Hamptons Calling: Your Guide to an Unforgettable Summer Escape
The allure of the Hamptons – a string of seaside villages on Long Island's South Fork – is undeniable. With pristine beaches, charming towns, and a vibrant social scene, it's no wonder this enclave has become synonymous with summer luxury.
This year, I decided to ditch the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary by planning my Hamptons escape. But with so much to see and do, I knew I needed a roadmap to navigate the best this iconic playground has to offer. Enter "111 Places in the Hamptons That You Must Not Miss" by Wendy Lubovich.
Lubovich's book quickly became my Hamptons bible, a treasure trove of hidden gems and local favorites waiting to be explored. From art galleries tucked away in shingled villages to waterfront restaurants boasting breathtaking sunsets, her curated list promised an unforgettable summer experience.
Intrigued and eager to dive in, I packed my bags and set off to discover the Hamptons for myself. Follow my blog this summer as I share my adventures, inspired by Lubovich's insights and fueled by the endless summer spirit of this iconic destination.
If you are new to the Hamptons, see below for a simple explanation of the main towns in the area:
1. Southampton is the most established town with grand estates and a quiet elegance.
2. Bridgehampton is the region's geographic center with pretty churches and chic restaurants.
3. Sag Harbor is a former whaling village lined with historic captains cottages.
4. Sagaponack has an agricultural feel with open fields and bold architecture.
5. East Hampton, known for its glamour, hosts a vibrant downtown and legendary mansions.
6. Amagansett is a mellow hamlet with tree-lined lanes and a lively village green.
7. Montauk is a surfer's paradise at the end of the road with a counter-culture vibe.
8. Southold & Greenport are hip North Fork towns with an easygoing, rural feel.
Below are A FEW places featured in the book that are worth checking out
DAN FLAVIN ART INSTITUTE
Located in Bridgehampton
23 Corwith Ave, Bridgehampton, NY 11932
From the outside, this Bridgehampton wood-shingled beauty features classic Hamptons architecture. But on the inside, there's a total surprise. It's a renovated firehouse that's become a permanent installation for the most dazzling, psychedelic artworks - all made with flickering fluorescent light.
Artist Dan Flavin (1933 - 1996) was obsessed with the illuminating possibilities of commercially available fuorescent light. He used these fixtures to create room-sized environments, which glow in the most artful and eerie ways. At the height of his career in 1983, Flavin helped design this museum as a survey of his iconic work. Sponsored by the Dia Art Foundation, nine of his fluorescent works are on view here on the second floor. And to experience them is to be bathed in this saturated light, which spills out onto the walls and floors.
Step closer, and you are warmed by a curtain of glowing, saffron-hued light. Vertical fluorescent tubes form an electrified wall with the intensity of the summer sun. Then off to the side, a single green tube provides a note of tension. Your retinas are on high alert. Continue on, and the color pairings become more elaborate. It's both hypnotic and peaceful at the same time. Suddenly, you are hyper-aware of how light enters a space - the color-saturation, the shadows, and the glowing, lingering effects. This is pure Flavin. His works explored the contrast of color and light, structure and formlessness - ideas the artist considered throughout his career.
Be sure to end your visit in the back room, which pays homage to the Baptist Church once located in this very building. Flavin, who studied for the priesthood as a young man, designed the stained-glass windows here. Glowing with white light alongside, the church's original four-foot-tall neon cross hangs on the wall, its electrified halo communing with Flavin's own works nearby.
DITCH PLAINS BEACH
Located in Montauk
18 Ditch Plains Rd, Montauk, NY 11954
Feathery clouds above, cool Montauk breezes below. You can sport the bands of surfers bobbing up and down out there on the hori-son. One by one, they seize upon a wave, straddling it, becoming part of it. They cut right, then left, riding its crest all the way to shore. Welcome to the club. You have found the Hamptons' uki-mate surf spot.
Tucked away in this rambling residential neighborhood with its low slung bungalows, Ditch Plains Beach is the textbook place to take in the surfing culture of Long Island. It's strategically located out on the tip of the island, with its protective cove and rocky reefs.The waves here are the most consistent and boast the longest breaks.
Rippling umbrellas dot the sand where pockets of people lounge on beach chairs. Coolers are packed. The sweet scent of vintage Cop-pertone lotion perfumes the air. Montauk is the end of the road, and this counterculture vibe brings a mix of freedom and fun. The surfing scene here goes back to the 1960s and has retained a cult following ever since. Even in the winter, surfers brave the cold to ride these famous waves.
On a hot August day, the parking lot is jammed with cars, trucks, and bikes. Open Jeeps are piled high with long boards, short boards, and fun boards - like giant stacks of pancakes. Other boards are lined up alongside a dune fence. They delight in shades of bright turquoise or sunny yellow. Pay close attention to the board's tips: the sharper the tip, the easier it is to turn. And the thicker the board, the more buoyant.
If you fancy something to eat, stop by the vintage-looking orange-and-white food truck called Ditch Witch. This beach staple is known for its hearty breakfast burritos. Then sit atop a large piece of driftwood and take in the view. This is the place to be on a summer after-noon, where surf culture, counterculture, and food culture collide.
BLOOM
Located in Sag Harbor:
25 Madison St, Sag Harbor, NY 11963
“Sometimes the little cottages in Sag Harbor have the biggest surprises behind them. Alongside the neat-as-a-pin design shop Bloom, you'll see an ivy-covered door. Prepare to be charmed as you peek inside. It looks like an abandoned potting shed, somehow magically set up for a dinner. Crisp light filters in, and creamy white plates and candles by the French line Astier de Villatte are perfectly placed. It's as if the guests are about to arrive, and you'd like to join them.
Catch your breath then step through the nearby gate, and you've entered a secret garden. Wicker chairs and wooden benches are lined up around a tiered fountain, where the sound of twinkling water is soothing. There are moss-covered urns, thatched fences, and sweetly scented lavender. It's like being transported to a seaside garden in the South of France, only you are right in the middle of Sag Harbor.
This mise en scène is the design dream of Mona Nerenberg, whose attached shop is filled with fabulous finds. Set up like a home, each room is artfully appointed - Swedish antique dressers, worn wooden bowls, and straw beach hats with black ribbons. "It has to be something I want," admits Nerenberg, "I only buy what I love." It's that disciplined, quiet aesthetic that sets the tone. Wander from room to room, and you are calmed by the minimalistic setting. Every single chair, stool, or vase feels thoughtfully placed.
White ceramic cups are all in a row inside an antique cupboard.
Dove gray linens rest neatly stacked. Pairs of black espadrilles are bundled inside a woven basket.
Partly, it's the abode itself. You begin to imagine living here, with its broad windows, wooden floors, and white painted walls. How might you set the table? What would you plant in the garden? Then before you know it, you are bewitched by this Sag Harbor cottage, a magical place in full bloom.”
CANDY KITCHEN
Located in Bridgehampton:
2391 Montauk Hwy, Bridgehampton, NY 11932
The world just seems a little brighter after a visit to Bridgehampton's beloved Candy Kitchen. From the blue-and-white-striped awnings to the neon window sign extolling Home Made Ice Cream, the shop is a nostalgic treat. It's a 1920s luncheonette kind of place with tuna melts, fried egg sandwiches, and roast beef plates. Come as you are and experience what the East End was like before it became the Hamptons.
Take a seat at one of the swivel stools at the soda counter, and you are in the heart of it all. Neighbors walk in and exchange greetings, pick up their daily take-out orders, or chirp about the traffic. It has a small-town Mayberry vibe, where Aunt Bee might drop in at any moment. But you are just as likely to see bankers, CEOs, and artists here. Everyone loves this little corner establishment.
Candy Kitchen opened in 1925, when the East End of Long Island was becoming a summertime destination. Over the years, the likes of Bette Davis and Truman Capote would slip into the blue vinyl booths for breakfast. Locals made it their own. And back in the 1980s, the owners even gave local farmers their key to the front door. Around 4am, the farmers would let themselves in, make their own coffee, and sit at the counter before heading out to the fields - a local place through and through.
But if you really want to savor the past, step up to the ice cream counter and peruse the flavor possibilities. Made fresh on the spot, old-fashioned favorites like strawberry, maple nut, and butter pecan are always popular. The ice cream is kept in vintage stainless steel bins behind the counter. Fresh scoops are served in footed metal serving cups. But if you're feeling indulgent, order the Four Queens.
You pick the four flavors along with toppings and gobs of whipped cream. Then settle into a booth, and you're on your way to becoming a Candy Kitchen regular.
EAST HAMPTON LIBRARY
Located in East Hampton:
159 Main Street, East Hampton, NY 11937
The East Hampton Library is not the kind of place you would expect to find a piece of famous pirate treasure. But there it is, tucked inside a glass case, stored in the wood-paneled Long Island Collection Room.
Take a good look at one of the Hamptons best kept secrets.
It's a very special textile about the size of an index card. Composed of silk and cotton with metallic gold and silver thread, the shimmering crimson and green design features delicate flowers. It's just a fragment of a larger cloth that Captain William Kidd gave to Mrs. John Gardiner in 1699. The infamous pirate and privateer came ashore on Gardiners Island, off the coast of East Hampton (see ch. 36). He was headed to Boston to clear his name on piracy charges. But when Mrs. Gardiner roasted a pig for Kidd, he gave her this special cloth as a sort of hostess gift. Over the years, the cloth was torn up into fragments and distributed among members of the Gardiner family.
A microscope analysis of the library's fragment indicates it is likely made in India in the 17th century. Other accounts list the textile as an altar cloth that was possibly plundered from a church.
But the cloth is not the only treasure the pirate left behind. Kidd returned to the island and entrusted Mr. Gardiner with a chest filled with gold, silver, rubies, and diamonds. The booty is said to have been buried in the island's Cherry Tree field. Then, after Kidd was convicted, the chest was retrieved and sent to the British Crown.
Mr. Gardiner actually had a receipt for the booty, and the handwritten document is also part of the library's collection. You can see a digitized version on their website. Historical treasure to be sure.
And in case you are keen to dig up some of Kidd's undiscovered treasure, head to Montauk Lighthouse, where a small pond there has been dubbed Money Pond. Legend has it there's treasure below.
Carissa's the Bakery - East Hampton Village
Located in East Hampton
68 Newtown Ln, East Hampton, NY 11937
Pies at East Hampton's Carissa's The Bakery look nothing like the pies from childhood. They are heaped with a sculpted cloud of meringue that peaks and swirls up and around. Topped with rose petals and bits of edible gold leaf, the sour cherry pie looks like a museum piece - almost too beautiful to eat. Carissa Waechter is the genius baker behind these sweet sensations, which have a passionate following.
Waechter was a pastry chef in New York City who discovered the freshly milled wheat and flour being produced by Amber Waves Farm in Amagansett (see ch. 2). She started baking bread with the flour and opened this bakery in 2017. Customers are obsessed with her signature salty soured pickled rye. The sweet potato brioche is perfect for making French toast. In the summer, buttery croissants might be flavored with hazelnut chocolate or perhaps a hint ofrose water.
But it's the pies here that are the haute couture of the baking world.
The strawberry-plum pie is dressed with frothy meringue then strewn with flower petals and dried pansies - a true floral fantasy. The pumpkin squash pie is topped with a collage of perfectly arranged currents, kumquats, and figs, like a 17th-century still-life painting. And for fun, there's even a lattice-top apple pie woven with strips of bacon.
Meanwhile, both sweet and savory treats are on tap at Carissa's The Restaurant nearby (221 Pantigo Road, East Hampton). Their signature breads are the star ingredients in their seasonal sandwiches.
Artfully wrapped in white paper, the colorful sandwiches look like lit-the presents on the plate. At night, the back café and outdoor garden offer light dinner treats. The sleek, modern space feels like a Hamptons hideaway. And what they've done with meringue at the bakery, they are doing with gelato at the restaurant. The sweet laboratory here continually experiments with nuanced seasonal flavors.
