Romantic Stays

Voted Best Romantic Getaway in North America –USA Today 10Best

That’s captured perfectly in Saint Paul lodging that’s both modern and brimming with historic charm.

If you’re after a storybook setting, or one out of a 1920s movie, you’ve come to the right place. History lovers have a host of one-of-a-kind lodging choices in the heart of the city: from the boutique and the beautiful to the seductive and serene. Here are a few spots to consider.

The name says it all. The Saint Paul Hotel, built in 1910, is a case in point for unique hotels that literally define the city. This iconic downtown destination overlooks Rice Park, the Ordway and Landmark Center. It’s played host to celebrities, weddings, high teas and eventful getaways for over a century. A stay pairs nicely with a night at the opera or a Wild hockey game.

In a city of Saints and sinners, this is truly a heavenly hotel. The Celeste opened in 2020 after being remodeled from its origins as a convent and fine arts academy. That past is on display in the lush decor of the lounge, hallways, breakfast Chapel and rooms — including original paintings with some divine inspiration. Its signature rooms offer views of the state Capitol, which is located blessedly close by.

An art deco delight, the Hyatt Place in Lowertown was once a government building and mail-sorting facility. The hotel was recently transformed from the Custom House, built in 1933, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Rooms feature elevated ceilings and 13-foot windows, some of which look out on the nearby Mississippi River.

Live like a land baron. The Davidson, considered one of the city’s finest homes when built in 1915 as the Davidson Mansion, was meticulously transformed into a nine-unit boutique hotel maintaining its English manor pedigree, including extensive gardens. It’s a first of its kind on Summit Avenue. Historically, visitors wined, dined and lodged a few blocks to the north in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood. Case in point: the hotel’s nearby sister property, The Commodore, features a 1920s atmosphere in a luxe bar once frequented by F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald.

Whether it’s a family getaway, special event or business, lodging options abound downtown with new and updated hotels like the InterContinental, Hampton Inn & Suites, DoubleTree by Hilton, SpringHill Suites, Holiday Inn, Residence Inn, Drury Plaza, Radisson St. Paul and more.

Find all the hotel options on page 66.

Want a heartstopping location for a wedding? Saint Paul’s beloved venues range from regal mansions to lush green parks and sleek, modern ballrooms. Our in-house experts offer free planning assistance: IDoSaintPaul.com

Saint Paul’s past is rich with the stories of proud native cultures, bold immigrants, titans of industry, literary masters, architectural giants and even notorious Prohibition-era gangsters. That past comes alive in the streets and spaces of a town steeped in elegant Old World charms.

Summit Avenue, with the longest stretch of preserved Victorian homes in the United States, is a national treasure. Here, you’ll find an astounding 373 of the street’s original 440 homes — with historic mansions that represent a variety of architectural styles. Any time of year, it’s worth a walk, bike or drive along this five-mile boulevard between the Mississippi River and Cathedral Hill on the cusp of downtown.