Montauk, NY is the easternmost part of New York hence why it’s nicknamed “The End”. Montauk holds a special place in my and my husband’s hearts as we have spent some great times there relaxing, having good eats, and enjoying the beautiful beach.
Montauk has become the place to be among millenials in NY — it’s the Tulum of the Northeast due to it’s bohemian vibes and food scene. Montauk can be reached from NYC by car, train (LIRR), bus (Hampton Jitney) or helicopter/small jet. The Long Island Rail Road out of Penn Station on a Summer Friday looks like something out of an apocalypse movie — everyone is crowded together staring at the timetables as soon as the track for the Babylon line is announced then people begin speed walking/running to catch a seat. I don’t do well with crowds; I rather get trampled then having to confront someone for taking my seat so the Hamptons Jitney or a driving a car are my usual modes of transport out East [the jet is reserved for longer trips ;)].
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Things to Do:
- Montauk Lighthouse: Located at the very easternmost end of NY, you will find the Montauk Lighthouse which is actually the first ever lighthouse in NY. Make sure to visit the museum and gift shop…and if you’re lucky, the lighthouse tower will finally be re-opened to visitors to be able to catch breathtaking views.
- Ditch Plains: This beach is best known for its surfing but even if you’re not getting on a board, the beach at Ditch Plains offers great waves and chill vibes. Honestly, I prefer to stay in this area of Montauk when I can because it’s more my scene and less crowded.
- Wineries/Distilleries: Long Island has an excellent selection of wineries, breweries and distilleries mostly in the Hamptons area. Here you will find Wölffer Estate Vineyards, Long Island Spirits, Channing Daughters, Duck Walk Vineyards, Montauk Brewery, and Sagaponack Farm Distillery. They do not disappoint; many offer the usual tastings but also great eats such as food trucks.
- Farms: What gives the Hamptons/Montauk area its charm is the ability to find locally sourced produce, seafood, etc. The local farms offer fresh baked goods, apple and pumpkin picking during the fall, and ‘grab and go’ meals that are just as flavorful as sitting for a meal at a fine restaurant. Check out Round Swamp Farm and Balsam Farms for thoughtfully curated selection of fresh produce, local products such as sauces and jams, and everything you could ever wish for your own farmer’s market.
- Bike: Depending on where you’re staying, you could easily access town and the beach via bike which makes a fun way to get around and be active. There are rental bikes available on the main strip or you can arrange a rental with a local vendor such as Khahn Bikes.
- Camp Hero State Park: This state park offers 415-acres of diverse landscape along the rocky coast of the Atlantic Ocean with options for hiking, horseback riding, fishing and birdwatching or simply for scenic walk for your dog.
Places like Montauk sometimes get a bad reputation because of the partying, wall street bros, and flashing of wealth sometimes brought in from the city so much so that shows like Bravo’s Summer House are banned from filming in some Montauk establishments. I’m under the belief that anywhere you go in the world, it is someone’s home so you should treat it with respect. Leave the bad vibes behind…
Now throughout years, we have stayed in Airbnb and VRBO houses but we have also stayed in seedy motels where you try not to touch the walls of the shower stall with your body. But my absolute favorite place to stay in Montauk is camped in Hither Hills State Park right on the beach. Hear me out, I’m a city kid so camping in the woods where serial killers hide out is not really my thing but camping on the beach with amenities like running water and waking up with a short walk onto the beach is heaven. We camped in Montauk for one of my husband’s triathlons with another couple. We barbecued for dinner and made a bonfire while enjoying the salty air and warm weather for like 30 bucks a night — you can’t beat it. Highly recommend it!
Our beach cottage rental in Montauk
For our mini-vacation during COVID (Jan 2021), we booked a dog-friendly Airbnb on Old Montauk Highway with a short walk to the beach and close to the town center. The Airbnb was decent but pre-COVID, I already was a clean freak so I was expecting to a sparkly clean cottage smelling of bleach or Faboloso but unfortunately, we had to give it a wipe down of our own and buy our own pillows. Our Airbnb was a 1-bedroom cottage with a kitchen, living room, and small bathroom. Our favorite feature was the fireplace so we kept the place cozy for the 3-days with a fire. It was refreshing to be able to walk down to the beach in the mornings to walk the dog while drinking our morning coffee. I felt like a million bucks! We visited the beach twice a day and marvelled at the peaceful sounds of the waves, the beautiful homes and the isolation from crowds. One of our vacation traditions is to wake up early one day to catch the sunrise. Well now that we’re old people, that has actually become easier as we are usually up before the sun is even peeking on the horizon. One morning that was on the gloomier side, we decided to build a bonfire on the beach and just chill out.
Where to Stay:
- Gurney’s Montauk Resort and Seawater Spa: The epitome of beachside luxury, Gurney’s offers rooms/suites and cottages right on Montauk Beach with top-notch accommodations and guaranteed amazing beach views. Gurney’s also boasts fine dining options such as Scarpetta Beach along with elevated comforts such as Tillie’s for breakfast and lunch and relaxing lounge options such as The Beach Club and The Firepit. Note: Their spa is currently under construction through 2021.
- The Montauk Beach House: With amenities such as 2-pools, in-house bar & grill, and intimate lounge with fire pits, you might never leave The Montauk Beach House. Conveniently located in town, this is the perfect location to be close enough to the beach but still have resort-like luxuries.
- Airbnb: I mentioned above the dog-friendly cottage that we stayed in during our winter getaway but this May for a family trip, we stayed at a pristine and brand new house that featured 5-bedrooms, 3.5-bathrooms, open plan kitchen/dining/living area, large patio deck, pool and hot tub. I highly recommend this house rental for a family vacation — it was a beautiful home and the owner/property manager was thoughtful in the amenities, features, and even decor.
- Hither Hills State Park: I already raved about the perks of camping out in Montauk, on the beach nonetheless. If you’re up for adventure and ballin’ on a budget, this is a great option. Camping passes and more information can be found on the NY State Parks website…spots sell out QUICK so don’t hesitate when booking.
Food was a little tricky because we visited in late January which is the off-season so I highly recommend you buy or bring some groceries with you to minimize the headache of trying to figure what’s open and what’s not. We did a quick supermarket run for snacks and some basics and did takeout for dinner. During peak season, you might catch a glimpse of a celebrity at the local IGA supermarket but play it cool, this is still NY of course. Our morning coffee and pastries were sourced from the Hampton Coffee Company which had the most amazing cinnamon roll that I will eventually try to recreate.
Okay dinner was phenomenal even in the off-season — for our first night, we ordered dinner from Shagwong Tavern which is a classic bar and restaurant in town. Chase had the marinated skirt steak and I enjoyed the fish tacos along with the appetizer of crispy calamari. For our second night, we had dinner from Harvest on Fort Pond…now during the summer months, this a beautiful place to have dinner with calming water views. This dinner despite being take-out was probably one of my favorite dinners of all time. We started with the char-broiled oysters appetizers then I had the linguini with little neck clams while Chase had the free range chicken breast. I have a personal rule to not order something that I could cook at home but Chase really enjoyed his chicken entree. We brought our own bottle of wine, a rosé from Day Owl, and it was a probably one of the most indulgent nights we’ve ever had. We’re pretty simple people — give us good food, a glass of wine and a roaring fire and we’re happier than pigs in sh*t.
Where to Eat:
- Hampton’s Coffee Company: You won’t find a Starbucks in Montauk but the alternative is even better. This was our spot for our morning (and sometimes afternoon) coffee AND their pastries. Hampton Coffee Company‘s cinnamon roll is delicious – flaky, sweet and the right amount of spice.
- Montauk Bake Shoppe: Come here for bagels and coffee but don’t forget to get their jelly rolls which is what they’re most known for.
- Joni’s Kitchen: Joni’s is a local spot that offers breakfast and lunch including healthy rice bowls, wraps and smoothies while delivering charming surf vibes. It’s the perfect place to pick up lunch for a beach day. On the way out of town, I screwed up my online order (I, in fact, never clicked SUBMIT so I left MTK hangry on my last trip).
- Inlet Seafood Restaurant: Located on Lake Montauk, you have a gorgeous view while enjoying fresh local seafood and sushi. Their menu features juicy PEI mussels, spicy seafood fra diavalo, and inlet’s lobster roll.
- Navy Beach: Absolutely make a reservation for an hour before sunset so that you’re enjoying your entree with a breathtaking view. Navy Beach is located on a private beach (the ground is various sized pebbles so skip the heels!) with a delicious menu featuring salmon tartare, charred shisito peppers, crispy calamari salad, and skirt steak with chimichurri sauce. There was even a DJ playing during Saturday night dinner.
To escape and sit quietly on the beach — that’s my idea of paradise.
– Emilia Wickstead
We will definitely cherish this mini-vacation/staycation in Montauk for years to come because we were able to find some peace and tranquility during a global pandemic. Once the weather warms up here in NY, we hope to return to Montauk for more memories, a suntan, and of course good eats.
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