Hard to believe that even in a city like New York you can run into a rut when it comes to finding something creative and unique to spark many facets of your mind. Well I believe I found it this past weekend when I stayed at the truthfully beautiful Library Hotel, located on Madison Avenue between 41st and 42nd Street. This is part of the “Library Hotel Collection”, which boasts itself on the main page as “A Novel Approach To Hospitality”. That is quite the understatement. Two things I never thought I would say in a single sentence is “Fabulous Hotel Stay” and “Dewey Decimal System”. Why would these be together? Stay tuned to find out.
I went into my experience at The Library Hotel as I do with most of my reviews with not doing too much research and going in with low expectations as my hope when I leave is that I am blown away to a certain extent. The Library Hotel met my expectations and so much more. The hotel is in a fabulous location in the first place, as it is nearby Times Square but isn’t surrounded by the exhaustive traffic that the main part of the area experiences. Upon my entrance something that I noticed, on top of the fantastic hospitality that I experienced, I noticed an assortment of books throughout the main lobby. Now this really wasn’t a shock to me as it is called The Library Hotel, but upon further investigation I found out that each floor was devoted to each classification of the Dewey Decimal System. TOTES COOL!
For instance, I was on the 5th floor which is considered Pure Science (not my best subject in school FYI). I stayed in the epically cool Dinosaur room, which is located adjacent to the Astronomy room. The way the room was designed and colored was stunning, from its beautiful white bed and shades of brown throughout the bedroom to the variety of blues in the gorgeous bathroom. Of course there were countless books about Dinosaurs, which brought me back to my high school days but I was able to divulge in a couple of them while I stayed which made the experience that much better.
This hotel screams for a quiet atmosphere (nice juxtaposition ay). You feel as if you are staying at a hotel version of either a lovely café or an upscale Library. Something that was a bit off for me when I checked in was how small the television was, however this place isn’t designed for you to sit around and watch repeats of shows you can watch at home. I get the sense that they want you to experience all it has to offer. And boy does it have a lot to offer. When you stay at The Library Hotel, you get these fantastic amenities to go along with-
- Bountiful continental breakfast buffet every morning including pastries, bagels, muffins, fresh fruit, cold and hot cereals, boiled eggs, yogurt, juices, freshly brewed coffee, tea, espresso and cappuccino.
- Evening reception offering Prosecco, fine wines, imported and domestic cheeses, fresh bread, crackers, and crudités.
- Selection of coffee, cappuccino, teas, juices, cookies, and fruits throughout the day served in the Reading Room.
- Wired and wireless high speed Internet access throughout the Hotel.
- Access to New York Sports Clubs throughout Manhattan.
- Evening turndown service with bottled water and Belgian chocolates.
- Access to a selection of DVDs, daily newspapers and over 6,000 books.
One of my favorite parts of the Hotel was The Reading Room, which is mentioned above. It reminded me of a Barnes N Noble type, and the assortment of food they provide was quite delectable. I sat down the other day with VP of Sales Adele Gutman (sweetest lady ever!) and Director Of Sales Ivana Bolf, to find out more about this amazing location. The hotel started roughly 14 years ago in 2000, and was able to weather the tough storm that was 9/11. Something they delightfully describe is how customers will love the vast amount of rooms they have that coincide with how the Dewey Decimal system operates. “We have such unique rooms from The Fairy Tale Room to the Erotica room and the one you stayed in. We really want the people who stay here to really love each and every moment of it”. A lot of hotels have gone through its ups and downs in the flip flop of an economy since 2000, so when I asked how has this hotel stayed so popular throughout (and even named one of the best boutique hotels in NYC), the answer was simple. “We believe in making a human connection. When people come from near and far to stay with us, we want them to know that we are there for them throughout their stay. Making eye to eye connection, taking care of whatever their wants and needs and providing an excellent experience with the amenities we provide are the reasons why we have been able to do so well over the years”, says the lovely Adele.
Even if you aren’t a huge cultural or literary aficionado, I would highly recommend staying at The Library Hotel. It is such an incredible experience that anyone who is traveling near and far should stay at. Take a look at their official website for more information and check back here for future Library Hotel Collection reviews.
The Library Hotel
299 Madison Avenue (Between 41st and 42nd Street)
(212) 983-4500