Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is a challenging viral infection with high morbidity, especially in the elderly. Rarely is it complicated by urinary retention, which is a urological emergency. Other studies have observed that reversible acute urinary retention due to herpes simplex virus infection occurs when there is an involvement of meninges or sacral spinal ganglia. However, the pathophysiology and association of urinary retention with HSE are not well understood. Also, urinary pathologies with herpes encephalitis are less recognized. We present an 89-year-old woman, who developed acute urinary retention during treatment for HSE. Catheterization for four weeks alleviated her urinary complication. In the absence of relevant urological history, neurological damage to the central nervous system (CNS) and or peripheral nervous system (PNS) due to HSV-1 seems to be the most likely reason for urinary retention. Catheterization is the treatment of choice, and patients usually recover within 4-6 weeks. Hence, we further emphasize that urinary retention is a rare and less recognized complication of HSE Type 1 encephalitis, but the possibility of recovery is high.