9. Hudson Hotel Library Bar, 356 W 58th St

Styled on an old English drawing room, the Hudson Hotel Library Bar has an extensive collection of books, on topics from film, theater, fashion and art, to travel and politics. It gets livelier as the day progresses, so those actually wanting to read should head over around lunchtime for a nice Pinot Noir in front of the fire with The Harder They Fall, which is set in the same neighborhood.