The Surrey (NYC)

100   Recommended
July 7, 2012 by EXPERT

 Map | 4 Reviews | 75% Recommended
Share
Save
Liked:
Location
 
Service
 
Food
 
Amenities
 
Room
 

{{ oRightNav.heading }}

The Surrey
 Map | 4 Reviews | 75% Recommended

Save

Share
Liked:
Location
Service
Food
Amenities
Room
Stats

We were meeting friends in the city last weekend and since it was summertime, we were anxious to try The Surrey. The hotel had a rooftop garden which we thought would be an ideal place for us to quietly catch up.  We booked with DavidO. Virtuoso amenities included an upgrade if available on arrival, continental breakfast in the hotel restaurant Caf Boulud, and a $100 spa credit.

Look and Feel

In short, we loved it. 

The hotel was a newly opened Relais & Chateaux property dating from 1926. It was located in the Upper East Side on a wealthy block just off Central Park surrounded by multi million dollar townhouses. The residential area, and the small size of the hotel itself, gave us a very homey feeling and a genuine sense of place.

The décor was both traditional and contemporary with lots of black and a lovely scroll pattern we noticed in many of the hard and soft surfaces. There was marble of course, but we especially loved the intricate floor tile mosaics that gave the appearance of throw rugs. Everything was pretty, from The Surrey-branded water bottles to the tiny welcome chocolate boxes, and the intricate door knobs. Even the in-room wine glasses and bathroom tumblers were custom made for the hotel.

Ultra Deluxe Salon

We had booked a Grand Deluxe Salon and were upgraded to an Ultra Deluxe Salon. 

You can view the wonderful floor plan on The Surrey’s website. The room was 445 square feet with a fireplace, a sitting area and three steps leading up to a large private veranda furnished with Frontgate wrought iron. Our favorite scroll pattern was carved into the carpet and there was a Duxiana bed with Sferra linens. The mattress was a bit firm for our taste but the linens were outstanding and there was a down duvet and several large pillows to choose from. Besides the obligatory flat screen TV and ipod dock, there was a separate closet area and honor bar with items from NY specialty purveyors. The bathroom was mostly white marble with two sinks, large vanity, a deep (very deep) soaking tub, separate shower, and a lovely floor mosaic.

Unfortunately at the time or our stay, the hotel was undergoing a historical restoration so there was scaffolding on the higher floors. This affected the use of many of the ultra deluxe salon and suite terraces….they were nice to look at but it was strongly suggested that we stay inside.

Service

The overall tone of the service here was accommodating and informal….there was nothing stuffy about The Surrey. And all requests were attended to immediately.

The Clefs d’Or concierges were the highlight. We watched one of them put together a Manhattan cupcake tour for a little girl and her mother….too cute. They were very knowledgeable about the area, helping us select restaurants, etc. Andrew helped us organize a Central Park picnic, walking us around the corner to show us a little gourmet takeout shop and wine store. He later found us a traditional wicker picnic basket complete with a Surrey-branded blanket, and he suggested just the right location within the park.

When we inquired about purchasing some of the black wine glasses and tumblers found in the room, we received a call indicating they were not for sale because they were from a limited supply custom made for the hotel, but if we wanted to just take one or two, we should let them know. It was a very nice offer, but we certainly didn’t want to diminish their supply so we declined….despite some prodding on their part. 

A day after departure, we received a survey about our stay and 24 hours later a personal note from the front office director thanking us for our mostly positive feedback and addressing our few concerns. He also invited us to contact him directly for any future visits.

Dining

For the foodies, Café Boulud was downstairs and they had a darling outdoor eating area on the sidewalk where the locals gathered with their dogs. The restaurant provided room service to The Surrey…the only Michelin-starred room service in NYC. We had breakfast there and enjoyed the croissants and café au lait.

The striking Bar Pleiades was off the lobby but we were too enamored with the rooftop garden to spend any time there.

And of course, this being New York, there was no limit to excellent food in the area. We had dinner with our friends at Bella Blu, a casual Italian place where all pastas were made fresh onsite.

Rooftop Garden

Wow. The rooftop garden truly exceeded our expectations. 

The area was located just off the penthouse, was entirely private (only Surrey guests or members allowed) and had 180 degree views of the city with glimpses of Central Park and beyond. It was much larger than we expected (having been to The Peninsula’s patio some years earlier). The garden had beautiful wood decking, Frontgate wrought iron furnishings, and a profusion of flowers and topiaries with the entire outside perimeter lined in potted lavender. There was plenty of seating, with comfy sofas for lounging or tables and chairs for those more serious about eating. At night, there were candles and wrought iron lanterns with the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline and the soft sounds of Michael Buble.

Café Boulud food service began at 5pm with bar snacks, appetizers and café au lait and cappuccinos. The drink menu included some nice wines by the glass but the specialty was the muddled beverages and fancy custom lemonades.

There was also free wifi on the rooftop garden. Elsewhere in the hotel, it cost $15/day.

Areas for Improvement

The only thing we were disappointed in (and The Surrey is not alone in this) was having to pointedly ask for the Virtuoso upgrade. This was even after DavidO spoke to the sales manager a week prior to indicate our preferences should an upgrade become available. We dislike having to spell things out….yes, it’s part of our package, yes the next room category is available, etc. We also had to advise the front desk to remove the breakfast charges from our bill upon checkout. Everyone was very friendly and accommodating in these discussions. But it seems silly that most properties simply go through the motions without checking for Virtuoso or FHR inclusions first.

Overall

To compare this luxury hotel to others in NYC, it was probably less about “see and be seen”, and more about feeling welcome, enjoying the quiet, walking the neighborhood and living like an Upper East Side New Yorker. It felt like our own townhome, our own rooftop garden, our own doorman. It was a wonderful place to meet friends without the hustle and bustle or parade of tourists that can sometimes come with Manhattan.

Oh, and if you like to travel with your dog, their pet program included fancy Duxiana dog beds. Since the hotel was only one block from Central Park, we will strongly consider bringing our beagle on our next visit. No doubt she would love the ramble. Daytime hours, of course. 

22 Comments

This review lives in the Trip Report: The Surrey (NYC) thread.
22 comments and Y review
Comment In Thread

Hotels you may also be interested in