Books transport their readers to new destinations within the pages. In turn, some hotels have taken a novel approach to providing a literary experience to guests.
From wall-to-wall bookshelves to specialty suites, these seven hotels lean into the literary world and the power of the written word.
Click through the slideshow of these literary hotels and scroll down to learn more about each one.
Setting: New York, New York
Synopsis: This 60-key, independent luxury hotel was built in 1912 and renovated in 2012, according to CoStar data. The owner and operator, Library Hotel Collection, has three other New York hotels, but the Library Hotel in Midtown Manhattan is its literary crown jewel. The hotel has more than 6,000 books decorating its halls and restaurant concept called Madison & Vine. The Writer’s Den and Poetry Garden & Terrace on the 14th floor transforms each evening into Bookmarks Lounge, a rooftop bar with literary-inspired cocktails.
Main character: The Library Hotel's biggest literary aspect is its tribute to the Dewey Decimal Classification. Each of the 10 guestroom floors is themed to the major categories of the system: social science, literature, philosophy, religion and more. Each guestroom has 50 to 150 books plus artwork themed to a unique subgenre from each floor's category.
Setting: Newport, Oregon
Synopsis: Inspired by Sylvia Beach — an American who founded the Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris — Hotel Sylvia has 22 rooms and originally opened in Newport, Oregon, in the early 1900s as a boarding house. In 1984, the hotel was bought and renovated to honor Beach, who was close friends with Ernest Hemmingway and James Joyce, who ended up creating a character for Beach in his novel Ulysses in tribute to her help getting him a publishing deal. The hotel was renovated earlier this year, entering its new chapter with its reopening in July.
Main character: In honor of Beach’s literary career, the Hotel Sylvia has a handful of author-themed rooms — from William Shakespeare to Jane Austen — as well as literary-genre rooms and suites. The lobby and café are surrounded by bookshelves and cozy reading spots for guests to peruse and enjoy.
The Bookhouse Hotel
Setting: Kennett Square and West Chester, Pennsylvania
Synopsis: The Bookhouse Hotel's two locations are for book lovers by book lovers. The original location in Kennett Square was a bookstore that had 5,000 books left behind. The owners decided to convert the store into a hotel where guests can sleep surrounded by stories. The Bookhouse at Faunbrook is the newest location in West Chester with seven unique rooms. Each hotel has hundreds of books and bookish decor spread through the guestrooms and common areas.
Main character: The Bookhouse has a quarterly book club that former and future guests can subscribe to. Every three months, the hotel will send out the next book with curated gifts. Membership also includes invites to events and a room rate discount.
Setting: Óbidos, Portugal
Synopsis: With 31 rooms and nearly 100,000 books, The Literary Man bills itself as the largest literary hotel in the world. Originally constructed as a nunnery in the early 19th century, the building fell vacant after the Portuguese Liberal Revolution. It changed ownership a handful of times before opening in its current iteration in 2015.
Main character: The Literary Man's lobby, common spaces and restaurant have wall-to-wall bookshelves overflowing with tomes from around the world. Stacks of books also litter the tables and small reading nooks with comfy chairs are tucked away in corners or circled around a fireplace.
Setting: Washington, D.C.
Synopsis: Originally built as apartment units in 1923, the historic hotel in Washington, D.C., calls itself the most-awarded hotel in the nation's capital. Opened in 2009, the 99-key luxury hotel has accolades from Michelin, TripAdvisor, Travel + Leisure and more. The Jefferson is also home to two restaurants — The Greenhouse and Quill — and a spa.
Main character: The hotel's Book Room is a rentable meeting space full of both historic texts and new releases, thanks to a partnership with publisher Celadon Books. When not reserved, the Book Room is open for guests to browse its shelves.
Setting: Louisville, Kentucky
Synopsis: The building that houses the 308-room Seelbach Hilton was originally opened by two Bavarian brothers — Otto and Louis Seelbach — in 1905. The founders spared no expense, shipping in materials from all around the world. At its opening, the hotel billed itself as "the only fireproof hotel in the city," and, due to its popularity, launched an expansion project the same year it opened.
Main character: In honor of The Great Gatsby's centennial, Terra B. Nelson, a Louisville native, designed an Art Deco suite dedicated to the novel's Roaring Twenties opulence and the star-crossed lover characters Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby.
Setting: Miami
Synopsis: The Betsy might look like every other luxury hotel in Miami's South Beach, but the 129-room property aims to be a cozy home away from home for its guests. The guestrooms and suites come equipped with reading material as well as plush seating to enjoy them. The hotel also has a handful of unique food-and-beverage concepts and common spaces on site.
Main character: In 2012, the hotel opened its Writer's Room as a working studio for visiting writers and artists — much like the writing rooms that used to host the likes of Agatha Christie and Ernest Hemingway. The Betsy's owner, Jonathan Plutzik, started the program in honor of his father, three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and poet Hyam Plutzik. The room has hosted over 1,500 creatives and specializes in working with poets. The artists don't get charged to stay in the room, but they are asked to donate one of their recent works to the hotel's libraries.