In a city of over 8 million people, just imagine the number of books New York City holds! With such a rich and colorful history, NYC is a wonderful place for book lovers. There are majestic libraries, independent bookshops, and cozy nooks in which to curl up with your next good read.
Reading in New York is one of my favorite things to do. (Granted, reading is one of my favorite things to do anywhere.) The noise of the city fades away when you enter the pages of a good book. Thus, as a New York bookworm, I have spent years searching for the best bookish places in NYC.
Whether you are looking for a place to purchase books, read said books, or feel like you’re in one of those books, here are my favorite places in NYC for book lovers…
Libraries in NYC
Among Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn, there are over 200 branches of public libraries in the city. However, some of them are particularly magical.
New York Public Library- Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
476 5th Ave.
A list of places in NYC for book lovers must have the New York Public Library (NYPL) on it, particularly the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. This is the well-known location on the corner of 5th Avenue and 42nd Street.
This main branch of NYPL is now used for research; you can’t take books out of it. However, it is still worth visiting. Plus, as a public library, it’s free to visit!
From its marble staircases to its painted ceilings, the interior of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is stunning. (The ceilings give off Beauty & the Beast vibes.) The most popular room is the Rose Main Reading Room, which is open for quiet study. If you want to peek inside, but not stay, there is a visiting hour from 10-11 am.
On the ground floor is an exhibit of “The New York Public Library’s Treasures,” which includes items such as the original Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal and Charles Dickens’s writing desk.
Fun Fact: The famous stone lions that flank the library’s entrance are named Patience and Fortitude.
The Morgan Library & Museum
225 Madison Ave.
The Morgan Library & Museum is one of the most beautiful libraries in New York. It was once the private library of American financier J.P. Morgan, and it is as impressive as you’d expect a Gilded Age mansion to be.
With tiered walls of books, a giant fireplace (dating back to 15th-century Italy), and an ornately painted ceiling depicting explorers, artists, and the Muses, the East Room of the Morgan Library is a book lover’s dream.
The museum’s permanent collection includes three Gutenberg Bibles and original works by Lord Byron, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and Edgar Allan Poe. Additionally, it holds manuscripts, sheet music, works of art, and maps.
However, in the modern annexes, they often feature temporary exhibits. At the time of this post, you can view “A Lively Mind: Jane Austen at 250,” which includes letters, books, and artifacts honoring the author’s life and legacy.
Jefferson Market Library
425 6th Ave.
If you want to visit another one of the prettiest branches of the NYPL, head to the Jefferson Market branch. With Gothic architectural features, it almost feels like you’re reading in a castle tower.
This New York City landmark building in Greenwich Village was originally a courthouse, complete with a prison and market. The building briefly faced demolition in the 1950s but was luckily saved by public outcry, which led to its becoming a library.
Now, you can visit three floors of the library, with the adult section on the second floor, the children’s section on the first floor, and the reference section in the basement…where prisoners were once held before going to trial. Thankfully, it has a cozier feel to it nowadays and is a great place to work or study.
Bars in NYC for Book Lovers
Some of the best places for book lovers in NYC are book bars, where you can sit down with a glass of wine and a good book at the same time.
Book Club Bar
197 East 3rd St.
Book Club Bar is the perfect blend of independent bookstore and bar. When you walk in, you’ll find book lovers reading either in the cushy leather seats by the fireplace or at the bar.
Book Club is open all day, starting at 9 am until late (midnight or 1 am). You can work on your laptop until 6 pm, at which point the vibe becomes more communal. They also host events at night, such as poetry readings, acoustic music sets, and author interviews.
I really enjoy the sense of humor at Book Club. The staff book recommendations are always fun, and the cocktail menu has punny homages to famous works, such as “Murder on the Orient Espresso Martini” and “Cider House Mules.”
Bibliotheque
54 Mercer St.
One of the newer places in NYC for book lovers is Bibliotheque, which became popular on social media because it’s so picturesque. The owners of Bibliotheque sought to imbue the place with a “literary lounge” atmosphere, and I’d say they succeeded.
Bibliotheque is part book store, part cafe, and part wine bar. Swing by during the day for a coffee and a delicious pastry. It’s a great spot to study or get some work done on your computer. (However, laptops are not permitted past 5 pm.)
If you prefer to read, you can browse the carefully-curated bookshelves. Check out the best-sellers section, which includes a new take on wine pairings: books and wine. In fact, the wine list at Bibliotheque is literary-themed as well, such as listing wines-by-the-glass under “short stories.”
McNally Jackson Books Seaport
4 Fulton St.
Sarah McNally opened her first bookstore on Prince Street in 2004, but her McNally Jackson bookstores have since expanded around the city. One of the best spots for book lovers in NYC is the McNally Jackson location in the South Street Seaport.
Sitting on a cobblestone lane near the river, entering this bookstore feels like stepping back in time. The timbered eaves and brick walls, along with leather armchairs and plush carpets, lend a vintage coziness.
The second floor is much larger than it appears from the outside. There is a huge selection of books, with categories ranging from mythology to “NYC Pictorial.”
On the ground floor is a cafe and bar, offering coffee, tea, wine, and beer. It’s a great little place to meet up with a friend to discuss your latest reads.
Interested in more book bars in NYC?
Check out my post: 7 Cozy Bars in NYC for Book Lovers
Bookstores in NYC
In this age of digitalization, the number of bookstores in NYC is slowly declining, so the ones that are still around are special, indeed.
The Strand Book Store
828 Broadway
Perhaps the most famous of the independent bookshops in NYC is the Strand Book Store. As their logo says, they have 18 miles of books that include used, new, and rare.
The Strand was opened in 1927 by Ben Brass, who named the store after the London street where many book publishers were located. Over the last (almost) one hundred years, the Strand has become an icon in New York for literary lovers.
You can peruse the outdoor bargain shelves to find used books for as little as $2. Once you step inside, there are four floors of books to discover, with the rare book room being on the top floor. The Strand has everything from fiction to fashion.
If you find yourself with an armful of books (which is easily done), bag them up in one of the quintessential Strand tote bags.
Pay attention to the free bookmark they give you at the Strand! You may see a familiar face…watch my story here.
The Mysterious Book Shop
58 Warren St.
One of the more unique New York bookstores is The Mysterious Book Shop. Though the name sounds mysterious indeed, it’s actually self-explanatory. The Mysterious Book Shop only stocks mystery books!
This beautiful shop has floor-to-ceiling bookshelves full of mysteries of all kinds. They have everything from classic mystery series, like Sherlock Holmes and works by Agatha Christie, to brand new mystery novels. They also have a true crime section for those who are into true crime podcasts.
I told my mom the next time she visits I have to take her here, since she enjoys books by Louise Penny and Tana French.
The Mysterious Book Shop feels like it belongs in a British mansion, rather than a bookstore in NYC. There is a comfy leather couch, and yes, Belle-esque ladders.
Housing Works Bookstore
126 Crosby St.
If you want to buy books in NYC and also help a good cause, head to the Housing Works Bookstore in Soho. Housing Works is a non-profit organization based in New York that works to combat AIDS and homelessness. They seek to improve the quality of life for those who are HIV-positive by providing stable housing.
There are several Housing Works thrift stores around the city, but the bookstore is my personal favorite. They have a large selection of used books, in genres from fiction to art history.
In addition to books, they sell gifts, used clothing, accessories, and CDs. Plus, there is a cafe in the back which offers baked goods by The Good Batch and coffee from Gotham Coffee Roasters.
Want to visit even more bookstores in NYC?
Check out my post: 10 of the Best Bookstores in NYC
NYC in Literature
There are countless books that take place in New York City. However, some in particular have become literary American classics, featuring iconic scenes around the city. While the stories may be fictional, you can visit some of these very real places.
The Plaza Hotel (The Great Gatsby)
768 5th Ave.
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is a story of wealth and obsession in the 1920s. While most of the novel is set on Long Island, the characters do spend time in Jazz Age New York City.
On a hot summer day, the characters decide to rent a ritzy suite at the Plaza Hotel. There, those stuck in a love triangle (of sorts) have a heated discussion around a block of melting ice.
The Plaza Hotel still stands on the southeast corner of Central Park, offering luxury 5-star service. You can even stay in their “Gatsby Suite,” decorated in the Art Deco style, for about $2,000 a night.
Central Park Carousel (The Catcher in the Rye)
1802 E 65th St.
In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, teenager Holden Caulfield spends a day gloomily wandering the city. Kicked out of another boarding school, Holden takes a train back to NYC to search for truth amidst the “phoniness” of the world.
He covers a lot of ground, including Grand Central Terminal, the Museum of Natural History, and Rockefeller Center. However, he spends a lot of time in Central Park worrying about where the ducks go in the winter.
My favorite scene is when Holden watches his younger sister ride the carousel in Central Park. He admits to being happy, watching her go around and around. There is indeed a Central Park Carousel, although the one that Holden would have seen burned down in 1950.
A ride on the carousel currently costs $3.00 a person.
Tiffany & Co. (Breakfast at Tiffany’s)
727 5th Ave.
Before it was a film (or a song), Breakfast at Tiffany’s was written as a novella by Truman Capote. Set in the 1940s, the story is about a writer and his eccentric yet lovely neighbor, Holly Golightly.
If you’ve seen the movie, you probably remember the opening scene of Audrey Hepburn having a coffee and a pastry while looking at the jewelry displayed in the windows of Tiffany & Co. You, too, can stand in front of the windows of the famed 5th Avenue store.
Tiffany & Co. moved into their home on 5th Avenue, known as The Landmark, in 1940. It’s been through several renovations, including adding The Blue Box Cafe, where you can actually have breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Notable Mentions
If you are interested in some other places in NYC for book lovers, check out these notable mentions:
- The Literary Walk in Central Park: The southern end of The Mall in Central Park is flanked by statues of writers such as Shakespeare, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Burns.
- The Library Hotel: Located near the Chrysler Building, this hotel has a rooftop bar called the Bookmarks Lounge.
With so many options to explore, I hope you enjoy visiting these book spots in New York City. Whether you’re stretching out with a good book on the Great Lawn in Central Park, or filling a tote bag at the Strand, you’ll be in good company among other New York bibliophiles.
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