Entrance to the Library Hotel in New York City
There are hotels…and then there are HOTELS. Located off the corner of East 41 street (aka Library Way) and Madison Avenue is one of the best concept hotels I have ever visited. The Library Hotel exudes a cool/intelligent/elegant vibe that is a true rarity by today’s hotel standards.
The hotel is constructed of brick and terra cotta, which really helps it stand out from the other office buildings surrounding it. The charming entrance of the Library leads you into there cozy lobby just to the right. The front desk was insanely nice and informative upon check-in.
What is so cool about the Library Hotel is that no two rooms are the same. Based upon the Dewey Decimal System, all 10 floors have their own theme, which include Social Sciences, Literature, Languages, History, Math & Science, General Knowledge, Technology, Philosophy, The Arts and Religion.
I was lucky enough to snag a junior suite with king size bed with sofa bed. I stayed on the 7th floor, which was all about “The Arts.” The theme for my room was “Fashion & Design.” Now while I could not tell you the difference between Gucci and Gap clothing or what will be “in style this Fall”, I did love the room and all that it offered. Plus it had an awesome book about rock music and fashion at the foot of the bed!
The in room amenities were abundant. They included an LG flat panel television, safe, down blankets with 100% Egyptian cotton linen, signature bathrobe and slippers (which were both comfy), iHome MP3 dock/alarm clock radio, complimentary bottled water, nice smelling bath products by Thymes Azur, comfy couch (remember this was a deluxe room), complimentary high speed internet, and of course books! Lots and lots of books!
Speaking if books, remember this is the “Library Hotel”, so expect to see a lot of reading material lying around this place. I mean from the lobby to the lounge, there were books galore. For someone like me who loves to read, I was in literary heaven.
Now the fun does not stop at the luxurious accommodations my friends. The Library Hotel also has tons of goodies for you to enjoy during your stay. Best of all most of them are free! They include:
- European style continental breakfast served daily each morning.
- Cappuccino, cafe au lait, espresso, cookies, and fruits served all day in the Reading Room on the second floor.
- Also located in the Reading Room between 5-8pm is a wine and cheese reception.
- Need to catch up on what’s going on in the world? Enjoy a great selection of local and national newspapers.
- While high speed wireless internet is available throughout the hotel, I found it pretty slow at times.
- No laptop? No problem. The hotel offers a 24 hour computer station with a printer.
- Gym buffs can get in their daily workout with a free pass to a nearby New York Sports Club.
- Tired of reading? Then choose from over 180 complimentary DVD movies located in the lobby.
- Seriously that is a lot of freebies for one hotel!
- The Library also provides discount parking nearby, room service, concierge service & laundry/dry cleaning.
Okay so I read some books, enjoyed an impromptu pillow fight in my room (which I won by the way), ate some delicious cheeses, downed some intoxicating wines, and even rented a free DVD movie from the lobby. So, what else is there to do around this hotel? Oh yeah time to check out the rooftop!
I like to enjoy a good ol’ icy cold adult beverage like the next nomad, so I was pretty excited to check out the Library Hotel’s Bookmark Lounge. Located on the 14th floor, this magnificent granite bar will be the first thing you see once the elevator doors open. Step right up and enjoy such literary libations as the “Great Gatsby” or the “Capote.”
Also on this floor is the hotel’s “Writer’s Den”, which is a quaint room that provides visitors with a fireplace, flat panel television, and an enclosed garden terrace. Step through the doors that lead you outside and take in the breathtaking beauty that is the “Poetry Garden”, which is a huge terrace that offers plenty of places to sit, relax, and get away from the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple.
One feature of the hotel that I did not have time to check out was the lobby level restaurant called Madison & Vine. But the place was busy when I walked by it (which is always a good sign) and the decor was very cool and hip. With the prices being reasonable and the menu looking pretty tasty, I will be sure to check it out in the near future.
The Library Hotel is just minutes from many top NYC attractions and landmarks such as the Broadway/Theater District, Bryant Park and Grand Central Terminal. Plus you will have the best of the Big Apple at your front door with top restaurants, shops and nightlife.
In closing, what else do you want from a hotel? What with a super friendly staff, ideal location, extremely comfortable room and tons of freebies, never has visiting a library been so much fun.
Hotel information:
- Name: The Library Hotel
- Address: 299 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017
- Telephone: 212-983-4500
- Website: LibraryHotel.com
Check out a photo album that I put together from my visit to The Library Hotel below:
Note: HK Hotels was kind enough to host me for a complimentary night at the Library Hotel on Friday August 14, 2009.