Union Hall
Union Hall may not look like it from the outside, but inside looks like a wealthy old businessman’s study, just with a bar… and a couple of bocce ball lanes. It’s a large space, but that means you can claim your corner without being too crowded.
Grab a seat near the giant, peacock-adorned fireplace or on the cushy, leather couches next to little reading lights. It’s a great place to enjoy a hot toddy or boozy hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night.
If you’re going to stay for a time, you’ll be glad to know that Union Hall has happy hour from 4 pm- 7 pm on weeknights, featuring beer and wine for only $6. (Which is an absolute steal in NYC!)
Black Mountain Wine House
When I recently went to Black Mountain Wine House on a dreary winter afternoon, I found two women my age reading their brand-new copies of House of Flame and Shadow side by side while splitting a bottle of wine. You couldn’t find a more perfect cozy bar in NYC for book lovers if you tried!
Black Mountain Wine House has Adirondack chairs outside and a real wood-burning fireplace inside. The walls are full of books and bottles of wine. You can easily settle into a corner near the window or the fireplace and stay awhile.
If you need a snack while you read, there are plenty of delicious options (particularly if you like cheese). You can pick which cheeses you want on a cheeseboard that comes with fruit and fresh bread, or warm up with a bowl of mac and cheese.
The Buttery Bar
I instantly fell in love with The Buttery Bar in Greenpoint as soon as I was handed the “menu,” which was an old library book with a QR code in the return card spot. I knew I’d stumbled upon a hidden gem of a wine bar for book lovers.
With Art Deco posters, a tin-tiled ceiling, and a stone gargoyle guarding the bar, the atmosphere of The Buttery Bar is warm and whimsical. They serve delicious cocktails, plus wines, and New York beers. On “Wine Wednesdays” bottles are priced half off!
My favorite thing about The Buttery Bar though is that they recently started “The Smuttery” which is a romantasy book club. They host trivia nights for smutty/romance/fantasy favorites such as A Court of Thorns and Roses and Fourth Wing. I love that you can find like-minded folks at literary bars in NYC.