10 literary inspired hotels for book lovers
Bookworms and bibliophiles will find themselves in fabulous company at these lushly atmospheric accommodations. All of these places either boast historical ties to great authors of the past or sport designs inspired by famed page-turners.
Hotel Elysée by Library Hotel Collection, New York City
As with all of the upscale members of this hotel group, the plush Hotel Elysée by Library Hotel Collection draws aesthetic inspiration from the kind of cosy place you might go to curl up with a good book. Think: sumptuous leather armchairs and an abundance of bookshelves in common spaces.
The Library, Koh Samui
Located by Chaweng Beach on one of Thailand's most popular islands, The Library features 46 studios, suites and pool villas decked out in modern-minimalist style. It bills each as a blank page on which you might impose your own thoughts or inspirations. The resort's most striking element is its signature scarlet-coloured pool overlooking the sea.
The Betsy – South Beach, Miami
Since The Betsy – South Beach opened in 2012, more than 400 visiting scribes have worked in The Writer's Room, a sumptuous homage to pre-war writer's spaces designed by Diamante Pedersoli. The stately desk in the room once belonged to Hyam Plutzik, a renowned poet, three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and the father of the hotel's current owner.
Woodlyn Park, New Zealand
While J.R.R. Tolkien may not have penned The Hobbit or his epic trilogy The Lord of the Rings in New Zealand, ever since Peter Jackson shot the Academy Award-winning films here the land has been synonymous with myths and magic. Woodlyn Park allows fans to feel as though they are living right beside Bilbo Baggins in a hobbit-hole in the heart of the Shire.
Les Plumes Hôtel Paris
The pen really is mightier than the sword at this 35-room boutique inspired by 19th-century literary giants like Victor Hugo, Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine. Les Plumes Hôtel Paris brims with character, from the period clothes of the staff to the subtle historical details in every room.
Book and Bed Shinjuku, Tokyo
Perfect for bibliophiles on a budget, Book and Bed bills itself as an “accommodation bookstore," a hostel where up to 4,000 tomes invite backpackers to stay up reading until the wee hours. This unique hostel has multiple branches across the Japanese capital, but the one Shinjuku has the best atmosphere and an unbeatable location.
Radisson Sonya Hotel, St. Petersburg
From Nikolai Gogol to Mikhail Bulgakov, St. Petersburg has been home to some of history's greatest literary titans. Inspired by Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, a great tale of guilt and madness that unfolds in city's winding streets, the design of the Radisson Sonya Hotel, St. Petersburg honours the city's cultural legacy.
The Heathman Hotel, Portland, Oregon
Guests at the The Heathman Hotel, a hip haven set in the centre of Portland, enjoy access to a wide range of books at the Heathman Library. Feel free to take out your favourite classic or peruse the spirituality section in search of a little enlightenment reading.
The Plaza, New York
This grande dame was once a favourite haunt certain of members of the Lost Generation, including Ernest Hemingway, who supposedly advised fellow luminary F. Scott Fitzgerald to give his "liver to Princeton and heart to The Plaza." The advice seemed to have stuck, as Fitzgerald set several crucial scenes of The Great Gatsby at The Plaza.
The Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh (Where JK Rowling finished writing Harry Potter)
Before she became J.K. Rowling, the billionaire author of one of the best-selling book series of all time, Joan Rowling was a mother struggling to jot down her first fanciful novel in a café. By the time she made it to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, she had upgraded to The Balmoral Hotel. Fervent fans can still visit the J.K. Rowling Suite, which features a golden owl on the door and a bust signed by the author herself.
