Inn at Irving Place

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Those seeking flash will find nothing of the sort at this Gramercy Park bed and breakfast – guests won’t even see a sign outside this charming 19th-century converted brownstone, merely a discreet street address. The 1834 landmark building underwent a complete renovation in 1993, and was reborn as an inn designed to offer refinement, privacy and romance. Stuffed with romantic bric-a-brac, from fresh-flower wreaths to Oriental rugs and antique furniture (that admittedly hasn’t been reupholstered in decades) this B&B consistently tops the “Most Romantic” lists of glossy travel magazines. Each room, from the apartment and junior suites to the standard doubles, features crackling fireplaces, rich wood furnishings, four-poster beds and the faintest hint of rosewater in the air. Modern amenities are also available, including CD players, DVDs and Internet access. The inn’s best feature is easily the famous Lady Mendl’s Tea Salon just off the lobby, offering daily high tea with five courses of crustless sandwiches, fruits and other tasty vittles. — Sarah Niersbach