Montauk: A Guide To The Hamptons
There’s nothing quite like summer in the Hamptons. We had our first experience in Montauk a few weeks ago, guided by a friend of ours that has been visiting the area for over 10 years. There are several ways to explore, relax and take in all the Hamptons have to offer. Because we had the inside scoop from our friend while we were there, we got to experience the best spots in town. And I thought I’d be kind enough to share the secrets with you.
Quick Tips:
Rent a Car
There are a couple of ways to travel into long island. Depending on the cost of flights and if you have a preferred airline, you can either fly into JFK or Laguardia and drive the 3 hours out there or Southwest has great deals flying you into ISP, the closest commercial airport, leaving you with only a 1.5 hour, scenic drive to Montauk. Either way, you will want a car to drive out there and to get around while you’re on the island.
To Stay:
Crow’s Nest
Apparently, this is the place you want to be. It’s a quaint little cabin-like, boutique hotel in the middle of Montauk. The rustic, boho vibes made us feel like we were staying in a high-end beach cabin. The interiors and design are subtle but gorgeously executed. With only a few rooms in the place, you’re guaranteed a good view overlooking the main lawn or the lake.
Maybe they want it to be discreet, but I promise it is way cooler than it appears online. It’s also THE place to be when evening arrives. The beach front bar is packed with good looking people enjoying cocktail hour. Getting reservations for dinner is almost impossible—unless you’re a guest staying at the hotel. I won’t say who, but we saw more than one celebrity enjoying their dinner here.
If you’re looking for more of a resort type stay, I’d recommend looking at Montauk Yacht Club or Gurney’s. I’ve heard great things about both places, however, I really enjoyed the low key, boutique stay for a relaxing New York beach trip. You can get a resort anywhere, but Crow’s Nest will give you the unique, local-like Hampton stay you can’t get anywhere else.
To Eat:
Lobster Roll — I’m still dreaming of the lobster bisque. I highly recommend pulling off in Amagansett and grabbing a lobster roll. This well-known spot is famous for a reason. There’s not much more to say other than, don’t miss out.
Carissa’s Bakery — According to our friend who has had many lobsters on the Island, Carissa makes the best lobster roll on the island. Carrisa’s is a cute little bakery and lunch spot, with heavenly food and pastries. There are a few different locations depending on what area you may want to be in for the day.
Rooted — A lovely little dinner spot. With only a few tables, you will need a reservation. The atmosphere is lively but quaint with great food and wine. We ordered a lot of the menu and loved every bit of it.
Duryea’s — I call this the “fancy seafood spot.” I recommend going for lunch and arriving with a big empty stomach. Their lobster rolls and fries were delightful. Be aware, their salads could feed a family of 8, so don’t order it by yourself. If you go early enough, you may be able to get in right away, but be prepared to wait as this is a very popular spot. Keep your eyes peeled for familiar faces, but remember, always play it cool and let them enjoy their vacation.
Nick & Toni’s — Amazing Italian food in East Hampton. I recommend sharing a few pastas so you can have both the pasta and the mains. I’m big believer in sharing so you can taste as much of the goodness as possible.
Crow’s Nest — You need reservations. This place was always packed and full of energy. If you’re staying at the hotel, you are guaranteed a reservation but you will still need to let them know in advance. The food was amazing and the people watching was equally entertaining. You may see familiar faces, but don’t approach or be the person to “fan girl.” It’s cringy, embarrassing and incredibly frowned upon. However, it can be incredibly entertaining to watch others embarrass themselves while the wait staff ushers them away.
Scarpetta Beach at Gurney’s — Get reservations close to sunset and ask for an outdoor table. We had a front row seat to the sunset over the beach while enjoying our dinner. Brad won with his entree choice: The Short Rib & Bone Marrow Agnolotti. I was still upset with how good it tasted and how little he shared. Pro-tip: get your own and be selfish. It was very tasty.
To Drink:
Sadly, I can’t quite speak to the drink spots this time around because I am currently growing a baby. But the cocktails and wine at each dinner spot we went to seemed to be amazing. We did do a little cocktail hour at Crow’s Nest a couple of night before dinner and the guys raved about their drinks and “The Ruse” sounded very good.
To Do:
What’s fun about Montauk, there are so many different ways to fill your time with, but it all depends on what you’re wanting out of your little holiday away. A few things we enjoyed…
The Beach — We ended up at Ditch Plains Beach for at least a little part of each day. It was a 5 minute bike ride from Crow’s Nest. This small little beach is filled with families and surfers enjoying the summer sun. It’s nothing fancy, but I had never really been to a surfers spot, so it was fun to get to see the action.
Shopping — There are several different places to hit up in the different Hampton neighborhoods. We enjoyed walking through the local boutiques in Amaganset. We also hitting up the streets in East Hampton and popping into places like Double RL and Chanel.
Sunset Boat Ride — We did a sunset boat ride around Montauk Lake. It was fun to see the beautiful lakefront homes that you wouldn’t otherwise get to see because they are mostly hidden from the outside world while driving.
**Disclaimer: these are just a few things we did and loved. There are many other amazing things to do in Montauk, so don’t let this be your only guide. If you questions, don’t hesitate to ask!