Library Hotel

The Scene

Filed in between the palatial New York Public Library and monumental Grand Central Station, the Library Hotel couldn’t be better located for a sightseer in New York (especially if seeing the public library is on your bucket list). First things first: walk two minutes west of the hotel on East 41st Street and you’ll find yourself at the New York Public Library. Once you’ve gotten your (actual) library fix, head back to the hotel for refreshments and set out again. One block over from the hotel takes you to 5th Avenue (or Madison), a 10 minute walk takes you to the Empire State Building, and a 15 minute walk gets you to Times Square. If you want to go any faster than that, hop on the subway at Grand Central.

The Concept

Perhaps one of the most aptly-named hotels we’ve come across, the Library Hotel has crafted itself as a living and immersive library of over 6000 books (pretty impressive for a hotel!). The floors are (loosely) classified according to the Dewey Decimal system and the rooms are numbered as though they are numbers. For example, the eighth floor is literature and the fairy tales room is 800.005. Before you fellow library lovers cry foul, we assure you that the hotel is in fact aware of its inaccuracies---fairy tales are, after all, 398.2---but it’s all in good fun. The personal libraries in each room reflect the subject listed outside the door. But don’t be disheartened upon discovering you’re in a less-than-desirable subject room; give it a chance and we’re certain you’ll be delightfully surprised! For a less orderly collection, head downstairs to the second floor where you can browse not only a larger “library” but also grab refreshment at all hours (this is also where you’ll find the complimentary breakfast served) as well as a wine and cheese reception in the evening. Head up to the 14th floor to lose yourself in the magical Poetry Garden (poetry included) and the Writer’s Den (which combine in the evening to create the Bookmarks Lounge).

The Look

The Library Hotel opts for a clean and comfortable style in its spaces. Dark woods and creamy neutrals reminiscent of a cozy library play against each other, allowing the libraries everywhere to shine stylishly. The in-room personal libraries are ample but not overbearing, filled with books all about the room’s theme and complemented by the framed art above the bed (also related to the room’s theme). Some rooms feature balconies, but you can easily substitute the Poetry Garden if you’re not looking for exclusivity. City views look out onto busy Madison Avenue and as such you may get some slight street noise, but we chock it up to an authentic New York City experience. Petite rooms are exactly that---petite---and while they’re more than adequate in terms of size if you’re used to Parisian hotels, we recommend scaling up to a deluxe room or higher if space is a concern for you.

In Short

The Library Hotel is as close as it gets to the best sort of library---one where you can be at home and lose yourself in a great book or an excellent poem…but are also allowed to eat and drink with your friends.