With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, you and your sweetheart might be thinking about a romantic dinner at your favorite fancy restaurant or maybe a cozy night in. While both of these options are a sweet way to celebrate your relationship, why not extend your celebration and plan a weekend getaway to one of America’s most romantic cities!
To figure out which of America’s cities are the most romantic, we picked a few characteristics we think create an idyllic environment for love. We gathered the top 100 most populous cities and then used the census and other data sources to find the married population, the walk score, the number of restaurants, the number of hotels, the number of parks, museums and movie theaters. After compiling all of this data, the following 10 cities we named our most romantic cities.
Each of the cities has a few top restaurants, hotels and activities listed to help you get started with your itinerary. All you have to do is book and surprise your loved one with a fun weekend away!

New York, New York
New York City topped every category we collected data on, aside from the percentage of married people. With over 11,000 restaurants and upwards of 1,300 hotels, there are endless places for you and your loved one to spend a romantic evening.
Selecting just a few restaurants and activities for New York is basically impossible. This is a city with something for everyone. If the options below don’t interest you, don’t worry — there is something in this urban jungle for you.
We confined our ideas to Manhattan to narrow the list.
Population
8,550,405
% Married
43
# of Hotels
1,397
# of Restaurants
11,061
# of Parks
728
# of Museums
351
# of Cinemas
328
Walk Score
89
Romantic Restaurants
One if by Land, Two if by Sea
Per Se
Balthazar Restaurant
Buvette
One of the 77 New York
Michelin star restaurants
Sites To See
Central Park
The High Line
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Greenwich Village
Top of the Rock
Brooklyn Bridge
Places To Stay
Bryant Park Hotel
The Plaza
Gramercy Park Hotel

Los Angeles, California
L.A. has more to offer than Hollywood and sunshine (although both of those things are great). Its unique composition of what could be several different towns, all cobbled into one big city, gives each area it’s own vibe. If you prefer the laid back surfer vibe, stick to the beach towns from Santa Monica to Hermosa Beach. For those looking for a city experience, there is plenty of that as well.
Population
3,971,896
% Married
41
# of Hotels
575
# of Restaurants
2,930
# of Parks
279
# of Museums
151
# of Cinemas
198
Walk Score
66
Romantic Restaurants
Fig
The Little Door
Cliff’s Edge
Terrine
Yamashiro Hollywood
Sites To See
Griffith Observatory
Venice Boardwalk
Santa Monica Pier
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
The Broad
Grand Central Market
Places To Stay
Ace Hotel Downtown
Venice Suites
The Hotel California

San Francisco, California
San Francisco is a city fit for foodies, tech geeks, art lovers, history buffs, architect fanatics and anyone who loves a good sunset. This city is constantly upping its game. In fact, everything in San Francisco has gotten so competitive, from restaurants to jobs to real estate, that it is expanding and pushing the borders of neighboring suburbs. This city has seen a lot of transition, from the hippie counterculture to the dotcom boom. Put San Francisco at the top of your travel list so you can check it out before it changes again!
Population
864,816
% Married
41
# of Hotels
502
# of Restaurants
2,258
# of Parks
292
# of Museums
102
# of Cinemas
77
Walk Score
86
Romantic Restaurants
Coqueta
Ichi Sushi + Ni Bar
Foreign Cinema
Flour + Water
Top of the Mark
Sites To See
Golden Gate Park
Embarcadero
The Ferry Building Market
Bernal Hill
Alemany Farmer’s Market
Dolores Park
Places To Stay
Hotel Zetta
Buchanan
The Scarlet Huntington

Chicago, Illinois
Chicago is the gem of the Midwest. This down-to-earth city is filled with some of America’s friendliest people, fantastic restaurants and a bustling nightlife. If you are visiting in the cooler months, you will enjoy the cozy lounges and shopping scene. Chicago turns into a different city when the temperatures climb. Lake Michigan sets the scene for tons of outdoor activities. The city also hosts Lollapalooza every summer if you are looking to couple your visit with some live music.
Population
2,720,556
% Married
37
# of Hotels
387
# of Restaurants
2,976
# of Parks
499
# of Museums
107
# of Cinemas
76
Walk Score
78
Romantic Restaurants
RM Champagne Salon
Le Colonial
Celeste
Bavette's Bar & Boeuf
Piccolo Sogno
Sites To See
Millennium Park
The Bean
Navy Pier
Shedd Aquarium
Places To Stay
Wicker Park Inn
Ruby Room

Houston, Texas
While Houston may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of romance, it has a ton to offer. As one of the largest and most populous cities in the United States, the food scene is rapidly growing as the city becomes increasingly culturally diverse. Museums are also popping up as the booming business economy has led to a growing trend in philanthropy. A park was also recently revived in the heart of the city!
Population
2,298,628
% Married
44
# of Hotels
795
# of Restaurants
2,448
# of Parks
256
# of Museums
61
# of Cinemas
47
Walk Score
48
Romantic Restaurants
Helen
State of Grace
Rainbow Lodge
Quattro
Mockingbird Bistro
Sites To See
Skyspace at Rice University
Westheimer Flea Market
Old Blue House Antique
Museum of Fine Arts Houston
Places To Stay
Hotel Granduca
La Colombe d’Or
The Houstonian

San Diego, California
Much like L.A., San Diego is more like a web of communities all tied together by county lines. One thing all of these neighborhoods have in common is their breezy, welcoming attitude. If you are looking to escape to warmer pastures, you have found your location. The sun will likely be shining, fresh seafood and amazing tacos can be found around nearly every corner and all of the new transplants will be happy to show you around.
Population
1,394,907
% Married
45
# of Hotels
465
# of Restaurants
1,591
# of Parks
289
# of Museums
89
# of Cinemas
48
Walk Score
50
Romantic Restaurants
Mister A’s
Bo Beau’s
Juniper and Ivy
Herringbone
Banker's Hill Bar + Restaurant
Sites To See
Torrey Pines
Balboa Park
Hotel Del Coronado
One of the many breweries
Cabrillo National Monument
Places To Stay
Hotel Indigo
Pacific Terrace Hotel
La Jolla Shores Hotel

San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is a beautiful city full of old world culture and architecture. Home to the famous Alamo, this city’s historic district makes you feel like you are in a little village rather than the seventh largest city in the U.S. San Antonio boasts the largest Mexican-style market outside of Mexico and the beautiful River Walk is perfect for late night strolls. Pack your bags, but save some room for the beautiful western art you may be bringing home.
Population
1,413,881
% Married
46
# of Hotels
509
# of Restaurants
1,097
# of Parks
143
# of Museums
42
# of Cinemas
52
Walk Score
36
Romantic Restaurants
Il Sogno Osteria
Bliss
Bella on the River
The Guenther House
18 Oaks
Sites To See
The Alamo
The River Walk
Market Square
La Villita Historic District
San Antonio Museum of Art
Places To Stay
Riverwalk Bed & Breakfast
Noble Inns
The Emily Morgan

Seattle, Washington
Aside from the ‘90s, now is the best time to visit Seattle. Old neighborhoods are flourishing into vibrant enclaves with restaurants and galleries. The grunge scene has transformed into the hipster scene, which is great for all the music-lovers, foodies and coffee connoisseurs. While the passing showers can put a damper on things, don’t let them stop you from checking out the parks and nearby mountains. Be sure to get outside when you visit this great city. Surrounded by mountains and the Puget Sound, there is a lot of beauty to take in.
Population
684,443
% Married
41
# of Hotels
170
# of Restaurants
1,538
# of Parks
288
# of Museums
57
# of Cinemas
46
Walk Score
73
Romantic Restaurants
Sitka & Spruce
Canlis
Bar Cantinetta
The Pink Door
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Sites To See
Pike Place Market
Space Needle
Experience Music Project
Chihuly Garden
Discovery Park
Places To Stay
Pan Pacific Hotel
Hyatt at Olive 8
Kimpton Alexis

Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the perfect getaway for the couple that is looking to cut loose. If you want to have maximum amounts of fun, this could be the place for you! With impressive, sweeping hotels, five star restaurants and tons of entertainment, Vegas has plenty to offer. Start saving because you can’t leave Vegas without spending a little and risking a lot!
Population
623,769
% Married
44
# of Hotels
450
# of Restaurants
1,863
# of Parks
149
# of Museums
34
# of Cinemas
35
Walk Score
40
Romantic Restaurants
L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
Nobu
The Barrymore
Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro
Alizé
Sites To See
The Venetian
CityCenter Mall
The Grand Canyon
Cirque du Soleil
The Neon Museum
Places To Stay
Encore
The Bellagio
Mandarin Oriental

Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. is an often-overlooked tourist destination for those not mandated to visit with the rest of their eighth grade classmates. This city has seen a dramatic transformation in the last few decades and, just like the cherry trees, it’s blossoming. It is incredibly walkable, full of fantastic restaurants, free museums and to top it off, DC is one of America’s cleanest cities. Get out your history books and get ready for those monuments!
Population
672,228
% Married
31
# of Hotels
286
# of Restaurants
1,331
# of Parks
108
# of Museums
129
# of Cinemas
40
Walk Score
77
Romantic Restaurants
Le Diplomate
Rose’s Luxury
Rasika
Fiola Mare
Blue Duck Tavern
Sites To See
The Mall
The Capitol Building
The White House
Georgetown
Arlington Cemetery
Places To Stay
The Hay-Adams
The Dupont Circle
The Four Seasons Georgetown