New York City is one of the most multicultural melting pots in the world. It’s often said that if you can’t find it in New York, then you won’t find it anywhere. Whether you seek obscure ethnic food or a new international lover, the city is a playground of discovery.

The classic gayborhood is of course Chelsea, on the West Side of Manhattan. Here you will find classics like the Eagle, Splash and Barracuda. This is the kingdom of the fabled Chelsea boy, well-groomed men with muscles bursting from T-shirts and tight jeans. And while this may have become more of a stereotype, Chelsea is a pretty good place to come if you are looking for a well-groomed (and perhaps well-heeled) Manhattanite.

Things – well, new mothers with strollers – have recently been altering the gay experience, expanding the gay northwards to Hell’s Kitchen and eastwards to Brooklyn. This isn’t such a bad thing actually, because it has created unique gay cultures in each of these neighborhoods. Therapy is a favorite in Hell’s Kitchen and Sugarland in Brooklyn is simply pure dive deliciousness.
Another mainstay of LGBT life is the historic center of the gay rights movement, Christopher Street. The oldest street in the West Village is home to the Stonewall Inn, where the gays stood up to a police raid in June of 1969. Nearby is also the popular lesbian bar Henrietta Hudson and the Monster, a veritable Village institution.

Whichever way you bite it, the Big Apple is a savory treat that can be nibbled or gulped down whole. High-rollers live large while tourists wander open-mouthed, contributing to a diverse and lively cultural tapestry. You can spend a breathless 48 hours, or savor a languid week, and always be left wanting more.