The Surrey, NYC
When I traveled to New York for hip replacement surgery a few months ago, I wanted to find a hotel that would offer comfort and convenience following the procedure. I considered a number of beautiful properties on the Upper East Side that were close to the Hospital for Special Surgery, like The Mark and The Carlyle. The Mark was lovely, but the particular rooms I toured seemed a bit dated—the hotel last had a full renovation about fifteen years ago. The Carlyle, while charming with its eclectic, apartment-style suites, just wasn’t the right fit for me. Ultimately, I went with The Surrey. Having just opened post renovations a week prior, it proved the perfect place to rest and recuperate, and I stayed there for two subsequent post-op visits. Whether you are in New York for surgery or just a vacation, I highly recommend checking out this property.
The lobby of The Surrey is beautiful and buzzing, largely thanks to the popularity of Casa Tua, the restaurant and members-only club located within the hotel. It has a polished, Upper East Side feel, with two cozy vignettes, each with a sofa and a couple of chairs, that are perfect for people-watching.
Tip— The Surrey is dog-friendly! We brought one of my dogs to stay for a few nights, and they had bones available by the lobby for her to snack on.
With locations in Aspen and Miami, Casa Tua at The Surrey is their first Northeast venture, and I found myself eating there nearly every day during my stay. The bar was my favorite part; small but chic, it was dimly lit and had a cool vibe. Bright, spacious, and buzzing, the main restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is located across the lobby from the bar. The members-only club, which serves drinks, lunch, and dinner, is on the second floor and has a dark, sleek feel and good music.
Guests tended to really dress up at Casa Tua, especially compared to Aspen’s boots and jeans vibe, which made for great people-watching. The menu stays true to Casa Tua’s signature Italian-inspired dishes, with standout items like cacio e pepe and nut-crusted salmon (my favorites). Reservations are essential, and I recommend making them even for the bar, though you may be able to just walk in.
While the food at Casa Tua was delicious, I found the room service menu limited. I’m hoping that the hotel will expand its offerings over the next few months.
For my three stays at The Surrey, I reserved different room categories to get a sense of the options. Design-wise, all the rooms had a refined, upscale feel with a color palette of light blue, camel, and cream tones. The wallpapers were warm and textured, adding a real authenticity to the space. I found the bathrooms to be particularly stunning, with beautiful wooden cabinetry, and the layout was very user-friendly. The bathrooms also felt more residential than a typical hotel bathroom, which I appreciated, and there was an ample amount of storage, especially for an extended stay. It was the best city hotel bathroom I’ve come across in a while!
The blue and cream color palette are repeated in the hotel’s hallways, giving the entire property a seamless, cohesive feel. My only complaint was that the televisions were not Smart TVs, which made it difficult to watch certain streaming platforms. We ended up purchasing an Apple TV, and the hotel engineers kindly came to our room to help us connect it to the television.
Our Deluxe Suite was about 700 square feet with a living room, bedroom, spacious bathroom, as well as a powder room in the front hall. The L-shaped couch was my favorite feature—perfect for relaxing after a long day in the city, and it also had a freestanding bathtub and walk-in closet.
A little over 500 square feet, the Junior Suite had a brighter feel than either of our other rooms, with large windows that allowed for plenty of natural light. The living room felt slightly more spacious, too, and it also had a freestanding bathtub, walk-in closet, and powder room. I found the closet to be beautifully appointed, with gorgeous woods and plenty of storage space. I did miss the L-shaped sofa from our previous room, though!
The last room we stayed in was an Executive King Room. Though it was on the smaller side in terms of square feet, the layout was brilliantly thought through: there was a dining banquet, a large desk with beautiful built-ins, and still enough room to walk around and be comfortable. The next time I stay and don’t need the space of a suite, I would be more than happy to book this room again.
Several of the specialty suites were still under construction when we visited: the Greywacke Suites are now available, but the other three categories may not be open for a few more months. These suites have dining rooms, butler pantries, and a range of other upscale amenities, and the bedroom sizes are similar to the typical suites. From the photos I’ve seen, the bathrooms look a bit different from the other suites in that the cabinetry is outfitted in marble rather than wood.
In terms of amenities, The Surrey offers a gym and spa. I haven’t managed to visit the spa yet, but the gym, while on the smaller side, was well-equipped.
The service at The Surrey was exceptional. Snezana, the Director of Sales, went above and beyond, as did the front desk staff. They were always attentive, and whenever I needed ice—which was often—they brought it up immediately. They also gave me a complimentary mini refrigerator and freezer post-surgery. The level of care really blew me away! The Upper East Side proved to be an ideal area to recover in, too. With walkable sidewalks and a peaceful feel, I was able to easily stroll up and down Madison Avenue, getting in the recommended blocks for my recovery. Of course, there are all the wonderful restaurants, galleries, and shops, too!
The guests were a mix of all types—younger couples, a family from Europe, and a couple from outside NYC who wanted to see the new hotel, as they grew up visiting before the renovation. Everyone was chic and well-dressed, and the common spaces never felt crowded, despite the fact that the hotel was fully committed.
I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at The Surrey. It’s one of those properties that has it all—beautiful rooms, exceptional service, and an 11/10 location for the Upper East Side. I recommend it unequivocally!