October is National Book Month, so here are 7 must-stay hotels for bookworms!
Literary-Infused Hotel with Books & Bites
Paying homage to Thomas Jefferson’s love of literature, DC’s The Jefferson created the literary-infused First Library program. For every room a guest reserves, the hotel donates one book to a child through the DC Public Library Foundation’s partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. On-site, the hotel’s library-inspired Book Room includes a First Library shelf of children’s books by the DC Public Library, with works penned by celebrities such as Kelly Clarkson, Barack Obama and Wonder Years star Danica McKellar. For foodies, bookworms and solo travelers – popular DC lounge Quill serves a literary-themed signature cocktail, and brunch spot The Greenhouse and the bar at Michelin-starred restaurant Plume offer the Books & Bites lending program (with a reading light available upon request).
Library on the Beach
Aston Kaanapali Shores, an Aqua-Aston property, has a gorgeous tropical, open-air library overlooking the resort’s 10 acres of sprawling white sand beach, lush gardens, flowing waterfalls and recently renovated pools. Guests can also order a cocktail delivered straight to them via a mobile restaurant app while they lounge and enjoy books on Hawaiian history and the Aloha culture with a fresh ocean breeze to match – including literary treasures left by visitors of yesteryear.
Library-Inspired Restaurant and Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Conrad Cartagena’s signature restaurant, Biblioteka, boasts a library-inspired design that transports guests’ taste buds and imaginations to new worlds through international cuisine fusing Asian, European and Latin American flavors and exotic reads that line the walls. To continue the literary immersion, guests can explore the house and route of legendary Colombian novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez through the hotel’s 1-3-5 Itineraries.
Select a Book and Sip a Cocktail
The Bar, The Spectator Hotel’s Prohibition-era inspired cocktail lounge, transports guests back to the exuberant and glamorous era of the 1920s offering hand-crafted specialty cocktails, colorful vintage furniture and charming décor, and a curated selection of modern day and antique books. Collected by local interior designer Jenny Keenan, the books cover everything from music to art and architecture, and can be best enjoyed in while sitting in the private corner of The Bar next to Daisy, the white peacock made by local taxidermist Becca Barnett.
Caribbean Reads on a Waterside Promenade
Oil Nut Bay – the British Virgin Islands’ eco-luxe resort community tucked away in the North Sound of Virgin Gorda – has partnered with the Ultimate Library to create a bespoke book collection for its highly-anticipated Marina Village, a bustling, public waterside promenade that will be the future home of the property’s second casual dining restaurant as well as a boutique, a market, and more. Each title in the Ultimate Library reflect the diverse voices of the Caribbean to immerse guests in the culture and provide a sense of place during their visit. What’s more, Oil Nut Bay and the Ultimate Library have also teamed up to donate a philanthropic library for the local primary school, which was recently rebuilt in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
NYC Epicurean Bookstore in a Midtown Hotel
Tucked inside a cozy fireside lounge at the Park South Hotel, a Joie de Vivre hotel, famous Upper East Side epicurean bookstore Kitchen Arts & Letters launched its first official outpost for hotel guests to enjoy rare culinary books from around the world. Pair unique reads with a caffeine fix from Covina Coffee Bar, or opt for a smooth glass of wine from Covina, New American restaurant with a Mediterranean influence, located just steps from this high-design library outpost.
An Entrepreneur’s Respite
The 233-room AC Hotel Miami Aventura was designed for the entrepreneurial-minded traveler, offering an on-site library as a communal space of creativity and collaboration. It features a collection of inviting furnishings, modern designs, engaging and fascinating books and textures that evoke the feeling of a well-curated archive. The expansive floor-to-ceiling windows offers an abundance of natural light, complete with modern custom chandeliers, and cozy seating areas that invite professionals and travelers alike to relax with a book and enjoy the space. Contemporary artwork frames the library collection on site and includes grand metal sculptures created by artists Thomas Clarkson, Matt Devine and Will Clift, as well as an intricate hand-cut paper artwork by Britta Gould, which is reminiscent of natural forms, environments and landscapes.
