre pool.

Penthouse Suite at Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona

When a suite comprises an entire top floor, you know it must promise special panoramas – and the Penthouse Suite at Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona certainly delivers. Eight storeys above the Passeig de Gràcia, Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola’s interiors ensure every angle in this two-bedroom suite is pleasing to the eye. You’ll have Gaudí’s iconic landmarks as your neighbours, fine dining downstairs by Carme Ruscalleda and Raül Balam, and a private garden and rooftop dipping pool to explore. What else? A double hydromassage bath and Miriam Quevedo products, along with an expansive private terrace for sundowners with a view.

Chao Phraya Room at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

A landmark on the city’s riverfront, Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok is the last word in luxury. Tsars, royals, writers and heads of state have all stayed here, and it’s equally well-suited to romantics. Check in to one of the calming Chao Phraya rooms – which are actually more like suites with their separate living areas. Oriental silks and fresh orchids add a sense of place, while floor-to-ceiling windows look out on the gardens or river. There’s round-the-clock butler service for any special requests, while taking the boat to the Oriental Spa is an absolute must.

Patio Villa at Mandarin Oriental, Canouan

If it’s romantic seclusion you’re after, where better than Canouan? A tiny island hideaway in St Vincent and the Grenadines, it seems lifted straight from a daydream, with its powdery sands, coral reefs and emerald-green hills. There’s no short straw among the suites and villas at Mandarin Oriental, Canouan, but for maximum privacy consider a Patio Villa. The hilltop setting means the views are second to none, with a private infinity pool backdropped by the sea and sky. Butler service comes as standard, while a golf buggy is standing by when you want to hit the beach.

Mandarin Suite at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo

Hotels don’t get much sleeker than Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, set in the soaring Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower. Settle in with a Tokyo Martini in the low-lit bar, then head to your chosen hideaway. A Mandarin Suite should tick every box, with its calm, pared-back bedroom, art-hung living room, and palatial bathroom (naturally, there’s a sizeable tub to soak in). Floor-to-ceiling windows look out over the city, with soul-stirring views of Mount Fuji in the distance.

About the Author

Juliet Kinsman

Juliet Kinsman is a sustainable luxury travel writer, Condé Nast Travellers’s first sustainability editor and author of our Sustainability Report. The driving force behind the Evening Standard's sustainable travel channel and host of their award-winning podcast, she's written and edited many guidebooks for London and beyond.