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The Bookworm's Guide
The Bookworm's Guide

The Bookworm’s Guide to New York City

New York City: home of Times Square, Broadway, and some of the most showstopping libraries and coziest bookstores in the world. Amid the hustle and bustle of the big city, take a trip to famous literary sites, authors’ homes and haunts, and the many hidden gems that are straight out of fairy tales. While nothing truly beats the joy of curling up with a good book, this guide to NYC offers experiences sure to excite any book lover.


Where to Stay

Courtesy of The Plaza Hotel.

The Plaza Hotel

Get fancy and spend a night or a few at the infamous site of love affairs in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and the home of the mischievous Eloise from Eloise at the Plaza. The iconic Plaza Hotel sits at 768 Fifth Avenue, overlooking Central Park, the perfect place to relax with a good book. Make the most out of your stay by visiting the spa and pool, and have afternoon tea. They even have an Eloise boutique shop and Eloise suite you can stay in!

Library Hotel

A hotel with a floor plan based on the Dewey decimal system: Need we say more? The Library Hotel features 6,000 books, 10 floors of rooms (each honoring one of the 10 categories of the Dewey decimal classification), and rooms housing 50 to 150 books. You can book a room based on a specific category, such as Poetry (room 800.003) or Performing Arts (room 700.003). This hotel also features a fitness center, 24-hour refreshments, and the Bookmarks Rooftop Garden Lounge and Terrace. If you’ve ever dreamed of living in a library, this hotel is for you.


What to Do

Courtesy of the New York Public Library.

The Flagship New York Public Library Building

Take a walk down Library Way and read the bronze plaques engraved with famous book quotes and poetry on your way to the iconic Stephen A. Schwarzman flagship building of the New York Public Library. Standing adjacent to Bryant Park with 125 miles of shelving, this library is home to renowned historical collections, research centers, and rotating exhibits. With four stories, including a free-to-access rooftop, there is much to explore in this historical building.

The Morgan Library and Museum

What began as Pierpont Morgan’s personal library has become a landmark location for any lover of literature, art, and history. The Morgan Library & Museum houses thousands of books, rare manuscripts, and original works by authors and artists. With an ornate and tranquil interior, the Morgan offers a captivating and unique escape for any book lover.

Visit an Iconic Literary Site

New York City is home to many locations referenced in iconic works of literature. When the sun is out, you can take a stroll through Washington Square Park, associated with writers such as Henry James and Edith Wharton, or Central Park, featured prominently in The Catcher in the Rye and only steps from the Plaza Hotel. Additionally, take a ride over to the Bronx, where you can visit Edgar Allen Poe’s cottage, or Brooklyn Heights, the home of many writers such as Truman Capote, Arthur Miller, and Walt Whitman.

See a Book Adaptation on Broadway

Books to Broadway is a hot topic this summer, so don’t miss a chance to see one of your favorites on the big stage. Step back in time with The Great Gatsby’s roaring twenties glamor, attend a circus in the 1930s at Water for Elephants, or visit Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1967 with the Greasers in The Outsiders. Enter worlds of fantasy along the yellow brick road to Oz with a musical inspired by the iconic Wizard of Oz and the novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire: Wicked. Or hop on your broomstick and fly over to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. If you’re more in the mood for some romance, then The Notebook is a must-see — just don’t forget the tissues! With six bookish shows, there’s something for even the toughest literary critic.


Where to Shop

Photo courtesy of Ajay Suresh.

The Strand

Home to 18 miles of books (but believed to be closer to 23), the Strand is NYC’s largest and most iconic bookstore. It was featured in the Netflix series Dash and Lily as the birthplace of a budding romance between two bookworms, and has been featured in many other films and media. The Strand features many rare, new, used, and out-of-print books. It is a must-do for any book lover visiting the city.

Drama Bookshop

If you’re looking to pick up some plays and books in NYC, then stop by the Drama Bookshop. Nestled in the heart of the Theatere District, the Drama Bookshop is a mainstay of the NYC theater scene. Whether you’re looking for a design book, acting techniques, or a new play to read, the Drama Bookshop has it all.

Albertine

Time to whip out those high-school French skills and say “bonjour” when you visit the Albertine bookstore on the Upper East Side. Albertine is the only bookshop in NYC that is committed to the French and English intellectual exchange, offering books only in the two languages. Experience the power of literature transcending cultural borders and take in the real showstoppers: the shimmering gold constellations decorating the ceiling.

Housing Works Bookstore

If you’ve seen Taylor Swift’s All Too Well short film, then you will recognize this bookstore. Housing Works bookstore is a nonprofit bookseller offering a large selection of secondhand books, with all their profits going toward fighting AIDS and homelessness. This shop also offers a cafe that is perfect for grabbing a cup of coffee or glass of wine with friends. If you visit in fall, don’t forget to wear that iconic red scarf.


Where to Eat and Drink

Courtesy of Oscar Wilde.

Oscar Wilde

Celebrate the spirit of the iconic writer Oscar Wilde at brunch, afternoon tea, dinner, or late nights in this eclectic Victorian restaurant. Oscar Wilde is as much a gallery as it is a restaurant, built in the prohibition era; its walls now sport artwork, antiques, and more from all over the world and throughout time. Currently, you can attend an Alice in Wonderland teatime on the weekend or simply sip an Alice-inspired cocktail any day of the week.

McSorley’s Old Ale House

Grab a bite at New York’s oldest continually operated saloon, frequented by iconic patrons throughout history such as Abe Lincoln, John Lennon, and Woody Guthrie. Joseph Mitchell paints a vivid portrait of the neighborhood staple in his journalistic piece The Old House at Home, and in a poem, author e.e. cummings wrote, “I was sitting in McSorley’s. Outside it was New York and beautifully snowing,” going on to describe a winter night in the bar. More recently, McSorley’s was also featured in the bookish romance series Dash and Lily on Netflix. Snack on classic bar food and sip 170-year-old ale while taking in the history of this iconic saloon.

Book Club Bar

Sip on chardonnay as you find the next book on your TBR list. The Book Club Bar doubles as a bookshop and cocktail and coffee bar. Their menu features cleverly named craft cocktails such as the In Cold Bloody Mary and Murder on the Orient Espresso Martini, wine and beer, and locally roasted coffee. Come experience the cozy atmosphere of this unique East Village gem.