3* Holiday Inn French Quarter

Set inside a historic French Quarter building, Holiday Inn French Quarter-Chateau LeMoyne gives you plenty of New Orleans character without sacrificing the practical comforts of a familiar hotel brand. Bourbon Street is only a short stroll away, while the main gay nightlife around Bourbon and St. Ann streets is roughly ten minutes on foot. The leafy courtyard and outdoor pool are particularly welcome after a hot afternoon exploring the Quarter, and selected rooms add traditional wrought-iron balconies overlooking the surrounding streets. Rooms also come with refrigerators, WiFi and plenty of space for a short city break. Canal Street, Jackson Square and the French Market are all easy to reach on foot, so you can comfortably explore most of central New Orleans without needing transport. GayMapper tip: A dependable choice if you want French Quarter atmosphere, a pool and easy access to the gay nightlife without staying directly above Bourbon Street.

Few places put you closer to New Orleans’ LGBTQ nightlife than Bon Maison Guest House. It sits directly on Bourbon Street, very close to the main cluster of gay bars around Bourbon and St. Ann, so getting home after a night out is about as easy as it gets. The 1833 property feels much more like a characterful guesthouse than a conventional hotel, with rooms and suites arranged around a leafy courtyard. Accommodation comes with private entrances and bathrooms, air conditioning and useful extras such as a small fridge, microwave and coffee maker. Some rooms also have balconies or exposed brick, adding to the historic French Quarter feel. Jackson Square, the French Market and Royal Street are all close enough to explore on foot, so the location works just as well during the day. GayMapper tip: One of the strongest choices if being right beside the main gay nightlife is your priority and you prefer a small, atmospheric guesthouse to a big hotel.

Le Pavillon, New Orleans, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel brings a very different flavour to the list: grand staircases, dramatic interiors and plenty of old-New-Orleans glamour, all from a central Poydras Street location just outside the French Quarter. A recent refurbishment refreshed the rooms, lobby and public spaces while keeping the hotel's historic character. Bar 1803 is a dark, velvet-lined cocktail bar, there’s a 24-hour fitness centre, and the quirky nightly tradition of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with cold milk is still going strong. The French Quarter is only a few blocks away, while the main gay nightlife around Bourbon and St. Ann streets is better reached with a longer walk or quick rideshare. The Superdome and downtown attractions are particularly convenient from here. GayMapper tip: Pick Le Pavillon if grand historic style and a proper hotel experience matter more than being directly beside the gay bars.

Few higher-end hotels put you closer to New Orleans’ LGBTQ nightlife than Bourbon Orleans Hotel. Sitting between Bourbon and Royal streets, it is only around a block from the gay nightlife centred on Bourbon and St. Ann, including Bourbon Pub & Parade and the surrounding bars. The hotel itself has real history, having evolved from the former Orleans Theatre and Ballroom, and the restored interiors retain plenty of that grandeur. At the centre is a heated saltwater courtyard pool, while Bourbon “O” Bar hosts live local music and there are several places to eat and drink without leaving the property. Jackson Square and the cathedral are also practically around the corner, making this an exceptionally easy base for exploring the French Quarter on foot. GayMapper tip: Probably the strongest upscale choice if being within a couple of minutes of the main gay bars is your top priority.

Hidden just off Bourbon Street, Hotel Le Marais feels surprisingly calm considering how central it is. The main gay nightlife around Bourbon and St. Ann streets is only a few blocks away, while Jackson Square, Royal Street and the rest of the French Quarter are all easily reached on foot. This 66-room boutique hotel centres around a pretty courtyard with a swimming pool, giving you somewhere peaceful to retreat between sightseeing and nights out. Rooms have a contemporary feel, and there’s also a fitness centre plus Vive!, the hotel’s small bar with indoor and outdoor seating. The location works particularly well if you want to spend most of your time exploring the French Quarter on foot while still having somewhere quieter to return to. GayMapper tip: A very easy fit for a first New Orleans trip – central, stylish and close to the main LGBTQ nightlife without feeling like a party hotel.

If staying right on Bourbon Street is part of the New Orleans experience you have in mind, The Royal Sonesta New Orleans puts you firmly in the middle of it. The main LGBTQ nightlife around Bourbon and St. Ann streets is only several blocks north, so bars such as Bourbon Pub & Parade are an easy walk away. Inside, things are considerably more polished than the street outside. The hotel wraps around a leafy courtyard with a heated outdoor pool, while rooms range from quieter interior-facing options to classic wrought-iron balcony rooms overlooking Bourbon or the surrounding streets. There’s also an unusually strong choice of food and drink, including Restaurant R’evolution, Desire Oyster Bar and the Jazz Playhouse for live music. GayMapper tip: Go for an interior or courtyard-facing room if you like the Bourbon Street location but would prefer to control when you actually hear Bourbon Street.