Milk and Roses
I love everything about Milk and Roses- the food, the vibe, the wine glasses as big as my head… and (of course) the walls and walls of antique books. It’s a great place for date night, including if that means taking yourself on a date to read.
Milk and Roses is one of the cozy bars in NYC for book lovers that also has a real, working fireplace. Set yourself up at one of the communal tables near the fire next to the library reading lights. The wifi password is on the table if you want to get some work done as you snack on Italian dishes.
While the fireplace is delightful in winter, Milk and Roses has a beautiful garden that is open in the warmer months. It looks like it belongs in Paris rather than Brooklyn!
Honorable Mentions
I have yet to go to these bookish-themed bars in NYC, but they’re on my “to-go list.”
The Dead Poet: This Irish pub on the Upper West Side was designed by a former English teacher and honors famous authors and poets.
The Cauldron: Harry Potter fans will enjoy this fantasy-themed cocktail bar, where you can create “potions” (without Professor Snape breathing down your neck).
Bookmarks Rooftop Garden Lounge and Terrace: If a hotel is called the Library Hotel, you would hope that it would have a cozy bar for book lovers. However, Bookmarks is best enjoyed in the summertime, as it is a rooftop bar, with lovely views of Midtown Manhattan.