The Empress Hotel Hotels in Asbury Park – GayOut Guide
GAY-FRIENDLY
Stay at The Empress Hotel
Check availability and book your room.
Book a Room Now
Gay Hotels ⭐ Featured LGBTQ+ Friendly

The Empress Hotel

GayOut (30) 4.1
Tripadvisor (439) 4.1
What reviewers say

Visitors frequently praise the Empress Hotel for its friendly and helpful staff, welcoming atmosphere, and excellent location. However, many guests complain about significant noise issues from late-night parties and clubs, as well as concerns about cleanliness and outdated facilities.

82
/ 100
GayOut Score
4.1 🦉4.1
✅ Link copied!
Address
101 Asbury Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
📞
Phone
+1 732-774-0100
🌐
Website
empressnj.com
💰
Price Range
$$$
🟢
Be the first to check in
Real-time community presence
No live tips yet — share what's happening here right now.

Hotels near The Empress Hotel

via Stay22
Hotels near The Empress Hotel
Loading map…

About this place The Empress Hotel

The Empress Hotel is the most historically significant gay accommodation property in Asbury Park and one of the longest-established gay hotels in New Jersey. Located on Asbury Avenue near the beachfront, the Empress has been operating as a gay-oriented hotel since the early years of Asbury Park's LGBTQ+ revival and has served as a community anchor through the decades of growth and change that have made the city what it is today. The hotel's significance is not purely commercial — it has been a gathering place, a community institution, and a physical embodiment of the gay community's investment in the city's future during years when that investment was a genuine act of faith in an uncertain outcome. The rooms are comfortable and well-located; the proximity to the beach and boardwalk and the Cookman Avenue bar strip makes the Empress a practical choice as well as a historically resonant one. For LGBTQ+ visitors to Asbury Park who want to stay in a property that is genuinely part of the community's story, the Empress is the right address.

Features

Gay-friendly (straight venue) LGBTQ+ Dancing Area Party Club Community oriented Multilingual staff Walk-ins welcome

Insider Tips

No tips yet — be the first to share a local secret!

Community Reviews

Write a Review

Google Reviews

Verified by Google
0.0
20 reviews

Based on 20 Google reviews.

Average Joe
Average Joe May 2026

Poor service

Debra Maddalena
Debra Maddalena May 2026

Staff welcoming And professional. Drag show was amazing. High energy. View of the ocean from room balcony was breathtaking. I would highly recommend this hotel. Nightlife right down stairs. Beach within walking distance.❤️

Bryan Bruno
Bryan Bruno Apr 2026
Sugarcane Recordings
Sugarcane Recordings Apr 2026

Paid for and requested an ocean side room with a balcony. The balcony door was broken in the locked position so we had no access to the balcony for 3 days. I told the front desk but feel like we lost the experience and value expected.

Ammeter Electric LLC
Ammeter Electric LLC Apr 2026

Had a wonderful stay at The Empress Hotel. From the moment you arrive, the atmosphere feels welcoming and lively, with a distinct charm that really fits the Asbury Park vibe. The staff were consistently friendly, attentive, and made the experience feel effortless from check-in to departure. Rooms were comfortable and well-kept, and the overall energy of the place strikes a great balance between relaxed and vibrant. A reliable choice that always delivers a solid, enjoyable stay.

Theo Tilton (Theotiltoncoaching)
Theo Tilton (Theotiltoncoaching) Feb 2026

This is a one of a kind gay resort on the Jersey shore in Asbury Park New Jersey fantastically located right near the boardwalk and walkable to all amenities the town has to offer, restaurants, bars, beaches, nightlife, live music, etc, drinks here are usually a heavy pour. Best dancing nights are usually Saturdays. And you can always catch a pretty damn good drag show several nights a week.

Jose Disla
Jose Disla Feb 2026

I had a wonderful experience, staff was excellent and the place was so much fun

TripAdvisor

Powered by TripAdvisor

Write a Review

Share your experience to help other LGBTQ+ travelers

Log in to write a review

Your experiences help the community find great LGBTQ+ spaces.

Log in to review

Last updated on 3 August 2026

Stay in the Loop

Get the latest LGBTQ+ events and venue openings in your inbox.

Enter your email to receive Pride event updates and new-venue alerts.

Already a subscriber? Unsubscribe

Your privacy choices. We use cookies to run GayOut and, with your consent, measure usage. Learn more