4* citizenM Times Square

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.

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.

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.

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.

There’s something wonderfully old-school New York about staying directly beside Washington Square Park. Washington Square Hotel has been part of Greenwich Village since 1902, and its Art Deco interiors, original artwork and compact rooms give it far more personality than a generic Manhattan chain. The location is superb for LGBTQ visitors. Christopher Street, the Stonewall area and the Village’s historic gay nightlife are only a short walk away, while SoHo, Chelsea and the Meatpacking District are all within striking distance. There’s also a fully equipped fitness room and a private treatment room offering massages and facials. The hotel’s neighbourhood knowledge is another advantage in an area best explored slowly and on foot. GayMapper tip: Pick this one when you want LGBTQ history, a classic Village address and a hotel that actually feels like part of old New York.

Broadway fans and gay-bar regulars are both well served at The Time New York. The hotel sits on West 49th Street in the Theatre District, with Times Square steps away and the main LGBTQ nightlife of Hell’s Kitchen only a short walk west towards Ninth and Tenth avenues. Now part of JdV by Hyatt, the hotel has 193 stylish rooms and suites with a sleek, slightly playful contemporary design. There’s an on-site restaurant, fitness centre and social spaces, while the surrounding streets contain an almost ridiculous choice of restaurants and theatres. The location lets you move between a Broadway show and a night in Hell’s Kitchen without ever needing transport. GayMapper tip: One of the easiest choices if your ideal New York evening involves theatre first and gay bars afterwards.