The Surrey in New York’s Upper East Side has returned to its Beaux Arts origins after a $60 million renovation overseen by interior architect Lauren Rottet. The 14-month transformation captures the ambiance of an elegant townhouse infused with a contemporary urban vibe while delivering edgy details such as the grand entry antique rug formed entirely out of mosaic tiles and a turn-of-the-century armoire displaying poetry in bold graffiti. The hotel also houses a vast collection of modern art.
Ranging from 350 to 4,500 square feet, the hotel’s 190 guestrooms and suites feature Sferra linens, Duxiana beds, bedside lighting control panels, and custom bath amenities by Laura Tonatto. Developed by spa director Cheryl Jacobs, the Spa at the Surrey is a private sanctuary offering customized treatments in three intimate rooms and two spa suites that are appointed with Sferra robes and linens, a dressing armoire, vanity, and rain shower.
Dining venues include Café Boulud and Bar Pleiades, where Rottet drew inspiration from Coco Chanel and a 1930s Art Deco bar cart. The bar is framed by a black lacquered wood box with white lacquer inlay, referencing a Chanel makeup compact. French doors and mirrors outline the lounge, where an L-shaped banquette invites seclusion in intimate spaces surrounded by beige quilted, Chanel handbag-inspired walls and seating covered in white leather. Chandeliers light the lounge area while a sumptuous carpet rests beneath patron’s feet revealing a poem by Dean Blehert.