Historic, Upscale Luxury at Our Hotel in New England

Best Hotels in New England for a Couples Weekend

Exeter, New Hampshire feels like the kind of town you can actually sink into, with brick sidewalks, white steeples, and the Exeter River moving quietly through it all. For couples looking to stay close to Boston without feeling like they never left the city, Inn by the Bandstand is an easy choice, ranking high among the Best hotels in New England. Once you park, you can spend the weekend on foot, with coffee stops, boutique shops, galleries, cocktails, and dinner all right outside your door.

Start your first afternoon in downtown Exeter with a slow wander down Water Street. Pop into independent boutiques, stop for a mocha at Me & Ollie’s, then loop along Swasey Parkway for river views that make you forget your inbox exists. When evening hits, you can keep it effortless, enjoy a craft cocktail, then settle in for dinner without calling a rideshare.

Dine and stay steps from it all at our Downtown Exeter Hotel

One of the reasons couples love our downtown Exeter Hotel is how complete the experience feels. Not only are there plenty of things to do in Exeter and beyond, but the guest rooms and suites balance historic character with a polished, modern look. Everywhere you turn, you’ll encounter custom furnishings, layered textures, and small, thoughtful details that make the room elevated and refined.

Then there’s Ambrose, the inn’s on-site restaurant. It’s the top-ranked restaurant in Exeter, and a dining experience you won’t want to miss. At Ambrose, you’ll find locally sourced ingredients and seasonal menus that turn a simple night out into the highlight of the weekend.

On day two, use Exeter as your home base for the New Hampshire Seacoast. In under twenty minutes, you can be in Portsmouth for the waterfront, galleries, and Strawbery Banke Museum, or head to Rye for a walk on the sand and a classic Atlantic view along Ocean Boulevard. Come back to Exeter for a relaxed pace, a pre-dinner drink, a stroll by the bandstand lights, and a restful night in.

Before you leave, make time for breakfast, then take one last walk along the river or through Phillips Exeter Academy’s campus to see the Louis Kahn Library. Book direct, and turn a couple’s weekend into your next tradition.