Gay Hotels Virginia

Gay Friendly Hotels in Richmond, VA (2024 Updated)

Search and book Lesbian and Gay friendly hotels Richmond, VA.

Lesbiangaybisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in the United States have evolved in recent decades. However, LGBT Americans may still face some legal and many social challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents, particularly in states with large conservative populations, such as in the Deep South; in rural areas; and in some Native American tribal nations.

U.S. federal law does not explicitly include protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. In June 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that sexual orientation and gender identity are included under “sex” as a prohibited ground of employment discrimination in the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the U.S. state of Florida may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity became legal in the state after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Lawrence v. Texas on June 26, 2003, and same-sex marriage has been legal in the state since January 6, 2015.
Vermont is often regarded as one of the most LGBT-friendly states in the country. It was the first state to legally recognize same-sex unions, when it established civil unions for same-sex couples in 2000. Same-sex marriage was legalized in 2009, and opinion polls have found large majorities in support.
Richmond has a long history of being a  gay friendly town and in downtown we can find a few gay friendly bars as well as Barcode is the most famous gay bar in Richmond, VA.
Richmond, the capital of Virginia, is among America’s oldest major cities. Patrick Henry, a U.S. Founding Father, famously declared “Give me liberty or give me death” at its St. John’s Church in 1775, leading to the Revolutionary War. The White House of the Confederacy, home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis during the Civil War, is now a museum in Court End, a neighborhood known for Federal-style mansions.

Top attractions to visit in Richmond

1. Quirk Hotel Richmond, a Destination by Hyatt Hotel 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Richmond

Quirk Hotel Richmond
Quirk Hotel Richmond

Featuring an on-site gallery that displays rotating exhibits from local artists, Quirk Hotel Richmond, a Destination by Hyatt Hotel offers accommodation in Richmond. Guests can enjoy a cocktail at the rooftop bar or enjoy a meal at the Maple & Pine restaurant, located on site.

Each room includes a flat-screen TV with cable channels. Each room is fitted with a private bathroom. For your comfort, you will find bath robes, free toiletries and a hair dryer.

A 24-hour front desk welcomes guests to the hotel, which features an on-site fitness centre. A garden and terrace provide places where guests can relax outdoors.

Set in a former circa-1916 department store in downtown, this upscale boutique hotel is 2 miles from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Featuring period hardwood floors, contemporary artwork and recycled furniture, the streamlined rooms have minibars, free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs, as well as coffeemakers. Upgraded rooms add floor-to-ceiling windows, while suites include living rooms; some are bi-level with loft bedrooms. Room service is available.

There’s a cafe, a rooftop bar, and a trendy restaurant/bar with vaulted ceilings. Other amenities include a gym, an art gallery, a patio and a courtyard. Valet parking and rental bikes are available.

Quirk Hotel Richmond, A Destination Hotel, is a boutique, design and art centric hotel opening September 17,2015 in the heart of downtown Richmond, VA’s art and design district. The hotel offers a carefully curated, artistic experience that showcases distinctive art throughout the property’s guest rooms and suites, artisan restaurant, bar, rooftop terrace bar with unprecedented views and 4 unique event and meeting spaces. Quirk Hotel reflects an ambiance characterized by style and art, capped off by a friendly service culture, exuding classic Southern hospitality.
All of these elements combined will create a venue that entices both leisure and business travelers alike. Blending sophistication, flare and humor, the hotel’s 74 guestrooms, including five suites and 4 terrace rooms, take a subtle riff on the husband/wife dynamic of the owners, culminating in the perfect marriage of masculinity and femininity.
Each room features a palate predominantly composed of warm-pink, grey, walnut brown, white and black, allowing alternating pink and grey colored walls (Benjamin Moore’s “Love and Happiness” and “Gray Owl” respectively) to serve as the idyllic backdrop to hang local and regional artwork. Historic highlights such as the original wood floors stay intact, while 100-year-old Virginia wood beams taken out of the original structure during demolition have been repurposed and used to create the glossy walnut bed frames that anchor each guestroom as well as the lobby bar, barista bar and credenzas in the meeting spaces.
Room design highlights additionally include contemporary millwork, sculptural glossy white lacquered furniture, 14 ft. ceilings, frosted glass shower enclosures and high tech amenities along with other unusual quirks within the décor and finishing. A stunning glass cube placed atop the structure and invisible to the eye from street level will house four specially designed terrace rooms.
A lovely stay at the Quirk for a few days. Central location with many restaurants and bars nearby. They also offer a shuttle within 3 mile radius. Friendly staff at checkin and a light filled open lobby. Rooms are spacious and not cluttered with furniture. A funky, pink theme throughout the whole hotel with unique art on the walls.
Great coffee in lobby restaurant and nice cocktail list at the bar. Did not eat at Maple & Pine but heard only great things about it. I’m definitely coming back in the spring/summer to check out the rooftop bar.

The Quirk Hotel, with a definite ‘ quirky and pink vibe’, is uniquely portrayed by a twist of sophistication and humour. Housed in a former, historic department store, now revitalized, the hotel is located in a plum spot on West Board Street and sits in the burgeoning art district of downtown Richmond for easy access to boutiques, galleries and an exploding culinary scene.

An Italian Renaissance building, remastered, with the resulting reincarnation maintaining the original structure and its unique architectural elements as well as the vibrant design full of key artifacts and art.

As I entered the Quirk, it garnered a lot of oohs and ahhh from me as the decor was absolutely impressive. The lobby its the centrepiece of the hotel with a dozen or so mismatched couches and chairs making it a chic and cozy spot. The ceilings are 13 feet tall, the floors are original maple and columns are made from salvaged floor joists. Ornamental ironwork and marble steps line the staircase, eclectic lightning and limestone arches dot the lobby as well as a, welcoming check-in desk, that is a brassy beauty.

The lobby is significantly open-concept, splashed with pink and gives one the feeling of expansiveness and hustle as it is the epicentre of activity for the hotel. As homage to the building’s historical department store days, giant display coves adorn the lobby encapsulating museum-like objects and artifacts like a vintage hat collection and others. The focal point, however, is a major art piece titled ‘The Pile’ composed entirely of coffee lids collected from Richmond coffee shops and trash bags. I don’t know if this is the Quirk’s answer to recycling, but in any case, I thought a more appropriate title of the piece could be: ‘Put A Lid On It’. As a nice guest touch….you can drink or eat anywhere in the lobby.
Gay Hotels Virginia
Gay Hotels Virginia

The design-driven accommodations at the Quirk are spread out, with cozy beds, soft rugs with a warm-pink, grey, walnut-brown, white and black palette. I delighted in my lofty room with historical highlights that included original wood floors while old Virginia wood beams were repurposed into glossy bed frames that anchored the room. Custom- designed furniture was as handsome as it was functional, large bright windows allowed for an abundance of nature light and incredible views and original local art hung on the walls. The bath was minimalist: with a table structure that served as a vanity, a frosted glass shower enclosure and adequate amenities and toiletries.Quirky items included a white noise machine to help with sleeping, ( I counted coffee lids instead of sheep to go to sleep), a pink ice bucket and a quipster character embroidered on the pillow.

The signature restaurant & bar, lobby located, is the Maple & Pine, and is the culinary cornerstone of the Quirk. It serves American dishes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch in it’s pink seating and s-shaped booths. A laid-back, convivial place, it is a hot spot on Richmonds culinary scene. A richly creative menu emphasizes artisan ingredients, local suppliers and seasonality. Nested at the front of the lobby, the Coffee Bar offers European styled coffee, a selection of local tea and baked goods fresh from the kitchen. Of course, there is a custom Quirk coffee blend that is packaged so ‘pinkly pretty’ that it is nice enough to drink. The Q-Rooftop Bar is a mod, expansive facility for peachy drinks, wine, beer or a snack. It’s fabulous sitting on the rooftop, sucking in the fresh air, sipping a cocktail and taking in the stellar views. Favourable weather required!

The Quirk Art gallery features artwork from emerging artists with pieces predominately pink. I liked the not-so leaning tower of pizza and the jewelled alligator. There is no real theme to this gallery, but it is whimsical and befitting the hotels name. For a bit of retail therapy, the Quirk Boutique Shop provides items ranging from jewelry, perfume, to notecards and more. How about pink and white pyjamas or other pink themed products that are on the retail block.

Service was admirable, lots of hustle from the staff who manned the lobby area, especially at eating times. The Quirk hotel is quirky, to the point of being pink on the eye, but doesn’t give you ‘pink eye’. I really liked this hotel for its uniqueness and innovation.

Gay Friendly Hotels Richmond
Gay Friendly Hotels Richmond

How much does a room costs at Quirk Hotel Richmond?

Prices start 140$/night for Double Room. The King Suite with Balcony is 225$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This suite features a private entrance, minibar and bathrobe.

Where to book online – Quirk Hotel Richmond, a Destination by Hyatt Hotel –  Gay Friendly Hotels Richmond – you can find the best hotels deals in Richmond during Richmond Jazz Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Richmond on Booking.com  or  Agoda.com  or Hotels.com  and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

 2. Embassy Suites by Hilton Richmond 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Richmond VA

Embassy Suites by Hilton Richmond
Embassy Suites by Hilton Richmond

This Richmond, Virginia hotel is near the University of Richmond and the Science Museum of Virginia. The all-suite hotel offers free shuttle service within an 5 miles radius.

Embassy Suites Richmond-The Commerce Center features free Wi-Fi and 2 TVs in every suite. Mini-refrigerators, microwaves and coffee makers are also included.

Guests at the Richmond Commerce Center Embassy Suites can use the indoor pool or the modern fitness centre. A business centre and convenience store are also on-site.

Guests can take advantage of the hotel’s free hot daily breakfast and evening Manager’s Reception. The Atrium Grill at the Embassy Suites in Richmond serves American cuisine for lunch and dinner.

Located in the West End, this upscale all-suite hotel with an 8-story atrium is 3 miles from the University of Richmond.

The modern suites come with free Wi-Fi, separate living rooms, pull-out sofas and kitchenettes, plus flat-screen TVs. Some offer conference tables and/or extra bedrooms.

Complimentary amenities include made-to-order breakfast, regular evening socials and parking. A sleek restaurant in the airy atrium serves American fare. There’s an indoor pool, a 24/7 fitness center, a hot tub and a sauna.

The Embassy Suites Richmond – The Commerce Center is located in the West End and only 3 miles from the University of Richmond. The hotel is in close proximity to shopping in Carytown, the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens and the Richmond International Raceway. Enjoy the space and comforts of our two-room suites that offer a separate bedroom and living room as well as two 37-inch flat-screen HDTVs and complimentary high-speed internet access.

The property is amazing and very modern. I love how to up your date everything is! If you are in the Richmond area, this is a great place to stay for lodging! The breakfast and the restaurant food was amazing too.

The room we had was clean and mostly comfortable. The living room area couch was exceedingly comfortable, but the lighting in this room was too dim. It made for nice ambience at night, but not for working at the desk provided, even with all of the lights turned on.

The bedroom was spacious, with plenty of room to move around. The closet wasn’t needed, and that space could have better used for other things. The mattress wasn’t the most comfortable – as a side sleeper, my hip hurt throughout the night.

The bathroom, while clean, was unimaginably SMALL . . . So little room to move around, to open and close the door once standing inside, etc. One of the worst decisions was to place a towel bar on the sink cabinetry, such that it hit me in the thigh area and prohibited me from getting close enough to the sink to use it well. The shower door closed – quickly and good force – on its own, such that I got clipped by it a few times when getting into and out of the shower. There was no fan in the bathroom, which made it uncomfortably humid after showering.

The complimentary breakfast was wonderful! Awesome made-to-order omelets and other choices. We also enjoyed the complimentary reception in the evenings.

The lobby area on the first floor was gorgeous, and provided a good amount of places to sit. As someone without a physical handicap, however, even I found it tricky to navigate through this area without bumping into chairs and/or people. I found myself wondering how someone in a wheelchair would get around easily; I don’t think they could.

The location is great! Close to pretty much any kind of business/store/restaurant a visitor might need, and mot far from places of interest like downtown, Belle Isle, the Holocaust Museum, etc.

Gay Friendly Hotels Richmond VA
Gay Friendly Hotels Richmond VA

How much does a room costs at Embassy Suites by Hilton Richmond?

Prices start 113$/night for 2 Room Suite – 1 King Bed – Sofabed. The King Suite with Sofa Bed
is 330$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This suite has a balcony, seating area and air conditioning.

Where to book online – Embassy Suites by Hilton Richmond –  Gay Friendly Hotels Richmond VA– you can find the best hotels deals in Richmond during Richmond Jazz Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Richmond on Booking.com  or  Agoda.com  or Hotelscombined.com  and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

3. Hotel Graduate Richmond 4* – LGBT Friendly Hotels Richmond Virginia

Graduate Richmond
Graduate Richmond

This downtown Richmond, Virginia hotel is 4.8 miles from Richmond International Raceway. It offers on-site dining and guest rooms with a 32-inch LCD TV.

Free WiFi is available in all rooms at Graduate Richmond. Coffee facilities are included.

An outdoor seasonal pool and a gym are available at the hotel.

On a tree-lined street in the historic Monroe Ward, this trendy hotel with mid-century modern decor has accents inspired by local tennis great Arthur Ashe. It’s 9 minutes on foot from Virginia Commonwealth University and 10 miles from Richmond International Airport.

Plush rooms offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screens, iPod/iPhone docks and coffeemakers. Upgraded rooms add sitting areas; some have sofa beds. The 1-and 2-bedroom suites offer separate living spaces; some include bunk beds.

Loaner bikes are included. Other amenities consist of a lobby cafe/bar, a seasonal rooftop pool and beer garden, and a 24/7 gym. Breakfast and parking are offered (fee).

Easy central location with comfortable accommodations. Simple reception area. The bar seemed busy each breakfast and evening.

Front desk staff upon check-in was great … super friendly, professional and efficient; however, check-out left plenty to be desired. Leave extra time if you have any questions or would like a print-our. It seems that the front desk staff is largely new.

Valet is excellent. $25/26 per day. The valet staff is friendly, responsive and respectful.

I needed to get away from home for a bit and this place was Fantastic . From the time I checked in , everybody was friendly and helpful . I loved my Deluxe king corner suite.

The room has a great a vibe and easy to feel like home . Very comfortable bed and linens . Very quiet floor, slept very well. There is a mini fridge and safe . Great shower and love the products, by Malin Goetz . The cafe , bar on the first floor has simple menu but everything was delicious! The rooftop pool was a nice way to cool off before dinner and the Birdhouse rooftop bar was so fun , with great drinks and delicious food from , burgers, fries , chicken sammy’s and oysters , to name a few.

The location was perfect for that because she could walk to the hotel.

Rooms: my king deluxe was very spacious with a couch and great city view. Bathroom is small with one sink. One annoying thing is that when I wanted to work on my computer, there was no outlet on or around the desk. It was behind the tv console and was already filled by the tv and light. Having an outlet on or near the desk is pretty basic.

Food: I sampled the lunch menu down in the lobby. It was mid afternoon so the place was almost empty. Food was tasty, and service was prompt. Later the rooftop bar was a nice place to meet a friend for drinks before going out to dinner. Fabulous view. Menus are both limited and would benefit from more healthy options.

Service: my room was clean. Restaurant staff was helpful and friendly. Front desk staff was lacking. Throughout my two days, not one person greeted me or even looked up from the desk when I entered the hotel. A small detail but makes a difference in the experience. Also check in was minimal. No offer of help with the area or suggestions for area eats. Front desk needs more training. Valet service was excellent. Friendly and helpful, offering luggage assistance and help with directions.

Gay Friendly Hotels Richmond Virginia
Gay Friendly Hotels Richmond Virginia

How much does a room costs at Graduate Richmond?

Prices start 99$/night for Queen Room. The Deluxe King Suite is 160$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

These suites come with a king bed and a sofa bed that can be converted into a queen bed. An entertainment consul divides the 2 spaces. Each space comes with a separate bathroom.

Where to book online – Graduate Richmond –  Gay Friendly Hotels Richmond Virginia – you can find the best hotels deals in Richmond during Richmond Jazz Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Richmond on Booking.com  or  Agoda.com  or Hotelscombined.com  and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

by Sorin

Sorin is a freelance travel writer. He is an experienced travel writer and traveller. Since 2012 he explored more than 60 countries on 4 continents: Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. Currently is based in Romania after spending the last 7 years in Myanmar.