I just came back from a short stay at the Library Hotel. I had picked the hotel, because I remembered that we spent a lovely evening on their roof terrace a year ago. Reading the reviews made me curious about the rest of the hotel.

Everybody at the front desk was very helpful and friendly and we did a swift check-in. The lobby is very understated and minimalist, but the book shelves made it look ‘cosy’.

I had booked a junior suit for a special discount price (499 $) and since this is even for New York a substantial amount of money, I expected a lot.

I was not disappointed. The room looked exactly like the picture on their website. While a lot of room was wasted on a front room/hallway, it was still spacious and airy, due to a lot of windows. All of them had nice wooden blinds, which gave the room a warm feeling, as did the room colours, mostly in beige and dark wood. There was a small sofa in one corner with two armchairs and a large flat screen TV. The bathroom was spacious and nicely decorated, with all the amenities one needs.

Having lived in New York, I knew that this was not going to be the quietest of all streets in Mid-Town. It was definitely noisy, but the windows are very sound-proof.

I did not see the reading room, but we spent some time upstairs in the winter garden and of course on the roof terrace. It would be nice, if the rooftop terrace had more comfortable furniture. The benches and little stools are quite uncomfortable and it is impossible to spent a leisure afternoon in the sun, without a major backache. Their free hotspot was available on the terrace and I was able to do my emails while sitting in the sun – not too many hotels in NY offer that !

As travellers before me have said: this is a great place and worth the money - I will return !

This hotel is located in a suprisingly quiet and nice part of Midtown (41st and Madison) near the NY public library but within just a few blocks of all of the action. Grand Central Station is less than 5 blocks away. My sister and I stayed for a girls' weekend and did not hear any traffic or other hotel guests even on Saturday night. The best part for us was that this was not a touristy hotel in the slightest. No tour groups to be found. The hotel is extremely classy with a large reading room that has a complimentary pastries, juice, tea and coffee available for hotel guests 24 hrs. a day and has a complimentary wine and cheese happy hour. The included continental breakfast was quite nice, with bagels, yogurt, fruit, pastries, etc. Free DVD rentals are available from the hotel's DVD library (ranging from Snow White to Butch Cassidy).

Everything was very tastefully decorated, with classy decor that was interesting but neither gaudily traditional nor extremely trendy. As such, I would recommend this hotel for both younger and older patrons. We stayed in a single room because all other rooms were booked. It was a typical size for New York (smallish) but comfortable, with a nice double bed and clean bathroom with full bathtub.

As far as we could tell, the service was good, though we did not have much of an encounter with the hotel staff beyond checking in and out. If you're looking for a party hotel, try the Tribeca Grand. If you're looking for a design hotel, the Gramercy Park Hotel might be better. But if you just want a nice, quiet, comfortable hotel, I would highly recommend the Library.

My second stay within a year at The Library was as perfect as the first. My husband and I stayed in one of the suites (requested the Mystery Suite and reserved by the hotel), which faces one of my favorite haunts-- The NY Library. As before, impeccably clean and appointed, the room did not disappoint. I cannot imagine staying anywhere else in Manhattan. Everyone is professional and friendly; wonderful breakfasts (love the espresso machine!!) and wine & cheese in the late afternoon. The location is absolutely convenient; you are connected to all boroughs and beyond with a jaunt around the block to Grand Central Station. BTW, check out The Campbell Apartment for cocktails in Grand Central.

I just returned from a trip to New York City with two girlfriends, and one of the highlights of our trip was undoubtedly The Library Hotel. We started each day with the hotel's satisfying breakfast and delicious coffees, and we ended each day with the hotel's fabulous wines and cheeses. Our room - the Junior Suite dedicated to Fashion Design - could not have been more comfortable nor more apropos. Every detail of our stay seemed to have been specifically designed for our pleasure, and we loved every minute of it. Between the three of us, we have stayed in several hotels in Manhattan, and we unanimously agreed The Library is our favorite.

We would like to extend a specific compliment to Bill, the bellman who made our stay that much more enjoyable.