Randomly stumbled upon this place the other night and I'm glad I did. Bookmarks is a rooftop bar on the 14th floor of Library Hotel, with plenty of outdoor and indoor seating/standing, yet it feels cozy at the same time. Seating options include a room with a fireplace, a room with the bar, and two greenhouse rooms so you can see the stars. Plus outdoor seating when the weather is nice. It's a mix of midtown after-work people, hotel guests, and couples/friends. The night we went, it was about 3/4 full, which was perfect. Lively, but no need to shout to be heard. Service is incredibly slow. We waited at least 20 minutes...not a waitress in sight...before we were able to order. As for drinks, I had the Pulitzer and my friend had the Catcher in the Rye. Don't let the silly literary names scare you off. Both of our drinks were outstanding. The Catcher in the Rye is like a Manhattan with a twist. I don't quite know how to describe the Pulitzer, but it hit every note - sweet, sour, bitter, and herbal - all at once. Prices range from $16-$20, not too bad for a hotel bar. The food is stupidly expensive though. $10 for a bowl of popcorn tossed in truffle dust. $11 for a tiny trio of cashews, wasabi peas, and olives. $20 for a cheese plate, but from reading the other reviews, this is what I'll get next time, because apparently it's enormous. I've been here in the summer, and the outdoor spaces are awesome, with comfortable seating and plants all around. However, it does get more crowded when the weather is nice. 5 stars for the drinks, the atmosphere, and the convenience to Grand Central. minus one star for the slow service and prices. read more

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Great little rooftop if you want more of a low key night. I went here after dinner with work friends and enjoyed the extra space on the rooftop! Service was great as well. I had the Gatsby drink and was a fan of the egg whites in the drink. I would return! read more

Such a cozy yet fun bar located within the Library Hotel right next to the New York Public Library. I came here with a group, that reserved some space in one of the side rooms. It was nice, because we had a lot of space to hang out and relax, while being served by a very friendly waitress. She was well versed in the menu, and was easily able to recommend cocktails and other drinks based on our groups preference. The cocktails are a bit pricey (about $17) but they were definitely well made! I loved that the cocktails had book and author themed names. I ordered a Tequila Mockingbird, which was kind of like a fancier spicy margarita. I liked it so much I got a second! We didn't go it there because of the cold weather, but they also have a decent sized outdoor space which looked very nice! read more

Bookmarks - Tequila Mockingbird Cocktail - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

The best kept secret in the grand central area. This place was a perfect oasis, great for grabbing a glass of wine or sitting reading a book, basking in the last few minutes of NYC sunset. It's is a little hard to find and almost totally unmarked at the street level. They have very limited seating outside, so it's kind of hit or miss whether they're able to seat you, but if you can get a seat it's totally worth it! The menu and vibe are in theme with being a block from the New York library, and it has a very book-worm feel. I had the Pulitzer cocktail which was delicious (served up), and the veggie flatbread which included figs and really yummy cheese on top. My dining partner had the punch, which was quite a large drink that she really enjoyed. I look forward to coming here again soon!! read more

This is one of my go-to midtown rooftop bars because in addition to being really convenient location-wise, it is extremely cute, has a great view, and is the right mix between casual and business so you can come with any crowd and any size crowd as well. The cocktails are solid. The outdoor area is not huge and only accommodates a few groups, but I've never had a problem finding a spot. The only downside to this is that the service is consistently slow, so if you plan on having more than one, build in time. read more

Rooftop bar located on the 14th floor of the Library Hotel. We were a group of six and two of our group were librarians so we couldn't not come here when we were in NY. Pricey as previously mentioned but really good. I got the Ginger Passion and my friends got the Blood Orange drink. We also got a cheese platter (which had smoked Gouda, blue cheese, Port Salut and Don Wine goat cheese), the sliders, and the truffle popcorn which was amazing. We didn't know the last two cheeses, so we asked and someone came out and explained, which we all appreciated. read more

Bookmarks - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Expensive but nice rooftop location in the Library Hotel. Good service. Not over-touristed because of more obvious choices in the area. Very nice list of wines by the glass. read more

Bookmarks - The bar at the top! - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Located on the roof of the Libary Hotel this is one of the more low-key rooftop bars in the city. The few times I have been here it was not too crowded and was easy to find a decent seat and take in the views. It's a quieter joint and one that is a good date spot. Kind of a mix of locals in the know and guests of the hotel. Not a super hard partying bar but one where you can actually converse over a few cocktails and music in the background. There is an enclosed greenhouse area and an outdoor area to sit at. Decent decor and furnishings. As can be expected the drinks are pricey here so expect to drop $13-15 on a cocktail. Nice little specialty cocktail list with some nifty concoctions. I remember having the Pearl S Buck and the Bookmark's Cocktail both of which were good. It's the type of rooftop bar you go to for a relaxing scene and not an overcrowded loud mess of a place. read more

Cute small bar at the top of the Library Hotel. It's a cute theme since there is a library themed restaurant on the first floor. There is a discrete side elevator that takes you to this hidden bar. When the elevator doors open you are transported straight into another era with a bar and two rooms on either sides. The right side is loungy. The left side has both and indoor space and an enclosed patio area. Although larger parties could be accommodated, many of the seating is for 2 people. It's kinda perfect for a casual spontaneous date. Drinks are very good with prices pretty standard for NYC, about $15-20. Service is good but sometimes you have to be a little aggressive about flagging down the cocktail waitress. read more

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Awesome rooftop bar at the top of the Library Hotel, very near the NY Public Library. We visited on a Thursday night for an after-dinner drink. The outdoor portion of the bar was really crowded, but inside (where there was a glass ceiling, so you could see the stars) was almost entirely empty, so our party of four had the place almost to ourselves. We had a blast. There was table service, and we enjoyed some really excellent drinks. Their drinks all have literary themes, and I had a cocktail called "The Linguist". It was sangria cocktail, light and sparkling, and it was awesome. We all loved our drinks. From the service to the atmosphere to the drinks, everything about this bar was five stars. read more

Bookmarks - The Linguist ($16) - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

This place gives me a nerdgasm. Creative cocktails with literary names combined with a lovely view and swanky atmosphere? Yeah, nerdgasm. Maybe it's because my mommy was a librarian my whole life, but I've always just loved books. We'd go to the mall and I'd make a beeline for the bookstore, not leaving until she threatened to disown me. Now that I'm all grown up and have other grown-up tastes, I've experienced the following dilemma: You can't really bring a book to most drink joints. You could try--but you're not likely to get far without being kicked out or having some stranger interrupting you to ask what you're reading and why. Bookmarks is a wonderful little sanctuary that permits both drink and literature. There needs to be more of these. Oh, and as far as drinks go, get The Pulitzer and Tequila Mockingbird. Mmmm, nerd-tastic! read more

We had an hour to waste before a dinner reservation at Grand Central, so we looked for a rooftop bar and found Bookmarks. This is a tiny bar with rooftop seating probably for less than 20 people, but there is an enclosed space at the entrance and a restaurant with a separate indoor bar area. I would not come here with a large party - more appropriate for a small group or date night. Don't picture a high rooftop with sweeping views of the city - more of an enclosed space with brick and mortar facades that you can kneel up on your seat and peer over the edge for a view of the street below. Having said that, I really enjoyed the low-key and unpretentious environment. Drinks were $10-15 and above. We ordered their signature cocktail and one of the sangria variations and found both to be refreshing without being overly sweet. It gave us enough of a buzz to get us moving to our dinner restaurant in a good mood. Service was pleasant and friendly. Would return again. read more

I liked my drink. Very intimate place. Lots of books. If you want to bring someone on a second date, this is a good spot. read more

Bookmarks - The punch - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Nice ambience with outside and inside seating. You can view the city but very limited views. Not only that, but you can read here too! So come here and read and who knows you might be meeting your other half who also loves to read. But to tell you the truth the place isn't a library that's for sure. It's to chill and hangout. Being with a group would be nice. So, what are you waiting for? Come and read! read more

Bookmarks - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

This is one of my favorite hidden bars in Manhattan. A great drink selection including book-themed specialty cocktails and a wonderful ambiance. I've only ever been in the fall and sat inside but it has a great outdoor area for summertime seating as well. Last time I was there I had the Pulitzer cocktail which was great. read more

Bookmarks - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Bookmarks NY: Manhattan: Midtown East 10pm Saturday 7th November 2014 Three Stars Located in the Library hotel, Bookmarks is aptly named rooftop bar serving up some inventive cocktails. The theme and the view was spectacular. We sat in the covered section but the New York moon was shining upon us. I had a hot cider cocktail with Apple Van Gogh Vodka (not particularly good brand). The Tequila Mockingbird and the Hemmingway were quite good. The Waitress was less than friendly and it felt like they wanted us to leave and so did after a single round of $15 drinks. Outside, a Hotel guest bumped into a girl in our party and an altercation occurred. No fist-a-cuffs occurred since the hotel security stepped in and apologized to both parties. read more

Bookmarks - Tequila Mockingbird - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I went here on a Wednesday Night for a Business School Social Event. The Hotel is Small and Narrow , but cute. The Library Room was on the 14th floor. As I got off the elevator the bar was the focal point with a wing off to each side. We went to the left, there were two other social events going on as well. The drinks and hor dourves were unlimited. The waitress's were very attentive and pleasant. The hor dourves ranged from crab cakes, shrimp with marinara sauce, steak on a stick, mushroom cake ( which was amazing!) and Bruschetta. The Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay were great. The ginger Ale on the other hand did not taste like Ginger Ale. The dimly lit lights were a nice touch. It made the socializing much easier and comfortable. The acoustics in the room were great. Although there were many people talking the sounds did not echo. What was most appealing was the greenhouse type feel with the glass ceiling on the latter half of the room. Seeing the city lights were a nice backdrop. read more

Amazing drinks. Unfortunately, we waited 40 minutes, if not an hour for the second drink. This was after our glasses were empty. Seriously? IT WAS NOT CROWDED OR BUSY at all. Other patrons, yes. I saw our waitress texting for 10 min on her phone. AND, she came in the area and took other drink orders yet never stopped at our table. That qualifies for throwing her credibility & reliability of service out the window. We had to flag down our waitress for the next drink and another party had to go to the bar to ask the waitress for the check. In terms of service, wish I'd went to Raines not too far down the way instead. read more

Service = 5 Rooftop view = 2 Drinks = 3-4 Tiny, very quiet, good drinks (huge, too). The ambiance is intimate and low-key, but I wouldn't say romantic. You're seated at a table immediately upon entrance. Our waitress was really great - couldn't have been better! The Strawberry Lemonade cocktail was so refreshing and deliciously sweet like candy. The Spicy Berry cocktail was jalapeño-heavy - no berry taste and more like a Bloody Mary. If you split the bill more than 2 ways, 18% gratuity is automatically added. read more

My company had our holiday party Monday night in the poetry garden and lucked out with 63 degree weather, and since it was attached to the outdoor terrace had the use of that too- it was really a nice touch. The place is pricey, especially for events since they do have a minimum of 20 people and charge you for an extra as an admin fee, but the room is the perfect size for that group and the food was tasty and the service was better than expected. Nobody was every lacking for a thing, thought the food was a tad slow. 4 hot and 2 cold Hors d'oeuvre were passed every fifteen minutes, and though I think two should have been passed at a time due to the fact that they were bite sized and we were mostly a group of men, they were mostly really good (the lobster tartlet was a bit salty and the mushroom risotto was in too much dough it was overpowered). The bacon wrapped sirloin with gorgonzola was outstanding, as were the crab cakes and chicken parm sate. The 3 hour top shelf open bar was great, and we were never lacking for service. People had their choice of beer to McAllen.... Everyone had a great time socializing- it was relaxed, fun and a beautiful room. I highly recommend for a small group holiday party- but a little tip: request up front 2 hors d'oeuvre's passed simultaneously. read more

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Nice area to hang out at on the 14th floor rooftop. We went in a group of about 20 or so and given heat we were in the enclosed area and found enough seating (we didn't have a reservation but they still accommodated us). There is an outside seating area with benches that can be used when the weather permits The staff is attentive and friendly The view is not bad (see pictures) read more

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Was brought here on a cold winter night, so we didn't take advantage of the outdoor area although we did peek about it for 5 minutes or so. The view isn't as impressive as other rooftop bars I've been to, but I bet it would be really nice to sit outside here with all the great seating during the summer. Instead we opted for two comfy leather sofas near the fireplace. Drinks are expensive here ($15-18) but the Pulitzer is one of the best drinks I've ever had in New York. My friends made fun of me for downing it so quickly...We went on a Sunday night so it was really quiet and closed at 11pm. I'll be sure to return in the spring/summer when I can take full advantage of the outside seating. This would be a great place to bring a small party of friends who want to relax and enjoy the weather. read more

Bookmarks is located on the 14th floor of the Library Hotel. While it isn't the largest rooftop bar I've been to, it's one of the nicest ones. Since summer is long behind us, it was mostly enclosed - one side of the bar has a fire pit in the middle of the floor. The outside area did have some heat lamps for those that braved the chilly air to take in the views. There is ample seating although I would suggest reservations for large parties. The floor is separated into two areas with the bar in the middle....the side that we were on was not as crowded as it didn't have a lot of seating but the other side looked packed. The music that was played was up to date and lively. The drinks on the menu are named after authors or books which I thought was quite cute. I started off with the Tea S. Elliott, which was earl grey tea with vodka and other liquors, I was pretty good but didn't have much of a kick to it so I switched to the Tequila Mockingbird which was REALLY good. So good I had a second one. The drink prices start at $15 and I don't think they have a happy hour so make sure you bring your coins with you if you decide to go. The appetizers were pretty good as well. We had the chips with blue cheese dip, the assorted cheese platter, the flat bread pizzas and the roast beef sliders (there were ten of us). Each plate was more than enough to share and I have to stay that all of the appetizers were delicious. Overall I think it's a nice bar/lounge with a cute theme and would be perfect for date night. read more

This rooftop bar is beautiful, romantic and a nice place to steal away from the busy city street. The bar wasn't particularly busy and the atmosphere was quiet, relaxing and pleasant. The only issue I have with this place is the drinks, which you are paying a decent amount for. Despite them tasting fine, the bartender had to look at a recipe to create them. A bartender at a nice place like this, especially in NYC, shouldn't have to do such. If my friends and I hadn't been ordering off of the seasonal specials menu, I imagine she wouldn't have been able to whip something up on the fly. I can't wait to come here again when it's nicer out to relax outside and take it all in. read more

Bookmarks - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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I came here for drinks and food after work on a Friday so it was super busy. The seating area though is nice and cozy. The drinks were delicious, I has both the passionfruit sparkling drink and the tequila mockingbird. The food was also delicious, we had the pretzels as well as the flatbread pizza with fig and pear. Def. Recommend this place if you feel like you have money to burn. The cocktails are very expensive and the food is a bit pricey too. read more

Beautiful rooftop venue with nice views and delicious and very sizable drinks (pricey but in line with rooftop bars in the area). The snacks are quite tasty too; I especially liked the flatbreads. We had a small corporate event here which went really well (I don't think their space is large enough for a huge group though). However, when I visited separately with friends, we found the service to be poor and not very attentive. They were slow to take our orders, part of which then mixed up with that of the group next to ours (and they weren't very apologetic about it). In any case, overall still a nice lounge option in midtown. read more

Bookmarks - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Bookmarks bar is a charming rooftop affiliated with the Library hotel. You'll enter thru the Library Way (it's just a glass+gold door, east to miss) and ask the doorman for the bookmarks bar, where you'll enjoy the intimate nature of the layout. After you get out of the elevator, the bar will be right on front of you. To your right there is a large open greenery type space with a door to the outside with benches and shrubs over-looking midtown. To your left, the space is darker and lounge-like and also connects to a smaller outdoor space with couches. In the winter this part is closed up and donned with heating lamps. It was a cool spot to go to, the barkeep was extra friendly. We were seated in the lounge area we and barely saw the waitress. We did get our drinks in a timely way when ordered and the waitress was very hospitable but it wasn't worth the time left over to get another drink. Luckily on our way back to our room we stopped for a mixed shot by the bar and it was promptly and deliciously made! Don't think I would go here again during the winter but for sure the summer time. Definitely a cozy spot, I would not bring large groups here as I imagine it gets crowded on a regular weeknight. read more

This venue is small. The rooftop doesn't have a real view but it's cute nonetheless. It's convenient to Grand Central so once in a blue moon I stop there before my train. I remember once sitting inside a few years back next to the fireplace and that was something more memorable, but the rooftop itself is just OK. The waitress was very pleasant and so was bus staff. Oh yes, the bathroom is on the upper level? Just remembered that too. The chips and salsa I didn't care for much. I think were trying too hard to make it stand out that it really didn't work, at least for me. The chips were too thick and salsa was green. It was fine I guess but I ate like 5 chips with the salsa and then put it aside for some reason... Oh, my cosmo was excellent! The drinks are expensive but made well. All in all, it's an OK place if you are in the area! read more

This is such a great location, and such a cute theme- I feel like there's so much potential! The rooftop garden is really nice, especially on a nice night. However, the drinks are just not that good. I really enjoy a good cocktail, and have now tried a number of the adorably-named literary-themed specialty drinks offered at Bookmarks, and all have disappointed. They just don't come together, and something seems to be missing. In a city with so many great bartenders and mixologists, I think this location needs to up their drink game (especially at the high prices they are charging per drink). read more

Went in on a cold Monday night so it was mostly empty - so it was perfect to have the whole place to ourselves and a couple other guests. Drinks were great~ ambience and deco were great~ lots of photo opps especially outside where there's also a great view. We also ordered the flatbread which was yummy. The only awkward thing was that the bathrooms were on a different floor..so you had to go into the stairwell and go up a floor..so I was a little creeped out by that.. But otherwise, would totally come back next time I'm in NY! read more

I suppose we're all guilty of falling in love with an idea over the reality. And of course, the penalty of this is the bitter taste of disillusionment. The thing is... I just didn't expect disillusionment to taste like tequila. The idea of Bookends is very alluring--a quiet bar within the Library Hotel (a charming hotel with different literary themes for each suite) that was designed to provide imbibers with an intimate space to discuss writers and books while viewing the gorgeous cityscape of New York. Unfortunately, the reality of Bookends is not quite as romantic. Bookends is just another posh but characterless hotel bar with expensive drinks. The very few literary allusions found within the bar seem more tacked on as an explicit attempt at a theme, rather than anything actually carefully thought out. The bar is located on the 14th floor of the hotel. Getting off the elevator, one is immediately met with the bar itself. A sleek black countertop stretches across the room. Two bartenders dressed in spiffy white tuxedos stand attentively behind the counter. Bottles line up against the walls in tiers. There are some elements of 40's charm to it all, but it is lost in the garish blue-ish light shining from under the bottles that give the bar a cheap Sunset Boulevard feel. On each side of the bar are two rooms, each with a veranda with a view of Midtown. My friend and I were led to the room on the left. A spacious room with large sleek sofas, the room had an upscale men's lounge feel to it; it might have been the masculine 1940s aesthetics or the Californian blonde cocktail waitresses with vacant expressions or a large flat screen television playing ESPN or a combination of those three Oh. And there were very few books around. The room on the right looked a bit more appealing as it has more of a secret garden feeling with wicker furniture and some flowers. In fact, the only thing really "literary" about Bookends were the name of the drinks. Though some of the titles were clever puns, they seem nothing more than that. Sure, Tequila Mockingbird is a very clever name, but I'm sure I'm not the only person who feels tequila is a little incongruent with Harper Lee's work. Some other names of drinks included the Ernest Hemmingway (a mojito type) and A Bridge Over the River Chai. And the drinks weren't worth the money--pretentious name or not. All the drinks were in the $12 to $15 range, but weren't very good. Maybe it was the fact that the waitress poured the drink so limply and carelessly from the shaker, but the drink itself was also limp and careless. But, it was strong. Tequila Mockingbird? Nah, it's more like Tequila Liver. The view was nice but nothing absolutely spectacular. And though the empty skyscrapers are hauntingly gorgeous on a calm cool night, the beauty of it all is offset by the tourists and businessmen crowd. In short, don't bother to bookmark Bookends. And if you want a literary-themed drink, go make yourself a Virginia Woolf--gin... drowned... on the rocks! [goes and dies in the corner for making such an awful joke] read more

If you want to get pushed out of bar, go to Bookmarks. The vibe is generally good, despite slow service, but they fall short. In fact, if you want to catch up with a friend, find another location. We happened to visit on what was supposed to be a light weekday catch up, but when the hostess decides to seat 15 animated women, who immediately closed in on both sides, and then brings out extended seating, you know you have to leave. BTW, the venue was far from full so it was the judgment call of the hostesses and wait staff as well as the folks attending the bar to push out local patrons. When I brought up the crowded atmosphere and unwelcomed vibe it to the Bookmarks team, I was told, "maybe the hostess thought you wanted new friends?" I love meeting new people, but when there's plenty of space, you start thinking Bookmarks just wants those Benjamin's. Think about how you want to spend your time. It might work for some people, but it didn't work for me. read more

The first bar that I have ever been in NYC where I could actually hear what my friends said. Although I do not look like a nerd, I am a huge nerd who likes Star Wars and of course, enjoy spending time in the library. Thus, I decided to go to the Library Hotel with my friends and check out Bookmarks. Although it does not have glamorous design and the space is small, it is the perfect place for folks to catch up and enjoy the view of the library in the outdoor seating. My friends and I loved the summer breeze, and were pleasantly surprised that we could sit as long as wanted. We were there for four hours without interruption, which is extremely rare. Great place for nerds, couples and a crowd of friends. Come and enjoy drinks at Bookmarks! read more

Bookmarks are meant for us to put away and try out when the time is right. Well I had saved this most appealing of places for months, and thus came here expecting this writers eagle's nest in the middle of midtown, but alas, it was not what I had envisioned it to be. Granted that it is tucked away on the 14th floor, the layout is too narrow and feels constricted; I thought that we were going to be seated in a sparse area with awesome vistas, but the people at the Library Hotel had incorrectly allocated bushy plants at the edges which curtailed the view; furthermore, the glass sections were built in a way that you felt more inside a botanical garden, than in an outside seating area. So yeah, even ME Bar felt more sparse. The cocktails promised to be interesting; named after writers right? Well my Hemingway was actually a Mojito screaming for originality, with only a slight taste of ginger to answer for it. Sienna's drink was better, but we clearly decided that perhaps, Bookmarks should have stayed on the Bookmarks section, or at least until the summer. As we were leaving, we noticed, however, that there was a totally different section at the right of the bar. This opened a whole different view and perception of the place, which promised to be much better than the crammed section were we had been allocated. So yes, I'll come to bookmarks once more to finish the tale, until then, 3 stars it is. read more

Nice hidden little rooftop with great cocktails! Initially, I was very turned off because I had to put my name in for a spot outside on the rooftop, and the host couldn't tell me how long the wait was going to be and the inside bar was crowded and uncomfortable. I had to wait for a friend and when she got there, we were actually called for a spot, so it worked out. And I'm glad it did! It was a beautiful day and it was nice to sit outside. I have to say - the cocktails were pretty special. I would definitely go back. read more

Bookmarks is located on the top floor of The Library Hotel. You don't have to be a guest of the hotel to enjoy the bar. During the day this space is a reading garden (the hotel has a library theme). But at night it becomes Bookmarks. It is a rooftop bar so you can really find your own little niche scene here. There is an indoor glass roof area that would make a great date spot as it sets a nice mood. But if weather is working in your favor you definitely need the rooftop. There is waitress service, and the menu is mostly cocktails though they do have beer. They also offer bar food fare if you are hungry. Service can be slow so come here to enjoy and don't be in a hurry. The views of Midtown are really nice. If you get bored being on the roof you can go downstairs to the "library" section of the hotel where they have a fireplace. Maybe it's the library theme but this bar even when crowded carries an almost hushed tone making it good for conversation. Or making out. ;-) read more

"Whoops," she says. "This is not where I meant for us to go." "Leather chairs and greenhouse glass ceilings? Did you mean Bookmarks at the Library Hotel?" "Ohmygod, yes!!" After Meredith led us astray, I pulled out my Blackberry and went to my savior: Yelp, you never let me down. Venue: Now this is what I'm talking about. Bookmarks is charming, accommodating and relatively unknown (so why the hell are you reviewing it, Aria??). We were there on Memorial Day night, and when we arrived at 8, it was dead quiet. Not joking, we were the loudest things at the bar. We snagged a seat outside and I promptly ordered a Remy Martin VSOP ($15, that was a steal, I'm telling you) because it we all know how I like my cognac at libraries. Specialty drinks were half off, and a recently divorced man was buying us rounds of vanilla cognac shots. A Raspberry later and we're outside again smoking with Sybil and her gay boyfriend Johnathan. Andy at the bar kept us going all night, and we didn't even get ourselves kicked out. If I could live at Bookmarks I would. With it's open patios and glass-encased seating, I could fall asleep in those leather chairs and settees. Books and literary references are abound and the sophisticated atmosphere is lost on no one. Candle-light outside and dim lighting inside keep Bookmarks on that list of places where I'll be heading when I when I need to boost my ego by having a man buy me a drink--classily--or when I feel the desire to indulge in my 60-year-old-man-like drinking habit. Food: They have a few desserts and cheese platters here. We got two of the cheese selections throughout the night, and with it's 6 different choices and little bread toasties, I was well on my way to drunkenness with some carb and dairy cushioning my fall. Ya'll stay away now, ya'hear! read more

Enter the Library Hotel, ride up in a cramped and sort of smelly elevator, and be amazed at what you will find on the 14th floor! Bookmarks is a trendy little spot that makes you feel a bit smarter and more literary just by going there. (Note: take the stairs up one more floor and you will again be amazed...restrooms!) As you exit the elevator, you are directly in front of the bar and you just feel a bit more adult. The lighting is dim, the bartenders are sharply dressed, and the atmosphere feels a little bit like a more modern and streamlined version of Hollywood Regency. Off to your right is an enclosed area for mingling and an open air space -- the elusive roof deck, if you are lucky enough to find a seat. Some of the seating had comfy cushions and some was just wooden benches. Fortunately we had cushions. Unfortunately, our outdoor heating lamp wasn't working. We toughed it out for a few hours before retreating inside and heading to the area to the left of the bar which offers another enclosed greenhouse/solarium room and a cozy seating area with two leather couches by a roaring fireplace. It felt like I was hanging out in someone's well-appointed apartment, and not at a bar. A bottle of wine will run you at least $50 and cocktails and signature drinks are about $15 a piece. There was one cocktail I wanted to try (Shakespeare's Sonnet, I think), but they were out of some ingredient it required (sad). So my friend and I decided to go for a gin drink that was the first on the cocktail list...perhaps it was the Pulitzer which a lot of people have been raving about. We took our first sips, looked at each other, and immediately agreed that it tasted exactly like cough syrup. That said, these were $15 cocktails so you better believe we drank up. Trendy and fun vibe, a bit off the beaten path, and a place to breathe a little deeper. Try it out! read more

This rooftop bar is a nice place to get an after work drink in the midtown area. It is generally secluded, but gets more crowded as the night goes on, and it's attractive. In summer has an outdoor rooftop area and in the winter has a nice enclosed solarium. The cocktails aren't particularly exciting (my colleague ordered the pear and ginger cocktail and was disappointed that it tasted like a white wine spritzer) and the wine is on the pricey side, but it's worth the price for one or two drinks. It's probably not where you'd want to go for more than that and definitely not a late night destination. read more

Lovely rooftop bar with cozy outdoor seating area and some intriguing indoor spaces as well. The view isn't as expansive as, say, 230 5th or Ink 48, but it makes up for it with interesting decor (think vine-covered stone walls), as well as a more intimate seating arrangement. There's a beautiful solarium-type area on your way to the outdoor section which seems like a fantastic alternative if the rooftop is too crowded. The drinks were solid if not 100% memorable, but this bar definitely has the single best-named cocktail in the city - Tequila Mockingbird. Tequila Mockingbird!!! HA. Give the man/woman who named that a medal and a lifetime supply of tequila. And mockingbirds, why not. Overall, I had a great evening here. It's a fantastic date spot if you're looking for a rooftop bar that's light on doucheyness and heavy on character and elegance. read more