Best Gay Hotels in New York City: Where to Stay for Gay Nightlife, Broadway & a Cruisier Weekend
New York City doesn't really have a gay hotel anymore.
At least, not in the way people usually mean when they search for one.
The old OUT NYC in Hell's Kitchen is gone, but somehow the internet refuses to let that information die. 😂 What NYC does have is a ridiculous number of LGBTQ-friendly hotels, and the trick is figuring out which neighborhood makes sense for the kind of gay weekend you actually want to have.
Want to stumble home from Hell's Kitchen bars at 2 AM? Stay in Midtown West.
Want historic gay New York? Look at Greenwich Village.
Want leather, nightlife and Chelsea energy? Stay around Chelsea.
Want Broadway, Times Square and then a night with the gays? There are hotels that put you right in the middle of all of it.
And if you're a little more interested in the sexier side of NYC, I'll get into that too.
Me upstate, just in time for Fall
Where Should Gay Men Stay in NYC?
For most gay travelers, Hell's Kitchen is the easiest place to base yourself for nightlife. The neighborhood has become one of the main centers of Manhattan's gay bar scene, particularly around Ninth and Tenth Avenues.
Chelsea is another great option, especially if you want a neighborhood that combines gay history, nightlife, restaurants, the High Line and the leather/fetish scene around West 28th Street.
Then there's Greenwich Village, which is where you go when you want that classic gay New York experience: Stonewall, Christopher Street, West Village bars, restaurants and plenty of history.
And then there are the Broadway queens.
If your trip involves a show every night, Times Square can actually make a lot of sense. You're close to Broadway and still only a short trip from Hell's Kitchen.
Basically, don't just search for “gay hotel NYC.” Pick your neighborhood first.
🏨 IN A RUSH? BOOK NOW!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Romer Hell's Kitchen — Gay nightlife right outside your door – BOOK HERE
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Moxy NYC Chelsea — Trendy, social and close to Chelsea nightlife – BOOK HERE
⭐⭐⭐⭐ citizenM New York Times Square — Great location for Broadway, Hell's Kitchen and nightlife – BOOK HERE
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Hotel Chelsea — Historic, iconic and surrounded by queer NYC history – BOOK HERE
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Standard, High Line — Sexy downtown stay with a nightlife-heavy vibe – BOOK HERE
The Best Gay-Friendly Hotels in New York City
1. Moxy NYC Chelsea
Best for: Gay travelers who want a stylish, social hotel
Where: Chelsea
Price: $$$
Moxy Chelsea is one of the easiest hotels to recommend for an LGBTQ traveler in NYC.
The hotel has a Safe Space certification through the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative and has built LGBTQ inclusivity into the property rather than simply putting a rainbow flag on Instagram during Pride. It also has a rooftop bar, social spaces and a lively atmosphere.
You're in Chelsea, close to the High Line, Chelsea Market, nightlife and the West 28th Street leather/fetish scene. And getting up to Hell's Kitchen is pretty easy.
The vibe: Come for the hotel. Stay because you accidentally made friends at the bar.
2. Romer Hell's Kitchen
Best for: Being right by the gay nightlife
Where: Hell's Kitchen
Price: $$–$$$
If you're telling me, “Nick, I don't care about being fancy. I want to be where the gays are,” this is the kind of hotel I'd look at.
Romer is on Eighth Avenue in Hell's Kitchen, putting you right on the eastern edge of the neighborhood's gay nightlife. Current NYC LGBTQ travel guides specifically highlight the hotel's location for accessing the bar scene.
The big advantage here is simple: you can go out without making transportation part of the evening.
Dinner. Drinks. Gay bars. Maybe another bar. Maybe a terrible decision.
Then you walk back.
That's the dream.
3. citizenM New York Times Square
Best for: Gay nightlife + Times Square convenience
Where: Midtown / Times Square
Price: $$–$$$
citizenM is one of those hotels where the rooms are intentionally compact because, frankly, you're in New York City. You shouldn't be spending much time in your room anyway.
The hotel is at 218 West 50th Street, putting you close to Times Square and within walking distance of the Hell's Kitchen gay bar scene. Current LGBTQ travel guides specifically recommend it as a base for the neighborhood's nightlife.
There's also a rooftop bar, so you can have a drink without immediately committing to a full night out.
Although, knowing you, you'll probably go out anyway.
4. Arlo Midtown
Best for: Stylish midrange stay near Hell's Kitchen
Where: Midtown West
Price: $$$
Arlo Midtown is a good middle ground if you want something stylish but don't want to pay luxury-hotel prices just to sleep.
It's at 351 West 38th Street, putting you close to Hell's Kitchen, Penn Station, Times Square and Midtown attractions. Current LGBTQ hotel guides include it as a convenient base for gay nightlife.
There's also a rooftop, restaurant and social spaces, so it works well if you're doing a little bit of everything.
Sightseeing during the day.
Gay bars at night.
Questionable brunch decisions the next morning.
5. Hilton New York Times Square
Best for: Broadway + Midtown + easy access to Hell's Kitchen
Where: Times Square
Price: $$$
Here's one I specifically wanted to add because the location makes a lot of sense for gay travelers who are also doing Broadway.
Hilton New York Times Square is at 234 West 42nd Street, right in the middle of the Broadway/Times Square action. The hotel is also close enough to Hell's Kitchen that you can easily head west for dinner, drinks and gay nightlife.
So you can have your very touristy New York moment during the day and then head toward Hell's Kitchen when the sun goes down.
Broadway → dinner → Hell's Kitchen → gays.
Honestly, that's a pretty solid itinerary.
🦁 6. Hilton New York Times Square — THE LION KING Royal Suite
Best for: Broadway queens, Disney adults & anyone who wants to be EXTRA
Where: Times Square
Price: $$$$
Okay, Broadway queens, this one is for you.
Hilton New York Times Square has a dedicated THE LION KING Royal Suite, created through its partnership with Disney Theatrical Group.
And baby, they did not phone this one in.
The one-bedroom suite is inspired by the Pride Lands and the Broadway production, with hand-painted patterns, African-inspired artwork, costume sketches from the musical, themed furnishings, plants and a jungle-inspired bathroom.
The experience package also includes themed cocktails or mocktails, a Rafiki wake-up call, The Lion King merchandise, a special souvenir, breakfast for two and daily parking. Guests staying in the suite can also access a special rate for premium Broadway seats.
And you're only three blocks from the Minskoff Theatre, where The Lion King plays.
Hilton originally announced the suite starting at $500 per night, although current rates can obviously vary depending on dates and availability.
This isn't the room you book because you're trying to save money.
This is the room you book because you have decided your Broadway trip needs a plot.
Check the Lion King Royal Suite →
7. The Standard, High Line
Best for: A sexy downtown NYC weekend
Where: Meatpacking District
Price: $$$$
Okay, now we're getting into the vibe.
The Standard, High Line sits in the Meatpacking District right along the High Line and has the kind of rooftop/nightlife energy that makes you feel like something could happen even if you haven't technically made any plans.
And that is a dangerous thing to tell a gay man in New York.
You're close to Chelsea, Greenwich Village and downtown nightlife, while the hotel itself has restaurants, bars and Le Bain on the rooftop. Literally the BEST and MOST gayest time I’ve ever had in NYC tbh. Its a little pricey but worth the view.
This isn't a “gay hotel.”
It's more: gay-friendly, sexy, downtown Manhattan, everybody looks good and somebody is probably making a bad decision.
8. The Hotel Chelsea
Best for: Historic gay NYC
Where: Chelsea
Price: $$$$
If you want your hotel to actually feel like New York, rather than another glass tower with a lobby that smells like a luxury candle, The Hotel Chelsea is a fun option.
You're in one of Manhattan's most historically significant neighborhoods, surrounded by restaurants, nightlife, the High Line and Chelsea's LGBTQ history.
It's a good choice if your trip isn't only about bars.
Spend the afternoon wandering Chelsea. Hit the High Line. Have dinner. Get drinks.
Then go see what the gays are doing.
Gay history by day. Gay chaos by night.
9. ModernHaus SoHo
Best for: Stylish downtown travelers
Where: SoHo
Price: $$$$
ModernHaus SoHo is for the person who wants to stay downtown rather than around Times Square.
You're surrounded by restaurants, shopping, galleries and nightlife, with easy access to Greenwich Village and Chelsea. TravelGay currently lists the hotel as LGBTQ-friendly and highlights its proximity to the Village gay scene.
The hotel also has restaurants, bars and a rooftop pool, so you don't necessarily have to leave the property to have a night out.
This is more gay New York lifestyle than “I'm staying here because I want to be next to the gay bars.”
10. Walker Hotel Greenwich Village
Best for: Classic Greenwich Village
Where: Greenwich Village
Price: $$$$
Walker Hotel Greenwich Village is a great choice if you want that old-school downtown Manhattan feeling.
It's on West 13th Street, putting you in Greenwich Village near Washington Square Park, Christopher Street and the historic LGBTQ+ core of the city.
TravelGay currently identifies Greenwich Village and Chelsea as popular areas for gay travelers, and the hotel itself leans into the neighborhood's character rather than feeling like a generic Midtown property.
This is the hotel I'd pick for: cocktails → cute dinner → Village wandering → gay bars → pretending you aren't checking Grindr while walking home.
11. Gansevoort Meatpacking
Best for: Rooftop pool + upscale downtown nightlife
Where: Meatpacking District
Price: $$$$
Gansevoort is another good option if you're looking for something more upscale and nightlife-oriented.
It's at 18 Ninth Avenue in the Meatpacking District, close to the High Line and Whitney Museum, with a rooftop space, heated pool, bar and lounge.
It's not a gay hotel, but the location is excellent if you want downtown nightlife with easy access to Chelsea and the Village.
This is more “sexy hotel weekend” than “gay bar crawl.”
🍆 Want Something a Little Cruisier?
Here's where I want to make an important distinction.
There aren't current NYC hotels I'd confidently call official “cruisy gay hotels.”
That's different from saying certain hotels put you very close to the gay nightlife, leather scene and adult-oriented venues.
So if you're coming to NYC specifically hoping to meet men, I'd choose the neighborhood first.
Hell's Kitchen
This is your gay nightlife headquarters.
Current travel guides describe the main gay bar corridor as running along Ninth and Tenth Avenues roughly through the 40s and 50s, with venues including Industry, Rise, Hardware and Flaming Saddles.
Stay here if your priority is: Bars → dancing → flirting → walking home.
Good hotel choices:
Romer Hell's Kitchen
citizenM Times Square
Arlo Midtown
Staypineapple Midtown
Hilton New York Times Square
Chelsea
Chelsea is a better choice if you're interested in gay history, leather/fetish nightlife, restaurants and the High Line.
The Eagle NYC anchors part of the leather/fetish scene around West 28th Street.
Look at:
Moxy NYC Chelsea
The Hotel Chelsea
The Standard, High Line
Gansevoort Meatpacking
Greenwich Village
This is classic gay New York.
Stonewall, Christopher Street, the West Village and decades of LGBTQ history are all here.
Stay here if you're looking for a more neighborhood-oriented gay trip rather than simply being close to the biggest concentration of bars.
Is There Still a Gay Hotel in New York City?
No. Not in the traditional sense.
The famous OUT NYC in Hell's Kitchen closed in 2016. Current NYC gay-travel guides instead point travelers toward LGBTQ-friendly hotels in Hell's Kitchen, Chelsea, Greenwich Village and Midtown.
And honestly, I don't think that's a bad thing.
New York has gotten to the point where you don't necessarily need a hotel exclusively for gay men.
You just need to stay in the right neighborhood.
Where Should You Stay Based on Your Trip?
Final Thoughts
New York doesn't really need a gay hotel.
The whole damn city is gay enough. 😂
The bigger question is what kind of gay trip are you having?
If you're coming primarily for nightlife, I'd stay around Hell's Kitchen. If you're interested in leather, Chelsea and Meatpacking make more sense. If you want the historic side of gay New York, go Greenwich Village.
And if you're coming for Broadway?
Baby, stay in Times Square and go see the show.
And if you're a Lion King Broadway queen with a little extra money in the budget, the Royal Suite at Hilton Times Square is absolutely the kind of ridiculous travel experience I'd want my readers to know exists.
Because that's one of the things I want this site to do differently. I'm not just going to tell you “here are 10 hotels in New York.”
I'm going to tell you:
Here's where I'd actually stay depending on the kind of trip you're trying to have.
FAQ: Gay Hotels in New York City
Is there a gay hotel in New York City?
There isn't currently a dedicated gay hotel comparable to the former OUT NYC. The best approach is to choose a hotel in or near one of NYC's major LGBTQ+ neighborhoods, especially Hell's Kitchen, Chelsea or Greenwich Village.
What is the best area to stay for gay nightlife in NYC?
Hell's Kitchen is currently one of the easiest bases for gay nightlife, with a high concentration of gay bars along Ninth and Tenth Avenues.
What is the best area for gay travelers in NYC?
It depends on what you're looking for. Hell's Kitchen is convenient for nightlife, Chelsea combines LGBTQ+ history and nightlife with attractions like the High Line, while Greenwich Village offers the classic historic gay New York experience.
Is there a cruisy hotel in New York City?
There aren't hotels I'd confidently describe as dedicated cruising hotels. Instead, stay near the neighborhood or nightlife scene you want to experience. Hell's Kitchen is particularly convenient for gay bars, while Chelsea has a stronger connection to leather and fetish nightlife.
Is Hilton New York Times Square good for gay travelers?
It's particularly useful for travelers combining Broadway, Times Square and Hell's Kitchen nightlife. Its 234 West 42nd Street location puts you directly in the Broadway area while keeping the gay nightlife of Hell's Kitchen relatively accessible.
Does Hilton New York Times Square have a Lion King suite?
Yes. Hilton New York Times Square has THE LION KING Royal Suite, an immersive one-bedroom suite inspired by Disney's Broadway production. The package includes themed amenities and a special rate for premium Broadway tickets for eligible guests.
Related Posts:
Looking for the best gay hotels in NYC? Here are the best gay-friendly, gay-popular and cruisy hotels near Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea, Greenwich Village and more.