Sometimes, the best way to reboot is to corral your friends and get out of dodge. Whether you’re looking to veg out on the beach, explore the great outdoors, or post up in a great hotel in a big city, these spots deliver in terms of making the most out of quality time.
On the other side of the Country, just a short two-hour drive from NYC, its the HAMPTONS.
My girlfriend have a tradition to rent a house at East Hamptons every year.
The region has very stringent building regulations, so unlike many seaside holiday destinations, you won’t find any hotel chains, which, in many ways, adds to its charm. It does, however, make it essential to plan well in advance due to limited accommodation options.
Different crowds gravitate towards different areas: in Montauk it’s all about the music, surfing, and late nights; East Hampton and Southampton tend to draw more refined groups, couples, and billionaires; and Sag Harbor has traditionally been more low-key and family-oriented.
Best Dinning
since we are a big group we tent to have a lot home parties and sometimes with hire chef and a bartender. But its a lot place to eat in the Hamptons.
Best Dining
Local favorite, Carissa’s The Bakery, is slated to open a new 3,500-square-foot space in East Hampton this season, which will include a bakeshop, a large production area for crafting signature pastries and breads (including the renowned pickled rye), and a restaurant, which will serve wine and cocktails and will have outdoor seating for dining al fresco. Homemade gelato, soups, and sandwiches will also be on offer.
Blu Mar
Acclaimed chef Terrence Brennan recently opened his first restaurant in Southampton, called Blu Mar, occupying the former Maison Vivienne space. It is open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch and serves Mediterranean-inspired menus.
Babette’s
Located in the heart of East Hampton village, Babette’s has been the go-to brunch spot since 1995. Here you will find modern, healthy cuisine in a casual café setting with photos of celebrity regulars lining the walls. The atmosphere is unpretentious and the servings are generous. It’s particularly notable for its wide range of egg dishes (benedicts, omelettes, huevos rancheros), and freshly squeezed juices.
Highway Restaurant & Bar
It looks like a diner on the outside, but step into the Highway Restaurant & Bar and you’ll find an elegant space serving New American cuisine with international influences. It’s under the same management as Eleven Madison Park, Charlie Bird, and the Restaurant at the NoMad Hotel, and the group’s high standards are on show.
Jean-Georges at Topping Rose House
Like some of Jean-Georges’ hotel-affiliated restaurants in New York (including locations at PUBLIC, The Mercer, and The Mark), the Topping Rose House outpost offers classics like the black truffle pizza, spicy tuna tartare, and the peekytoe crab cakes. The wide variety of entrees leaves little to be desired, with a long list of options to appease any palette. Also, it’s a good spot for a cocktail in the evening.
Where to stay
Gurney’s Star Island Resort & Marina
Gurney’s Star Island, a 107-room resort that is located on the largest marina in the Hamptons, is a new player to the scene. The luxury enclave features a private beach, two outdoor pools, a kids’ club, and an upscale restaurant called Showfish, which has a menu built around seasonal ingredients and seafood delivered directly to the docks by local fisherman.
Shou Sugi Ban House
The launch of Shou Sugi Ban House marked the Hamptons’ first comprehensive wellness retreat, filling a glaring gap in the market. The private three-acre sanctuary has thirteen guest studios, a spa with hydrotherapy pools and a roof deck, a fitness center, organic vegetable gardens, a library, and a Healing Arts Barn. Holistic wellness practices are customized to each guest and designed to revive even the most jaded New Yorker.
Baker House 1650
One of the most gorgeous B&Bs in the Hamptons is Baker House 1650, which is like being welcomed into the home of a friend with excellent taste. It’s cozy yet luxurious with plush furnishings, well-appointed suites, sprawling gardens, a spa, and three pools. If you were looking for a wedding venue or a place to host a special event or a garden party, this would be a great location.
Topping Rose House
Credit: Courtesy of Topping Rose House
Topping Rose House is one of the stateliest properties in Bridgehampton and one of the few hotels that remains open year-round. There is a pool, a Jean-Georges restaurant, a spa, a library and a complimentary car service that transports guests from the beach to dinner and anywhere else they may desire within a 2-mile radius.
Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach is one of the latest projects by legendary hotelier, André Balazs — the man behind Chateau Marmont, The Mercer, and The Standard. It’s located on Crescent Beach in Shelter Island and it has only twenty guest rooms, so it’s an intimate escape. The style is low-key but elevated — perfect for couples.
Gurney’s Montauk
Gurney’s is the only luxury hotel in the Hamptons that is located right on the beach — a major highlight that has kept it firmly set at number one. The resort has 146 rooms, suites, and beachfront cottages, each with panoramic ocean views and access to The Beach Club, which packs out early during summer weekends, especially if you’re wanting to secure a cabana. It’s also home to Scarpetta Beach, an Italian restaurant that is one of the best dining experiences out east.
Best Dining
Carissa’sLocal favorite, Carissa’s The Bakery, is slated to open a new 3,500-square-foot space in East Hampton this season, which will include a bakeshop, a large production area for crafting signature pastries and bread (including the renowned pickled rye), and a restaurant, which will serve wine and cocktails and will have outdoor seating for dining al fresco. Homemade gelato, soups, and sandwiches will also be on offer.
Blu Mar
Acclaimed chef Terrence Brennan recently opened his first restaurant in Southampton, called Blu Mar, occupying the former Maison Vivienne space. It is open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch and serves Mediterranean-inspired menus.
Babette’s
Located in the heart of East Hampton village, Babette’s has been the go-to brunch spot since 1995. Here you will find modern, healthy cuisine in a casual café setting with photos of celebrity regulars lining the walls. The atmosphere is unpretentious and the servings are generous. It’s particularly notable for its wide range of egg dishes (benedicts, omelettes, huevos rancheros), and freshly squeezed juices.
Highway Restaurant & Bar
It looks like a diner on the outside, but step into the Highway Restaurant & Bar and you’ll find an elegant space serving New American cuisine with international influences. It’s under the same management as Eleven Madison Park, Charlie Bird, and the Restaurant at the NoMad Hotel, and the group’s high standards are on show.
Jean-Georges at Topping Rose House
