10 Literary Cafés, Pubs, and Restaurants to Feed Your Muse

Writers need to eat (and drink) too.

10 Places

While history’s most famous authors wrote immortal words, they themselves were mortal, and often in need of a cup of coffee and a sandwich, or perhaps a pint and a sympathetic bartender. Over time, some of their watering holes have taken on a bit of reflected glory, with plaques, tours, and memorabilia attracting modern bookworms. Whether patronized by writers or inspired by literature, here are 10 bars and restaurants to fuel your imagination.

Salinas, California

The Steinbeck House Restaurant

Try the fajitas or Steinbeck Brownie Pie in the house where the author was born.

Anne Ewbank

Added by Anne Ewbank

New York, New York

Bemelmans Bar

Sip an Agave Gingerita at this bar covered in drawings by Ludwig Bemelmans, the author and illustrator of the "Madeline" books.

Added by yayanzhang

Denver, Colorado

My Brother’s Bar

This haunt of Beat icon Neal Cassady features a famous jalapeño cream cheese burger.

gmedina1940

Added by gmedina1940

Baltimore, Maryland

The Horse You Came In On Saloon

Staff here still sometimes leave a glass of whiskey out for Edgar Allan Poe's tragic spirit.

satxwdavis

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Oxford, England

The Eagle and Child

A luminous literary club known as the Inklings met here, among them J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Have a pie from the pie menu.

Added by oswestryalex

Harry's New York Bar

American writers of the Roaring Twenties bolstered themselves at this bar, the first to offer cocktails in Europe.

Luke J Spencer

Added by Luke J Spencer

Glendalough, Ireland

Writers' Room at The Wicklow Heather

First editions by Irish authors line the walls of a dining room that serves Irish whiskies and lamb stew.

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London, England

The Sherlock Holmes Museum

Enjoy traditional fish and chips and not-so-traditional nachos along with an incredibly detailed Sherlock Holmes exhibit.

Luke J Spencer

Added by Luke J Spencer

Mexico City, Mexico

Café La Habana

This café fueled poetry and prose by feeding Octavio Paz, Roberto Bolaño, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. A plate of chilaquiles or a café bombón could spur anyone to set pen to paper.

Monsieur Mictlan

Added by Monsieur Mictlan

Savannah, Georgia

The Pirates' House

This restaurant claims the fictional Captain Flint from "Treasure Island" died upstairs. Pages of the novel line the walls, and servers dress like pirates.

Added by arielfelton08

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