A Summer Weekend In The Hamptons, NYC
Just a short 3-hour train ride from New York Penn Station and you will arrive in beautiful East Hampton. Here, people dress in pastels, houses are like those out of the movies you watched as a kid, and lawns are spectacularly manicured. There are plenty of wonderful ways to unwind. Here are a few of our favourite things to help get you started.
Sleep
When it comes to choosing somewhere to rest your head, look no further than this East Hampton staple. The newly renovated Maidstone Hotel is warm, welcoming and whimsical (think walls painted in pastel pink and teal, indoor plants, and endless art-filled walls). Each of the Maidstone’s rooms and cottages are individually designed and the hotel comes complete with a beautiful sun room, cozy bar and lounge, as well as a lush, pretty garden. The highlights for us include the attentive staff, the free bikes, and the house car service.
Eat
For food, enjoy former Café Clover chef David Standridge’s seasonal menu at The Maidstone, but for other options, we recommend trying Rowdy Hall (tucked off the main street) for hands-down the Hamptons’ best burger. New this summer is the lovely Wölffer Kitchen Amagansett. The second winery-owned restaurant by Wölffer Vineyard, come here for a casual Mediterranean-inspired dinner showcasing Long Island producers and an incredible wine list.
Drink
For the best coffee in the Hamptons, it has to be Jack’s Stir Brew in Amagansett Square. The 
queue might be out the door, but don’t let that deter you. Their espresso-based coffee is as good as it gets and they have some great-tasting, healthy snacks as well. We also recommend popping by Wölffer Estate Vineyard – not only a beautiful place – but home to one of our favourite rosés. Don’t leave without grabbing a bottle of the Grandiose Rosé 2016. Lastly, the Bar at The Maidstone is a cozy drinking den perfect for a late-night drink before bed.
Shop
East Hampton offers all the big brands you have come to love in the city. For cute boutiques though, head to Amagansett Square (where Love Adorned is our favourite). Also check out One King Lane’s first ever bricks-and-mortar store, opening this summer, in Southampton. Located in a former library building, keep an eye out for Canadian photographer Christine Flynn’s beautiful large-scale photography.
Explore
There is no better way to soak up that true Hamptons feeling than by bike. Grab your bike from The Maidstone and ride down Dunemere Lane to Further Lane, around the drop-dead gorgeous golf course, popping down to the private beaches that run off the road. These houses in the dunes will blow your mind. Also worth checking out is the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill – a centre for art and cultural engagement – not just for the art, but for the impressive building itself.
Do
If you are happy to brave cold water, rent a surfboard in Montauk and head down to Ditch Plains for a surf. The very last town on Long Island, Montauk’s beaches are the most popular for surfing. Once you’re at Ditch Plains, check out the three different surf spots: Poles, Ditch, or Trailer Park. Make sure you arrive early; it gets busy out there. If paddle boarding is more your thing, pick up a paddle board from the Paddle Diva SUP Center in East Hampton.
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