Library Hotel, NYC – Check It Out
Rooms at the Library Hotel in New York are arranged according to the Dewey Decimal System.
“Hey, Elizabeth, my mom’s coming into town and my apartment is too small for her to stay here. Can you suggest a good hotel?”
As I said in Planning a Trip to New York, I rely on locals for dining tips and ideas on things-to-do, but they often ask me about places to stay. After all, they have a bed in the Big Apple, why should they know about hotels?
Library Hotel - boutique and delightfully bookish
My latest “find” is the delightful Library Hotel on Madison Avenue at 41st Street. I love this place because it feels like home, but has all the services of a good hotel. With only 60 rooms, it’s small enough that the staff can remember everyone’s name and preferences – a real rarity in New York.
The Reading Room at the Library Hotel is a welcoming space where guests enjoy breakfast and pre-dinner wine and snacks.
However, what I really love is the second floor Reading Room, lined with walls of books, where I sit in a comfy chair listening to classical music and peruse the New York Times. (I got hooked on this wonderful paper during our last stay at the Library Hotel and now have it home delivered in San Diego.)
A complimentary continental breakfast and pre-dinner wine and snacks are also served in this handsome space, and tea, coffee, fruit, and cookies are available 24/7. The 14th-floor rooftop bar and sundeck terrace are other great sit spots. On a nice day, sunlight streams through the conservatory ceiling.
The rooftop conservatory at the Library Hotel is a cozy place to relax.
Each of the Library Hotel’s 10 guestroom floors acknowledges one of the 10 categories of the Dewey Decimal System,* and each room is stocked with books befitting its category.
*Note to readers under age 30: Google “What is Dewey Decimal System?”
Room sizes include Petite, Deluxe, Junior Suite, and Love. The latter has a private terrace along Madison Avenue providing a big view of the city skyline. It features artwork and books based on the Philosophy of Love; the room’s collection of books was hand-selected by the famous Dr. Ruth Westheimer.
I thoroughly enjoyed our wonderful corner king room (#606), where I spent more time looking out the windows than browsing the book collection.
The Library Hotel offers a unique view of New York City.
The Library Hotel’s ideal location
The magnificent New York Public Library is across the street. Grand Central Station is right behind the hotel, and Times Square is within easy walking distance.
According to the feedback I’ve received, all the outta-town-moms who have stayed at the Library Hotel have really liked it.
Enjoy,
Click here to read some of the magazine articles I’ve written about New York.
The New York Public Library is a magnificent building.
Category: Hotels, USA Eastern States
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