The Hamptons have long been the see-and-be-seen summer spot for New Yorkers, so much so that sometimes a weekend out East can hardly feel like a break from the city at all. If you’re ready to escape the crowds, spend your next trip exploring these tucked-away gems, beloved by those who have been going to the Hamptons for generations, and know they truly represent the best of the Hamptons’ spirit.
A truly mellow weekend in the Hamptons should be all about cooking and eating great food, much of it from the many farms that dot the Hamptons’ landscape. Luckily, the area is rich with purveyors of fantastically fresh fare for cookouts, picnics, and long days on the beach.
Hamptons Aristocrat is a food truck that could only exist in the Hamptons, painted a serene cream color, illuminated with Edison bulbs, and bursting with local flowers. Everything they serve is organic, locally sourced, and most importantly, delicious. Cavaniola’s is a cheese lover’s dream, stocked with enough comté and camembert to satisfying even the most discerning foodie. Round Swamp Farm Market is in an old farmhouse on an East Hampton farm that’s been in the family for nine generations, and their rhubarb, sugar snaps, and spring beans – not to mention their pies – are to die for.
When you are ready to venture out for your food, Sagtown Coffee is Montauk’s most low key and lovely java joint. Tucked away in an alley, the buzzy brewery offers an array of high-grade coffee (available iced, too, of course) without the scene-y vibe that accompanies even the most casual trip to Jack’s or the Golden Pear. And while the rest of the world is getting their lobster roll fix at Cyril’s, stop by Beacon in Sag Harbor for yours with a serene view from the deck, and an expertly crafted cocktail to match.
To work off all that camembert and lobster, skip the scene at Flywheel and Soul Cycle and head to Sup Yoga at Kamadeva, which combines paddle boarding and yoga into a killer workout that maintains a mellow vibe. And for an airy take on the great outdoors, head to the Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge – the birds are so gentle and trusting they’ll come eat right out of your hand.
And the culturally-inclined need not feel compelled to make an appearance at a Parrish Art Museum opening to get their fix: On Friday nights, Bridgehampton’s Silas Marder Gallery projects classic films like Cool Hand Luke and Woody Allen’s Sleeper on the side of their barn-cum-gallery, attracting a cool and creative crowd who also appreciates the space’s avant garde sculpture garden. And for modern art aficionados, a pilgrimage to the Pollack Krasner House and Study is an absolute must – the floor in the house where the artist lived is splattered with paint in Jackson’s iconic style.
Venice Beach is fast becoming Silicon Beach | Photo: iStock.com/MyDinga
