New York has many gay friendly hotel options and you can rest assured that you will be welcomed as a gay traveller here.
However, even with New York being such gay friendly and welcoming city, you won’t find any exclusively gay hotels in New York or hotels that specifically frame themselves as a ‘gay hotel’. There was one a few years ago but this did not last.
Personally, we have visited New York 4 times, it’s where we got engaged, celebrated New York Pride and as a result we have plenty of great recommendations for gay friendly hotels we have stayed at.
Since New York is inherently a popular destination for gay travellers it should be a given that all hotels will welcome you. The second most important aspect we consider when we look for gay hotels in New York is location and we typically focus on key districts or areas we are interested in such as Time Square, the Meatpacking District, SoHo etc
Here are our recommendations of the best gay friendly hotels in New York based on where we have stayed plus some extras to consider.
The Best Gay Hotels in New York
Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC
This is one of the top hotels in New York found in the equally spectacular and trendy Meatpacking District. They of beautiful spacious rooms and suites, with amazing New York City views. One of their core ‘pillars’ is tech so meet you in room virtual concierge with the Google Nest Hub or work out privately with their in-room fitness partner, Mirror Workout Companion.
You can also enjoy exclusive access to the year-round heated pool or partake in the vibrant nightlife at their rooftop bar and lounge. We also ate at their American bistro, The Chester, and then enjoyed breakfast at Coffee + Cocktails which is penned as a chic way to start or end your day.
Kimpton Muse Hotel
Kimpton is a brand we have partnered with a number of times and who always do a great job when serving the LGBTQ community. When it comes to gay hotels in New York, this has a lot to offer and is close to Hells Kitchen – popular with the gay community.
Kimpton Muse Hotel is just steps away from Times Square as well as world-famous shopping, sightseeing, museums, theater and nightlife. Self described as buzzing with energy and lively banter, the hotels ambience brings your adrenaline level down a notch with a relaxing, contemporary vibe.
We stayed in one of the suites and could have easily lived there!
NoMo SoHo
Our jaw dropped a little when we walked into our suite. With floor to ceiling windows including in the shower the views here are some of the best we encountered – I could not get Ben out the shower!
As you can see from the photo, we booked a pride package room for NYC pride and loved it
Inspired by the neighborhood, NoMo represents an intrigue for the nostalgic and modern. Their building is a curated collection of vintage and contemporary art, illustrating the eclectic mix of those who made SoHo what it is today.
We highly recommend, especially during pride when you can book a pride package.
Moxy Times Square
Another great option if you are looking for gay hotels in New York is the oxy Times Sqaure.
We stayed in Moxy Times square when it was brand new and loved it.
The rooms are all boutique style, very trendy and there are loads of cool, playful touches around the hotel.
It also has a great bar and as the name suggests is a great location. There are two more Moxy Hotels in New York, one in Chelsea and one in the East Village.
YOTEL New York
This was a really cool, modern and somewhat futuristic hotel, almost like you were boarding a spaceship.
The rooms were very trendy and we loved that the bed raised up so you sit back and relax after a day exploring the city.
Based minutes from Hell’s Kitchen this was a perfect location for a big gay night out.
Element by Westin Times Square
This was the hotel we stayed at on our first visit.
Slightly older than those we have mentioned above and therefore great on a budget, we loved the location (a few blocks from Times Square), the rooftop terrace for some great views and we found the service great (they helped Ben plan his proposal to me on their rooftop!).
Riu Plaza Times Square
The Hotel Riu Plaza New York Times Square is located in the heart of Manhattan, in the renowned “Restaurant Row”, surrounded by Broadway’s most famous theaters, and a few steps from the iconic Times Square.
We have always had great experiences with Riu.
Head over to our complete Gay Travel Guide to New York to find out what else this incredible city has to offer, we wil be back very very soon!