This is where the privileged spend summer on the east end of Long Island. It's like upmarket Manhattan, but with some of America's most pristine beaches. Billionaire investors, celebrities, film stars, socialites and wannabes mingle over margaritas at invitation-only soirées in grand mansions. It can all be a bit stuffy, but the beaches are stunning.
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01
Essentials
| 01 |
If you are booking a house and care about size and desirable location (you should), book early. The best houses are gone by March. |
| 02 |
Avoid house shares with a ratio of 20 women to five men or vice versa. These set-ups rarely work out - for anyone involved. |
| 03 |
Book a helicopter and skip the traffic on the Long Island Expressway. |
| 04 |
If you have to travel with everyone else, book the Hampton Jitney, which deposits New Yorkers in the Hamptons. |
| 05 |
If you are driving from New York, you should leave by 11.00 on Friday to get to Southampton in one-and-a-half hours, not four, in mid-afternoon traffic. |
| 06 |
Dress down and go surfing to try to blend in with the new locals, who secretly dislike the moneyed, summer holiday crowd. |
| 07 |
Get a burger at Rowdy Hall, Paris Mews on Main Street, before catching a film at the nearby East Hampton cinema. |
| 08 |
For a sweet fix head to Fudge Company, 66 Jobs Lane, Southampton (+ 1 631 287 5436). There are 20 ice cream flavours and 400 types of sweets. |
| 09 |
Go to Havens Beach, off Bay Street, Sag Harbor. With soft, white sand, it is one of the best public beaches. |
| 10 |
Party spills? Get your clothes cleaned at Dutch Girl Cleaners, 2044 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton, (+ 1 631 537 5138). |
02
Hotels
Independent and easy
Southampton Inn
No. 91 Hill Street, Southampton
+ 1 631 283 650
southamptoninn.com
Dependable chain
Accomodations Plus
Rental homes in East Hampton
+ 1 631 324 1858
hamptonsvacations.com
Premium
East Hampton Point
295 Three Mile Harbor Road, East Hampton
+ 1 631 329 2800
easthamptonpoint.com
03
Dining
Fast breakfast
The Golden Pear
34 Newtown Lane, East Hampton
+ 1 631 329 1600
goldenpearcafe.com
Leisurely breakfast
Surfside Inn
4 Buiten Street
+ 1 631 668 5958
Mid-morning coffee
Hamptons Coffee
194 Mill Road, Six Corners, Westhampton Beach
+1 631 288 4480
hampton
coffeecompany.com
Lunch with friends
Sunset Beach
35 Shore Road, Shelter Island
+ 1 631 749 2001
sunsetbeachli.com
Picnic spot
There's a pretty pond and a fountain at Agawam Park, Southampton.
Lunch on your own
La Hacienda
48 Jagger Lane, Southampton
+ 1 631 287 6814
Sunset cocktail
Cyril's Fish House
2167 Montauk Highway, Napeague
+ 1 631 267 7993
cyrilsfishhouse.com
Dinner for two
Nick & Tony's
136 North Main Street, East Hampton
+ 1 631 324 3550
Best barbeque/alfresco dining
The Clam Bar At Napeague
2025 Montauk Highway, Amagansett
+ 1 631 267 6348
Big dinner with friends
Dockside Bar & Grill
26 Bay Street, Sag Harbor
+ 1 631 725 7100
Drink after dinner
The American Hotel
40 Main Street,Sag Harbor
+ 1 631 725 3535
theamericanhotel.com
Late drinks
Pink Elephant
281 County Road, Southampton
+ 1 631 287 9888
pinkelephantclub.com
Late bite
Nichols
100 Montauk Highway, East Hampton
+ 1 631 324 3939
On the tiles
Stereo by the Shore
125 Tuckahoe Lane, Southampton
+ 1 212 244 1965
04
Reading
Bookshop
BookHampton
Three locations; Sag Harbor, East Hampton and Southampton
bookhampton.com
05
Basics
White's Pharmacy
81 Main Street, East Hampton
+ 1 631 324 0082
06
Shopping
Something you can't get anywhere else
Tabletop accessories from Kim Seybert
55 A2 Main Street, East Hampton
+ 1 631 329 6200
kimseybert.com
Lost luggage - where to buy shirts, socks and underwear
John Varvatos
54 Newtown Lane
East Hampton
+ 1 631 324 4440
Something for the kids
Toys from Hamptons Cards & Gifts
38 Main Street, East Hampton
+ 1 631 324 7866
Something for someone you love
Cashmere by Christopher Fisher
67 Main Street, East Hampton
+ 1 631 907 0900
07
Two hour tour
| 01 |
Try some gentle kayak paddling with naturalist Mike Bottini.
mikebottini.com |
02 |
Visit Napeague State Park. |
03 |
Parrish Art Museum
25 Jobs Lane, Southampton
parrishart.org |
08
Limousine/car
The Jitney
+ 1 631 283 4600
hamptonjitney.com
09
Transport
Helicopter
Buy a helicopter membership with Blue Star Jets with access to over 4,000 executive aircraft.
bluestarjets.com
Rent a bike
Bermuda Bikes
36 Gingerbread Lane, East Hampton
+ 1 631 324 6688
bermudabikes.com
10
Fitness
Good running route
Run from Flying Point Beach to Coopers Neck Beach and back.
Alternative diversion
Fly a kite at East Hampton Point.