The Out NYC

Profile

Opening to a flurry of press in 2012, the Out NYC was designed with the gay leisure traveler in mind, though it’s by no means exclusively suited to LGBT clientele. At this self-described �straight-friendly� hotel in gay-friendly Hell’s Kitchen, the amiable, upbeat atmosphere is as immediately recognizable as the eighties music playing over the lobby’s sound system. Though you’d never guess it from the glittering, windowed façade, the Out occupies a former fifties motor lodge, distinguishing it architecturally from other midtown accommodations. It’s only three stories high, for one thing, and rooms are arranged around open courtyards, which the hotel has converted into Wi-Fi-equipped outdoor patios with Astroturf, beanbag chairs, and lawn furniture. Sticking to a dramatic, black-and-white color scheme, guest rooms are minimally decorated (no art on the walls, no patterns on the bedspreads), though each has a spacious, stone-floored bathroom stocked with a proprietary line of toiletries. For the backpacker set, the Out’s �sleep shares� are an appealing alternative to hostels: These clean quads each have two bunk beds with full-size mattresses, individual lockers, and a shared bath. No matter what room you book, use of the hotel’s fantastic facilities�which include a sauna, steam room, hot tubs, and gym�are included in the price. And it’s not just guests who fill the hotel's massive subterranean nightclub, XL. Here, you’ll rub shoulders with locals (and, sometimes, local celebrities) for all-night parties and cabarets. — Julie Doherty Meade

Friendly and accepting atmosphere for straight and LGBT clientele; full-service spa; vibrant nightlife; genial service; ample amenities included in the price of the room.

Cons
Most rooms have interior-facing windows, not street views; noise from the nightclub is audible from parts of the hotel (ask when making reservations if you require a quieter room).