Finding a good hotel in New York City is a challenge on multiple fronts. You want it all : a good location, easy access to Subway and tourist attractions, reasonable rates (reasonable and NYC - you got to be kidding!) and above all, a space larger than an attic to justify the price tag. A few freebies such as complimentary breakfast would be nice but hey, this is The Big Apple and we were going on Thanksgiving weekend. We couldn't have it all and that too at start of peak season. After a lot of internet searches, city guides and friends' recommendation, I settled for The Library Hotel at Madison Avenue for our 4 night stay.
I had a few queries and opted to book via email rather than the hotel's web engine. My first email was swiftly responded to by Timothy Gerhold who was great to deal with over the next few days. With the booking quickly out of the way, he was immensely helpful with advice and even gave us a post-Sandy update. NYC room sizes are infamous and with our luggage, we opted to upgrade to the Queen size bed. Surprise of surprises, American breakfast was part of our package and this is no mean freebie to get in American hotels. It seems we did manage to get it all at a busy time of the year !
After a gruelling 2 hour immigration queue at JFK, we managed to reach Library Hotel by 5 pm. The hotel is located a few steps from the New York Public Library and has an unassuming entrance on the uber posh Madison Avenue. Check-in was smooth with the staff informing us the hotel offers free wi-fi throughout the premises. The second floor book lounge is open all day serving breakfast in the mornings and hosting a complimentary wine and cheese reception daily from 5 pm to 8 pm. The Library Hotel is themed around books and even the rooms are numbered according to the Dewey decimal system. We had requested for a higher floor to avoid the city traffic noise and thankfully our request was fulfilled. We were in the 'paranormal' themed room 1100.005. The bed was clean and comfortable and the bathroom was relatively spacious. An abundance of books dealing with the paranormal theme line the room. I really liked the way standard 'Do Not Disturb' and 'Please Make my Room' room tags were replaced with the more quirky 'Shh... I am reading' and 'Please Dust my Books' tags.
The breakfast is sumptuous and includes cereals, fruits, hard boiled eggs and breads which will be toasted on request. Fresh orange juice and other beverages are also available. The real winner was the evening wine and cheese reception which offered a selection of white, red and sparkling wine (Prosecco). These are accompanied by nibbles such as sesame sticks, soft buns and butter and of course, cheese of a few types. The lounge is a wonderfully done up area with a wide selection of books, daily newspapers and plenty of magazines. If it weren't for the call of of the city, we could have spent hours at The Library Hotel soaking in the books. We dined one day at the 'Madison and Vine' restaurant which was as top-class as the hotel. Dishes are appropriately sized, decently priced and service is unobtrusive and efficient. We really enjoyed the Mushroom Ravioli (($19) and the generous portion of Atlantic Salmon ($26). We also paid a fleeting visit to 'Bookmarks', the rooftop lounge at The Library Hotel. With its cosy ambience and covered / al fresco seating, it looked to be a popular hang-out for the Wall Street type crowd.
The staff at Library Hotel is undoubtedly its best asset. From the bell boy Adrian to front office staff David, Kerrie and many others whose names I cannot recall were wonderful. Everyone was very helpful and offered excellent recommendations for planning our itinerary and what I liked most of all was that unlike most American establishments, no one was pushy for tips. The Library staff was genuinely warm and one felt like tipping them generously for the flawless service they offered. Coming from Asia, my expectations from American hotels and hospitality standards were quite low but the Library Hotel not only ticked all boxes but left me very impressed.
Library is definitely my return-to hotel in New York City. With Grand Central Station - 42nd Street at your doorstep and Times Square a few blocks comfortably away, this exclusive East Side address is all one needs to soak in the magic of New York City. I highly recommend you to stop chasing frequent visitor points at Hilton / Marriott / Hyatt etc and check into this boutique property for a large juicy slice of the Big Apple.
I had a few queries and opted to book via email rather than the hotel's web engine. My first email was swiftly responded to by Timothy Gerhold who was great to deal with over the next few days. With the booking quickly out of the way, he was immensely helpful with advice and even gave us a post-Sandy update. NYC room sizes are infamous and with our luggage, we opted to upgrade to the Queen size bed. Surprise of surprises, American breakfast was part of our package and this is no mean freebie to get in American hotels. It seems we did manage to get it all at a busy time of the year !
After a gruelling 2 hour immigration queue at JFK, we managed to reach Library Hotel by 5 pm. The hotel is located a few steps from the New York Public Library and has an unassuming entrance on the uber posh Madison Avenue. Check-in was smooth with the staff informing us the hotel offers free wi-fi throughout the premises. The second floor book lounge is open all day serving breakfast in the mornings and hosting a complimentary wine and cheese reception daily from 5 pm to 8 pm. The Library Hotel is themed around books and even the rooms are numbered according to the Dewey decimal system. We had requested for a higher floor to avoid the city traffic noise and thankfully our request was fulfilled. We were in the 'paranormal' themed room 1100.005. The bed was clean and comfortable and the bathroom was relatively spacious. An abundance of books dealing with the paranormal theme line the room. I really liked the way standard 'Do Not Disturb' and 'Please Make my Room' room tags were replaced with the more quirky 'Shh... I am reading' and 'Please Dust my Books' tags.
The breakfast is sumptuous and includes cereals, fruits, hard boiled eggs and breads which will be toasted on request. Fresh orange juice and other beverages are also available. The real winner was the evening wine and cheese reception which offered a selection of white, red and sparkling wine (Prosecco). These are accompanied by nibbles such as sesame sticks, soft buns and butter and of course, cheese of a few types. The lounge is a wonderfully done up area with a wide selection of books, daily newspapers and plenty of magazines. If it weren't for the call of of the city, we could have spent hours at The Library Hotel soaking in the books. We dined one day at the 'Madison and Vine' restaurant which was as top-class as the hotel. Dishes are appropriately sized, decently priced and service is unobtrusive and efficient. We really enjoyed the Mushroom Ravioli (($19) and the generous portion of Atlantic Salmon ($26). We also paid a fleeting visit to 'Bookmarks', the rooftop lounge at The Library Hotel. With its cosy ambience and covered / al fresco seating, it looked to be a popular hang-out for the Wall Street type crowd.
The staff at Library Hotel is undoubtedly its best asset. From the bell boy Adrian to front office staff David, Kerrie and many others whose names I cannot recall were wonderful. Everyone was very helpful and offered excellent recommendations for planning our itinerary and what I liked most of all was that unlike most American establishments, no one was pushy for tips. The Library staff was genuinely warm and one felt like tipping them generously for the flawless service they offered. Coming from Asia, my expectations from American hotels and hospitality standards were quite low but the Library Hotel not only ticked all boxes but left me very impressed.
Library is definitely my return-to hotel in New York City. With Grand Central Station - 42nd Street at your doorstep and Times Square a few blocks comfortably away, this exclusive East Side address is all one needs to soak in the magic of New York City. I highly recommend you to stop chasing frequent visitor points at Hilton / Marriott / Hyatt etc and check into this boutique property for a large juicy slice of the Big Apple.
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