January 7, 2022
The Best of the US: Where to Stay in 4 Iconic LGBTQ Trailblazing Cities
Brandon Berkson READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Domestic travel will dominate early 2022, and there's plenty to discover in some of our most iconic queer cities. In the final installment of our Hotels Above Par collaboration, we share four LGBTQ+-friendly hotels to anchor your next getaway.
San Francisco Proper Hotel
San Francisco, CA
Many pivotal movements in LGBTQ+ history came out of San Francisco. That legacy remains evident today: rainbow flags hang from the city's iconic Victorian homes, residents from all backgrounds populate the city's different neighborhoods and progressive protocols advocate for inclusivity in everyday life. After visiting the colossal Golden Gate Park and the famed Castro District, stay at the San Francisco Proper Hotel, where renowned interior designer Kelly Wearstler's modernist, cubist, and Victorian styles artfully clash, from the eclectic lobby furniture to the guestroom wallpaper to the finishes at buzzy rooftop bar Charmaine's.
21c Museum Hotel
Chicago, IL
Constantly evolving, Chicago's diverse neighborhoods are like dozens of cities in one. Put Andersonville on your queer radar, where Eli Tea Bar, Evoke Tattoos, G&L Home Décor, and Nobody's Darling are just a handful of LGBTQ+-owned businesses that opened last year. Crash at the 21c Museum Hotel, where modish rooms accompany a contemporary art museum replete with 21st-century masterpieces and cultural programming.
Alsace LA
Los Angeles, LA
Los Angeles hosts swaths of queer-friendly establishments, from the Tom of Finland House to the Woman's Building, where one of the country's most paramount lesbian art movements started). When here, stay at Alsace LA, a 48-room boutique hotel in the city's historic West Adams neighborhood: Bauhaus-inspired curves, white oak ceilings and floors, and contemporary art are the setting.
CIVILIAN Hotel
New York, NY
NYC's queer scene is one of the world's best. As Broadway reopens, stay near the heart of it all in Hell's Kitchen, just steps from the Theater District and Times Square. The 27-story, design-centric CIVILIAN Hotel offers easy access to the best of Manhattan's gay nightlife.
Brandon Berkson is the founder of Hotels Above Par, an expert-curated guide with under-two-minute articles designed for the hip traveler who is short on time. Follow Brandon on Instagram at @brandonberksonx and Hotels Above Par at @hotelsabovepar.
