Tired of the hustle and bustle of the big cities? Looking for a relaxing summer getaway? The Hamptons are calling your name!
New Yorkers have long known about this idyllic setting — a collection of quaint villages, gorgeous beaches, a charming combination of rural and urban — tucked away on the east end of Long Island. The Hamptons have set the standard for East Coast luxury for a while now. A long list of celebrities including Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Robert Downey, Jr., Neil Patrick Harris, and Jon Bon Jovi have summer homes in the Hamptons. But, you don’t have to be a celebrity to enjoy the Hamptons for a few days. We’ve put together a handy travel guide to help you plan your summer getaway in the Hamptons.
How to Get There
If you need to fly to New York, the Long Island MacArthur Airport is the closest option. But the airline selection is limited to American Airlines, Frontier, and Southwest. Otherwise, flying to one of the major New York City airports (JFK or LaGuardia) will be your best bet.
From New York, you have three options to get to the Hamptons — by car, bus, or train. It’s about a 70-mile drive from JFK, so it’s not too bad. The Hampton Jitney is the bus option that can get you out on one of three routes to Montauk, Westhampton, or the North Fork. If you choose the train, the Long Island Rail Road will take you to the Hamptons.
Where to Stay
The Hamptons are made up of several small towns, hamlets, and villages, so there are plenty of lodging options to choose from. Below are some of our favorites.
We have to start with the iconic Gurney’s Montauk Resort and Seawater Spa, which has been a prime summer destination for almost a century. The shorefront posh hotel offers everything one could dream of — incredible rooms with amazing views, an impressive seawater pool (the only one in the country), and a seawater spa that offers marine-based therapy sessions, massages, skin care, and more. On top of all these amenities, you have a 2,000-foot stretch of private beach with daybeds and deejays. It’s safe to say Gurney’s Montauk Resort is worth every penny.
Located on the north shore town of Sag Harbor, Cape Resorts Baron’s Cove blends classic yacht-club vibes with modern sophistication. The room selection is phenomenal — they even have dog-friendly garden rooms! Plus, if you stay here, you’ll only be a five-minute walk away from Sag Harbor’s Main Street with plenty of dining and boutique shopping options.
Another fantastic choice is The Maidstone Hotel. It features unique and individually designed rooms, each inspired by different Scandinavian historical influencers. For example, the Sonja Henje room — like the Olympic figure skating champion herself — is light and airy, and the color palette is light pink and soft gray hues. On the other end of the spectrum, the Edward Munch room is washed in dark tones and gold highlights, giving it the same gothic vibes as his famous painting “The Scream.”
EHP Resort is situated right on the marina of Three Mile Harbor. They offer one- and two-bedroom cottages, along with rooms and suites in their Magari Harbor House. Relax by the private pool or borrow a complimentary bike to explore the town of East Hampton. The resort has its own shuttle service to take you to the beach.
Another fantastic choice is The Maidstone Hotel. It features unique and individually designed rooms, each inspired by different Scandinavian historical influencers. For example, the Sonja Henje room — like the Olympic figure skating champion herself — is light and airy, and the color palette is light pink and soft gray hues. On the other end of the spectrum, the Edward Munch room is washed in dark tones and gold highlights, giving it the same gothic vibes as his famous painting “The Scream.”
Montauk Beach House is another favorite. Over the past decade, Montauk Beach House has established itself as THE quintessential Montauk hangout, offering lively pool parties, delicious poolside eats, and a curated on-site boutique. MBH is also the hospitality leader in supporting local art-driven organizations such as the Montauk Film Festival and the Montauk Skatepark Renovation Charity. At MBH you get to experience a boutique hotel with a laid-back East Coast vibe, an active daytime environment and a comfortable, warm, chill-out-by-the-fire-with-friends aesthetic at night. On top of it all, MBH is situated in the heart of Downtown Montauk and is only a block from the Atlantic Ocean.
Still looking for an extra lodging option? We got one more for you: Sole East Resort and its own Sole East Beach. What are you getting? A hotel housed in a landmark American Tudor building with 60 renovated bungalow-like rooms, each one unique, and 7 garden cabana suites. Plus a heated pool with oversized St Tropez style beds will keep you cool while your head bops to tunes being spun by the poolside DJ. Lush lawns and gardens with bamboo walkways complete the beach club feel. To indulge your gastronomic palette there is the hip yet healthy Backyard, a full service restaurant bar & poolside lounge.
Solé East Beach, a 26-room motel in the heart of the Village of Montauk, is located 50 ft from a path that runs through the dunes to the ocean and beach. This gem, built in the early 70’s, is a cool and modest place. The rooms at Solé East Beach retain some of their unique 1970’s vibe, with the perfect touch of updated renovations and stylish décor – and superior amenities right where you need them. On the beds and in the bath, you’ll find luxuriously soft linens and towels and superb bath products. This is as authentic and cool as a beach place can get.
Where to Eat
Many world-renowned restaurants call the Hamptons home. From upscale social clubs to downhome American cooking, you can find almost any type of cuisine in the Hamptons. Keep reading for some fantastic options.
The 1770 House restaurant is a fantastic choice for classy and cozy dining. They offer a three-course prix fixe menu with seasonal offerings. Chef Michael Rozzi delights in preparing fresh and delicious dishes. The menu includes Sagaponack Asparagus Tart, Spicy Montauk Fluke Tartare, Shelter Island Pork and Clam Gyoza, Prime Beef Filet Mignon, and much more. Don’t miss out on dessert, either. The sticky date cake, with toffee sauce and salted caramel gelato is a favorite. To really get the full experience you should spend the night. They have just six guest rooms and a two-story carriage house, so make sure to book in advance.
With a menu that emphasizes delicious Greek dishes and Mediterranean fare, Calissa brings a nice taste of Greece to the Hamptons. For starters, the crispy zucchini chips with tzatziki dip are just perfect to get your appetite going. The a la carte entrees are grilled with citrus, herbs, and Cretan olive oil. Alternatively, you can try one of their souvlaki dishes, like swordfish or filet mignon, served with tzatziki, grilled pita, roasted peppers, and arugula. Like the Southampton Social Club, Calissa has live music on the weekends, including deejay sets on Fridays and Saturdays.
Promising the best of both land and sea, the Cowfish sits perfectly on the canals of Southampton. Sit on the back patio and enjoy the beautiful waterfront view to go along with your meal. They are open for brunch, lunch, and dinner. For brunch, try the braised pork benedict with 14-hour, slow-cooked pork shoulder or a drop biscuit, over-easy eggs, and hollandaise sauce. If you want a taste of the sea for dinner, you can get the featured salmon of the day, or just go for the green coconut curry cod.
The Southampton Social Club is a stylish and upscale eatery that also has weekend dancing with live deejays! Chef Scott Kampf is an award-winning chef who also competed on Food Network’s Iron Chef America. The menu here is diverse. You can choose from a wide variety of sushi rolls, salads, seafood, and steaks. On Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, you can also choose their early dinner prix fixe menu which has numerous options from their normal menu.
What to Do
The Hamptons are synonymous with the beach and good times, but when you get tired of sun and sand, there are other options.
The Montauk Salt Cave is one option. Once inside, you’re seated in a zero gravity chair and surrounded by 13 tons of pink Himalayan salt. This type of environment can help alleviate a wide variety of conditions — anxiety, sleeplessness, allergies, inflammation, and more. Add some Reiki therapy, singing bowls, or guided meditation, and your worries will disappear!
Long Island is famous for its good wine. If you’re a wine person, you have to check out the Wölffer Estate Vineyard. Their White Horse line has won a multitude of awards from around the world. Walk-ins are accepted in their tasting room, but reservations are recommended. To get the full experience, snag a reservation for their Cellar Tour & Tasting — a 45-minute guided tour with tastings of seasonal wines curated by their in-house sommelier.
The Parrish Art Museum is another distinctly “Hamptons” experience. Their permanent collection is home to over 3,000 works of art. Their highlighted collections included an extensive William Merritt Chase collection and over 250 works from Fairfield Porter. The Parrish Art Museum also has rotating exhibitions and Friday night public programs with everything from live music to “Film & Talk” sessions showing different films and featuring Q&A sessions with art curators, film experts, and more.
Fans of the Showtime television series The Affair definitely remember Alison greeting Noah and the Solloways to the Lobster Roll with the familiar “Welcome to the end of the world”. They even serve a margarita named after the show! This is a fun, quick stop for lunch, especially if you love the show:
If you plan on going to the Hamptons this summer to celebrate something (or someone) special, let Blissnics help you organize it.
