Theories abound for the origins of the term “honeymoon,” including the suggestion that a second-century Germanic tribe held the tradition of drinking mead for the first month after marriage. Nowadays, a jug of honey wine won’t cut it—post-wedding bliss calls for California kings and private hot tubs.
Whether you’ve just said your vows or are simply seeking a sexy space to connect with your beloved, these local stays will charm you with spectacular views, seductive design, and dreamy amenities.
The LaFayette Hotel & Club
Penthouse
Starting at $500 per night
Longing to live in a Baz Luhrmann movie? Book a few nights in this recently revived epicenter of North Park nightlife. The maximalism of the hotel’s six food and drink concepts carries over into the Penthouse above, between the four-poster king bed dressed in House of Hackney linens and the hand-drawn wallpaper, a collage of Victorian-esque illustrations by artist Dane Danner. The protagonist is a vintage clawfoot tub, situated next to a black-tiled fireplace for cozy, clothing-free cuddles.
Hard Rock Hotel San Diego
Diamond Rock Star Suite
Starting at $1,500 per night
If your courting phase involved trading Spotify playlists (or mix tapes) packed with classic rock, you’ll want to make sweet music here. With two bedrooms, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a private patio Jacuzzi overlooking the Gaslamp, this 1,200-square-foot suite is a Hollywoody take on a rock star’s apartment, with red leather, a massive Jimi Hendrix portrait, and the chance to scream “I am a golden god” to barhoppers below.
Alila Marea Beach Resort
Grandview Suite
Starting at $5,000 per night
Don’t stay out too late. This airy Encinitas escape is at its most stunning at dusk, when you can snuggle up and watch the sun sink into the Pacific through its glass walls, which offer a 270-degree view of the coast. The scene might inspire you to go for a dip of your own in the standalone soaking tub—or in the sea itself, as the Grandview is the resort’s closest room to Ponto State Beach, with stone steps to the shore just outside the door.
Jacumba Hot Springs Hotel
Casitas
Starting at $400 per night
Find peak privacy at this already-secluded bastion of sexy, rustic desert design by booking one of the hotel’s early-20th-century Spanish Revival–style casitas, decked out in Moroccan brass fixtures and hand-painted Mexican tiles. From the front porch, watch musicians play by candlelight at the bathhouse across the way. On the back patio, dim the lights and sink into a soaking tub full of mineral-rich waters from the property’s titular hot spring. Trees rustle overhead and a private outdoor shower awaits nearby.
The Lodge at Torrey Pines
Gamble Suite
Starting at $3,200 per night
Honey, you’re home. There’s a comfortingly retro flair to this 2,500-square-foot suite, a California Craftsman–style stay with hardwood Stickley furnishings (including a full-length dining table in the capacious parlor), a tiled fireplace, and daily newspaper delivery. The resort’s iconic golf courses sit scant feet from the room’s brick patio, with ocean views beyond.
The Westgate Hotel
Governor’s Suite
Starting at $1,500 per night
Downtown’s Westgate Hotel imported pieces from Europe to furnish its Buckingham-chic 19th-floor suites. Two king bedrooms, Italian marble, crown molding, a fancy fireplace, and a sumptuous sitting room with panoramic views of the city bring all the romance of Bridgerton (without the buzz-killing rules about propriety).
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa
Spa House
Starting at $6,100 per night
There are adults-only pools—and then there are you-only pools. Situated on Rancho Valencia’s 45 verdant, wellness-focused acres about half an hour from downtown, the four-bedroom Spa House comes equipped with its own natatorium in a lushly landscaped private backyard. Inside the house are custom furnishings, vintage tiling, and a full kitchen pre-stocked to your preference (so even opposites-attract couples can have their favorites). Need a private chef to cook it all for you? The resort can arrange that, too.
