Where do millionaire New Yorkers spend their weekends at the Hamptons?
Diane Saatchi, a Hamptons-based real-estate agent at Saunders & Associates, has the inside scoop on how to enjoy the Hamptons, neighbourhood by neighbourhood.
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From the places with the most celebrities to the area with the best restaurants, Saatchi’s insights will help guide you on the perfect trip through one of America’s swankiest destinations.
Check out her guide to the “Best of the Hamptons”.
Introducing the Hamptons
The Hamptons are located on the South Fork of Long Island, about two hours’ travel from Midtown Manhattan by car, if there is no traffic– which there usually is.
The hottest summer spots in the Hamptons (shown in the graphic above) are Westhampton Beach, Quogue, Sagaponack, Sag Harbor, Amagansett, Montauk and the two main towns of Southampton and East Hampton.
Each year the Hamptons welcome millions of visitors, including many high-net-worth travellers.
Where to eat
For a good meal, head over to the Hamptons' Sag Harbor. Whether you are looking to dress up and dine in style or just kick back after a day at the beach, according to Saatchi, Sag Harbor has it all.
“There are more restaurant choices in this small town or village than in all the others,” said Saatchi. “Options range from very posh to seriously casual.”
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Sag Harbor is a bay-front village that is about four miles (6.5km) from the ocean. It is located in between both East Hampton and Southampton.
Two of Saatchi’s top picks for dining out are Estia’s Little Kitchen, a Latin American restaurant, and Le Bilboquet, a French restaurant. Estia's is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Where to drink
Enjoy your drink of choice in Montauk, a village located on the eastern edge of Long Island. It’s about 120 miles (193km) away from New York by car and includes more than 5,000 acres (2,023 hectares) of parks and beaches.
If you are looking to spend your time in an area with exciting nightlife, Montauk is the place to be, says Saatchi.
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Along with being a good place to party in general, Montauk is also home to the “hottest clubs for singles”, Saatchi said. The Crow’s Nest is a popular place to grab a sunset drink or a sit-down meal.
Where to celeb-spot
You have got a good chance of bumping into your celebrity crush in East Hampton Village.
The Hamptons are often visited by celebrities, including actress Brooke Shields, journalist Anderson Cooper and actor Neil Patrick Harris.
The best chance you have of running into a Hollywood A-lister is in East Hampton Village, Saatchi said.
She said that the best places to test your luck include Babette's, a local restaurant, during brunch or lunchtime, or Nick and Toni’s, another local restaurant, during dinner time.
East Hampton Village is located on the southern shore of Long Island.
Where to invest in property
If you want to buy a house but are not looking to spend millions of dollars, look no further than Springs, a hamlet in East Hampton.
According to Saatchi, it is “home to many artists, has beautiful beaches, waterfront restaurants, country markets, recreational facilities and an excellent K-8 school”.
Saatchi said that many of the homes in this hamlet sell for less than US$1 million.
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A four-bedroom, four-bathroom home in Spruce Street spans 2,100 sq ft (195 square metre) and is on the market for US$1.095 million. The home boasts a wraparound cedar deck and a heated pool.
If you just want to look at some gorgeous properties then head south on Route 27A.
For all luxury home enthusiasts, south of Route 27A in Southampton is the best place to see the biggest and most beautiful homes in the Hamptons, Saatchi said.
The area is surrounded by generations of wealth.
“Many of the original ‘cottages’ remain in the same families. The area has an old-world feel that was not changed by the newer summer residents,” Saatchi said.
This six-bedroom, six-bathroom 6,000 sq ft (557 square metre) home on Aqua Drive in Southampton is for sale at US$6.995 million.
How to do the Hamptons on the cheap
If you're eager to visit the Hamptons but want to minimise the cost of the trip, Montauk is your safest bet.
Located at the very tip of Long Island, Montauk takes the cake as the most popular spot for millennials in the Hamptons.
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“Montauk has four attractions for millennials: great surfing, lots of reasonably priced dining and lodging options, and the best nightlife,” Saatchi said.
Where to get away from it all
Want to avoid the crowds? Then head to Wainscott in East Hampton.
While Wainscott is not well known, it is home to a beautiful beach with only seven oceanfront homes, Saatchi said.
It is also home to Georgica Association, an exclusive enclave, which is home to the ultra-wealthy.
According to Mansion Global, Georgica Association is made up of three streets and just 35 homes. It includes Georgica Cove, built by the firm of Bates Masi + Architects, which was recently recognised as one of the most innovative developments in architecture by the American Institute of Architects.
Where to shop
If you're looking for the best place to shop in the Hamptons, Saatchi said you should go to Southampton Village, one of seven villages within the town of Southampton.
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“Southampton Village has the largest ‘central business district’ [in the Hamptons] and as such, the most shops,” Saatchi said.
While there are many unique one-off clothing shops, Southampton Village also boasts national brands such as Ralph Lauren, Theory and J Crew, she said.
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