This Swish NYC Hotel Was Named One of the Best New Stays of the Year

Travel + Leisure

8 hours ago

The Surrey, a Corinthia Hotel, on the Upper East Side, is among the best new hotels in the world, according to Travel + Leisure 's 2025 It List.
's 2025 It List. Spacious rooms (especially for New York) that feel like a true oasis from the city.
A buzzy atmosphere with a see-and-be-seen lobby and lounge.
Perfectly executed Italian food at the restaurant, Casa Tua.
Not since the days of Gossip Girl , the deliciously wicked mid-2000s teen television drama, has New York City's Upper East Side been a spot for the cool kids. With the arrival of the sparkling new Surrey hotel, the neighborhood is suddenly—and rightfully—back in the spotlight.
Built in 1926 as a hotel, The Surrey once hosted a coterie of A-List guests, including Rosemary Clooney, Bette Davis, and John F. Kennedy. Now, after an extensive renovation by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, it has reopened as part of Corinthia Hotels, a European brand making its North American debut.
Having an outpost of Casa Tua, the swank restaurant and members' club with locations in Miami and Aspen, has certainly drawn the in-crowd, who are lining up for the phenomenal hand-cut pappardelle. The lobby at the Surrey.
Jonathan Maloney & Inga Beckmann/What The Fox Studio/courtesy of The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel
It also helps that the property feels like an extension of the neighborhood's stately townhouses. Stepping into the lobby, there's a purely New York feeling: chic, in-the-know, and quietly powerful.
The design is restrained and richly textured: the 100 rooms and suites are outfitted with Murano chandeliers; cream, gold, and terra-cotta tones; and grass cloth lining the walls. New York references are also found throughout the property: In the morning, when I opened my closet to grab my running shoes, I was surprised to see a hand-painted mural displaying the graceful bridges in Central Park, just one block away from the hotel.
Here, my full review of The Surrey, a Corinthia Hotel.
The Surrey has 70 rooms and 30 suites, four of which are inspired by iconic bridges in Central Park (Bethesda, Pine Bank, Greywacke, and Bow) and have fireplaces, soaking tubs, walk-in wardrobes, and butler service. There are also 14 residences, honoring the property's past. A Deluxe King guest room.
Jonathan Maloney & Inga Beckmann/What The Fox Studio/courtesy of The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel
I stayed in a Grand Deluxe room, which had a lovely vanity in the hall, comfortable sitting area, and spacious bathroom with double sinks. The linens, window treatments, and carpet were done in shades of cream, marigold, and light brown, and there were plenty of warm wood, marble, and gold accents throughout to add to the air of 'quiet luxury.' 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.
Casa Tusa is, simply, a scene . Even in the middle of January, the restaurant was packed, with a mix of older and younger patrons. For dinner, I brought along a friend who lives in the Upper East Side, and she was surprised to see other young professionals there, catching up over martinis.
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We split prosciutto di parma with buffalo mozzarella and a radicchio salad, as well as plates of decadent lobster spaghetti alla chitarra and cacio e pepe. We didn't need dessert, but couldn't turn down the tiramisu. The Lounge by Casa Tua.
Jonathan Maloney & Inga Beckmann/What The Fox Studio/courtesy of The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel
If you're looking for small plates and drinks, there's also The Lounge, where, another evening, I had a veal milanese salad and cavatelli cacio and tartufo.
The hotel has a small but functional fitness center, plus a patio for outdoor yoga. But really, the city is the hotel's backyard: the shops and galleries of Madison Avenue, plus major museums along Fifth Avenue, are right at hand. A bathroom inside a Deluxe Suite.
Jonathan Maloney & Inga Beckmann/What The Fox Studio/courtesy of The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel
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. One treatment exclusive to the hotel is the Black Rose Replumping Facial and Scalp Massage, but all facials and massages use Sisley products. There's also a dry sauna and steam room, and a lovely salt tepidarium room with loungers.
The lobby level common spaces (including the Lounge and Casa Tua) are accessible, and the hotel has five fully accessible rooms. The property is also LEED silver certified. The exterior of the Surrey.
Jonathan Maloney & Inga Beckmann/What The Fox Studio/courtesy of The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel
On the corner of East 76th Street and Madison Avenue, Surrey occupies prime real estate in Manhattan's Upper East Side neighborhood. The hotel is one block from Central Park.
The hotel's rewards program, Corinthia Discovery, is part of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), a collection of independent hotel brands worldwide.