Gay New York City

Few New York hotels feel as connected to their neighbourhood as The Standard, High Line. The building straddles the High Line in the Meatpacking District, putting Chelsea Market and the Whitney nearby, while the historic LGBTQ nightlife around Christopher Street and the Stonewall area of Greenwich Village is easily walkable. All 338 rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows with city or Hudson River views, but much of the appeal is downstairs – and upstairs. The Standard Grill, bustling Biergarten and rooftop Le Bain mean dinner, drinks and dancing can all happen without leaving the building. It’s lively, stylish and unmistakably downtown New York, with Chelsea and the West Village on either side. GayMapper tip: A particularly good fit if you want the hotel itself to be part of your nightlife rather than somewhere you simply return to afterwards.

The Bowery Hotel captures a darker, moodier version of downtown New York, sitting between the East Village and Lower East Side. The surrounding neighbourhood has plenty of LGBTQ bars and nightlife of its own, while Greenwich Village and the historic gay scene around Christopher Street are easily reached across downtown. Inside, hardwood floors, oriental rugs, velvet and vintage-style furniture give the hotel a residential feel, while rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and marble bathrooms. Downstairs, Gemma is a lively Italian trattoria serving everything from breakfast through to late-night food and drinks. The location also puts Nolita, SoHo and the East Village within a few minutes on foot. GayMapper tip: A great luxury choice if your version of New York is downtown restaurants, bars and late nights rather than Times Square and Midtown sightseeing.

A little extra room goes a long way in Manhattan, which is one of the attractions of SpringHill Suites by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square South. Its Garment District location puts Penn Station, Madison Square Garden, Hudson Yards and Times Square within easy walking distance. The accommodation is suite-style, with separate areas for sleeping, working and relaxing, plus mini-fridges and free WiFi. A complimentary hot breakfast is included each morning, while Bar 1905 handles cocktails and small bites and there’s a fitness centre for guests. Hell’s Kitchen’s main gay nightlife around Ninth and Tenth avenues sits farther north, but is around a 15-minute walk depending on which bar you're heading for. GayMapper tip: Particularly good value for New York if the combination of more space and free breakfast appeals.

The former SIXTY SoHo has been completely reinvented as The Manner, and the result feels more like a stylish downtown residence than a conventional five-star hotel. There are just 97 rooms at the Thompson Street property, giving it a much more intimate feel than New York’s big luxury hotels. Guests have access to The Apartment, a private lounge serving breakfast, snacks and evening aperitivo, while Sloane’s is the jewel-box cocktail bar upstairs. The Otter adds destination dining, and the seasonal rooftop gives the hotel another private social space. Wellness benefits and access to local fitness experiences are also built into the stay. SoHo surrounds you, with the Leslie-Lohman Museum nearby and the main historic LGBTQ nightlife around Christopher Street and the West Village within walking distance. GayMapper tip: A particularly stylish choice for couples who want downtown nightlife, design and a more private club-like hotel atmosphere.

Times Square can be intense, but The Times Square EDITION manages to create a surprisingly polished world above the crowds. You step straight out into Broadway and Times Square, while Hell’s Kitchen’s main gay nightlife around Ninth and Tenth avenues is an easy walk west. The rooms take a restrained, contemporary approach rather than competing with the neon outside, while larger categories add balconies and striking skyline views. The Terrace and Outdoor Gardens bring greenery into the middle of Midtown, and the hotel’s bars, restaurants and entertainment spaces give evenings plenty of energy without feeling like a conventional Times Square hotel. A well-equipped fitness centre rounds things out, and transport connections are about as comprehensive as New York gets. GayMapper tip: A strong splurge if you want luxury, Broadway and Hell’s Kitchen nightlife all wrapped into one exceptionally central stay.

Brooklyn gives you a very different New York stay, and Hotel Le Bleu makes a comfortable base on the edge of Park Slope and Gowanus. Park Slope has its own LGBTQ-friendly community and nightlife, while subway connections make both Manhattan and the livelier queer scenes farther north in Brooklyn easy to reach. The 48-room boutique hotel has a bright contemporary look, with comfortable beds, rainfall showers and free WiFi. Some rooms add balconies or Manhattan skyline views, while complimentary limited parking is a genuinely unusual perk if you happen to be arriving with a car. Barclays Center, Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Museum are also nearby, so there's plenty to do without crossing the East River. GayMapper tip: A strong choice if you want to experience residential Brooklyn rather than simply using it as somewhere cheaper to sleep.