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From dreamy decor to top-notch amenities, this is your first-class ticket to the most design-driven getaways around the world. Whether you’re looking to steal away for a few days or just steal a few ideas for back home (we encourage both, for the record), check out where we’re checking in. Today: the Hamptons.
It’s no big deal if you don’t own a home in the Hamptons—some of the area’s most stylish stays are even better (plus room service!). From the perfect seaside perch to the one that feels like a gloriously long spa day, each of these Long Island hotels is not just a chic place to lay your head—they all provide interior inspiration for days. Here are our eight picks for the best hotels in the Hamptons.
Montauk Yacht Club, Montauk
What we love: The three distinct swimming options.
What was once Gurney’s Star Island is now the dreamy dockside Montauk Yacht Club, a 1928 getaway that recently got a multi-million dollar facelift that includes bright white interiors, faux wood-paneled showers, Aesop soap everywhere, and wicker coffee tables in the bar area. (Proper Hospitality, you know the one, now manages the hotel and F&B.) And while you might never want to leave your room, especially if it has a patio that faces the pier, one of the two pools will surely call your name—or perhaps you’ll be lured toward the property’s private beach. Either way, it’s a quiet slice of heaven; during my stay, two Montauk regulars (one a design editor!) called it their new favorite hotel in the area.
Shou Sugi Ban House, Water Mill
What we love: The feel of a never-ending spa day.
Inspired by the principles of wabi-sabi—a Japanese philosophy that embraces imperfection—this retreat is, ironically, pretty near perfect. All of the guest rooms feature clean-lined design, organic mattresses, custom-built furniture by All Things Dirt, and traditional ofuro tubs for nightly soaks. Speaking of water, the element plays an integral part in the atmosphere—and not only because of its proximity to the sea. You can take a dip in the saltwater pool, do rounds in the hydrotherapy circuits, and experience a full-sensory shower with LED chromotherapy.
Daunt’s Albatross, Montauk
What we love: New and nostalgic meet in the middle.
If you were staying at Daunt’s, you’d be on the beach in the time it takes to read this paragraph. With 24 rooms only 100 feet from the ocean, this family-owned ’70s-era motel layers past and present in a way that feels as cozy as your childhood home but cooler. Thanks to a refresh via Home Studios, vintage textiles play well with Parachute linens, while knotty wood furniture and tile in every shade of the sea spark a desire to connect with nature nearby. But it’s totally cool to curl up in front of the fireplace for a while, too.
Topping Rose House, Bridgehampton
What we love: Full-service luxury…and a Jean-Georges restaurant.
This stately 19th-century mansion might look traditional, but 22 glorious suites put the modern in modern farmhouse. The historic charm of the pristinely landscaped grounds gives way to sleek rooms anchored by Madeline Weinrib’s striped rugs and finished with crisp Frette linens. And after a feast from local fisheries and farms in Jean-Georges’s polished dining room, you can head back to your room, wrap yourself up in a Sferra robe, and call it a night.
Solé East Resort, Montauk
What we love: The pool you’ll want to lounge at all day.
Glossy white wood floors, surf photography, nubby jute rugs, and paper lanterns make Solé East Resort feel like a luxurious beach shack. When you’re not spending time in the light-filled guest rooms, the inviting pool area and sprawling grassy lawns are all you need to get into full-on vacation mode. If you’re hungry, just hit up the recently renovated Mediterranean Backyard Restaurant. While you may not feel the need to ever leave, the property is just a five-minute walk from the beach and Montauk’s village.
The Reform Club, Amagansett
What we love: Modern cottagecore digs with outdoor living nooks.
Dark hardwood floors, white wainscoted walls, and cathedral ceilings set the stage, but sitting in your own private patio (seven of the 10 accommodations have them) will make you wonder why you aren’t actually Nancy Meyers herself. Double doors open up to reveal manicured gardens and bluestone patios that beg you to linger longer over your morning coffee. Those who prefer the indoors can snag a front-row seat in front of a wood-burning fireplace or call dibs on the plush Duxiana bed dressed with Matouk linens. You might even find yourself hanging out in the marble bathroom for a while thanks to the spa-style steam rooms.
Marram, Montauk
What we love: Screen-free suites.
None of the rooms here have TVs, and we’re betting you won’t even notice. When you’re not strolling over the sand dunes to reach the beach, you’ll have plenty to see in Marram’s thoughtfully designed accommodations. A pared-down palette lets you take in the details: smooth concrete floors padded with Tuareg mats, custom white oak furniture, and blackened steel standing closets that turn your outfit of the day into part of the ambience. After sunset, airy Noguchi light sculptures show you the way to a cushy Tuft & Needle Mint mattress (one of our faves for stomach sleepers) when you’re ready to catch some z’s.
The Shoals, North Fork
What we love: It’s not really the Hamptons.
This North Fork escape is decidedly more chill and less crowded than its southern counterparts. It was designed by Thomas Juul-Hansen, the mind behind some of Manhattan’s most impressive residences, and the hybrid “boatel” is the first of its kind in the area. Whether you arrive by land or sea, you’ll be greeted by a cedar-shingled exterior that houses 20 suites (and boat slips) overlooking Peconic Bay. Inside, jute rugs and soothing blue hues cover the apartment-style dwellings, some of which even feature kitchenettes with cute corner banquettes. And if we weren’t so tempted to set sail for a day trip to Shelter Island, we would never leave the private balconies that overlook it.
Where to Shop in the Hamptons
- Wyeth. Our style contributor, Julia Stevens, admits that this vintage wonderland is outside of her budget—and yet it’s her “favorite store in the world” because of its collection of museum-worthy mid-century pieces that are worth shipping home.
- Hidden Gem. Owned by two sisters, you’ll find colorful hand-knotted wool and woven baskets among the goodies at this Caribbean-inspired homewares shop.
- Katie Leede & Co. Shop. Consider this a modern-day trading post for buying and selling vintage pieces curated by interior designer Leede.
Where to Eat in the Hamptons
- Shark Bar. The team behind Montauk’s Mavericks just opened this roadside shack that serves up an epic calamari salad and—no joke—the best fried fish sandwich in the area (potentially the country). Wash it down with a frozen BBC, a boozy nod to its former resident, Cyril’s.
- The Bird. The team at Daunt’s Albatross worked with Home Studios again to open a new restaurant just across the street from the hotel, serving up soft scrambles and espresso martinis with a side of beachy charm.
- Carissa’s Bakery. This James Beard Award–winning bakery is worth a daily visit for the pickle bread alone.
- Monte’s at the Manor. For heaping piles of pasta and a killer chicken parm in a historic Tudor Revival building that overlooks Montauk.