3* Pod Brooklyn

Space and views are two things you rarely get enough of in Manhattan, and The Dominick offers both from its 46-storey tower where SoHo meets Hudson Square. Large windows frame downtown and Hudson River views, while many of the suites provide genuinely generous living space. Wellness is a major part of the hotel, with Sisley Spa, a well-equipped fitness centre and the seasonal outdoor pool at Terrace on 7. The hotel also has Fendi Casa-designed suites and a contemporary art programme that extends into the surrounding neighbourhood. SoHo is outside the door, while the West Village’s historic LGBTQ nightlife around Christopher Street is within walking distance. GayMapper tip: Particularly good for a longer luxury stay when room size, skyline views and a proper spa matter as much as the neighbourhood itself.

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.

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.

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.

The former Radisson on Eighth Avenue has become DoubleTree by Hilton New York Times Square South. Penn Station and Madison Square Garden are around four blocks away, with Times Square, Broadway and Hudson Yards all within easy reach. The hotel adds more personality than you might expect from a straightforward Midtown DoubleTree thanks to Vue180, its rooftop bar with skyline and Empire State Building views and regular live music. There’s also an in-house restaurant, fitness centre and free WiFi. The main Hell’s Kitchen gay bars are farther north along Ninth and Tenth avenues, but still walkable from here. GayMapper tip: A particularly practical choice if you need Penn Station but still want Times Square, Hudson Yards and the gay nightlife within easy reach.

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.