How to Winter in the Hamptons

The Hamptons are made up of two main townships; Southampton and East Hampton. Within these towns are a bunch of villages and hamlets including the trendy Montauk, the luxurious East Hampton, the historic Sag Harbor and the quaint Southampton. The area is known as a summer hotspot, but a winter trip to this seaside destination can be an entirely new experience. Enjoying a bit of winter in the Hamptons is ideal for a more laid back and relaxing getaway.

Are the Hamptons good in winter?

Absolutely! It’s very different than its summer counterpart, but certainly can be a worthy trip.

Does it ever snow in the Hamptons?

Yes, it can snow! The Hamptons are a destination with all four seasons and typically get some snow in winter.

Does anyone live in the Hamptons year round?

For many, the Hamptons are a summer destination, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t locals who live there all year! There are thousands of people who call this part of New York their full time residence.

Where to stay during Winter in the Hamptons

Southampton Inn

The Southampton Inn is open year round and is located right in the historic village of Southampton. It’s in close walking distance to shops, restaurants, cafes and even the beach!

This 90 room hotel is pet friendly and set on 5 acres of land. They have bikes for guests to use, all weather tennis courts and a lobby with a sitting room and fireplace.

The rooms are spacious and located on either the ground or first floor, throughout an expansive area of the property. They also have large individual built in heating systems, so you can set your own temperature depending on that days weather and how you’re feeling.

Claude’s Restaurant is located on site and is open for breakfast daily, we enjoyed lox bagel and eggs Benedict here. They’re also open for brunch and dinner on the weekends.

Topping Rose House (Bridgehampton)

Get a spa treatment or borrow their bikes for local exploration. You can dine at the Jean-Georges restaurant any time of day, they’ll even bring it to your room if you prefer! They also have a 5-mile BMW shuttle service based on availability.

The Maidstone Hotel (East Hampton)

A Scandinavian-inspired boutique hotel, housed in a 19th-century property, close to East Hampton Village and the Main Beach.

The Baker House 1650 (East Hampton)

Staying at The Baker House 1650 is live being in the English countryside with it’s Cotswold-inspired architecture.

Take advantage of their award winning spa where you can relax and rejuvenate. The Baker Spa Facilities are available for $100 per hour for guests and $150 per hour for non guests. Spa Capacity is for two people maximum.

Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa (Montauk)

For decades Gurney’s has been the go-to spot in Montauk. They’re seafront location is unmatched!

Until March you can enjoy their igloos by the sea on their deck. Cozy up with some food, hot chocolate or a boozy beverage!

The large heated swimming pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi as well as spa treatments are all at your discretion. Ideally, the facilities are open from 8am to 8pm, so theres ample time for spa usage!

 

Winter in the Hamptons: Things to d0 & where to go

Go Shopping in Downtown Southampton or East Hampton.

Adorable towns are dotted throughout The Hamptons. The Main Streets of both East Hampton and Southampton are especially quaint and ideal for doing some browsing! There are plenty of boutiques and custom shops as well as some well known, high end fashion brands with small outposts in this area.

Visit the Parrish Art Museum.

At the Parrish Art Museum, you’ll find impressive works of art made by local artists.  They offer classes and workshops in addition to their 15 temporary exhibitions each year.

During our visit, we found it very interesting as the exhibits varied from abstract art to electronic installations, meaning each room or exhibit gave you a totally new experience. These included everything from a photographic timeline of ground zero in the days after 9/11 to huge canvas paintings with visualisations of different parts of the galaxy and solar system.

Admission to the museum is $12. It’s open 5 days a week, being closed on Tuesdays & Wednesdays. They have a small cafe and gift shop on site.

Go Ice Skating.

Southampton Ice Rink offers public skating and skating lessons as well as adult and youth hockey. Keep an eye out on their schedule if you want to learn the basics or pick a time to just go and skate.

The cost to skate is $15 per adult, $12 for kids and skate rentals are $5.

Rent an Igloo at Southampton Ice Rink.

Also available at Southampton Ice Rink are igloos that you can rent! They fit up to 6 people and you can order food and drinks from Local Burger Co. They serve their regular food menu plus seasonal hot chocolates and alcohol.

Enjoy the empty beaches.

Winter in the Hamptons has many positives; quiet beaches, which sometimes you’ll have all to yourself, and the lack of parking fees and restrictions are right at the top of that list!

We bundled up, picked up some bagels and headed to Cooper’s Beach for a peaceful morning.

 

Go on a trail walk.

There are number of State Parks, trails and preserves you can enjoy year round in the Hamptons!

• Hither Hills State Park
• Shadmoor State Park
• Quogue Wildlife Refuge
• Mulvihill Preserve

Visit the Montauk Lighthouse.

The Montauk Lighthouse is a National Historic Landmark and is right next Montauk Point State Park. Walking all the way up to the lighthouse in the winter is not permitted but you can get a good view of it from the parking lot or from the beach below.

 

Have a relaxing spa day.

There are a number of spas out East that would make for a great way to spend a day during the winter in the Hamptons!

• Gurney’s
• The Baker House
• Shou Sugi Ban Spa
• Topping Rose House

Go wine tasting at one of the year round tasting rooms.

• Channing Daughters Winery
• Wölffer Estate Vineyard

Winter in the Hamptons: Where to Eat & Drink

Cowfish

Cowfish has a serene waterside location in Hampton Bays. Their restaurant and bar is serving New American cuisine and seasonal fare, picking from the best of land and sea to suit different palates and preferences.

The Cuisine

We tried multiple dishes here including the corn bread skillet, clam chowder, baby back ribs and seared ahi tuna. The cornbread skillet was a perfect winter dish, a huge warm serving topped with butter which melted through the layers. The ahi tuna was served over pineapple coconut fried rice and topped with an orange ponzu sauce, this really stood out to me as well and is one of their most ordered dishes. The cocktails were equally as good, keeping with the seasonal theme with a warming whiskey sour.

The Views

There’s gorgeous vantage points from almost everywhere in the restaurant, but try and get a table close to the window for unobstructed views of the water. We went around sunset which definitely adds to the experience. The bar area upstairs also has great views, with bar seating looking right passed the bar to the water.

Be sure to check out their daily specials and the happy hour too, which runs from 4-6pm on weekdays.

Local Burger

Stop at Local Burger in either Southampton, Patchogue or Bay Shore for grass-fed burgers and hot dogs as well as wings, fries and chicken sandwiches.  The burgers are made using their own blend of 80/20 meat and house seasoning. The ground meat is smashed down and grilled to perfection with your choice of toppings.

The burger picks

We had the Atomic burger which comes with cheddar cheese, dill pickles, jalapeños, raw onion, bacon and sriracha mayo. An awesome combo of hot, fresh and salty! We also got the Mac Daddy as a double patty smash burger with cheddar cheese, bacon and fried mac and cheese bites! Of course we had to get an order of wings and some cajun fries to go along with them!

 

 

Rumba

Rumba in Shinnecock Bay is ideal for feeling like you’re on island time. They’re all about island inspire cuisine paired with delicious cocktails from their rum bar.

What we ordered

This is somewhere that is perfect for appetizers and cocktails. We ordered the ahi tuna, Dominican ribs, duck empanadas and the Caribbean wings. Everything was on point – the ribs had a lovely charred outer layer and the empanadas had a crispy batter with a tasty filling.

KEY LIME PIE

We did say it’s a great place for apps, but don’t sleep on the key lime pie. This was an excellent dessert, topped with house made whipped cream!

The vibe is laid back and friendly with a mix of locals and visitors. The setting overlooking the bay is just another reason to visit as well!

 

Tutto Il Giorno

If you’re in the mood for good wine, quality Italian cooking and a romantic setting, you need to dine at Tutto il Giorno. We ate their restaurant in the heart of Southampton but they also have a Sag Harbor location.

We stopped in here to share a few plates at the bar and were very satisfied. The service was attentive and the dark moody setting was exactly what we wanted on a winter evening.

The pasta is made in house so make sure to taste a couple different ones. We really enjoyed the rigatoni with sweet and hot homemade sausages, peas and a touch of cream as well as the butternut squash ravioli with brown sage butter.

 

Shinnecock Lobster factory

You can’t visit The Hamptons in the winter and miss out on your chance to eat a lobster roll! At Shinnecock Lobster Factory you can choose between a guppy, shark and a whale, which is 4,6, or 8 ounces of lobster meat. Obviously we went for the whale!

They serve them on buttery brioche and with a side of delicious homemade potato chips. We went for ‘The Classic’ served with fresh squeezed lemon and mayonnaise but you can get all sorts of options from ‘The BLT’ to one with Cajun spices and peppers.

It is located along the Montauk Highway, so you’ll probably pass it a few times when driving through the area. We’d definitely recommend a stop, lobster rolls aren’t just for summer!

The American Hotel

Can you believe that The American Hotel, located in Sag Harbor, has one of the most extensive wine lists in the world and the hotel dates back to the 1800s?! When we heard this, we just had to stop in. The hotel is annually recognized by the Wine Spectator in receiving their highest award, the “Grand Award for One of the Greatest Wine lists in the World” — one of only 87 restaurants worldwide!

We visited for a glass of wine and a cocktail and loved the old world setting of the place, feeling like we’d stepped back in time. The service was very attentive and although they have a very extensive wine list, they don’t have a cocktail list but are happy to make you anything that you’d like to order.

Scarpetta Beach

Located inside Gurney’s Resort with a sweeping sea view. They serve quality Italian food and house made pastas.

 

Jean Georges at Topping Rose House

Farm to table table cuisine sourcing from the local area. They are open year round for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

The Palm East at the Hunting Inn

Limited menu offered in just the bar until March 15th.

Shagwong Tavern

Originally opened in 1936, it’s a mainstay out East. Serving fresh seafood & American comfort fare plus cocktails.

 

What to wear in the Hamptons in Winter

The weather in the Hamptons in winter can be pretty brutal, with freezing temperatures and potentially even snow. You’ll want to pack warm layers like chunky sweaters, scarves and winter boots.

 

 

Thank you to Discover Long Island for having us on a wonderful Winter in the Hamptons getaway! As always all opinions are my own.