Update – March 2017
It has been a while since I wrote this review of the Library Hotel & since I had last stayed there, so on a recent trip to NYC, I decided to pop in to make sure the property was still fabulous. Guess what? It is! While I only stayed for one night, my Deluxe Room with a Queen Bed (which was Eastern Medicine themed) was just as cozy as I remembered it being. A few amenities have changed, including the elimination of in-room mini-bars, but the staff is still top notch, the reading room breakfast & wine reception is still top of the line & the atmosphere is still warm & welcoming. The front desk staff will even send you home with a few books, an added touch I especially appreciated on my train ride home.
Original Review – January 2014
I have been a fan of the Library Hotel (& the entire Library Hotel Collection) in New York City for a long time. Ever since I saw this boutique property featured on Samantha Brown’s old Travel Channel show “Great Hotels” about a decade ago, I haven’t stopped obsessing about this Midtown property.
While I often stop by for dinner at Madison & Vine or a drink at the Bookmarks Lounge when I’m in NYC for work, it had been a while since I actually stayed at the hotel. So when B & I headed up to the Big Apple the weekend before Christmas to enjoy the city at the holidays, I knew exactly where I wanted to stay.
Our 11th floor room, the Ethics Room (all rooms are numbered & named based on the Dewey Decimal System), was comfortably appointed, albeit a bit New York-sized. Our deluxe room had a queen sized bed, a relatively large bathroom & a nice granite topped desk area. When we arrived around 8pm, the room had already received Library Hotel’s turndown service.
One of the nicest things about staying at the Library Hotel are what’s included in your room rate – things other hotels make a pretty penny off of, the Library Hotel offers complimentary. A daily continental breakfast & wine & cheese reception are offered in the second floor Reading Room. Coffee & snacks are also offered 24/7 in the Reading Room – the perfect midnight snack (I may be obsessed with their espresso maker that cranks out decaf cappuccinos). Wifi is also complimentary to guests, which is great considering I’ve stayed in hotels that are charging upwards of $15 a day.
The rooftop lounge, which becomes a hip bar perfect for happy hour at night, is a comfortable place to sit in front of the roaring fire & read during the day. In the warmer weather months (or in unseasonably warm weather, as it was 70 degrees the December weekend we were there!), the rooftop garden offers great views of Madison Ave. & the NY Public Library.
I love visiting the Library during the holidays, as their Christmas decorations are darling. Huge wreaths adorn the windows & book trees are stacked everywhere.
Know if you go…
– the Library Hotel offers several different room types, from a Petite Room to a Junior Suite. The website says that the Petite Room (which has a full sized bed) has enough room for two people, but I would caution against that. I’ve stayed in this type of room on a solo trip & it is TINY, even for one person. If you’re going as a couple, I’d encourage you to splurge for the Deluxe Room.
– if Midtown isn’t your thing, the Giraffe Hotel, at 26th & Park Ave, is a decent alternative. I stayed there last March & enjoyed many aspects of my stay (especially the location). Their rooms are larger than Library’s & they offer the same great Library Hotel service & guest amenities.
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