4* Hotel Mazarin

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.

There’s plenty of New Orleans personality at The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, which occupies a trio of converted warehouse buildings in the Warehouse Arts District. Exposed brick, timber beams and work by local artists give the rooms and public spaces a genuinely individual feel. Food is another reason people come here. Compère Lapin, from acclaimed chef Nina Compton, serves Caribbean and Creole-influenced cooking downstairs, while the hotel’s long-running partnership with local artists keeps changing what you’ll find on the walls. The French Quarter begins within walking distance, although the main gay nightlife around Bourbon and St. Ann streets is farther across the Quarter and usually makes more sense as a longer walk or quick rideshare. The National WWII Museum and riverside attractions are particularly convenient. GayMapper tip: One for travellers who like design, local art and great food and don't need the gay bars directly outside the front door.

For LGBTQ travellers who want to be genuinely close to the action, Hotel St. Pierre has one of the best locations on the list. It sits on Burgundy Street in the quieter residential side of the French Quarter, yet the main gay nightlife around Bourbon and St. Ann streets is only a few minutes away on foot. The hotel is spread across historic Creole-style buildings and courtyards, giving it much more character than a conventional budget stay. There are two outdoor courtyard pools, tropical planting, free WiFi and rooms ranging from compact doubles to larger premium kings and suites. You’re also within easy walking distance of Jackson Square, the French Market and Royal Street, so the location works just as well during the day. GayMapper tip: Particularly good if nightlife location matters but you’d still like a courtyard, pool and a bit of old New Orleans atmosphere.

On the quieter Chartres Street side of the French Quarter, Hotel Provincial gives you a more relaxed base while keeping the main LGBTQ nightlife around Bourbon and St. Ann within an easy walk. Jackson Square, the French Market and Frenchmen Street are also nearby, so several different sides of New Orleans are accessible on foot. The family-owned hotel has been welcoming guests since 1961 and spreads across five historic buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Rooms mix antique-style furniture with modern comforts, while leafy courtyards, balconies and an outdoor pool give the property plenty of old-New-Orleans character. There’s also the Ice House Bar and an on-site restaurant. Its Chartres Street setting feels residential compared with the busiest blocks of Bourbon Street, yet you’re still only minutes from the nightlife when you want it. GayMapper tip: Particularly appealing if you want French Quarter character and easy gay-scene access with a slightly calmer atmosphere around the hotel itself.

Hotel Mazarin sits between Royal and Bourbon streets, placing restaurants, bars and French Quarter nightlife all around you. The main LGBTQ nightlife concentrated around Bourbon and St. Ann is only a few blocks away, so you can comfortably walk there and back without needing a taxi. Inside, the hotel has a more polished feel than many of the Quarter’s smaller historic properties. Its 102 rooms feature marble floors and chandeliers, while the elegant courtyard and fountain create a calmer centre to the building. A fitness room is available, and 21st Amendment downstairs serves cocktails in a Prohibition-inspired setting that fits the neighbourhood perfectly. Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral are also within easy walking distance, making the location just as useful for sightseeing as it is for nights out. GayMapper tip: A strong choice if you want to stay close to the gay bars but prefer a slightly more refined boutique-hotel atmosphere.

Right beside Jackson Square, Place d’Armes Hotel gives you one of those classic New Orleans locations where much of the French Quarter is practically outside the front door. The main gay nightlife around Bourbon and St. Ann streets is only a short walk away, while Café du Monde, Royal Street and the river are even closer. The hotel occupies a collection of restored 18th- and 19th-century buildings wrapped around lush courtyards and a swimming pool. Rooms range from simpler interior options to atmospheric balcony rooms, with exposed brick and traditional architectural details appearing throughout the property. It’s a particularly easy base if you want to spend most of your trip wandering the Quarter rather than thinking about transport, and the courtyard gives you somewhere peaceful to retreat when you’ve had enough of Bourbon Street. GayMapper tip: A great combination of historic atmosphere, central location and sensible pricing – especially good for a first visit to New Orleans.