The Best Hotels to Book in Wilmington, Delaware

Hit the reset button on romance, and give your love a night of grandeur in the landmark Hotel du Pont. Insist on two nights in a luxury suite, where wearing a robe could be considered overdressing for the occasion. In the morning, let Spark’d Creative Pastry + Coffee get the two of you energized for another eventful day. Downtown Wilmington is perfect for exploring on foot; afterward, return to your room for another cozy night in.

Settle for nothing less than riverfront rooms when choosing hotels in Wilmington. Hyatt Place is an arm’s length from the Jack A Markell Trail, tempting you to walk hand in hand with the Christina River wherever it leads. If you’re feeling a little shy, you can get a bird’s-eye view of the Riverfront neighborhood from your guest room. After having a few drinks while watching the river flow, you’ll be following it all the way to Hoots Hollow.

Staying at the Brandywine River Hotel in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, is like laying your head down on a history book. This 18th-century inn is surrounded by museums, offering you the chance to dive into the art, local legends and wartime history of the area without hardly getting your car out of first gear. Though it’s one of the oldest hotels in the area, it hasn’t aged a day when it comes to charm and quaint hospitality.

The Inn at Montchanin feels so far from the city thanks to its Brandywine Valley backdrop and secluded spa. To awaken pores you didn’t know existed, book a single kiwi and pomegranate hydrating facial. The 19th-century antiques in your guest room look just as polished as you’ll feel (maybe they’ve spent some time in the spa, too). Mull over the other ways the spa menu can keep you revitalized for another century over a glass of red at Krazy Kat’s.

While Wilmington has great hotels, the Inn at Grace Winery in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, has, well, a winery. Choosing a cottage or a room in the manor house is like choosing a red or a white; while each has its unique differences, both will leave you blushing with bliss. Some of the cottages are child- and pet-friendly.

You’d be wise to let the Westin welcome you to Wilmington. It’ll send your luggage straight up to your river-view room while you wait for an order of deviled eggs at River Rock Kitchen. Freshen up, then hop on the complimentary shuttle to see the best of the city, including stops at the Delaware Contemporary, the Delaware Art Museum or anywhere else within a 5mi (8km) radius.

Even if you’re not an alumnus, it’s hard not to get into the school spirit when you stay at the Inn at Swarthmore. All suites overlook either Clothier Field or the main campus arboretum, though what will catch your eye first is the artwork throughout the hotel, from the guest rooms to the communal spaces. Every piece of beautiful art is by talented alumni or current students at Swarthmore College. The campus bookstore is connected to the hotel – pick up a university sweatshirt before leaving.

Consider the Fairville Inn your private retreat on 5 acres (2ha) in the Pennsylvania hills. Small details, such as delicate chandelier lights hanging from a soaring ceiling and fresh flowers, give each room in this 19th-century house an understated elegance. For a more intimate affair, the Springhouse warms you up with a fireplace in every room, a deck overlooking the gardens and not a single soul in sight, save for the few guests you may run into on the way to breakfast.