Luxury Hotels: While Manhattan’s Upper East Side may have its fair share of luxury hotels, none embodies the essence of the city quite like The Surrey. Originally built in 1926, The Surrey has seen the likes of everyone from JFK to Betty Davis to Claudette Colbert. Today, high-profile celebrities and trendsetting socialites continue to flock to The Surrey, which through the years has earned a reputation for providing exceptional, discreet service.

Acclaimed interior designer Lauren Rottet was recently brought in to help recreate and modernize the landmark hotel. While maintaining its integrity and historic charm, Rottet was successful in creating an uber chic and sophisticated ambiance. From the canvas awning to the reinvention of the lobby bar, the $60 million redesign included improvements inside and out.

The 190 salons and suites are styled in line with the beaux art, art nouveau and art deco movements, with exquisite details reminiscent of the 1920s to 1940s. While each room is beautifully appointed and outfitted with all the modern luxuries, the 12,000-square-foot Penthouse Suite and the 2,800-square-foot Presidential Suite truly represent Upper East Side living at its finest.

On any given day, guests and locals alike can be found wining and dining inside the hotel’s award-winning restaurant, Café Boulud. Having earned a coveted Michelin Star and a three-star review in The New York Times, the menu inspired by Chef Daniel Boulud features traditional French fare prepared with the finest seasonal American ingredients.

The Spa at the Surrey provides a blissful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city and offers a wide array of personalized treatments. The Spa offers everything from massage and body treatments to a full line of skin care products, as well as customized half-day, full-day, and couples’ packages and escapes.

Additional on-site amenities include a private rooftop garden, overlooking Central Park, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and an around-the-clock concierge. Four-legged friends are always welcome at The Surrey and are provided with a plush Lauren Rottet-designed pet bed with a Duxiana mattress, as well as a Pratesi pet robe.

Not only does the hotel offer unsurpassed luxury, but its proximity to the city’s finest museums, galleries, upscale boutiques and restaurants, make it the ideal choice for those looking to experience the best of Manhattan’s Upper East Side.