There’s a reason 8.4 million people call New York City home: The culture, fine dining, nightlife and shopping experiences are among the best in the world. Media outlet, GayCities recommended 10 things for LGBTQ+ travelers to enjoy in NYC.
Tom Ford’s Madison Avenue flagship store. The venue pays homage to 1970s glamour, with plenty of jewel box salons to discover Ford’s latest collections. A second-floor VIP room offers privacy and easy access to the men’s collection, including custom suiting, where shoppers can discover the latest designs by the seven-time Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Award winner.
The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue. The luxury hotel is located near the heart of midtown, with easy access to queer nightlife in Hell’s Kitchen and Chelsea. Mid-century design touches permeate the property, while multi-course Italian and French tasting menus at Ai Fiori, located on-site, further inspire the senses.
Gay secrets of the Met. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 1.5 million-piece collection can be overwhelming, so time is of the essence for many travelers. Professor Andrew Lear’s company Oscar Wilde Tours offers a “Gay Secrets of the Metropolitan Museum” tour, which highlights works from Michelangelo’s “Cupid” to Picasso’s portrait of Gertrude Stein, along with lesser-known artifacts that reveal queer culture from centuries past. After the tour, check out the Cantor Roof Garden Bar for a picturesque sunset overlooking Central Park (summer through early fall).
A queer take on fine dining at Hags. The latest venture from Camille Lindsley and Telly Justice puts a fresh spin on fine dining in the East Village, with a seasonal menu, intimate dining space, and curated playlist. Available as omnivore or vegan, the six-course tasting menu (tip included) is experienced in a decidedly queer space featuring local artists.
VIP experience at Company XIV. In Bushwick, Brooklyn, Happyfun Hideaway offers a “quirky-queer dive bar” atmosphere, with tiki drinks at picnic tables and entertainment that merges dance, burlesque, and circus. Austin McCormick operates two venues a block from each other, featuring shows like Seven Sins, Cocktail Magique and Nutcracker Rouge (a naughty take on the holiday classic). For a more “elevated experience,” visit Cocktail Magique’s fortune teller, which includes a private tarot card reading, a limited-edition tarot deck by Salvador Dalí, cocktail tasting, and small bites.
A private NYC Pride walking tour. An official partner of NYC Pride, Pride Tours NYC offers a retrospective on the city’s collective queer legacy and the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Beginning in Christopher Park, with stops at the Stonewall Inn and other historical points of interest, guides recount the fateful night of the Stonewall Riots on June 28, 1969, and the aftermath that led to today’s global Pride celebrations. Private tours offer a more intimate experience and exchange of ideas.
Post-theater cocktails & celebrity sightings at Bar Centrale. While there’s no shortage of gay bars in Hell’s Kitchen (which is adjacent to New York City’s theater district), those looking for a stage celebrity sighting can head to Bar Centrale for post-show cocktails. The unmarked second-floor townhouse featues cozy banquettes, dim lighting, and an intimate bar to nibble on caviar and sip champagne. Reservations are recommended, and no standing is permitted.
An Italian feast from a James Beard-nominated chef at Ci Siamo. Out chef and James Beard-nominated Hillary Sterling leads Ci Siamo’s team at Danny Meyers’ Hudson Yards Italian outpost, focusing on live-fire cooking. Highlights include cast iron focaccia and house-made pasta. Featured dishes include cavatelli allo scoglio (with crab, chile, and vermouth), pork Milanese and Bistecca alla Fiorentina (an Italian version of a porterhouse).
A private tour of Central Park. Central Park’s 843 acres is a lot of ground to cover, but it’s the perfect time-out after buzzing around the city. Those looking for a deep dive into the park’s history can take a private tour with the Central Park Conservancy, a nonprofit that preserves and celebrates the park’s legacy. Intimate tours for up to four guests can include park highlights like Bethesda Fountain (the setting for the final epilogue in Tony Kushner’s epic Angels in America), the Great Lawn, where thousands of panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt were displayed in 1989, and Sheep Meadow, the site of the first “gay-in” after 1970’s Christopher Street Liberation Day March – the predecessor to Pride.
A bird’s-eye view from The Skylark. Thirty stories up, The Skylark offers soaring Manhattan views and format cocktails. Floor-to-ceiling windows reveal views of the Empire State Building, the Edge at Hudson Yards, and the Chrysler Building. An outdoor terrace offers even more unobstructed views. Event spaces like the Living Room offer even more exclusivity, with a private bar.
Source: Gay Cities
