12 Of The Cosiest Library Bars In London
Forget cosy pubs and trendy, cosmopolitan wine bars. On colder days, the new place to curl up with a hot toddy is, believe it or not, the humble library bar.
No longer just spaces for bookworms, pottering pensioners and panicky students, more and more of London’s loveliest hotels and bars are opening swanky, book-filled watering holes, allowing visitors to partake in some seriously scholarly drinking. If you love books, cocktails and cosy corners, these are the best library bars in London for a cosy drink.
The Library at The Gore London
The Library at The Gore, London, is an exquisitely elegant space that captures the grand yet homely charm of a stately English home. With plush sofas, deep armchairs, and daylight streaming through tall sash windows, it’s a luxurious yet cosy setting to escape the chill of the season. Enjoy service from the hotel’s iconic Bar 190, a legendary rock ’n’ roll haunt since hosting The Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet launch party in 1968. And of course, you can look forward to an impressive collection of cocktails, spirits, and wines.
where: 190 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5EX
website: www.collezione.starhotels.com
Sibin
Located at the Great Scotland Yard Hotel, Sibin is a speakeasy with an inventive drinks menu, with a library at the entrance next to the hidden door. Interestingly, Charles Dickens shadowed officers at the venue in its original guise as the Metropolitan Police Headquarters, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, once used it as a base for his detective tales. The hotel itself has an intentional, subtle theme of Alice in Wonderland, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s connection to the former police headquarters. Whether you’re a whisky lover or just looking for a fabulous cocktail, the expert bartenders can help you pick the perfect drink – and there are exclusive events and masterclasses you can attend as well.
where: 3-5 Great Scotland Yard, London SW1A 2HN
website: www.hyattrestaurants.com
The Library Bar at The Ned
The seventeenth bar to open at The Ned is a library bar with a penchant for Champagne, martinis and cocktails. Tucked away behind Cecconi’s, the space is perfect for sipping a martini (we’d go during the day before the crowds come in) and getting lost in a good book.
Perfect for sipping a martini and getting lost in a good book.
Where: 27 Poultry, London EC2R 8AJ
Website: www.thened.com
The Library Bar at The Lanesborough
The Library Bar at The Lanesborough is renowned for its expert mixology and its remarkable “liquid museum” of spirits. With an intimate, private club atmosphere, it attracts both well-heeled locals and discerning hotel guests alike. The bar boasts an impressive collection of cognacs dating back to the 1770s, alongside meticulously crafted cocktails curated by award-winning experts. Exclusive experiences at The Library Bar include the Live Nights with Perrier-Jouët, where guests can enjoy live acoustic performances by resident pianist James and guest singers, paired with Perrier-Jouët Blanc de Blancs NV and British hard cheeses served tableside.
Where: Hyde Park Corner, London SW1X 7TA
Website: www.oetkerhotels.com
Electric House
In the heart of pastel-hued Notting Hill, housed next to one of London’s oldest cinemas, it would be rude not to visit Electric House’s library bar if you have the chance. Part of the Soho House group, the interiors are unsurprisingly beautiful, with wood-panelled walls and ceilings, a vinyl collection to browse, and of course, book-filled walls. Settle in for a sip in one of the plush sofas, and cosy up by the fire.
Where: 191 Portobello Rd, London W11 2ED
Website: www.sohohouse.com
The Library Lounge at The Standard
During the day, The Standard’s Library Lounge is a haven for remote workers – where you can get stuck into your work surrounded by lush greenery and bookshelves filled with all kinds of genres – from sociology and psychology to science and religion.
By night, there’s a strict ‘no laptops after 6pm’ policy, when the library turns into the most chill bar space around – but the menu is on offer all day long. Think small bites and dishes taken from in-house restaurants Isla and Double Standard, and a lengthy cocktail menu to keep you going from dawn to dusk. Okay, maybe not dawn, but noon is surely acceptable in a library bar as cosy as this one.
Where: The Standard, 10 Argyle St, London WC1H 8EG
Website: www.standardhotels.com
The Library at NoMad London
Read in luxury at The Library Cocktail bar at NoMad London. Reserved exclusively for hotel guests, you must be staying here to take advantage, but what better excuse to book a staycation?
The bar boasts collections on the arts, culture and history of London and New York, and is the perfect place to hunker down with a book and your classy cocktail of choice.
Where: 28 Bow St, London WC2E 7AW
Website: www.thenomadhotel.com
BookBar
Maybe the most genuinely literary-centric on the list, this Finsbury Park bookshop and wine bar is a treasure trove with a strong emphasis on community. Choose a book to enjoy with a glass of wine, or get involved with the frequent events they have running. From author talks with the likes of Hanya Yanigahara, Shon Faye, and Naoise Dolan to a monthly Book Club, this is an absolute North London gem.
Choose a book to enjoy with a glass of wine, or get involved with the frequent events they have running
where: 166 Blackstock Rd, London N5 1HA
website: www.bookbar.co.uk
Scarfes Bar
The Rosewood London, a restored Edwardian mansion entered via a grandiose carriageway and courtyard, knows a thing or two about luxury, and this much is obvious by its gorgeous Scarfes Bar. This classy hangout is, without a shadow of a doubt, a book lover’s paradise. With a truly epic collection of books, comfy sofas and chairs, as well as a stellar drinks menu, it is certainly not to be missed.
Where: 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN
Website: www.scarfesbar.com
Kitchen Library at Corrigan’s Mayfair
Less of a library bar, and more of a secret library restaurant, the Kitchen Library at Corrigan’s Mayfair is private dining room with a difference.
Overlooking all the action of the kitchen, this space is home to Chef Patron Richard Corrigan’s personal library, with a collection of rare and well-loved cookbooks from throughout the ages. Just one metre from the pass, guests can experience the attention to detail from the kitchen first-hand.
It’s unsurprisingly the most requested area by some of the restaurant’s most discreet guests, having seen many a contract signed and engagement ring exchanged.
Where: 28 Upper Grosvenor St, London W1K 7EH
Website: www.corrigansmayfair.co.uk
Swans Bar at Maison Assouline
Love books, cocktails and travel? You can’t miss a trip to Swans Bar at Maison Assouline. Housed in a gorgeous bookshop that boasts design-focused titles and rare first editions, the menu invites you to explore tantalising locations from our iconic travel series through expertly crafted cocktails inspired by each location.
Love books, cocktails and travel? You can’t miss a trip to the Swan Bar at Maison Assouline.
Where: 196A Piccadilly, St. James’s, London W1J 9EY
Website: www.maisonassouline.com
The Cinnamon Club
Wine and books sit side-by-side on the shelves at the Cinnamon Club’s Library Bar. Reopened in 2015 following an extensive refurbishment, this fine, Grade II-listed establishment was once the Reading Room of the old Westminster Library and, perhaps in homage to its history, is now home to a stunning library bar.
The Cinnamon Club serves innovative and creative Indian cuisine so the library is the perfect place to perch with a cocktail before you partake of dinner.
Where: The Old Westminster Library, Great Smith St, London SW1P 3BU
Website: www.cinnamonclub.com
