5* Crosby Street Hotel

Crosby Street Hotel brings a very British sense of playful luxury to SoHo. Each of the rooms and suites is individually designed by Kit Kemp, mixing bold colour, contemporary art and patterns in a way that feels genuinely distinctive rather than simply expensive. Guests have their own drawing room and leafy courtyard Sculpture Garden, while the Crosby Bar opens onto an ivy-covered terrace and serves throughout the day. There’s also a fully equipped gym and private screening room. For LGBTQ travellers, SoHo puts you close to the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, while the historic gay nightlife around Christopher Street and Greenwich Village is a longer walk or very short taxi/subway trip west. GayMapper tip: One for design lovers – especially couples looking for a luxurious downtown hotel with far more personality than the traditional Fifth Avenue crowd.

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.

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.

This is one of those New York locations that makes sightseeing remarkably straightforward. Courtyard by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square sits close to Bryant Park, with Times Square, Broadway, Macy’s, Penn Station and the Empire State Building all comfortably walkable. Rooms are modern and practical, with comfortable bedding, good workspaces, Smart TVs and free WiFi. There’s a fitness centre downstairs, while nosh! serves breakfast with Starbucks coffee before switching to light bites and cocktails later in the day. For LGBTQ nightlife, the main Hell’s Kitchen gay-bar area around Ninth and Tenth avenues is farther west and north, but still easily reached on foot or with a very short taxi ride. GayMapper tip: Best for travellers who want an ultra-central sightseeing base with the gay scene accessible rather than directly outside the door.

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.

The former SIXTY SoHo has been completely reinvented as The Manner, and the result feels more like a stylish downtown residence than a conventional five-star hotel. There are just 97 rooms at the Thompson Street property, giving it a much more intimate feel than New York’s big luxury hotels. Guests have access to The Apartment, a private lounge serving breakfast, snacks and evening aperitivo, while Sloane’s is the jewel-box cocktail bar upstairs. The Otter adds destination dining, and the seasonal rooftop gives the hotel another private social space. Wellness benefits and access to local fitness experiences are also built into the stay. SoHo surrounds you, with the Leslie-Lohman Museum nearby and the main historic LGBTQ nightlife around Christopher Street and the West Village within walking distance. GayMapper tip: A particularly stylish choice for couples who want downtown nightlife, design and a more private club-like hotel atmosphere.