5* The Bowery Hotel

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.