We didn’t need far-flung beaches or grand flights to feel close again. Just a short drive led us into quiet towns where the days stretched long and the details mattered, pressed linens, warm scones, porch swings with a view. Each inn or spa we visited gave us something different: a garden path, a view of the harbor, a meal we didn’t have to cook ourselves. It was about time well spent, together.
From the stillness of a farm cottage to the hush of a riverside inn, these romantic weekend getaways offered the kind of peace that lingers. We came back rested, yes, but also reminded.
Best Romantic Weekend Getaways in Connecticut
For a stylish escape: Delamar Southport
“This feels like a secret,” I said as we stepped into the lobby—marble floors, fresh flowers, and a hush that made you slow down. The Delamar didn’t try too hard. It didn’t need to. Everything was already in place: soft linens, tall windows, a fireplace we could sit beside without saying much at all.
Our room overlooked the garden, where boxwoods framed stone walkways and the air smelled faintly of lavender. We walked through the neighborhood later—past white fences, tidy porches, and a marina dotted with sailboats. Southport felt timeless, like something pressed between the pages of a favorite book.
Dinner was at the hotel’s Artisan Restaurant, where I ordered pan-seared scallops over sweet corn purée. The scallops were golden and tender, with just enough char. He had the duck, finished with a port reduction that clung to each bite. We shared a slice of lemon tart, the crust buttery and the filling bright as sunlight. I looked across the table and thought, “This is exactly where I want to be.”
Plan your weekend:
- Drive Time from NYC: ~1.5 hours northeast
- Vibe: Polished, peaceful, discreet
- Highlights: Garden views, Artisan Restaurant, walkable Southport village
- Best Time to Visit: Spring and fall for crisp air and quiet mornings
- Cost: Rooms from ~$400/night; dinner ~$30–50/person
- Hours: Check-in 3pm; restaurant open 5pm–9pm
For a countryside escape: Winvian Farm
We stayed in one of the cottages—a standalone space surrounded by trees, where the only sounds were wind through the leaves and the creak of old floorboards under our socks. Winvian didn’t feel like a resort. It felt like a retreat. Every corner invited rest: a soaking tub, a leather chair by the fire, a porch with a view of the woods.
We explored the grounds in the late afternoon, hands brushed with hayfield pollen, our path shared only with birds and the occasional rabbit darting across the lawn. Inside the spa, the scent of eucalyptus lingered in the air. We stayed quiet for almost an hour. It didn’t feel like silence—it felt like calm.
Dinner was in the main house, where the lighting was low and the windows glowed with dusk. I had a roasted chicken breast over farro and heirloom carrots, the skin crisp and herbs warm and savory. He ordered the halibut, flaking under a citrus beurre blanc that caught the light. Dessert was a flourless chocolate torte we didn’t speak through—we just ate slowly, with full hearts.
Plan your weekend:
- Drive Time from Hartford: ~1 hour west
- Vibe: Secluded, nature-rich, indulgent
- Highlights: Private themed cottages, on-site spa, farm-to-table dining, walking trails
- Best Time to Visit: Late summer through fall for color and crisp mornings
- Cost: Cottages from ~$700/night (includes breakfast and dinner)
- Hours: Check-in 3pm; spa and dining reservations recommended
For water views: Inn at Stonington - 1 hour 35 minutes
“Let’s stay in,” I said as I curled deeper into the white duvet, sunlight spilling through sheer curtains. The room at The Inn at Stonington overlooked the harbor, just a few sailboats rocking in place, the tide steady. It felt like the kind of quiet you carry with you long after you leave.
We strolled through the village—cobblestone sidewalks, a lighthouse at the edge of town, shops that looked like they’d been cared for by the same hands for decades. Every corner felt loved, not polished. We lingered by the water until the sky shifted pink and gold.
Dinner was at a little bistro nearby—pan-seared scallops with lemon risotto for me, grilled swordfish with rosemary potatoes for him. The scallops were buttery and warm, the risotto soft and just tart enough. We walked back under string lights, the air cool and salt-tinged, and I said aloud, “This feels like a secret we were meant to find.”
Plan your weekend:
- Drive Time from New Haven: ~1.5 hours east
- Vibe: Coastal, historic, hushed
- Highlights: Harbor views, lighthouse walk, village shops, intimate dining
- Best Time to Visit: Summer for sea breezes; early fall for peaceful walks
- Cost: Rooms from ~$350/night; dinner ~$25–40/person
- Hours: Check-in 3pm; most shops and dining open 10am–8pm
For antique-filled accommodations: Steamboat Inn - 1 hour 30 minutes from Bridgeport, CT
We checked in just before sunset. The river was glassy and golden, and our room looked out over it like a front-row seat to something gentle. I stood at the window longer than I meant to, watching the masts sway and the last bit of light tuck behind the trees. “Let’s not go anywhere for a while,” I said.
The inn had that rare, welcoming hush—fireplaces, creaky floors in the best way, and soft robes folded by the bed. It felt like someone had prepared it all just for us. We walked the Mystic River Boardwalk before dinner, passing docked schooners and little boutiques that smelled like cedar and candle wax.
Dinner was a few steps away. I had lobster over handmade pappardelle in a white wine cream sauce, warm and briny with a little heat. He had pan-seared duck with fig glaze and mashed parsnips—sweet and earthy and perfect for the night air. We didn’t talk much during dessert. The chocolate pot de crème was too rich to share, and neither of us offered. We just smiled.
Plan your weekend:
- Drive Time from Hartford: ~1.5 hours southeast
- Vibe: Nautical, quiet, close
- Highlights: Riverfront rooms, fireplace suites, Mystic’s walkable harborfront, dining steps away
- Best Time to Visit: Late spring through early fall for boat watching and dinner al fresco
- Cost: Rooms from ~$350/night; dinner ~$30–45/person
- Hours: Check-in 3pm; dining options open 5–9pm
For wellness: Saybrook Point Inn & Spa - 50 minutes from Bridgeport, CT
We arrived at Saybrook Point Inn & Spa just before dusk, the salt air cool and clean. Boats rocked gently in the slips outside, and the inn rose beside them like it belonged to the water. Our room faced the river, with tall windows and soft light. The stillness made it easy to breathe. I said, “Let’s not make any plans,” and for once, we didn’t.
The spa was tucked behind glass doors, quiet and warm with eucalyptus and candlelight. I had a massage that left me feeling weightless, like someone had peeled away every bit of stress I’d brought with me. He sat reading in the relaxation room, and when I joined him, we didn’t even speak. It was enough just to be there, together, in that hush.
We had dinner at the inn’s Fresh Salt restaurant—pan-roasted halibut for me with lemon beurre blanc and asparagus, grilled filet for him with truffle mash and red wine jus. My fish was delicate and buttery, the sauce tart and bright. We lingered over dessert—house-made peach cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream that melted into the cinnamon crumble like it had always belonged there.
Plan your weekend:
- Drive Time from New Haven: ~1 hour east
- Vibe: Waterfront, restorative, refined
- Highlights: Full-service spa, marina views, fine dining at Fresh Salt, coastal walks
- Best Time to Visit: Early summer or fall for spa weather and fewer crowds
- Cost: Rooms from ~$375/night; spa treatments ~$100–200; dinner ~$35–50/person
- Hours: Check-in 3pm; spa 9am–6pm; restaurant 7am–9pm
For luxury pampering: The Spa at Norwich Inn
We checked into The Spa at Norwich Inn early, robes and slippers waiting in our room, which opened onto a small garden where ferns brushed against the windows. The inn itself felt like a private estate—tucked just far enough from everything.
We filled the day with nothing: herbal body wraps, a eucalyptus steam room, deep silence in the relaxation room. There was no phone service for a while, and I didn’t miss it. I remember sitting by the fireplace with a warm neck pillow and thinking, “We could stay like this for hours.” And we did.
Dinner was just down the hallway, quiet and candlelit. I had a rosemary chicken breast with roasted squash and fingerling potatoes—earthy, herbaceous, and comforting. He chose the pasta with mushrooms and truffle cream, rich and silky. We ended the meal with warm chocolate bread pudding and mint tea, our footsteps slow and quiet as we returned to the room.
Plan your weekend:
- Drive Time from Hartford: ~1 hour southeast
- Vibe: Tranquil, spa-focused, timeless
- Highlights: Full-service spa, garden paths, in-room dining, yoga and meditation sessions
- Best Time to Visit: Fall and winter for cozy treatments and quiet indoor afternoons
- Cost: Rooms from ~$300/night; spa packages ~$150–300; dinner ~$30–45/person
- Hours: Spa open 9am–7pm; dining room open 5–9pm; check-in 4pm
For a peaceful getaway: The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina - 1 hour 15 minutes from Bridgeport, CT
“It’s the kind of quiet you can feel,” I said as we stepped into our room at The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina —white linens, warm light, and a view that framed the harbor like a painting. Boats bobbed just beyond the deck, and the flags on the masts made a soft rhythm in the breeze. Everything here felt gently placed.
We walked into town—bookstores, ice cream, a boardwalk that followed the shore. There was no rush. We sat on a bench for almost half an hour, watching seagulls swoop and the sun press down through a high blue sky. I kept thinking, “This is what we came for.”
That evening, we had dinner at a nearby bistro—grilled salmon with lemon-dill butter for me, baked crab-stuffed cod for him. My salmon flaked apart perfectly, and the roasted vegetables on the side were bright with olive oil and sea salt. We ended the night back on our balcony, wrapped in a blanket, the marina lights blinking like slow applause.
Plan your weekend:
- Drive Time from New London: ~15 minutes west
- Vibe: Waterfront, cozy, low-key
- Highlights: Marina views, walkable downtown Niantic, boardwalk, beach access
- Best Time to Visit: Summer for boat watching and boardwalk strolls
- Cost: Rooms from ~$275/night; dinner ~$25–40/person
- Hours: Check-in 3pm; breakfast included; many restaurants open until 9pm
For garden lovers: The Mayflower Inn and Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection
From the moment we arrived at The Mayflower Inn and Spa, it felt like stepping into a dream version of New England. White clapboard, green hills, and silence that wrapped around you like a soft coat. The inn was stately but warm, elegant without edge. We were shown to a suite with high ceilings, a canopied bed, and tall windows that opened to a view of the wooded hills. I stood there for a while, just watching the leaves shift.
The spa was unlike any I’d visited—bright and modern with elements of the old world tucked quietly throughout. I had a facial that smelled of rose and chamomile, followed by a soak in a warm mineral bath. He read on a heated bench nearby, not checking his phone once. We met again in the garden room, hands warm, eyes quiet.
Dinner at the inn’s restaurant was thoughtful and slow. I had the herb-roasted chicken with garlic confit and braised greens. The skin was crisp and salted perfectly, the greens just bitter enough to balance the sweetness of the jus. He had a filet with roasted shallots and whipped potatoes, and we shared a butterscotch pudding for dessert that neither of us expected to love—but couldn’t stop eating. I remember thinking, “We could stay one more night,” and meaning it.
Plan your weekend:
- Drive Time from Hartford: ~1 hour west
- Vibe: Refined, peaceful, indulgent
- Highlights: World-class spa, seasonal cuisine, walking gardens, elegant suites
- Best Time to Visit: Fall for foliage; winter for cozy spa days
- Cost: Rooms from ~$950/night; spa treatments ~$200–300; dinner ~$50–70/person
- Hours: Spa 9am–6pm; restaurant 5pm–9pm; check-in 4pm
Scranton Seahorse Inn
“This is the kind of town where time takes a breath.” I thought that while watching morning light fall across Main Street from the porch of the Scranton Seahorse Inn.
The inn was peaceful—soft music, a garden courtyard, and lemony scones that made the kitchen smell like sunshine. I walked to Hammonasset Beach early, when the waves were still and the gulls flew low. I stood in the sand and thought, “I could stay in this pause forever.”
What I Loved Most: Slow mornings at the inn, then the calm hush of the beach just minutes away.
My highlights? A grilled cheese and tomato bisque lunch near the bookstore—crispy bread, melted cheddar, and soup that tasted like late summer. After lunch, I wandered through RJ Julia Booksellers. I ended the day walking along the Meigs Point boardwalk, where salt air and sea grass met the marsh.
Plan your Madison day trip:
- Stay at: Scranton Seahorse Inn – cozy, walkable, homemade breakfast
- Drive Time from: Hartford ~50 min; NYC ~2 hrs
- Vibe: Seaside, peaceful, bookish
- Highlights: Hammonasset Beach, RJ Julia Booksellers, Meigs Point Nature Center
- Best Time: Spring–early fall
- Cost: Beach ~$10 (non-resident); inn ~$150–200/night
Conclusion: Where the Quiet Lives
Connecticut gave us more than just pretty inns and waterfront views. It gave us breath. A soft robe after the spa. A perfect forkful of lemon tart. A porch swing and no rush to rise. In every corner—whether beside a crackling fire in the hills or watching boats drift past a marina—there was a sense of ease that let us exhale, together.
Each place had its own rhythm, but the feeling was the same: intimacy without noise. Just room to be, side by side. And in the end, that’s what these getaways offered us most—a chance to fall back into step with each other, without ever having to hurry.
Jump to a Spot...
- • For a stylish escape: Delamar Southport
- • For a countryside escape: Winvian Farm
- • For water views: Inn at Stonington - 1 hour 35 minutes
- • For antique-filled accommodations: Steamboat Inn - 1 hour 30 minutes from Bridgeport, CT
- • For wellness: Saybrook Point Inn & Spa - 50 minutes from Bridgeport, CT
- • For luxury pampering: The Spa at Norwich Inn
- • For a peaceful getaway: The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina - 1 hour 15 minutes from Bridgeport, CT
- • For garden lovers: The Mayflower Inn and Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection
- • Scranton Seahorse Inn