New York City’s nightlife scene has quite the history, especially when it comes to literature. Certain bars, restaurants, hole-in-wall dives and lounges are home to the ghosts and the living that have influenced modern-day literature and writing. The following list includes both historical and current watering holes where anyone can grab a drink, a book, and absorb the spirits of famous authors.

White Horse Tavern, 567 Hudson St.

White Horse Tavern is infamously known as the bar where poet Dylan Thomas proceeded to drink himself to death. The story goes that Thomas declared to drink roughly 18 whiskeys, retired at the Chelsea Hotel and died a few days later. The tavern was founded in 1880, and its original patrons were docksmen, sailors and other workers in the marine industry (the West Village was originally a port neighborhood). It wasn’t until the Beatnik, hippie and counterculture movements of the ‘50s and ‘60s that the Village became known for its artist communities. Other famous writers that frequented The White Horse Tavern include Jack Kerouac, Hunter S. Thompson and Edith Wharton. The Village Voice was also founded at the tavern.

Bookmarks Lounge at The Library Hotel, 299 Madison Ave #14

The Library Hotel’s theme and design is a treat for any bibliophile (the floors and rooms are organized by the Dewey Decimal system). Bookmarks is the rooftop lounge boasting an outdoor terrace as well as a greenhouse and a fireplace. Guests can read from Dylan Thomas or Walt Whitman’s poetry while sipping literary-named cocktails such as The Hemingway, a rum, mint and champagne concoction.

The Library at the NoMad Hotel, 1770 Broadway and 28^th St.

The NoMad Hotel’s library lounge is the stuff of dreams-- its two levels are connected by a spiral staircase imported from France, keeping with the theme of the hotel. Finger foods, coffee, and cocktails are served throughout the day until the library is converted into a cocktail lounge at night. Guests can read up on the history of New York, music or other topics while ordering bottle service or a stiff drink.

Kettle of Fish/Lion’s Head, 59 Christopher St.

This West Village staple has moved around and been reincarnated a few times, but its tie-in to literary greatness is Kerouac, who once posed outside in front of the neon bar sign. The bar has a reputation for having a divey, bookish atmosphere, which is supported by its fireplace and back room, although it is mostly a Greenbay Packers sports bar. Historically, Kettle of Fish moved from its original spot on Macdougal St. to Christopher St. in the ‘60s where it was known as the Lion’s Head until the mid-‘90s (it closed and then reopened), and was home to journalists and writers Pete Hamill, Frank McCourt and Stanley Crouch.

Blue Bar & Rose Room at The Algonquin, 59 West 44^th St.

The Algonquin is another boutique hotel, but with closer ties to the literary world than the two previously mentioned. It opened in 1902 and was neighbors to the Hippodrome, linking it to the theater world as well. Maya Angelou, Gertrude Stein, Sinclair Lewis and William Faulkner all visited the hotel, but the Algonquin is most notable for being the location of The Round Table—a group of writers and critics who founded The New Yorker magazine. Dorothy Parker, Robert Sherwood, Edna Ferba and George S. Kaufman were all members, and collectively The Round Table inspired Scott F. Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway.

KGB Bar, 85 East 4^th St

This Soviet-themed literary bar has been named a top literary venue by both The Village Voice and New York Magazine, and it’s easy to see why. There are readings almost every night by both upcoming and published writers, with series such as Drunken Careening Writers and At The Inkwell. KGB Bar also has its own literary magazine and anthology published, and is approaching its 20^th anniversary.

Elaine’s, 1703 2^nd Ave.

Although it is now closed, Elaine’s deserves an honorable mention for its history and mainstay in popular culture. Elaine’s opened in 1963 and closed in 2011, six months after the death of restaurateur Elaine Kaufman. The small restaurant was known for attracting writers, journalists, celebrities, and was revered more so for Elaine’s repertoire with her favored customers than the typical Italian fare. Photos capture the classic, New York saloon vibe of Elaine’s—it was the quintessential spot. Patrons included Norman Mailer, Winston Groom (author of Forrest Gump), Tom Wolfe, Woody Allen, politicians, Jackie Kennedy etc.  Rife with a colorful history, Elaine’s was the place to see and be seen.

Lit Crawl: NYC and Brooklyn

Although not necessarily a watering hole, the Lit Crawl is an event any literature fan should participate in. With two locations in New York, the free bar crawl takes patrons around the Lower East Side and Brooklyn, stopping in at bars, restaurants and shops to hold trivia events, writing workshops, and reading series. The next Lit Crawl will take place on Sept. 14^th; other crawls will be happening in Portland, Los Angeles, Austin and London.

Author Bio:

Gabriella Tutino is a contributing writer at Highbrow Magazine.

Photos: Free Verse Photography (Flickr); kettleoffish.com; muckster (Flickr).