The Hamptons are a string of towns located on the tip of Long Island, NY. They are known for their iconic mansion neighborhoods, endless beaches, and vacationing celebrities. Most of the visitors are people from New York City who go for a weekend getaway to drink, eat and relax on the beach.
I was lucky and had the chance to move to the Hamptons with my wife, where we learned some tricks and tips to enjoying this amazing place.
“Airports and Transportation to and from the Hamptons“
Where Are The Hamptons Located?
The Hamptons are located in New York on the North Eastern part of Long Island. It takes about two hours to drive from Manhattan to the Hamptons in the winter and three hours in the summer due to traffic.
Traveling to the Hamptons is fairly easy, depending on where you are coming from. Most people will fly into JFK or LaGuardia Airport and either rent a car or take other forms of transportation into town.
Beaches
The Hamptons are known for their beautifully endless soft sanded beaches. Stretching from Southampton all the way to Montauk, there are about 30 miles of coastline, which has safe, clean and swimmable beaches throughout.
What Are The Best Beaches In The Hamptons?
Atlantic Avenue Beach, Amagansett – Great beach for spending the entire day, has a great concessions stand for snacks and beach goods.
Main Beach, East Hamptons – One of the most famous beaches on the East Coast, has shops and a great lunch spot. (My personal favorite beach in the Hamptons). Parking can be difficult.
101 Ocean Ave, East Hampton, NY 11937
Coopers Beach, Southampton – Great family beach with decent swells for surfing, has restrooms and is just a short ride from Southampton Village.
Montauk – Known as one of the most famous surfing towns in the US. The beaches here can get crowded but are worth it!
Sunset Beach, Shelter Island – Calm relaxing waters, perfect place to watch the sunset and grab some dinner at the Yacht Club.
35 Shore Rd, Shelter Island Heights, NY 11965
Where Do I Park At The Beach In The Hamptons?
Just a heads up, parking at any beach in the Hamptons is not easy, if you can get up early and grab a spot you will have a better chance. Make sure the beach you are hoping to go to is open to the public. Also not all beaches allow public parking, so read the signs!
Pro Tip: As a Hamptons local, what I would do is drop the gang off at the beach, have them set up camp while you go and park in town. Maybe grab a drink of your choice for the walk and enjoy yourself;) My next piece of advice is to wait until around 3pm, when families are leaving the beach, taking their spots in the paid parking areas.
Mansions/ Houses In The Hamptons
Houses in the Hamptons are well known for their old colonial revival looks. The neighborhoods are lined with hedges, giving privacy to some of the world’s most famous people
What Is The Most Expensive House In The Hamptons?
Sold for $147 million in 2014 to hedge-fund billionaire Barry Rosenstein in East Hampton.
Listed at $175 million, this Southampton’s 15,512 square foot mansion is one of the most expensive homes ever put on the market.
Just driving through the average neighborhood in the Hamptons is a sight in itself, the architecture of these homes is unlike anything I have ever seen.
What is the average cost of a Hamptons home in 2020?
According to Miller Samuel Inc. in 2020, an average house will cost around $1.2 million which is 40% higher than in 2019. With mortgage rates at a record low, home prices soared upward from the previous year.
What is the most expensive place to live in the Hamptons?
Sagaponack is one of the most expensive zip codes in the US. Meadow Lane in Southampton, is a street known as “Billionaire Lane,” where the 1% of the 1% vacation in their summer mansions.
Do people live in the Hamptons all year-round?
Yes, people live in the Hamptons year-round. In summer months, the population “triples” because of the summer attractions and beautiful weather. During the winter, the weather is very cold and many Hamptons businesses will close, waiting for the vacationers to come in the spring.
During the busy summer, most restaurants and hotels will hire temporary help to make as much money as possible before the slower winter season.
Pro Tip: if you’re open to seeing the Hamptons while working and want to make some extra cash, you could work in the hospitality industry, which can be quite lucrative. Lots of these establishments will provide housing! Check out Gurney’s Resort (I worked here for over a year and loved it)
Celebrities In The Hamptons
The Hamptons are well known for celebrities and their flashy vacation homes. When you visit this place in the summer, chances are you will see someone famous enjoying a little time away from their busy New York life.
Which Celebrities Live In The Hamptons?
The Hamptons are home to a large number of wealthy celebrities. When I lived in East Hampton, I would see a celebrity about once a week just strolling into town for coffee. Most of these stars own vacation homes and visit in the summer when the weather is nice.
Celebrities who own homes in the Hamptons:
Jerry Seinfeld – East Hampton
Louis C.K. – Shelter Island
Billy Joel – Sagaponack
Hugh Jackman – East Hampton
Jimmy Buffett – Sag Harbor
Alec Baldwen – Amagansett
Scarlett Johansson – Napeague
Howard Stern – Southampton
Jon Bon Jovi – East Hampton
Jennifer Lopez – Water Mills
Ralph Lauren – Montauk
Paul McCartney – Amagansett
Martha Stewart – East Hampton
Food In The Hamptons
The Hamptons are mostly known for seafood because it is comprised of fishing villages. Most people know the Hamptons has some of the best clam chowder, lobster rolls and Italian cuisine but that’s not all. The food scene is great when you know where to go. Here are some suggestions from a local, yours truly!
Check out our Top 11 Favorite Places To Go Eat at when we lived in the Hamptons.
Vacation Destination: The Hamptons
The Hamptons is known for being the place where New Yorkers go to vacation and get away. The beaches are perfect and the views are outstanding. The Hamptons can appeal to anyone, from young people trying to go out and let loose, to families who want a quiet get away week of relaxation.
What Is The Best Area To Stay In The Hamptons?
If you are thinking of visiting the Hamptons I would suggest staying in at least one of these four towns:
- Montauk – Amazing beach-day beaches, great little town, nightlife (Surf Lodge, Gurney’s), Its known to be a drinking town with a fishing problem. This town doesn’t sleep on the weekends!
- Amagansett – Beautiful beaches, family friendly, go to The Stephen Talkhouse for some live music!
- East Hampton – Great shopping, better restaurants and home to Main Beach (my personal favorite beach in the Hamptons).
- Greenport – Wine Tasting day trips, great little restaurants everywhere. Check out American Beach (great atmosphere) or Claudios Waterfront (this restaurant is literally on the water, bring the fam!).
- Sag Harbor – Restaurants galore, boutique shopping, near Shelter Island. Go to Sen for Happy hour.
- Southampton – Unpretentious fun nightclubs, it’s a larger town for the Hamptons so there are plenty of good restaurants and shopping. It also houses the world famous Coopers Beach!
Wineries In The Hamptons
You wouldn’t think a place that snows and freezes over in the winter would have such a great wine scene. Long Island is known for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot which are ingredients for making a wine that the Hamptons are notorious for, “Rose.”
Even if you’re not a wine drinker I would still suggest going to these vineyards and taking a tour, it doesn’t hurt to know how wine is made!
What Are The Best Wineries On Long Island?
The best wineries in the Hamptons are up for debate and all depends on what you are looking for. Here are some of our personal favorite wineries that we had the chance to visit:
What are the best South Fork wineries?
Wolffer Estate Vineyard, Sagaponik – You can’t miss this place, it’s picture perfect and home to the famous “Summer In A Bottle” Rose which they sell out of every year. The wine tours here are worth it!
Reservations: Click here
139 Sagg Rd, Sagaponack, NY 11962
Channing Daughters, Bridgehampton – Great wine flights, has a famous orange wine, very knowledgeable staff who have a passion for winemaking and tasting.
Reservations: Click here
613-537-7224
1927 Scuttle Hole Rd, Bridgehampton, NY 11932
What are the best North Fork wineries?
Macari Vineyards, Mattituck– Amazing family owned vineyard, go to the Mattituck location, wine tours range from $40-$185. There are lots of surrounding vineyards, so consider going to multiple!
Reservations: Click here
631-298-0100
150 Bergen Ave, Mattituck, NY 11952
Paumanok Vineyards, Aquebogue – This vineyard is a little bit further than most but has some of my personal favorite budget wines. The Chenin Blanc varietal is delicious.
Reservations: Click here
631-722-8800
1074 Main Rd, Aquebogue, NY 11931
Where Is The Best Nightlife In The Hamptons?
The Hamptons has some amazing bars and clubs that can get pretty lively on the weekends and around holidays.
The Stephen Talkhouse
Known for being the best place to see live music and dance the weekend nights away. You will see an occasional celebrity here watching the local talent. This place is famous and worth any cover fee(usually $10-$20).
Gurney’s Montauk Resort
Friday – Saturday, this place is amazing, the view overlooks the beach and the resort is beautiful. I like to go to the resorts Italian restaurant, Scarpetta for dinner, then pop over to the fire pit for late night drinks. They have a DJ playing all day and night on the weekends, so the place can get pretty wild!
The Surf Lodge
This place is known for hosting concerts with some huge names like John Legend and Jimmy Buffett. After the live performance it turns into a nightclub, so bring your dancing shoes! Shows are only during the summer months but if you get the chance to see a live performance here you won’t be disappointed. Parking is tough so take an Uber or cab.
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