Which New York City Gay Hotel is Best for You?
As a gay local who has lived in this giant city for almost a decade, I’m excited to tell you all about all the most popular gay hotels in New York City you should consider for your next trip.
Gay travelers stay in all sorts of different hotels here, but there are a select few New York City gay hotels that are especially popular for their unique design, location, or parties they host.
I’ll help you decide which hotels will best suit you based on your individual preferences and type of trip.
The Standard, High Line: New York's Best Gay Hotel
Rating:
Rooms: 338
Cost: Mid-Range
Amenities:
Free Parking, Restaurants, Bars/Lounges, 24-Hour Room Service, Fitness Center
The Standard, High Line is the most well-known gay hotel in New York City. It’s pretty much guaranteed that no matter what time of year you’re visiting New York, you’ll find plenty of other gay travelers staying here as well.
Located in the meatpacking district, The Standard is home to the popular Le Bain weekend gay rooftop party. The hotel’s rooftop bar is super popular with gay locals at all times of the year. During summertime, everyone arrives in the late afternoon to enjoy drinks with a sunset view of downtown Manhattan.
The Standard is relatively affordable, but can be a bit on the expensive side. The gorgeous views from your room’s floor-to-ceiling windows will be worth the price, though. It’s not difficult to find photos on Instagram of guys posing in their rooms here!
Some of the best things to do near The Standard include visiting Little Island NYC and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Book The Standard Gay Hotel
1 Hotel Central Park
Rating:
Rooms: 229
Cost: Luxury
Amenities:
Valet Parking, Café, Restaurant, Bar/Lounge, Fitness Center, Pets Stay Free
1 Hotel Central Park is another impressive luxury New York gay hotel option. Here, you can expect impeccable service and modern design details while getting a cozy, boutique hotel vibe. Before you even reach the check-in desk, you’ll feel right at home as you smell the hotel’s signature scent.
On 58th Street and 6th Avenue, 1 Hotel is just a short walk from the Hell’s kitchen gay neighborhood, which is perfect if you plan on exploring the neighborhood’s gay bars. In this area of Midtown, you’ll get upscale Billionaire’s Row vibes and none of the congestion around Times Square.
If Brooklyn is an option for you, I suggest checking out the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge location.
Book 1 Hotel Central Park
Dream Hotel Downtown
Rating:
Rooms: 314
Cost: Mid-Range
Amenities:
Outdoor Pool, Fitness Center, Restaurant, Bar/Lounge, Nightclub, Self-Parking
The Dream Downtown is one of the best gay hotels in New York City, especially during the summer. The popular PHD parties are hosted on the rooftop of this hotel once the weather is warm enough. Gay locals love this party, and the terrace has some impeccable skyline views.
Both the interior and exterior designs of the Dream Downtown are gorgeously modern. Everyone knows the building for its signature circular windows.
Other highlights include a large courtyard pool, all sorts of unique room options, and of course, proximity to many of the best NYC gay bars in the Chelsea neighborhood.
Don’t forget a fun, sexy swimsuit for the pool!
Book Dream Downtown
The Times Square EDITION
Rating:
Rooms: 452
Cost: Mid-Range
Amenities:
24-Hour Room Service, Fitness Center, Bars/Lounges, Restaurants, Nightclub
The Times Square EDITION is a classic, unbeatable five-star New York City gay hotel that comes with a mid-range price! Any gay local will tell you that staying at the Edition is a great choice.
The interior design is masculine, modern, and inviting. I love the lush garden-inspired bar and restaurant as well as the jewel-toned furniture. Taking in the impressive views of Times Square from any of the hotel’s spacious terraces is also an awesome perk. The hotel’s location is also quite close to many of New York’s gay sex parties.
If you’d like the Times Square Edition hotel but prefer to stay further downtown, check out the equally as beautiful New York Edition on Madison Square Park.
Book The Times Square EDITION
The Williamsburg Hotel
Rating:
Rooms: 147
Cost: Mid-Range
Amenities:
Outdoor Pool, Restaurant, Bar/Lounge, Fitness Center, Café
The Williamsburg Hotel is an amazing gay-popular property, especially if you’re traveling to New York City during the summer. From the gorgeous rooftop pool to the grass-patio balconies with views of Manhattan, it’s the perfect New York gay hotel to enjoy warm weather.
Soft bright colors, unique fixtures, floor-to-ceiling windows, and open-floorplan rooms all make The Williamsburg Hotel stand out. Choose from 12 different room options, from terrace studios to loft suites. They even have a workplace suite, perfect for those who need to work during their visit.
And if you still need another reason to book, know that The Williamsburg Hotel is in one of the trendiest parts of Brooklyn along the waterfront. Many gay locals live here, as well as in neighboring Greenpoint, so you’ll have plenty of options to meet new friends.
Many of Brooklyn’s huge gay circuit parties aren’t far from The Williamsburg Hotel, so staying in this area will make your drive to local clubs much quicker.
Book The Williamsburg Hotel
Hotel Indigo Williamsburg
Rating:
Rooms: 187
Cost: Mid-Range
Amenities:
Outdoor Pool, Restaurants, Bar/Lounge, Fitness Center
Another fabulous NYC gay hotel in Brooklyn, Hotel Indigo Williamsburg offers iconic Gotham vibes with a futuristic modern style.
Rooms are big, bright, and airy. Those on the upper floors have spectacular views of the surrounding Brooklyn cityscape.
My favorite part of Hotel Indigo is the massive bar and pool deck area. Relax in one of the pool’s in-water loungers, grab a cocktail, or have lunch with a view of the skyline.
Hotel Indigo is steps away from the Lorimer L train subway, making a trip into Manhattan simple. Many of Brooklyn’s gay bars are in this area too.
Hotel Indigo Williamsburg
The Mercer Hotel
Rating:
Rooms: 75
Cost: Luxury
Amenities:
Restaurant, Café, Bar/Lounge
The Mercer Hotel is the perfect option for gay travelers who want to stay in Soho. It’s especially popular with those who want to experience local fashion and Manhattan’s top shopping district.
They pride themselves in offering a true taste of loft living, located inside a landmark Romanesque revival building. With this level of service and location, be prepared to splurge a little! Guests also rave about the food at The Mercer’s incredible restaurant.
Book The Mercer
Yotel Times Square
Rating:
Rooms: 713
Cost: Budget
Amenities:
Restaurant, Bar/Lounge, Fitness Center
Yotel Times Square is colorful, flashy, and among the most affordable New York City gay hotels. It’s located right at the southern border of Hell’s Kitchen. The hotel uniquely has kiosk check-in and checkout systems, making the process of getting to your room super smooth.
While Yotel is not my all-time personal favorite due to its location between Times Square and the Lincoln Tunnel, there are some benefits that may make Yotel ideal for you.
Specifically, Yotel offers inexpensive suites that sleep up to 3 or 4 people. These rooms come with bunk bed options, which can be amazing for LGBT travelers visiting in groups. It’s definitely a bargain considering a group of travelers might spend double the price at another gay hotel.
Even for single gay travelers, the rates at Yotel are hard to beat in Midtown West.
For quick taxi rides to both Hell’s Kitchen and Chelsea, staying in this area of New York is convenient. Streets are just a little desolate around Yotel, without much to explore.
Book Yotel Times Square
Alternatives to New York Gay Hotels
If you can’t find an affordable option or the hotels you prefer don’t have any availability, there are a couple of alternatives to booking one of the New York City gay hotels mentioned above.
Limited hotel availability during peak times is a common problem for many gay travelers who want to stay near the Hell’s kitchen gay neighborhood. This is because Hell’s Kitchen is largely residential.
I recommend browsing private apartment rentals in Midtown West, or in the neighborhood of your choice. If you want unbeatable luxury rentals instead, take a look at listings on Plum Guide.
Lastly, I’ll briefly mention a few more hotels I know that anyone visiting New York will love. Arlo Midtown is a chic and affordable hotel I often recommend to friends. Another super-luxury option in Soho is The Dominick.
Make sure to read wolfyy’s gay guide to New York City for more local recommendations and my ultimate guide to NYC gay bars for the best LGBT nightlife venues.
Interested in bathhouses or cruising in New York? Here’s a full list of NYC gay sex parties.
See wolfyy’s travel resources page for booking discounts and recommended partner sites.
