LGBTQ+ Travel Guides, Gay Bars & Hotels Worldwide

Hostal San Lorenzo is a great choice if you want to stay right by Madrid’s gay scene without paying typical Chueca hotel prices. It sits on Calle del Clavel, just a few steps from Gran Vía and firmly within the Chueca neighbourhood, putting the area’s gay bars, restaurants and cafés within an easy walk. Despite the “hostal” name, this is a substantial three-star property rather than a basic backpacker-style hostel. Rooms all have private bathrooms, air-conditioning, heating, free Wi-Fi and TVs, while some exterior rooms also have balconies. There’s a 24-hour reception, luggage storage and buffet breakfast, giving it most of the practical facilities you need for a straightforward city break. The location is particularly useful for sightseeing too, with Sol, Cibeles and much of central Madrid reachable on foot. GayMapper tip: a very useful budget alternative for travellers who want to be close to Chueca nightlife but would rather spend their money enjoying Madrid than on an expensive hotel.

Brass Key is one of those Provincetown places where staying at the hotel quickly becomes part of your social life. The gay-operated, adults-only guesthouse spreads across nine restored historic buildings arranged around lush gardens, an infinity-edge pool and oversized hot tub. A proper hot breakfast starts the day, while the evening wine, cheese and crudité reception provides a natural excuse to meet other guests. Then there’s Shipwreck Lounge – one of Provincetown’s best-known gay cocktail bars – right on the property, so your first drink of the evening requires virtually no planning at all. Commercial Street and the centre of the LGBTQ nightlife are only a few minutes away, yet the enclosed grounds feel surprisingly private once you’re back inside. GayMapper tip: A particularly good first-timer’s choice if you want a polished stay but also hope to meet people rather than disappear anonymously into a hotel room.

Roomers is the Frankfurt choice for travellers who prefer their luxury hotels a little darker, sexier and less buttoned-up. The interiors are deliberately moody, and the Roomers Bar attracts plenty of Frankfurt locals as well as hotel guests, so evenings here don’t have to begin somewhere else. You’re just a few minutes from Hauptbahnhof and the Main, with the restaurants and bars of the Bahnhofsviertel close by and the Museumsufer easily walkable. The main gay scene around Alte Gasse is further across the centre, but trains and taxis make that an easy trip. The spa and rooftop areas give you somewhere to recover the following day, although Roomers has never really felt designed for particularly early nights. GayMapper tip: especially good for couples or a weekend with friends when you want the hotel itself to feel part of the night out.

San Francisco’s maritime history isn’t exactly subtle at Argonaut Hotel – and that’s why it works. The hotel occupies the huge historic Haslett Warehouse right on Fisherman’s Wharf, with exposed brick, nautical details and views towards Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay. There are 252 rooms and suites, many with water views, plus bike rentals for exploring the waterfront. Blue Mermaid downstairs is still known for its chowders and seafood, with one of the relatively rare restaurant patios around the Wharf. The hotel is also certified as a green business. Ghirardelli Square, Aquatic Park and the cable-car turnaround are steps away. The Castro is across town, so nights in the main LGBTQ district require transport, but sightseeing could hardly be more convenient. GayMapper tip: If you’re going to stay at Fisherman’s Wharf, pay a little extra for a Bay-view room – otherwise you’re missing half the fun.