5* 1 Hotel Central Park

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.

From West 40th Street, AC Hotel New York Times Square puts Broadway, Bryant Park, Times Square and the transport hub at Port Authority within a few blocks. Hell’s Kitchen’s main gay nightlife around Ninth and Tenth avenues is also an easy walk north-west. The hotel has the clean, contemporary look associated with the AC brand, with streamlined rooms and a fitness centre. The real highlight is Castell, the all-season rooftop lounge on the 21st floor, where cocktails come with panoramic Manhattan views. Boqueria adds Spanish-inspired dining downstairs. Its position works especially well when you want to move between sightseeing, theatres and nightlife without spending half the trip on the subway. GayMapper tip: A good middle ground between a functional Midtown hotel and something with a little more atmosphere – particularly if you’ll actually use that rooftop bar.

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 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.

Walker Hotel Greenwich Village feels properly rooted in its neighbourhood rather than transplanted into it. Set on West 13th Street, it’s close to Union Square while the historic LGBTQ heart of Greenwich Village around Christopher Street, Stonewall and the surrounding gay bars is an easy walk south. The building channels 1920s New York with Art Deco details, warm lighting and an intimate lobby. Society Cafe serves seasonal American food, while regular live jazz in the Parlour gives evenings at the hotel a particularly relaxed Village feel. You’re also well placed for Chelsea, the Meatpacking District and Washington Square, with several subway lines nearby for everything farther afield. GayMapper tip: A lovely couples’ choice if you want Greenwich Village atmosphere and gay history nearby without staying in the middle of Midtown.

Just one block from Central Park, 1 Hotel Central Park takes the usual Midtown luxury formula in a much more natural direction. Reclaimed materials, greenery and sustainable design run throughout the property, including the distinctive living green façade. Rooms combine warm timber and stone with modern comforts, while the fitness centre and in-room wellness touches make it easy to keep some semblance of a routine amid New York excess. Jams, from chef Jonathan Waxman, serves seasonal market-led food downstairs. You’re brilliantly placed for Central Park, Fifth Avenue and MoMA. The main gay nightlife of Hell’s Kitchen is farther west, but easily reached on foot or with a quick taxi or subway hop. GayMapper tip: An excellent luxury choice if sightseeing, Central Park and sustainability matter more than having a gay bar around the corner.