The Surrey: A Luxury New York Hotel Steeped in History

By Paul Joseph

In a city teeming with upscale accommodation, standing out from the crowd is a challenging task. But when you can boast John F. Kennedy and Bette Davis among your former patrons, then the battle for exclusivity is already won.

Step forward The Surrey, an eye-catching Beaux-Arts townhouse hotel nestled in Manhattan’s fashionable Upper East Side, a short hop from renowned attractions such as Madison Avenue’s boutiques and restaurants, Museum Mile and Central Park.

Built in 1926, initially as a residents’ hotel, The Surrey was reopened in 2009 after a $60 million overhaul. In its new guise, the hotel retained its reputation for attracting the rich and famous, with celebrities keen to sojourn among its coffered ceilings, limestone walls and marble archways.

The attention to detail that has gone into the hotel’s interior is also evident in a number of striking design features, such as front desk made of hand-tooled leather and an antique Oriental carpet expressed in mosaic tiles.

Furthermore, the hotel also boasts its own collection of modern art, including two photographs by renowned American conceptual artist, Jenny Holzer, while guests are greeted by a tapestry of model, designer, musician and fashion icon Kate Moss upon entering the lobby.

The Surrey houses 189 ‘salons’, including 34 suites, a Penthouse and a Presidential suite, ranging from 350 to 2,127 square feet,. Notable amenities at the hotel include a roof garden, a chic bar, a restaurant helmed by master chef Daniel Boulud and a state-of-the-art Spa.

The Surrey is 20 minutes from LaGuardia Airport (LGA), 40 minutes from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and 60 minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

Rates at The Surrey are available from $435 a night.

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By Paul Joseph