The Ned NoMad |
New York City, United States
Tucked behind a private street entrance, the library at The Ned NoMad is a green-hued sanctuary unfolding over two stories of bookshelves, crowned by a sculptural spiral staircase. By day, it bustles as a members’ workspace; by night, it softens into an intimate cocktail lounge, where warm light and rich textures set the tone. Beyond, an impressive art collection of nearly 300 works, largely drawn from New York’s contemporary scene, places female artists front and centre.
The Newbury Boston |
Boston, United States
With bookshelves curated by the Boston Public Library and Trident Booksellers, The Newbury Boston’s library feels distinctly rooted in place. Washed in deep indigo and anchored by a crackling fireplace, it invites you to settle in, with bespoke furnishings and soft lighting creating an easygoing atmosphere. Mornings start with coffee and warm pastries, giving way to bites and cocktails as the day continues. Feeling inspired? Flex your artistic side by checking out all the contemporary art in the space.
Santa Monica Proper Hotel |
Santa Monica, United States
As a self-proclaimed “die-hard book lover,” Santa Monica Proper’s designer Kelly Wearstler filled the shelves of The Grotto, a cove-like library and art gallery, with a mix of contemporary and vintage titles. The collection includes out-of-print books gathered from her own library over the years. The space feels intimate, echoing a well-lived-in beachside home, with a cozy nook made for settling in, getting lost in a favorite book and drifting off to the sound of the nearby surf.
Heathman Hotel |
Portland, United States
World Book Day is a big day in Portland, a city renowned for its literary culture. After all, it’s home to the world’s largest independent bookstore. At Heathman Hotel, that spirit continues in a two-story library framed by mahogany walls, an ornate chandelier and a quiet second-story balcony made for cozying in with a read. At the heart of the space, a floor-to-ceiling corner bookcase spans both levels, holding more than 2,700 books, from Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners to U.S. poet laureates and even a former president. Each volume is signed by its author, forming a one-of-a-kind collection unlike any other.
Wine & Books Lisboa |
Lisbon, Portugal
Wine & Books Lisboa brings together two of life’s simple pleasures in a playful love letter to Portuguese identity, shaped through architecture, art, literature and gastronomy. Set in Ajuda, across from the neoclassical Igreja da Memória, it sits in one of Lisbon’s most storied corners, with the 18th-century Ajuda Gardens and sweeping views toward Belém as its backdrop. Inside, just 24 rooms are finished with intricate details and generous natural light. Downstairs, the wine bar leans into regional pours and thoughtful petiscos, made for slow sips, good company and a book within reach.
Wine & Books Porto |
Porto, Portugal
Porto is a city shaped by two enduring icons: Livraria Lello, often called one of the world’s most beautiful bookstores and the centuries-old tradition of Port wine from the nearby Douro Valley. Wine & Books Porto brings those worlds together in a celebration of literature and winemaking at the heart of the city’s identity. Warm wood, moody lighting and carefully curated interiors create a sense of calm, designed for both reflection and connection. True to its name, the hotel pairs a quiet refuge of books with an impressive wine selection and a quietly poetic atmosphere.
Nolinski Venezia – Evok Collection |
Venice, Italy
Venice’s literary past has long drawn writers in, from William Shakespeare, who set Othello amid its bridges and canals, to Ernest Hemingway, who wrote Across the River and into the Trees while staying in the city. At Nolinski Venezia – Evok Collection, that lineage of storytelling finds a quieter expression in The Library Bar, an intimate hideaway wrapped in warm wood panelling, lined with books and anchored by a piano. A curated library of more than 4,000 volumes honors Venice’s printing heritage, beneath a ceiling fresco by artist Simon Buret.
The Standard, London |
London, United Kingdom
Within The Standard, London’s brutalist walls sits the Library Lounge, once the Camden Council Library and now reimagined as a book-lined hideaway. It’s a space made for settling in and exploring the stacks, surrounded by greenery and shelves that soften the concrete edges. Tucked within is a Sound Studio, where podcasts are recorded and DJs occasionally take over. And to keep the vibe just right after 6pm, it’s officially screens down, vibes up (translation: laptops away).
La Réserve Paris Hotel & Spa |
Paris, France
Behind the shelves of the Duc de Morny Library at La Réserve Paris Hotel & Spa, there’s always more than meets the eye. What begins as a cozy, book-lined refuge unravels into a series of quiet discoveries, from an honesty bar tucked into an alcove to a hidden door leading to a private smoking room beyond. More than 3,000 books line the walls, including rare first editions selected by hotelier Michel Reybier and designer Jacques Garcia. Between tea, lunch or a glass of champagne, moments stretch easily here, spilling out onto the patio or settling deep into velvet chairs.
Park Hyatt Tokyo |
Tokyo, Japan
High above the rush of Shinjuku, the Library at Park Hyatt Tokyo feels like a quiet world of its own. Tucked on the 41st floor, it’s lined with more than 2,000 books on art, culture and history, each one carefully selected by designer John Morford, whose interiors were later immortalized in Lost in Translation. The space unfolds softly as you move through it, inviting moments of quiet discovery. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping views of Tokyo and, on clear days, Mount Fuji—best taken in with a good book in hand.
