Romantic dining in Massachusetts ranges from dark & cozy restaurants to urban & hip

Everything about the Red Lion Inn is enchanting, but that is especially true when it comes to dining. The Main Dining Room is romance personified: You’re surrounded by soft candlelight and crystal chandeliers; antique china and colonial pewter on the tablecloths. It’s like going back to dining in the Gilded Age. The restaurant features traditional favorites and contemporary interpretations of classic New England cuisine, with a wine list that is a perennial recipient of the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence. For cozier dining, there’s the rustic Widow Bingham’s Tavern. And in the warmer months, you can dine al fresco under red umbrellas in a flower-filled courtyard. Don’t forget an after-dinner cocktail on the porch as evening settles over the charming village.

Your dining experience at the romantic, castle-like Blantyre, winner of the Forbes Five-Star Award, might begin with pre-dinner champagne and canapes on a covered terrace. Or perhaps you’d like to sample a red wine (the Gilded Age hotel is a Wine Spectator Grand Award recipient) in the Music Room as a pianist plays. The grand hotel’s prix fixe menu might start with squab and fois gras terrine and include lobster and prawn ravioli or day boat scallops, ending with coconut mousse. The New American-French cuisine is served, according to Zagat, with “old-world elegance.” Presentation and attention are of utmost importance. For true romantics, private dining areas are available. or dinner may be served in your luxurious suite.