5* The Dominick

For a gay weekend centred on Hell’s Kitchen, citizenM New York Times Square is exceptionally well placed. You’re on West 50th Street, with Broadway and Times Square in one direction and the main gay bars around Ninth and Tenth avenues only a few minutes away in the other. Rooms are deliberately compact but cleverly designed around an XL king bed, rainfall shower and tablet-controlled lighting, blinds and entertainment. Downstairs, the oversized living-room-style lobby gives you much more space, canteenM serves food and drinks around the clock, and the rooftop cloudM bar has excellent Manhattan views. There’s also an unusually impressive high-floor gym. GayMapper tip: Ideal for couples or solo travellers who are happy with a compact room in return for one of the best combinations of design, social spaces and gay-nightlife location in Midtown.

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.

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.

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.

Pod Brooklyn takes the familiar New York problem of tiny hotel rooms and turns it into part of the concept. The compact rooms are cleverly designed for travellers who expect to spend far more time exploring Williamsburg than sitting in their hotel. The buildings are linked by courtyards and outdoor spaces, including several roof decks, giving the property a sociable feel despite the small bedrooms. The Metropolitan Avenue subway is close by, while Bedford Avenue, restaurants and bars are all easily walkable. For LGBTQ visitors, Williamsburg has its own queer venues and Bushwick’s alternative LGBTQ nightlife is nearby, while the L train gets you to Manhattan quickly when you want a change of scene. GayMapper tip: Particularly good for solo travellers and short stays when location and price matter much more than having a large bedroom.

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.