John F. Kennedy stayed there. So did Bette Davis. The glitterati of the day, from celebrities to artists, even world leaders, crowded the lounges, bars and rooftop gardens of The Surrey, an iconic Upper East Side Manhattan residential hotel open since 1926. Located at the corner of Madison Avenue and East 76th street, it personified swank before they had a word for it.
But, like a wizened movie star of the past, it needed a facelift. To recapture its illustrious legacy, Maltese hospitality group Corinthia Hotels, which was tapped by the Reuben Brothers to manage the hotel after it acquired the property in 2020, undertook a monumental renovation that evokes classic New York City with modern methods and details.
Corinthia Hotels is not a well-known stateside name, with its properties mainly spread through Europe, including the iconic Corinthia London. And though The Surrey is its first property in North America, Corinthia has proved its mettle in a collection of distinct, individually designed hotels.
“Having a presence in the United States has been a goal for Corinthia for many years, especially in New York, said Simon Naudi, group CEO and managing director of Corinthia Hotels Limited, at the time the company was installed as operator. (Corinthia Hotels also partnered with the Reuben Brothers on the upcoming Corinthia Rome.)
It now has a New York presence and with the help of design firm MBDS, led by Martin Brudnizki, The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel reopened in late October to a new era of travel and under the polished leadership of Managing Director Pradeep Raman, who was appointed to the position in summer 2023 after serving as GM of another one of New York’s most discriminating addresses, Baccarat Hotel & Residences.
“As The Surrey approaches its 100th anniversary, our goal has been to restore its glamour and sophistication while shaping it into an icon for the future,” he said. “We’ve carefully updated the hotel to infuse it with a fresh, contemporary vibe, all while honoring its rich history. The hotel now blends its storied past with a modern elegance that brings a new energy to the Upper East Side.”
Madison Avenue Makeover
The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel features 70 guestrooms, 30 suites—including four inspired by the picturesque bridges
of Central Park—and 14 private residences. With a spa, nightclub and restaurant Casa Tua, the fourth outpost of the Italian-inspired brand, the hotel is already one of Manhattan’s more endowed properties.
Maintaining the warm feel of the original property was a priority during construction, said Raman. Master architects Schwartz & Gross paid special attention to the hotel’s grand façade, the focal point of the Surrey and a showcase of the neighborhood’s history and architectural legacy, while BKSK Architects provided additional interior renovations to modernize the historic property without discarding its past.
While the four-year construction process—in full view of a curious, onlooking public—only heightened curiosity, renovating an entire hotel on one of the busiest blocks in Manhattan brought its own logistical difficulties. The spa and fitness center, in particular, were simultaneously the most fun and the most challenging areas, said Raman. Through a partnership with Sisley Paris and MBDS to create “an escape from city life,” the Surrey Spa boasts two treatment rooms, a salt relaxation room, a steam room and sauna.
Jaunt Through the Jazz Age
Inspired by the American Art Deco style of the hotel’s heyday, the MBDS team created a cozy, residential atmosphere that evokes the ambiance of an elegant Upper East Side home— and all that connotation implies. Details like stylish crown molding, hand-crafted Murano chandeliers and bespoke furniture mix past and present. From the cabinets to the wall dressings, texture in particular is emphasized, creating the kind of experience that beckons to be felt by hand.
Adorning its stylish walls is an art collection of established and emerging New York City artists curated by Paris-based VISTO, all but obviating the need to make the short walk to the Guggenheim Museum.
The destination truly comes to life within the property’s four signature theme suites, all inspired by the bridges of Central Park, and are filled with design elements that symbolize their namesakes.
In the Evening
One of The Surrey’s most anticipated amenities is the arrival of Casa Tua and its founder Miky Grendene. The Miami Beach-based restaurant, hotel and private club is arriving in New York City with a restaurant and lounge, as well as The Club, a private member’s area and hotspot favored by celebrities.
“We are very excited to bring Casa Tua to New York and, most importantly, to establish a close relationship with Corinthia and the Reuben Brothers,” said Grendene in a statement. “We feel there is great synergy between us, and together our intention
is to create one of the most glamorous and exciting spaces in the city.”
With a hot celebrity hangout, chic interior spaces and one of the most in-demand restaurants in town, the old hotel at last has its swagger back. “Striking that balance between 100 years of history and history that’s yet to be made was an important challenge for the team,” said Raman. “Through the design and a carefully curated art collection blending old and new, that balance has been achieved.”
Story contributed by Derek Herscovici.