Travel Spotlight

The New Hamptons Spots You Can't Miss

By Mary Elizabeth Moore

Boasting charming boutique hotels, beautiful beaches and five-star dining options, the Hamptons has long been a favorite summer getaway for New York’s elite. While the timeless beach vibe never fades, this summer has seen a new crop of restaurants, pop-up shops, activities and hotel refreshes to remind visitors why the Hamptons is such a special destination. Each beach town claims its own unique vibe, so it’s worth venturing to multiple parts of Long Island’s South Fork before the end of summer to experience these new attractions in the Hamptons.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="620"] Garden at The Maidstone in East Hampton Garden at The Maidstone, Courtesy Fran Parente[/caption]

Chic East Hampton is home to the recently renovated Maidstone Hotel, featuring new décor that combines classic American style with pops of vibrant color and fresh prints. The 19-room property is perfect for couples or a girls’ trip, and guests can enjoy private yoga in the zen garden, riding the hotel’s bright-red bicycles through town or sipping cocktails on the garden patio. The hotel’s restaurant also saw a menu revamp courtesy of Chef David Standridge of the West Village’s healthful Café Clover. The summer-inspired menu includes delicious options like fresh peaches, pesto and vegetable pasta and seasonal grilled fish.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="620"] Dining room at the Restaurant at The Maidstone in East Hampton New York Restaurant at The Maidstone, Courtesy Fran Parente[/caption]

Indeed, the dining scene is booming throughout the Hamptons, featuring notable spots like the chic-casual Greek restaurant Elaia Estiatorio and the Sag Harbor eatery Lulu Kitchen & Bar from the owner of Duryea’s lobster shack in Montauk. The Upper East Side dining institution Le Bilboquet has opened a Sag Harbor outpost, while Mediterranean eatery Calissa celebrates the spirit of Mykonos in Water Mill.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="620"] Food from Calissa Restaurant Calissa Restaurant, Courtesy Mikey Pozarik[/caption]

For oenophiles, a classic favorite activity has long been a visit to Wölffer Estate Vineyard for a leisurely afternoon. The winery’s latest additions are two restaurants, one in Sag Harbor (29 Main Street) and another that opened just this year in Amagansett (4 Amagansett Square).

At both Botanica Bazaar (14 Amagansett Square Drive) and Love Adorned, shoppers can find the perfect summer hostess gift or pick-me-up. Reformation also introduced their summer pop-up store Reformation Beach House in East Hampton, featuring fun dresses and summer soirée styles (45 Main Street). And for home-décor enthusiasts, the institution One Kings Lane has an outpost in Southampton (5 Main Street).

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="620"] Interior of goop MRKT in Amagansett New York goop MRKT, Courtesy Emily Andrews[/caption]

And if you can't get there until September, know that after the summer crowds dwindle post-Labor Day, the Hamptons remains an ideal spot to escape the city’s hustle and bustle. In early autumn, the beaches feel much quieter, and it’s easier to secure reservations at the year’s must-try restaurants.