On October 25, 2024, The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel, opened its doors in New York City’s Upper East Side, marking Corinthia’s inaugural property in North America.
Owned by the Reuben Brothers, leaders in global real estate development and private equity, The Surrey occupies a beautifully revamped 16-storey building featuring 70 guest rooms, 30 suites, and 14 private residences, all expertly designed by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio—an internationally renowned interior architecture and design firm based in London and New York.
The Surrey further enhances the vibrant atmosphere of Madison Avenue during a period of luxury development growth. Located on East 76th at Madison Avenue in a distinguished Upper East Side setting, the Hotel is an elegant building in a residential side street, away from the tourist masses of New York City but at the same time within easy walking distance from New York’s pulsating attractions: theatres, businesses, and shopping nuclei.
Central Park, just a block away, is the most famous urban park in the U.S. and a top film location worldwide. It features attractions like the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, the Central Park Zoo, and various entertainment options such as carriage rides and concerts.
Art lovers will appreciate the Hotel’s prime location near several museums. The Whitney Museum showcases modern American art; the Metropolitan Museum of Art holds over 2 million pieces spanning 5,000 years; the Cloisters focuses on medieval European art; the Frick Collection houses Old Master paintings; the Guggenheim boasts an impressive collection of modern art; and the American Museum of Natural History displays millions of specimens.
For air travellers, The Surrey is 20 minutes from LaGuardia Airport, 40 minutes from JFK Airport, and 60 minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport.
The Surrey exhibits a carefully curated art collection that highlights local artists and offers themed suites inspired by the bridges of Central Park. Managing Director Pradeep Raman displays pride in the Hotel’s vision to become a cultural hub, enriching the area’s blend of fashion, creativity, and art.
As The Surrey approaches its centennial, its design embodies a combination of residential warmth and global sophistication, a hallmark characteristic of Corinthia’s properties.
Simon Naudi, the Group CEO and Managing Director of IHI stated: “Corinthia’s presence in the United States has finally realized a long-standing dream, especially in New York, a city that we consider one of the most vibrant and exciting places in the world. This is a significant milestone for the Corinthia Group, our first step into the United States, leading the way for other ventures that will follow for our operating company and brand, as well as our other investment and development businesses. This is an exciting part of Corinthia’s journey”
Simon Casson, the CEO of Corinthia Hotels, described the Hotel as a love letter to New York and added: “This hotel symbolizes a new flagship for our global expansion, embodying the welcoming spirit of Corinthia that ensures every guest feels at home.”
The Surrey boasts a beautifully restored façade by the noted architects Schwartz & Gross, honouring the neighbourhood’s historical architecture.
Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by an innovative lobby design that seamlessly blends past influences with a contemporary vision.
The guest rooms are designed to create a tranquil ambiance, featuring a colour scheme that transitions from soft blues to rich terracotta, skillfully merging classic elegance with contemporary design for a welcoming environment.
The accommodation, ranging from 1,200 to 1,300 square feet, boast spacious one-bedroom layouts equipped with king-sized beds and ensuite bathrooms with double sinks and deep soaking tubs. Inspired by New York’s Bow Bridge, the two-bedroom Surrey Suite provides an equally refined experience.
The Hotel features the inaugural New York branch of Casa Tua along with the serene Surrey Spa that showcases Sisley Paris.
Casa Tua’s menu pays homage to the rich tastes of Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, focusing on top-quality, fresh ingredients and traditional cooking techniques. Drawing from Casa Tua’s celebrated dishes from other locations, the New York menu introduces exclusive offerings for local clientele.
Founded in 1976, Sisley Paris is well-established in the luxury beauty market and is renowned for its skincare, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products. At the core of Sisley’s offerings is phyto-cosmetology, which integrates premium plant-derived ingredients with advanced technology and scientific research.
A colourful star-studded list of celebrities had graced The Surrey as their residence for some time in years gone by. Names like President John F. Kennedy and star actresses Bette Davis and Claudette Colbert feature prominently. Padma Lakshmi, the Indian American author, activist, model, and television host, also lived there and noted this in her 2016 memoir, Love, Loss and What We Ate. Actor Richard Harris and singer Rosemary Clooney lived there while working in the city. World-renowned Swiss tennis player Roger Federer had used The Surrey as a retreat. It also provided the backdrop for scenes from Gossip Girl, a famous American drama TV series broadcast on The CW network for six seasons (2007-2012).
Insider Plus wishes The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel, a vibrant and exciting future in New York and looks forward to the inauguration of landmark properties in Rome, Brussels, Bucharest, Doha, and Riyadh, as well as resorts in the Maldives and other destinations in the near future.
