The Hamptons hotel scene is finally shaking off its rigid, same-samey reputation. This summer, we’re seeing a rare explosion of fresh new builds and major reinventions that are actually worth fighting the traffic on the Long Island Expressway to discover.
There’s the at-last arrival of the Penny Lane, a waterfront newcomer in Hampton Bays that puts a fresh spotlight on one of the area’s more under-the-radar enclaves. Faraway Sag Harbor makes its debut on the waterfront, complete with a buzzy new restaurant poised to draw as much local traffic as overnight guests. And did we mention the hotly anticipated Hedges Inn, designed by David Netto?
Add in a major anniversary at one of Montauk’s classic stays and incredible perks at East Hampton’s the Baker House 1650? Suddenly the generations-old Hamptons feels newly reborn.
Hidden right in East Hampton Village, the Baker House 1650 has the energy of an English country-house fantasy improbably dropped into one of the most expensive zip codes in America. Inside the historic property, there’s plenty to obsess over: dark wood beams, crackling fireplaces, richly patterned walls and the sort of cozy nooks that practically demand a cup of tea. Outside, a pool scene worthy of a Slim Aarons photograph unfolds behind tall hedges and flowering gardens, while a second pool makes a splash at the carriage house. Downstairs, the spa offers a sauna, a steam room and a pool. Guests wanting privacy can book one of the carriage house’s six secluded suites, including an enormous loft. Spend the day at the ocean using the hotel’s beach parking passes, or at the Hamptons Polo House (where the retreat has an exclusive partnership this season), then return for sunset rosé in the garden in your finest linens. Amid a host of flashy newcomers, Baker House delivers a refreshed, and refreshing, version of the opposite. Rooms from $771; Baker House 1650
The “House at the Head of the Pond” is ditching its dusty reputation for a high-touch face-lift that has the East End social set talking. Sarah Wetenhall, the visionary who turned the Colony Hotel in Palm Beach into a candy-colored celeb hangout, is now sinking her teeth into East Hampton’s sweetest mainstay. Interior designer (and writer) David Netto, whose projects grace the pages of Town & Country and Vogue, is bringing his slightly irreverent touch out East. We expect the 12 ultrasophisticated rooms at the Hedges Inn to feel like they’re part of a chic modern estate. Landscape legend Ed Hollander is consulting on gardens, while Palm Beach institution Swifty’s is making a permanent home here. When the doors swing open on June 11, expect a master class in Hamptons heritage. We’re talking pink Land Rover beach shuttles and butler service so dialed in they’ll probably have your spicy margarita ready before you even check in. Rooms from $799; The Hedges East Hampton
The Baron’s Cove you used to know has officially left the building, replaced by a 67-room waterfront stunner that does away with old-school nautical kitsch and replaces it with elegant Mediterranean style and a serious foodie focus. There’s a breezy porch and patio setup that can be your hangout from your third espresso to your second moonlit martini. Double-height Harbor Lofts and rooms with their own teak-lined gardens beckon the jet-set crowd with lots of time to kill, which they can also do at the heated pool surrounded by rentable cabanas and, natch, a full-service gym. But the main attraction, of course, is Zagara, an Amalfi-inspired restaurant helmed by chef Jarad McCarroll (formerly of the Ritz in London and Hotel Le Toiny in St. Barts). The South African cook brings out plate after plate of bright, citrus-drenched seafood, all presented in a high-energy room that will surely make Zagara the toughest reservation in town. Rooms from $1,200; Faraway Sag Harbor
Surprise! Hampton Bays is finally getting the respect it deserves. Lark Hotels (the operator behind Rhode Island’s Block Island Beach House and the Cliffside Inn) has officially landed in this casual enclave with the Penny Lane, a waterfront newcomer that delivers on low-key charm. Set between Penny Pond, Shinnecock Bay and the Atlantic, the 18-room property defines breezy coastal comfort. Think creamy whites, seafoam accents and warm wood, all courtesy of KKAD Design & Architecture Studio and Laura Patricia Studio. Six stand-alone cottages come with private outdoor space, while the main house centers around a sun-drenched lounge overlooking the pool. Pack your Roller Rabbit coverups and rubber Birks; this retreat is more barefoot boating than bottle service. There’s plenty of dock space, plus bikes for cruising to nearby staples. Mornings bring a rotating spread of breakfasts (don’t skip the bagel bar), while evenings wind down with inventive cocktails. Rooms from $349; Lark Hotels
The Hamptons’ OG party palace is celebrating its 100th anniversary by leaning into high-fashion hedonism. The legendary Beach Club has been transformed with a massive Dolce & Gabbana takeover. (If you aren’t lounging in a branded cabana with a panoramic view of the Atlantic, you’re doing it wrong.) When you finally pull yourself away from the party on the sand (complete with a rotating roster of DJs), head to the newly opened Gigi’s, where “angry” lobster with sriracha butter comes ready to pair with a walnut Negroni or the bourbon-based East End smash. This is a full-service resort, and this centenary year, the spa will be hosted by Swiss skin-care grand dame La Prairie. Sign up for a high-performance facial that promises to slough off layers of sun-and-fun tortured skin or an Ocean Seaweed Body Ritual. Then, get thee to the BathHouse for a thalassotherapy session that’ll leave you silky and sexy. A hundred years in and Gurney’s isn’t just aging gracefully … it’s out-glamming, outdancing, out-partying every young pretender on the coast. Rooms from $661; Gurneys Resorts
The old Sunset Montauk reemerged in May as the Hotel Corduroy, a 29-room, laid-back escape that aims to be a social hangout for otroverts. (Look it up.) Just steps from Sunset Beach, the hotel is anchored by its central lawn, where lounge seating and fire pits set the scene for evening drinks, music and that golden-hour glow. Inside, subtle details like a sunken banquette in the lobby and vintage surf photography give the whole place a beach club vibe. You’ll also find the ultimate flex here: rare private beach access. There are also complimentary bikes, beach chairs, towels courtesy of Bathing Culture and a smart crowd that craves connection. Guest rooms lean into earth-toned palettes, grass cloth-covered walls and beachy rattan headboards paired with hand-loomed wall hangings. They’re warm, unfussy and quietly polished — exactly the kind of place you’ll want to come back to after an afternoon on the sand. Rooms from $925; The Hotel Corduroy
