Best Towns In The Hamptons | Sag Harbor | East Hampton
Visiting the Hamptons and still not sure where to stay or even where to go? You’re not alone. There are many picturesque towns in the Hamptons, NY that’s it’s easy to be overwhelmed with options. I love most of them but I am obsessed with just a few. Although many people group the towns in the Hamptons together, there are several distinct towns and villages in the area. Check out the guide below to discover the best towns in the Hamptons, my current favorite places in each town, and some really useful information for your upcoming visit.
Best Places to Visit in the Hamptons
Sag Harbor
Sag Harbor isn’t technically a town but a village. Part of it actually belongs to the town of Southampton, while the other part belongs to the Town of East Hampton. But for all intents and purposes, Sag Harbor is its own place. Sag Harbor takes the number 1 spot on my list: this is my favorite area in the Hamptons and a great destination for artists, vintage lovers, and those wanting to maximize their time by the sea. Although the village started as an old whaling town, today is so much more than that. Beaches, museums and amazing art galleries are among the things that will make your visit to Sag Harbor an unforgettable one. You might even spot celebrities like Donna Karen, who has a great clothing/jewelry/home decor store in the middle of the village. Don’t forget to try your luck at paddle boarding before heading back home!
Montauk
Montauk is the last village in the area of the East End towns, all the way at the end of the peninsula. It’s affectionately known as the End of the World. Montauk was actually the first place I visited in The Hamptons, and is a paradise for surfers and seafood lovers. It is also an unincorporated hamlet of the Town of East Hampton. Montauk is quite different from other towns in the Hamptons: more chill, less sophisticated, but still very modern and chic. The village brings a bit of flavor for almost everyone, and has an incredible nightlife scene that attracts those looking to party the weekend away. It also has some of my absolute favorite seafood cafes and restaurants! Among my favorite things to do in Montauk include going on a fishing expedition, visiting the Lighthouse, and watching the sunset at Navy Beach. It’s always a great destination for beach lovers!
East Hampton (village)
The East Hampton town technically includes part of Sag Harbor, East Hampton village, Amagansett, and Montauk, among others. With nice beaches, both casual and upscale food options, art galleries, clubs and tons of boutiques, you can have the perfect Hamptons experience in one area if you decide to stay in the East Hampton village. In the summer, Main Beach is always a great option to relax right after you burn some calories at one of the multiple fitness studios (check out Truth Training, Barry’s Bootcamp or Soul Cycle) in the area. The nightlife scene in East Hampton is always full of options!. Among the most well known residents and visitors of the area are several first ladies, presidents and celebrities. You never know who you’ll run into!
Southampton (village)
The town of Southampton is the first town you’ll come to in the East End of Long Island, and it includes villages and hamlets like Southampton village, Bridgehampton, North Haven, Quogue, Water Mill and Sagaponack. The downtown area of the Southampton village is considerably larger than most other Hamptons towns, so you’ll be able to find many restaurants, fancy boutiques, and cafes. It’s a great place to stay if you want a little bit of everything. The town has several of the most expensive zip codes in the country, with median home sale prices raising to the millions! So it's not strange that there are many celebrity-owned houses in the area. If you are looking to experience the Hamptons the way you have seen in the movies, Southampton village might be the perfect area for you to stay. It’s definitely one of the more glamorous parts of the Hamptons!
A few of the fun things that you can do while visiting Southampton include: spending a day at Cooper’s Beach (one of the best public beaches in the USA due to its white sand dunes and gorgeous water), visiting Southampton Arts Center, or even hiking on the trails of Quogue Wildlife Refuge! You can’t go wrong with simply exploring around town and the surrounding areas too... there are plenty of hidden gems to discover!
How to Get to the Hamptons from NYC
By train: From Penn Station (Manhattan) take the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).
By bus: From NYC take the Hampton Jitney.
By Helicopter: From NYC or airports nearby take a 30 minute heli ride with BLADE.
Things to Do in the Hamptons NY
Visit a vineyard: Wölffer Estate Vineyard is my favorite and the venue offers summer concerts. To get there, you can even…
...Ride a Bike! Riding through any of the picturesque towns would be a great way to spend an afternoon.
Go Sailing around Sag Harbor.
Spend a day at a Hampton beach or take a surfing lesson at Ditch Pains.
Visit a museum/ art gallery. The Parrish Art Museum has a great selection of artists! My favorite is Jackson Pollock’s house/studio at the Pollock-Krasner House in East Hampton.
Visit Montauk Lighthouse.
Go shopping
My favorite stores
Love Shack Fancy in Sag Harbor. I have been obsessed with this brand for a while, maybe because of it reminds me of the Cuban summer fashion from the 80s and 90s (or just because my mom has always been obsessed with flowy cotton, embroidery and lace.)
Urban Zen. The first time I visited the store was right after my 1st Africa trip and it just happened to be that the collection had African motifs. I also spent an hour bonding with one of the jewelry designers that collaborates with the brand. The food and the drinks afterwards might have also contributed to my love for this Sag Harbor space!
Henry Lehr. If you forgot your favorite sweater for those chilly spring/summer nights, stop by Henry Lehr in East Hampton and you just might find a new favorite.
Restaurants in the Hamptons NY
For a mouth watering lunch head to the town of Montauk and stop by 668 The Gig Shack. My recommendations: P.E.I Mussels, the lobster roll and the lamb sliders.
For those on the hunt for unique experiences Tutto Il Giorno in Sag Harbor offers delicious food and a unique environment: the food is served among the latest collection at Donna Kara’s store Urban Zen. The restaurant has a Southampton location as well.
Babette’s in East Hampton is the place to go if you are looking for a healthy post pilates meal!
Hamptons Nightlife
Southampton Social Club is a restaurant in South Hampton centered around its atmosphere: a huge outdoor space that becomes a club at night, as well as an indoor dance floor.
The Surf Lodge is a premier destination for the young and the young at heart in one of the best towns in the Hamptons, Montauk. Check their schedule and plan your visit during one of the live performances.
The Crow’s Nest is the perfect place to go on a hot date with your significant other.
Stephen Talkhouse: head there to dance the night away and enjoy the live music.
Where to Stay in the Hamptons
Baron’s Cove: For bougie and boozy nights with fantastic views. You won’t want to miss an afternoon spent chilling on the porch rocking chairs drinking wine and watching boats in the Sag Harbor marina.
The Montauk Beach House. A block from the beach (and from my fave Montauk food shack 668 The Gig Shack) the Beach House is definitely one of my favorites hotels to spend my days off in the Hamptons.
Gurneys is right on the beach, and the fancy hotel is the kind of place where you can spend an entire weekend without leaving. They have great restaurants and bars and a fire pit where you can snuggle on a chill night.
AirBnB. This is always a great option in The Hamptons, especially if you are going with a group of friends. Just make sure to book it as early as possible because they fill up quickly.
Traveling to the Hamptons?
This is what you need to know:
If you are driving to the Hamptons NY, expect heavy traffic Friday afternoons during the summer months (as well as going back into the city Sunday evening!)
Besitos from Sag Harbor
Laura
One of the best DIY Lip Scrub Recipes that gently exfoliates and smooths your lips is this Sugar Lip Scrub Recipe!