The DRL Hamptons Guide Archives

Nothing feels more like summer than BBQ. If you want to skip the grilling and cleaning that goes with doing it yourself, TownLine BBQ has you covered. You can expect a menu of meats that are smoked and dry-rubbed on site, southern inspired sides (cue the cornbread), and a large selection of housemade sauces.

In need of a relaxing beach weekend out East? Look no further than Hero Beach Club. Located close to the heart of Montauk, on Umbrella Beach, the resort features a vast garden equipped with fire pits, a pool decorated with furniture imported from Bali, and elegant modern beach inspired rooms.

It’s late afternoon and the sun is about to set. You need a glass of rose and some bites as you bask in the remainder of the day. Head over to Crow’s Nest, a chic restaurant and inn with outdoor lounge seating, offering a menu that includes a mezze platter, spiced roasted cauliflower, and local fluke and tuna crudo among a variety of other dishes. Order a tray of oysters, take your wine down to the beach, and enjoy your summer evening as string lights turn on over the lawn and dusk gives way to the stars twinkling. 

The bar on what “luxury” means in the Hamptons is pretty lofty. The Baker House, an East Hampton B&B, continually sets the high mark.

Want to find great Mexican out east? Follow the cars heading out of Ditch Plains after a long day surfing. You’ll find that more than a few make a pit-stop at La Fondita in Amagansett. The “little kitchen” just off Montauk Highway serves up amazing iterations of classic casual Mexican fare (e.g., tacos, burritos, ‘dillas, etc.).

Probably our favorite thing to do on a lazy summer afternoon is to head over to Duck Walk, grab a bottle with friends, and hang out in their super chill, zero-pretenses tasting room. A stark contrast to some of the other vineyard tasting rooms you’ll find on the south fork, it’s no surprise that people looking to avoid city vibes choose it, and its wine club, as their go to vino destination for time spent on the east end.

Known to all as the premier vineyard on Long Island, the renowned Wolffer Estate has a tasting room that is a must-do for your summer out east.

One of our favorite things about the east end is frankly how much excellence can be crammed into such a small corner of the country. Sag Harbor Baking Company is a piece of all that excellence.

We’ve heard people say things like “there should really be a Dos Caminos out east.” And if you, like them, think good Mexican food can only be found at a big brand NYC resto, we pity you. You’ve never been to La Hacienda.

Named after a real life local Hamptons legend, the Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett is probably the most quintessential out east bar we can think of. That being said, prepare yourself, especially if you’re over 25.

If you’ve been out to the east end enough, you know that the name Wolffer is synonymous out here with luxury experiences. But what you might not know is that it doesn’t just stop at the wine. Enter, Wolffer Kitchen, the latest offering of the Wolffer food and beverage empire.

The east end sisters of the restaurant in TriBeCa by the same name, Tutto Il Giorno out east don’t mess around. The menus are different at each, which gives you a reason to try both.

If you’re looking for a luxurious place to stay out east, stop looking for a Four Seasons (there isn’t one). There is that level of luxury, though. Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton, for one, is capable of delivering it.

The Wolffer Wine Stand exists mainly to solve your basic grammergency. And you have those out east, right? It’s been 12+ hours since you posted and you’re all out of fresh summer content? Fear no more.

Just because there’s a lot of hype doesn’t mean you shouldn’t believe it. If Surf Lodge had a motto, that would be it. Probably the most talked about place in Montauk, and maybe on the east end, Surf Lodge was almost like the Lewis & Clark of the post-millennium Montauk revival. (They pioneered it.)

It should come as no surprise, given how many of the city’s rich and famous summer in the Hamptons, that you’re going to find a lot of haute cuisine out east. But finding a chef with a CV as deep as that of Doug Gulija is a tall order. Chef Doug (as he’s known), of Southampton’s The Plaza Café, has spent decades mastering the craft of fine dining, and his dishes, both in their flavor and presentation, evidence it.