Published: September, 2019
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Sag Harbor- Hamptons, New York

There is something magical about the light out in the Hamptons, on the East End of Long Island. It feels like the essence of summer.
— Sabrina Eliasoph
  • More about your Oliver Guide:
  • Trip type: Adult, Family, Group getaway, Beach
  • Activity level: easy
  • Ideal length of trip: 3 nights or however long as you can

to & from

Fly to NYC (LGA, JFK airports) and drive out to the East End; watch out though for traffic, can be brutal if leaving to go out on a Friday in the summer and returning on a Sunday evening…

Or take Blade Helicopter service out from NYC airports to East Hampton

Or take Hampton Jitney bus from different NYC pick-up spots

Or take the Long Island Railroad out to Hamptons

And if coming from New England, Connecticut, etc., bring your car on the ferry to Port Jefferson from Bridgeport, CT – reservations in the summer are a must if traveling with your car.

 

Where to Stay

Baron’s Cove  LOVE this awesome hotel, situated on the Peconic Side of Sag Harbor but within a 7-10 minute walk of Main Street. It is such a great hotel, with an awesome pool, very clean rooms that are nicely sized, a fun lobby/ bar scene, a yummy restaurant, AND such good service if you are choosing to go off campus to the beach. They will give you the parking permits for a few different Sag Harbor beaches and the hotel will set you up with chairs, towels, umbrellas, etc so you can go off and have a successful day at the beach without any hassle. Service was fabulous as well.

Where to Eat and Drink

  • Dopo La Spiaggia Such an awesome restaurant with best atmosphere ever if you can sit outside in the garden. So romantic but vibey all the same and delicious food
  • Wolffer Kitchen – restaurant from the local, beloved Wolffer winery, which in and of itself is a fun place to go wine-tasting. The restaurant in downtown Sag Harbor truly is pretty as can be, as are the rose bottles, and the food is yummy too.
  • Loaves and Fishes – this is one of the most delicious places to pick up picnic foods but done-fancy… most delicious chicken and tuna salads, veggie salads, soups, breads, etc. It is a deli/ bakery but Hamptons style– so not just a typical place. Perfect place to stop and pick up lunch on the way to the beach but beware of long lines.
  • Le Bilboquet- of the New York, Dallas, Atlanta fame, this is just a little French gem in a shingled single-story house serving up scene and some of the best moules frites around.

What to Do

Beach, beach, beach… so many of them! And you have your choice between beaches on the calmer, more mellow side of the Peconic Bay OR the wildly beautiful, vast Atlantic Beaches. The main beach at Sag Harbor is gorgeous; although if you find yourself nearby at Southhampton or East Hampton, the beach is the beach and they all share the same stretch of sand and surf. Be careful of heavy undertow though– these beaches have a strong current.

  • Shopping.. between downtown Sag Harbor, Southhampton, East Hampton, think New York City at the beach.. and the shopping reflects that. There is a such a fun edge to all the boutiques out there on the East End.
  • Museums- between the Parrish Art Museum and the Jackson Pollack- Lee Krasner House are just 2 examples but there are lots of cultural milestones and places to see)
  • Biking- there are so many flat roads and trails and beautiful places to take in the scenery by bike
  • Exercise- nearly every one of the great New York City exercise studios, like Soul Cycle, Taryn Toomey * The Class*, Tracey Anderson-- all have outpost studios in the Hamptons. The workout scene is nearly as good as it is in NYC. Definitely take a few hours to yourself pre-beach to hit one of the many fabulous studios to get your sweat on pre-beach.

Inside Scoop

  • Parrish Art Museum – such a great place to spend a rainy afternoon; architecturally stunning and just such a complete cool collection of works of so many artists local to the region
  • Drinks at the American Hotel in Sag Harbor– you will think they are copying Ralph Lauren’s Polo Bars in terms of atmosphere, but really this place is the real-deal; and has been around far longer than Ralph! 🙂
  • Walking around is super easy and safe… we walked from hotel to town very easily back and forth each night.
  • Certain beaches require permits so make sure to speak to hotel about which beaches they have access guests permits for.
  • Farmers’ Markets- some of the best produce is grown out on the many farms of the East End of Long Island. The produce is fresh, delicious and so much fun to see in all of its summer glory at the various Farmers/ Fruit stands.
  • Joey Wolffer: – This is an awesome boutique in Sag Harbor, owned by one of the family members of Wolffer Winery– eclectic cool finds, including clothing, home decor, gifts, etc.

What to Pack

Bathing suits & cover-ups for the beach

  • Restaurants can be very chic, it is where many New Yorkers go after all, so definitely some fun dinner attire for which you'd even wear out in the city
  • A sweater or light jacket- are you are out on the far point of Long Island, surrounded by water on all sides, it can be breezy night so bring a light jacket

More...

Be careful if you are going in off-season months to call and make sure any places you want to visit are actually open. Lots of people live out in the Hamptons year-round but high season is definitely summer. In the winter, many places close down.

Looking for some more Sag Harbor scoop? Check out summer local, Blythe Harris’ guide! 

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