The Surrey Hotel, a Corinthia Hotel – Review

Since the days of Gossip GirlThe deliciously wicked teen drama from the mid-2000s has New York City’s Upper East Side was a hot spot for the coolest kids. With the arrival of the sparkling new Surrey hotel, the neighborhood is suddenly—and rightfully—back in the spotlight.

Built as a hotel in 1926 The Surrey Once, the hotel was home to a number of A-List celebrities, such as Bette Davis and John F. Kennedy. After an extensive renovation, the Martin Brudnizki Design Studio has reopened it as part of Corinthia Hotels. This European brand is making its North American debut.

Casa Tua’s outpost in Aspen has definitely attracted the crowds, with people lining up in order to get their hands on the incredible hand-cut pasta. 

Also, the property has the feeling of being an extension of stately townhouses that are found in the area. When you enter the lobby there is a New York vibe: chic, well-informed, and quiet powerful.

The interior design is richly textured and restrained. There are 100 rooms and suites with Murano crystal chandeliers, cream, gold and terracotta colors, and grasscloth lining the wall. New York references can be found all over the hotel. For example, in the morning when I opened my closet for my running shoes I was surprised to find a hand-painted wall mural depicting the graceful bridges of New York. Central ParkThe hotel is located just one street away.

My full review of The Surrey Hotel, a Corinthia Hotel.

The Rooms

The Surrey offers 70 rooms, 30 suites and four that are inspired by the iconic bridges of Central Park. These include fireplaces, soaking bathtubs, walk-in closets and butler services. There are 14 residences which honor the past of the property.

The Grand Deluxe room I stayed in had a beautiful vanity in the hallway, a comfortable sitting area and a spacious bathroom with two sinks. There were warm wooden, marble and gold accents in the room, as well as linens and window treatments. I was especially charmed by the portrait of a jockey and his horse that hung in the bedroom—the property’s art was curated by the Paris-based Visto gallery, and all of it is by New York City artists.

Food and Drink

Casa Tusa, is simply, an apartment. The scene. The restaurant was packed with older and younger customers. I invited a friend to join me for dinner. She lives on the Upper East Side and was surprised when she saw other young professionals catching-up over martinis.

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We shared prosciutto with buffalo mozzarella, a radicchio and tomato salad as well as a plate of lobster spaghetti. alla chitarra and cacio e pepe. We didn’t You can also use The tiramisu was the only dessert I could not resist.

The Lounge also offers small plates, drinks and cocktails. On another evening I enjoyed a veal Milanese salad, cavatelli cio e tartufo.

Activities and Experiences

The hotel offers a functional but small fitness center and a patio to practice outdoor yoga. The city is right outside the hotel: Madison Avenue’s shops and galleries, as well as the major museums on Fifth Avenue are all nearby.

The Spa

One of the Surrey’s best perks is its Sisley spa—it’s like being able to get French-girl skincare without flying to Paris. Black Rose Replumping Facial with Scalp massage is an exclusive treatment at the hotel, but all treatments use Sisley products. The hotel also has a dry steam and sauna room and a salt tepidarium with loungers.

Accessibility and sustainability

The common areas of the lobby (including Casa Tua and the Lounge) are fully accessible. There are also five rooms that can be accessed by wheelchair. The property has also been LEED certified at silver level.

Location

The Surrey Hotel is located in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, at the corner of East 76th Street & Madison Avenue. Central Park is just one block away.

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The hotel rewards program. Corinthia Discovery, is a member of the Global Hotel Alliance.