The Best Bars and Restaurants Inspired by Literature

It’s no secret that those who love to read and write also generally love to drink—among the many greats whose accolades in literature seem nearly rivaled by those with alcohol, there’s Hunter S. Thompson, John Cheever, Dylan Thomas, Dorothy Parker, Edgar Allen Poe, Truman Capote, and Jack Kerouac, in addition to my own personal favorite, the conqueror Raymond Carver (whose epic poem “Gravy,” on his triumph over alcohol, was later inscribed upon his grave). Those who may not indulge as fluidly often treat themselves in other ways, a fine meal chief among them. So where might a writer or lover of literature go to grab a bite to eat, a cocktail or a beer, without breaking with this tradition? Start with these famous bars and restaurants inspired by literature, venues whose menu offerings, décor, and names make physical a toast to the greats.

Novela
(662 Mission St., San Francisco)
Writers looking to meet—or more—should go no further than Novela, located in the heart of San Francisco’s Financial District. In addition to literary-savvy décor—the best of which includes aesthetically pleasing and pantone paperbacks and bourgeois chandeliers—Novela also offers an array of intrepid cocktails designed in honor of the greats of American literature. Patrons may select from the Holden Caulfield or the Jay Gatsby, the Atticus Finch or the Huckleberry Finn. Diners may also indulge in “Hemingway’s ‘Code Hero’ Punch,” comprised of three distinct whiskeys (rye, Jameson, and Ardbeg), in addition to Pimm’s and the subtle flavorings of Earl grey, grapefruit, and zesty lemon.

Biblio
(149 N. 6th St, Brooklyn)
Biblio seems to me the place Hemingway and Proust would choose to go if either man was around today. With gastropub offerings including bacon and béchamel macaroni and cheese, curried mussels, and burgers topped with fried eggs and bacon, as well as more delicate snacks including homemade madeleines, an artisanal cheese plate, and maple peanuts, Biblio is the place to build a foundation for a late night of drinking or revision. All items are listed on an aesthetically pleasing “Table of Contents,” and in addition to a diverse and varied beer and wine list, Biblio offers over a dozen top-shelf bourbons, ryes, and whiskeys. Best of all? It delivers, making it the perfect takeout spot when you’re in the throes of drafting your new novel.

Alice In Wonderland
(5th floor of the Taiyo Building, Tokyo)
Feel like branching out? Or, to be specific, flying to Japan? If so, satisfy your culinary and literary fix by dining at the Alice in Wonderland restaurant, located in the heart of downtown Tokyo. Inspired jointly by Lewis Carroll’s classic and the colorful Disney adaptation, Alice in Wonderland is a magical, kid-friendly attraction that’s part magical fantasy and part restaurant. Inside, patrons can choose to sit in one of the restaurant’s many shrubby-lined booths or in a giant oversized teacup, get lost in the hallway of oversized books, or indulge at the heart-shaped table below an ornate red chandelier of hearts. Menu offerings include the Cheshire Cat Tail Pizza, Caterpillar-shaped sushi, and a braised beef cheek in a “Queen of Hearts’ red Burgundy wine sauce.”