Getting Busy in NYC – Library Hotel Review

Getting Busy in NYC – Library Hotel Review

I love a good layover. What many perceive as an annoyance I see as an opportunity to see somewhere extra or somewhere new. If long layovers were branded as “Bonus Stops” maybe more people would see this. Anyway, I recently planned one of these “Bonus Stops” for the always-awesome New York City. I had a packed itinerary to document and share what one could do with little time in NYC but news of a canceled 2-week press trip in South Africa kiboshed my layover fun. Thankfully I was staying at the Library hotel, which offered everything I needed in that moment.

Change of Plans

We arrived early at the Library Hotel with the intention of dropping off our bags and heading out. With an African safari looming and no Internet access to be had during that time I was scrambling to sort out my upcoming time in South Africa.  Sorry New York, you will have to wait. Instead, we were holed up in the Library Hotel, which turned out to be the perfect place to get some work done.

Quiet Please

On the 2nd floor of this Library themed hotel you will find the perfect spot to get busy in NYC. Comfortable chairs, tables, a high-end espresso machine, and an endless array of pastries and snacks were the perfect complement to the high-speed Internet that we utilized until our room was ready. If more libraries were like this the world would have fewer illiterate people!

New York Style

Surprisingly our room did not take long to be cleaned however the 2nd-floor lounge was so perfect we stayed working away for a couple more hours. When we finally arrived in our room we were happy to find it beyond comfortable and shockingly large, especially for New York.

Books for Days

The literature theme at the Library Hotel can be found throughout. Floors and room numbers are based on the Dewy Decibel System and books can be seen (and read) in every room in the building. Don’t feel like reading? Each room is equipped with a DVD player and movies can be checked out from the front desk. If that isn’t enough, the Library Hotel is located on Library Way and is steps from the New York City Library.

Also near the Library Hotel, you will find famous sights like the Empire State Building, Central Park, and Grand Central Terminal  – perfect for getting in and out of Manhattan.

Staying In

After freshening up and enjoying our room for a bit we checked out the beautiful rooftop terrace and bar for a drink before heading back to the 2nd-floor lounge for an amazing wine and cheese hour that somehow lasts between 5:00 and 8:00. It was as if the Library Hotel didn’t want to let us go!

Although I didn’t get my New York layover itinerary filled I did get to enjoy all that the Library Hotel has to offer and found it to be exactly what I needed. Even if my plans hadn’t changed and I wasn’t forced to stay in for a few hours I still would have found it hard to leave. I mean the Library Hotel’s 2nd-floor lounge has bottomless wine and champers people! If that wasn’t enough, we found it hard to leave our massive Library Hotel room the next day. It provided a little sanctuary away in one of the busiest cities in the world.

The Library Hotel. Big fan and hope to be back soon!

What say you?
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For more reviews from New York and beyond see HERE.

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Although I was provided a complimentary stay at the Library Hotel NYC,
the experience, opinions, and productivity is my own.