Apart from spectacular homes, expansive beaches, and ethereal light that has drawn artists like Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Eric Fischl, the East End of Long Island is best known for its culinary scene. A collection of hamlets that runs about 50
miles from Westhampton to Montauk, the Hamptons is filled with farms that provide fresh produce through farm stands and markets, vineyards that offer increasingly prized wines, and docks that receive daily catch. And then there are the restaurants, some local, some imports from the city, and some helmed by New York chefs enjoying their summer residences.
The characters of each town vary: Southampton and East Hampton are peppered with manicured lawns and restaurants where you might pay $70 for a piece of fish. Montauk is a craggier beach community where T-shirts are common dinner attire and fishermen up early share diner countertops with revelers ending a night of dancing. Every area has dishes worth making the trip for, but it’s critical to know where to go and what you’re after.
Partner content from Veuve Clicquot
This summer, Veuve Clicquot invites you to embrace its Solaire art de vivre across the Hamptons. From sun-drenched afternoons at Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton, to waterfront moments at Si Si in East Hampton, and golden-hour celebrations atSurf Lodge in Montauk, discover a season defined by optimism, spontaneity, and unforgettable moments shared under the sun.
Before You Go
Where to stay: There aren’t many large hotels on the East End, but Montauk’s legendary Gurney’s Montauk Resort and Seawater Spa, the relatively new Canoe Place Inn in Hampton Bays, and the new Faraway in Sag Harbor all have resort-style facilities. If you want real Hamptons charm, go for an updated historic home, like the Baker House 1650, a transformed English manor-inspired home built in the 17th century; the lush property is magical, with a stunning landscaped pool area and a tranquil spa.
Getting there: Starting out from New York, the Hamptons Jitney and Hamptons Luxury Liner will get you there comfortably with snacks and Wi-Fi. The Long Island Railroad will zip you east past the traffic, and Blade will whisk you over in half an hour. But if you want to truly explore the area, a car is the way to go.
Bring your pups: The area offers almost as many pampering options for pets as it does for humans. While most hotels are dog-friendly, check before you book; and be sure to check beaches too, which have specific hours when dogs are allowed to frolic in season, before hitting the sand.
Day 1: Midday brews, poolside bites, and a dog-friendly dinner
8:30 a.m. Hit the road
If you get an early start, in about two hours you should arrive in the town of Westhampton, where Main Street has been revamped so it looks picture perfect. Beachy boutiques mingle with ice cream and frozen yogurt shops, but at this time of the morning, grab an easy breakfast from Pop Up Bagels, which opened a location in town this summer.
12:00 p.m. Grab a daytime beverage
You’re officially in vacation mode, which means you can visit a brewery at noon. The Hamptons are full of small brewing operations but stop by Westhampton Beach Brew & Grille, an 8-year-old outfit where you can taste through a lineup of microbrews, like the Broken Board session IPA or Paddle Out pilsner. There are always eight beers on tap and rotating seasonal selections.
1 p.m. Relax poolside
Keep heading east to arrive at Hampton Bays, a town that instantly earned its upscale bona fides with the opening of the luxurious Canoe Place Inn. The hotel’s Good Ground Tavern has continued to improve this season with the arrival of chef Mathew Woolf, who was previously executive chef at Hotel Barriere Foquets, the White Barn Inn, and the Rainbow Room. Get a day pass for $150 to lounge by the pool and get a $50 food credit toward Woolf’s pool menu of salads, burgers, lobster rolls, and pizzas. Or grab lunch inside the restaurant, where options include lemon spaghetti, wood-roasted cod, and pizza with burrata and prosciutto.
2:30 p.m. Go for a stroll on the sand
Dry off and pop back in the car to head to Southampton, where you should start by checking out the ocean. Park in town and walk past the magnificent mansions fortified by hedges, until you get to Cooper’s Beach, rated one of the most beautiful stretches of sand in the country.
3:30 p.m. Take a coffee break
It’s time for caffeine. Golden Pear is way more than a place to enjoy a perfect latte — it’s an unofficial daytime gathering spot for the whole town. People linger with newspapers and chat with friends from early morning to late afternoon, enjoying eggs, soups, sandwiches, salads, and pastries, along with their drinks.
4 p.m. Shop and beautify
Southampton has two main streets filled with stores, including boutiques like Tenet and Marina St. Barth. Stop by local bookshop Finley’s Fiction, should you need to pick something up to read on the sand. There are also lots of food specialty shops, like Farm & Forage, which infamously sells Japanese melons for hundreds of dollars a pop. After you’re done shopping, stop by Blue Water Spa for one of the facility’s state of the art treatments, like the Collagenwave, a radio-frequency session that will have you looking lifted in about 40 minutes.
5 p.m. Lounge with furry clientele
Bistro Ete in neighboring Water Mill is a favorite restaurant among the cognoscenti, especially for its menu for dogs, which features courses like house-made biscuits and bacon-wrapped beef topped with shaved truffle. There’s even peanut butter ice cream for dessert. If you don’t have a pet, no worries; chef Arie Pavlou also whips up a mean smoked cherry maple Old Fashioned with house-made maraschino cherries, which you can enjoy while befriending some pups.
6:30 p.m. Grab a drink
If you don’t get caught up petting new friends at Bistro Ete, bar crawl down to the center of town to 75 Main, a spot that attracts major politicos and celebrities, including Jimmy Fallon, Timothée Chalamet, and Leonardo DiCaprio. Find a table at the large outdoor cafe, order Zach’s Spicy Margarita or a Passion of 75 Main with passionfruit puree and agave, and watch the colorful show — it’s pure theater. The kitchen, run by Florida chef Mark Militello, turns out surprisingly good food, so if you get peckish, order some rock shrimp, the spicy king crab roll, or the Brussels sprouts with figs, walnuts, and yogurt.
8 p.m. Check out a new restaurant
The owners of the Roundtree hotel in Amagansett have opened an ambitious new dining room in Bridgehampton. At the helm of Nourish by the Roundtree is Dewa Wijaya, a longtime chef for Como hotels, who has overseen their kitchens in Bali, Singapore, and Parrot Cay. Starters include chilled sweet corn soup and scallop crudo with ginger, jalapeño, and chile lime dressing. Among the entrees are flame-grilled prawns with chickpea carrot puree, and short rib in curry sauce with coconut rice.
9:30 p.m. End the night with one more
Any good evening deserves a Watermelon Paloma or a Caffettino with oat hazelnut foam from the LDV at the Maidstone in East Hampton. Restaurateur John Meadow has taken over the dining room and its cozy bar, which draws a mixed crowd of residents and visitors.
Day 2: Maple oatmeal scones, lobster rolls, and Jackson Pollock
8 a.m. Start with a relaxing breakfast
The Baker House in East Hampton serves a delicious breakfast of homemade maple oatmeal scones, scrambled eggs, blueberry pancakes, and fresh fruit. When you’re finished, roam the spectacular grounds. Be sure to check out the carriage house in the back, which has its own picturesque pool.
10 a.m. Do sun salutations among the vines
Refresh your mind and body with a yoga class at Wölffer Estate Vineyard, located in nearby Sagaponack. There’s something magical about stretching and inhaling outdoors on the grounds of the expansive estate, which also holds tastings, should you require some help relaxing.
11:30 p.m. Browse East Hampton’s art world
When you’re feeling adequately flexible, expand your mind at Guild Hall, which has rotating exhibits by artists such as Ross Bleckner. From there, it’s a short drive into the Springs area, where you can see the Fireplace Project, a converted garage full of works by emerging artists. Right next to that is the Pollock-Krasner House, a home on Accabonac Creek, where Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner lived beginning in 1945; you can tour it on your own or with a docent. Don’t miss the barn studio, where Pollock created his famous drip and splash paintings.
1 p.m. Lunch at a surf shack
Soak in the atmosphere at 668 the Gig Shack, an upbeat Montauk favorite, where you might catch some live music while enjoying your Manila clams in herb broth with dukkah spice, pulled pork empanadas, or blackened local fish tacos.
2:30 p.m. Get in a round of golf
Drive through the Napeague stretch, past the famous seafood shack with the large “Lunch’’ sign, and head to the town referred to fondly as “the End” due to its location at the tip of Long Island. The Hamptons is known for golf, and the state park-run course at Montauk Downs is considered one of the best public options. It undulates surprisingly for such a generally flat region, and you’ll encounter challenging winds and maybe some wildlife. You can play just nine holes, if you’d prefer a shorter game.
5 p.m. Pick up a pie
Amagansett, located between East Hampton and Montauk, is considered by many the most quaint hamlet in the area. It’s got lots of greenery, but also a beachy feel. It’s also home to some of the best farm stands on the island, including Amber Waves, where you can pick up peak-season, homemade fruit pies. A slice goes best with some aromatic coffee beans; pick up a cup from Sett Coffee, where you can go beyond your usual roast with a Ocean Blue Latte, created with pea protein, or an Amagansett Sand Bar Latte, flavored with vanilla.
6 p.m. Catch the sunset
Set on a peninsula in Montauk, legendary seafood restaurant Duryea’s offers a stunning vista for the colorful display at the end of the day. Portions are huge, so you can easily split an order of the local catch or the massive lobster salad, which comes packed with bacon, egg, avocado, tomato, tarragon dressing, and big chunks of crustacean.
8 p.m. Take in some live music
The EHP Resort, situated on a marina, has live music on weekends from 6 to 9 p.m., with shows set against a view of Three Mile Harbor in the background. Splurge on a glass of Champagne or choose from a large selection of martinis, and pair your drink with some caviar or a few oysters.
Day 3: Mansions, Sag Harbor hiking, and a farmers market
9 a.m. Take a bucolic constitutional
Start with a morning stroll through the exclusive Georgica neighborhood and gawk at the massive houses. (One recent spread just sold for $27 million.) Even if you’re not in the market for your next multimillion-dollar beach house, you can enjoy the serenity of the lush and peaceful streets. Then emerge into East Hampton, which is full of art galleries like Eric Firestone, known for contemporary works from under-recognized artists, and shops like Khanh Sports, a bike and surf emporium, selling boards, bucket hats, Croakies, and everything in between.
11a.m. Grab some fresh-picked veggies
Walk over to the farmers market at Herrick Park, which brims with fragrant tomatoes, pastries, local kombucha, and bug repellant made with natural essential oils. For a snack, grab a clay crock of Kalypso, locally made Greek yogurt.
12:30 p.m. Hit the trail
Over in Sag Harbor, Southampton Trails features wonderful hikes that are ideal for the early afternoon. The one to Laurel Valley affords glimpses of blooming mountain laurels, great horned owls, and red-tailed hawks.
2:30 p.m. Explore a fishing town for lunch
Some major yachts moor at the marina in Sag Harbor, which you can examine from your seat at Le Bilboquet while enjoying a glass of rosé or Champagne, along with something from the raw bar. When you’re done, peruse the galleries and shops along Main Street and grab a froyo at Yummylicious around the corner.
3:30 p.m. Work out the kinks
Book yourself a post-lunch massage at Naturopathica, a longtime favorite wellness center, where you can smell the aromatic botanical elixirs as soon as you walk in. Choose between Swedish, deep tissue, or reflexology. You can also drop your pet off along the way at Dog Beach in Wainscott, where the team offers lavender massages for pups.
6 p.m. Join a family dinner
Don’t leave the Hamptons without visiting one of Maurizio Marfoglia’s Dopo restaurants. The chef has Dopo La Spiaggia in Sag Harbor and Dopo Argento in Southampton, but go for Dopo Il Ponte in Bridgehampton. The pasta, meatballs, and local fish are legendary, and Marfoglia lowered the prices by 20 percent this year to make the restaurant more affordable for locals. On Sundays, there are family-style portions of dishes like chicken Parmigiana; pasta with broccoli puree and sausage; dorade with tomato broth; and veal scallopini. Fill up before your drive home and take your time — leaving after dinner means you’ll miss most of the traffic for a speedier trip home.
