3* Hotel Le Bleu

If you want classic five-star Manhattan in a very central location, The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue does it exceptionally well. It sits between Bryant Park and the Empire State Building, with Fifth Avenue shopping, Grand Central and the Theatre District all easily accessible. Rooms and suites are unusually spacious for Midtown, many with striking skyline views. Ai Fiori remains one of the hotel’s strongest features, serving French- and Italian-Riviera-inspired food, while Bar Fiori handles cocktails and lighter plates. There’s also a modern fitness centre and Langham Club for guests booking qualifying rooms. Hell’s Kitchen’s gay nightlife isn’t directly outside, but it’s straightforward by subway or taxi and perfectly manageable as part of a Midtown stay. GayMapper tip: Best suited to travellers who want polished, grown-up luxury and an outstanding central base rather than a nightlife-led hotel.

If nights out are a major part of your New York plans, the location of 414 Hotel is hard to argue with. It sits on West 46th Street in Hell’s Kitchen, only a few minutes from the main concentration of gay bars along Ninth and Tenth avenues, while Times Square and Broadway are equally easy to reach. Set across two red-brick townhouses, this is a much smaller and more personal stay than the big Midtown chains. Rooms face either the street or internal garden and include mini-fridges and free WiFi, while guests share a useful kitchenette area. The little courtyard is a welcome escape from the neighbourhood outside. GayMapper tip: A particularly good choice if you want to spend your evenings in Hell’s Kitchen and would rather stay somewhere small and characterful than in a large Times Square hotel.

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.

Williamsburg’s restaurants, bars and independent shops are the main attraction at Hotel Le Jolie, with the Lorimer Street subway close by for quick journeys into Manhattan. LGBTQ nightlife is spread around Williamsburg and neighbouring Bushwick, giving you a more alternative scene than the concentrated gay-bar strips in Manhattan. This small independent hotel has around 50 colourful contemporary rooms, with free WiFi, refrigerators and some views towards the Manhattan skyline. Complimentary continental breakfast and limited free parking add useful value, especially by New York standards. The location near both the L and G subway lines also makes exploring different parts of Brooklyn remarkably straightforward. GayMapper tip: Well suited to travellers who want Williamsburg and Brooklyn’s queer nightlife on the doorstep while keeping Manhattan only a short subway ride away.

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.

Close to Penn Station and Madison Square Garden, Holiday Inn New York City - Times Square is particularly easy if you're arriving by train or planning to pack a lot into a short stay. The Theatre District and Times Square are just north, while Hudson Yards lies to the west. Rooms have recently been refreshed and come with free WiFi, mini-fridges and coffee facilities, with selected higher-floor rooms adding impressive Manhattan or Hudson River views. There’s also a fitness centre and Latitude 39 restaurant for breakfast, dinner, drinks and weekend brunch. The main gay nightlife of Hell’s Kitchen, concentrated farther north around Ninth and Tenth avenues, is around a 10–15 minute walk away. GayMapper tip: A useful value option if you want Penn Station convenience, Broadway and gay nightlife all within walking distance.