Visitors | Getting Here | Weekend | 7 Days | Kids | Facts
We’re glad you’re coming, we just wish you were staying longer. But you’ve got to work with what you’ve got, right? So here’s how to get the max out of your two days in the Hamptons.
First things first: The Hamptons are about forty miles long so a central location will allow you to see the most with the least amount of driving. Think Sag Harbor (The American Hotel or The Sag Harbor Inn) or Bridgehampton (The Enclave Inn or The Bridgehampton Inn). Now get ready for the fun.
Day 1: Get a Little Active
You are required to start your day with breakfast at The Candy Kitchen in Bridgehampton. This is one of the area’s most famous spots and it’s not uncommon to see a celeb or two (actor Roy Scheider is always there) settling in for some breakfast. It’s a down-homey, super casual, diner-style spot that does great breakfast, and you’ll need it for the day we’ve got planned for you.
After breakfast head west on Route 27 to Sagaponack and old Wainscott where there are still a few farm fields that haven’t become subdivisions and the biggest house in America sits on the ocean at the end of Peter’s Pond Road. Park the car and go for a stroll on the beach to work off a bit of that French toast. Next head to Main Beach Surf + Sport just down the road in Wainscott. They have kayak rentals, so hop in a boat and take a paddle around Georgica Pond where you can peek into the backyards of Steven Spielberg, Martha Stewart, Ron Perelman and a handful of other billionaires.
You’re probably ready for lunch now, so you have a couple options: grab a sinfully-good sandwich at Breadzilla or if you want to sit down—and you’ve earned it after the paddle—head to East Hampton and grab a table at Babette’s. After lunch it’s back in the car and time for an afternoon stroll. You’ll pass through Amagansett on your way to Montauk. There are two good options for a hike out this way: Hither Hills, where you can hike through the woods and out to the cliffs that overlook Gardiner’s Bay and Gardiner’s Island, or if you head all the way out to the Montauk Lighthouse, you can walk the rocks below the lighthouse while keeping an eye peeled for the seals that sun themselves on the beach there.
Now that it’s beer-o’clock, head back into town in Montauk and stop in at Shagwong. It’s the spot where the Rolling Stones used to hang when they would stay at Andy Warhol’s house in Montauk and you’ll see why they did—the beer flows freely, the crowd is rowdy and inviting and they don’t mind if you want to sing along with the jukebox.
Head back to the hotel, get showered up and head out on the town for dinner. If you’re in Sag Harbor and ready for some fine dining, The American Hotel is the best spot in town. Other favorites include Dockside for the seafood and if casual is more your style, The Corner Bar has great burgers and a fish sandwich that puts all others to shame. If a post dinner cocktail is called for, The American Hotel is a good bet for a high-class quaff, while Murf’s Backstreet Tavern is the locals’ watering hole of choice. If you’re staying in Bridgehampton and don’t want to venture too far, Almond a good spot to tuck into exceptional bistro fare and a bottle of wine, while Alison is fine dining featuring a menu that capitalizes on the produce of the area. Bobby Van’s is a great spot for a steak and World Pie does brick oven pizza and pastas in a casual setting.
Sleep tight.
Day 2: Get a Little Cultured
Time to feed your brain. Head to Southampton, stopping in at the Golden Pear on the corner of Main Street and Hampton Road for a coffee and bagel for breakfast while you read The Times. Next have a wander down Main Street on your way to The Parrish Art Museum where you can wander the galleries and see an exceptional collection of late 19th century and early 20th century art.
Next, you’re heading to Bridgehampton for a quick stop at the Dan Flavin Art Institute. Flavin worked with neon lights, which in and of itself is very cool, and just the way it looks is even cooler. Back to the car and off to the Springs where—yeah, we know you’re hungry—you’ll stop for lunch at the Springs General Store. Great sandwiches and a view to match, so hope that it’s warm enough to sit outside. Just down the street from the General Store is the Pollock-Krasner House, where artist Jackson Pollock invented his revolutionary drip painting technique. The studio in which he worked has been preserved just as it was when he died, complete with the paint pots and brushes lining the walls and the streaks and drips of paint covering the floor. Pause to appreciate fully.
Just a couple miles back the way you came and you’ll be in East Hampton. Park the car and have a stroll around town, being sure not to miss all the great galleries up and down Main Street and Newtown Lane. Of particular note is Glenn Horowitz on Newtown Lane where they sell books and some of the odder art you’ll find and Vered Gallery right in town on Main Street.
And that’s enough with the art. It’s time for dinner. May we suggest Nick & Toni’s? It’s the spot in town that you’re most likely to spot a celeb and the food is exceptional. Either that, or 1770 House, where you can’t go wrong with the fine dining in the pub downstairs in front of the fire.
And that’s your weekend. We hope you had a good time.
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