Elliman Vicinity: Elliman Agents Share Their Upper East Side Pride
by ELLIMAN INSIDER TEAM
May 2026
The content below originally appeared in Vicinity: Your Neighborhood Guide to the Upper East Side | Spring 2026.
For the Spring 2026 edition of VICINITY, Douglas Elliman’s neighborhood guide to the Upper East Side, the magazine put the spotlight on four exceptional Elliman agents who have lived, worked and acquired deep expertise in the neighborhood. To read their reflections on the lives they’ve made here — from their excitement about the influx of new restaurants, new developments and new energy to their gratitude for all the things about the neighborhood that haven’t changed — is to revel in the sheer abundance of everything one can find within walking distance. Why, some wondered aloud, would anyone live anywhere else?
A PROUD HERITAGE: ABRAHAM SARWAY
Abraham Sarway moved to the Upper East Side in 2015 and hasn’t looked back. A Midwood, Brooklyn native, he joined Douglas Elliman in 2016 while attending college in Lenox Hill and later founded The Sarway Team. Now ranked among the brokerage’s top 3% nationwide, he has closed more than $500 million in career sales and recently represented more than $70 million in acquisitions at 760 Madison Avenue.
Tell us about your connection to the Upper East Side.
I briefly lived in SoHo and Tribeca, but neither quite clicked for me. Here, everything feels grounded and intentional. I love Park Avenue, numbered streets, the daily ritual of doormen sweeping the sidewalks—it’s refined and just fits my lifestyle.
How has the neighborhood changed since you first moved here?
Ten or fifteen years ago, The Chatham, Manhattan House, and The Touraine were really it. Now, new developments along Third Avenue have brought restaurants, cafés, and every kind of supermarket. It feels young, cool, and energetic. That balance of deep, rich heritage and modern life is what makes the neighborhood feel so dynamic.
What are some of your favorite spots?
My wife and I are foodies. We’re regulars at Harry Cipriani, The Mark Hotel, Casa Tua, and Birley Bakery. But Sette Mezzo is my favorite hidden gem—I love their Orecchiette del Sud.
How do you bring your personal experience with the neighborhood to your work as an agent?
Being a walker and early riser gives me a street-level view of the neighborhood. I encourage clients to get to know everyone they interact with—from doormen to restaurant hosts—it makes the living experience so much better.
What’s something about the Upper East Side that might surprise people?
Co-ops are some of the best values on the market. Yes, the board process can be intimidating, but with the right guidance and strong local relationships, things move forward smoothly.
HISTORIC GRANDEUR: JOAN SWIFT
A native New Yorker and former psychiatric social worker, Joan Swift brings a people-focused approach to real estate. A 20-year Douglas Elliman veteran and top 7% agent, she has represented numerous high-profile Upper East Side properties.
Why do you enjoy spending time on the Upper East Side?
I’ve called the Upper East Side home for more than 35 years. It feels deeply personal, with Central Park, world-class museums, and Madison Avenue creating a refined, timeless rhythm. Even in a global city, the neighborhood feels wonderfully intimate.
What makes the Upper East Side quintessentially New York City to you?
Pre-war architecture, elegant co-ops, and grand townhouses reflect the city’s historic grandeur. Park Avenue, with its landscaped median and seasonal flowers, offers a rare pause in the city’s intensity.
Why do you think the Upper East Side continues to attract new residents?
The Upper East Side offers exceptional architecture, green space, and quality of life, with newer developments seamlessly integrating modern amenities into the historic streetscape.
Are there any personal restaurant or café recommendations you’d like to share?
Sant Ambroeus is a favorite from coffee to dinner. Casa Tua feels like a hidden escape, Bemelmans Bar delivers classic New York glamour, and Sfoglia and La Bomboniera offer nostalgic Italian comfort.
Is there anything you hope everyone knows about the Upper East Side?
People often underestimate how lively and culturally rich the historic neighborhood feels. The annual Museum Mile Festival, when Fifth Avenue closes and museums open for free, beautifully captures how history and everyday life come together here.
FOR ALL SEASONS: MICHAEL LORBER
In the two decades since launching his real estate career in New York City, Michael Lorber has built a business spanning the Hamptons, Westchester, Connecticut, and South Florida. New York remains his home base, where he has closed record-breaking deals at 432 Park Avenue, The Sherry-Netherland Hotel, 220 Central Park South, and other top Manhattan properties, with the Upper East Side a constant backdrop.
Tell us about your history with the Upper East Side.
I grew up outside the city, but my family always had a pied-à-terre on the Upper East Side, so it felt familiar long before I officially moved there after college. I’ve lived in the low 60s, the high 60s, and now the low 70s—each pocket has its own identity. I’ve been there for 25 years, through every stage of life, and ironically, the neighborhood feels like it’s getting younger.
Where does your daily routine take you around the neighborhood?
I walk everywhere. When my husband and I were apartment hunting, I wanted to be close enough to walk to the office but far enough to create separation. A 15-block walk from Madison and 56th turned out to be perfect. I love Barry’s—even though I probably already get 10,000 steps a day.
Work brings me uptown for showings, and lunches rotate between Le Bilboquet, La Goulue, and Cipriani. I’m also usually walking our English Springer Spaniel, River, who insists on daily stops at Ralph Lauren for peanut butter cookies—even after hours.
What do you think people get wrong about the Upper East Side?
There’s a misconception that it’s snobby, but it’s really the friendliest part of Manhattan. It’s such a small community uptown. Beyond that, Central Park is the neighborhood’s greatest asset. Once I had a child and a dog, the sense of community—playdates, parents meeting parents—felt almost suburban, and now many of my downtown friends are looking uptown for that same comfort.
LOCAL WITHOUT LIMITS: DOREEN COURTRIGHT
Doreen Courtright first moved to the Upper East Side when she was a rising talent scout in the music industry and tired of the late-night commutes back to New Jersey after watching bands perform in Manhattan. She never left. Since joining Douglas Elliman in 2009 and becoming a member of the brokerage’s Sports & Entertainment division, Courtright has built a thriving city-wide business, about 50% of which she estimates to be based on the Upper East Side. She was also recently named the Real Estate Board of New York’s Residential Agent of the Year.
Tell us about your neighborhood.
We live in Yorkville, near 86th Street, and I love that it truly feels like a neighborhood. You know your pizza place, your Chinese restaurant, where you get your shoes fixed. Everyone is really friendly.
My husband and business partner, Hernando, and I also have a standing Saturday date night. He picks the restaurant, with one rule: it has to be within a five-block radius of our home. There are so many great options that we don’t repeat a spot for four or five months.
What are some of your favorite spots?
We love Cafe D’Alsace. And Maz Mezcal, which is moving to a new location. We’ve been going there for more than 30 years. When my son got engaged, he brought his fiancée there to meet the owner. It’s the kind of place where you feel very much part of the family.
How do you bring your experience as a resident to your work as an agent?
I’ve been through the nursery-school-to-high-school experience with two children, so I can genuinely advise families and first-time buyers who aren’t as familiar with the Upper East Side.
How has the Upper East Side changed during the time you’ve lived there?
Accessibility has been a game changer, especially with the Second Avenue subway. It’s made the neighborhood feel bigger. The area has become more diverse in price point, with blue-chip buildings on Park and Fifth now more attainable than in years past.
And the old stereotype that the East Side isn’t cool? So many young people are moving back—I’ve even heard people calling it the “new West Village!”
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