In Conversation: "MEMBERS ONLY" Featuring Dugald McGinness, Casa Tua Membership Director

BY DAVID GRAVER

As the membership director of Casa Tua, the Miami hot spot that recently opened doors to an Upper East Side location, Dugald McGinness has exclusive insight on the elevated experiences within the public restaurant and private members-only club. McGinness not only works on the Upper East Side, where Casa Tua New York inhabits two floors of The Surrey, an iconic Corinthia Hotel, but he also resides in the neighborhood.

What makes Casa Tua unique?

Casa Tua opened in Miami in 2001 as a new type of members club. It opened in Aspen a decade later. Then finally in New York, over a decade after that. There’s a soul to Casa Tua. Miky Grendene and Leticia Herrera [the founders] and their family are heavily involved in all aspects of the club. When you come by, you see that. You feel it. It trickles down into the culture.

What about The Surrey as a home?

The reason why it took over a decade is because Miky himself is meticulous. He’s very careful as to how we position ourselves. We aligned with The Corinthia and The Surrey, and that’s thanks to their ethos and the way they treat their customers. It’s a wonderful home. It’s worked really well. We have also felt very welcomed by the Upper East Side community.

Can you give us a visual walk-through?

We have the restaurant and the lounge on the ground floor, accessible to the public. Then we have the private club on the second floor, which is exclusive to members. Each space is unique. The restaurant has a cultivated atmosphere; you go into the lounge and you feel a different type of refinement. It’s a very sophisticated room with a lot of interesting people.

As for the members club, there is nothing like it on the Upper East Side. We really want it to be the room, which is our guiding light when it comes to the people that are in there, the conversations that are being had, and the emphasis on the programming and art.

Can you talk about membership?

We focus heavily on creating a welcoming and safe space for Upper East Siders while striving for as much diversity as possible within our community. To accommodate a variety of needs, we offer several membership options. Members can choose an individual or couple membership, either local or global. A global membership grants access to all our clubs in Aspen, Miami, and New York, as well as prioritized reservations in Paris.

Is it a bridge for people who live between the Upper East Side and Miami?

We have seen that a vast majority of our members are between Aspen, Miami, and the Upper East Side. What was so special about opening was that there was already a community. It really does feel like home to our members and to us, and the staff. To have that from the moment we opened is truly remarkable.

Do you have a personal history with the Upper East Side?

I moved to New York around seven years ago from London and was living downtown. Then the Upper East Side lured me in. I live four blocks from the club now. It’s lovely being able to walk to work every day and run into the community on the way. I’ll be here to stay.

Any personal Upper East Side recommendations?

The Upper East Side has so many gems. Chez Fifi is perfect for elevated French dishes—from the team behind Sushi Noz, which also happens to have the best sushi uptown. For something cozy, Café Antonucci is a great spot for lunch or dinner, and Elio’s serves up one of the best chicken parms in the city. For something lighter, Isle of Us has amazing breakfast options and bowls, and if you’re into wellness, Sage & Sound is fantastic for classes and unique spiritual experiences.

What does a spectacular night look like at Casa Tua?

It’s not about being rigid or too “luxury.” It’s about having a good time. The space lends itself to that. The programming, too. We have DJs every Wednesday to Saturday evening. We have live music. We have a lot of special guests coming in to host panels and art talks.

Could you let us know what makes Casa Tua programming so special?

Casa Tua’s programming is designed to feel like an invitation into a world you won’t find anywhere else—where art, culture and community come alive in the most thoughtful ways. It’s not about checking boxes or hosting formulaic events; it’s about creating moments that resonate.