Corey's Wave

The most romantic stay in Montauk, without question. Duryea's—the famed seafood lunch spot—has opened four small cottages perched on the hilltop above Fort Pond Bay with wraparound patios, private hot tubs, and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that create an indoor-outdoor experience. Daily housekeeping and turndown service come standard, alongside thoughtful touches like private yoga or meditation on your deck and in-room massages. The team can also arrange for additional activities, like a morning bike ride, bay paddle, or sunset horseback ride on Outer Beach.

One of the most exciting new Hampton hotel openings of the summer, Hotel Corduroy has taken over the old Sunset Montauk at the edge of town. The 29-room property leans into the area's surf heritage and laid-back creative spirit, with a design-forward sensibility that doesn't take itself too seriously. The Lawn is the heart of the three-building property: here, you’ll find lounge seating, yard games, fire-pits, and bay-side sunsets. The cherry on top: You’re just steps from the marina and Sunset Beach (with private access).

This beachfront hotel is a true surfer's paradise. It sits right on the Atlantic, the pool is bigger than most, and the on-site surf shop is stellar. In place of the typical whitewashed coastal décor, the hotel leans into a Santa Fe vibe with poured concrete floors, textural furniture, and warm jute rugs. And the in-hotel restaurant, Mostrador, is something truly extraordinary.

This large resort in Montauk, which sits on a prime slice of beach, is a good option if you have kids or a bigger group. Beyond a spate of great restaurants, there's a kids’ club, a beach club, and all the amenities you'd expect from a big hotel, like free Wi-Fi, a gym, a pool, and a spa. It's also one of the area's only year-round resorts, which is great if you're hoping to make a visit during the quieter spring or fall months.

After a head-to-toe renovation and now managed by the team behind the Proper hotels, the 107-room Montauk Yacht Club is better than ever. The waterfront resort-like property includes a marina, a private beach, multiple pools, and a new coastal Italian restaurant (ALBA Spiaggia). This season's additions include a Floating Wellness Cabana with ELEMIS, surf lessons via the Jamie O'Brien Surf Experience, and The Salty Club, a new family-focused program with sailing, fishing, tennis, and workshops for younger guests. It's not a low-key, laid-back kind of place—but it's ideal for families or anyone looking for an amenity-packed stay.

This intimate escape has rooms with crisp white sheets, modern, clean natural wood accents, and some with ocean views. Laid back, but luxurious, we love that this tiny retreat is so well-located. Slip into your flip flops and walk to the beach, restaurants, or the many coffee shops this surf town offers. It also has an in-house spa and gym.

Along Montauk's Umbrella Beach, each of the 34 bedrooms at Hero Beach Club features tastefully beachy furnishings imported from Bali—with the kind of mattresses you'd happily spend the weekend lounging on—and several of the rooms also have balconies. In the morning, there's a small breakfast setup (bagels, coffee) but not too many other frills—and that's kind of the point. The delightfully in-the-know hotel staff will help with everything from, say, setting you up with surf lessons to suggesting the best lobster shack in town.

Outdoor fire pits, string lights, and Adirondack chairs inspire chilling out and a sense of community at this 24-room family-owned motel in the heart of Montauk. Rooms are a collision of vintage and modern, simple and chic. Whether you're looking for surf or a scene, it's centrally located and within walking distance to both.

Dive Bar Pizza is super casual, it’s the kind of place you pop into post-surf for a perfect pie. The bar and pizzeria has indoor and outdoor seating, with flat screens playing major sports games alongside a steady stream of surf and skate videos. Dine in, take out, or get it delivered.

In the heart of Montauk, Alimentari Beach is an Italian restaurant that's a great spot for the whole family. With an all-day menu running from noon to close, it's the perfect place to grab a bite at any hour.

Located inside the iconic Montauk Manor, this is where the fourth generation of the Monte family continues a long legacy of Italian-American cooking. Drawing from passed-down family recipes, the menu centers on their award-winning sauce while embracing the best of the East End, all with an emphasis on local seafood and seasonal ingredients.

Owned by six local fishermen, Inlet Seafood sits on eight acres of waterfront in Montauk, with panoramic views of Block Island Sound from every seat in the restaurant. The fish is as fresh as it gets—in fact, it was likely caught the same day. This Fourth of July, the fireworks are going off over Montauk Harbor, and Inlet's prime waterfront makes it the spot to watch—they're hosting a ticketed viewing party with great food, strong cocktails, a live band, and a packed house of locals, summer regulars, and the Hamptons crowd.

One of the best restaurants in Montauk, The Bird has been a local brunch staple for over fifty years (they also serve dinner). Originally Bird on the Roof, it was reimagined in 2022 by Leo Daunt, third-generation owner of the Albatross (just across the street), who kept the warm hominess it was known for while adding a dinner menu built on Japanese ingredients and French technique. The result is a vibrant spot that blends nostalgia with innovation and celebrates the town's history and community spirit.

Mingle with surfers, locals, and celebs alike at this famed beach food truck. Enjoy bagels, burritos, wraps, and a range of hot and cold non-alcoholic drinks in an amazing beachside setting. While the menu features beachside classics, the poke bowls are the real standout.

As the name suggests, this quirky, dive-y restaurant sits a few steps away from one of the main fishing docks in Montauk and serves hearty, straightforward dishes of the kind you want after a day on the open water (many of the regulars are fishermen). There’s clam chowder, soft shell crab sandwiches, grilled tuna steaks with coleslaw and fries, and a peanut butter and chocolate pie that’s probably the most decadent dessert in Montauk. The décor, meanwhile, is an eclectic mix of taxidermied geese and deer heads, Halloween-worthy masks, and vintage model sailing ships.

Duryea's is the place to be in Montauk for weekend lunch—and it really is worth the hype it gets. The rustic picnic tables and BYOB policy of decades past have given way to bottles of Provençal rosé, white banquettes, and clean-lined bleached wood tables and chairs that wouldn't look out of place on Mykonos (especially with the waterside view of Fort Pond Bay). The lobster rolls and gigantic lobster club salad are a must, but also consider the perfect hamburger, the small plates (baked cherrystone clams and steamers), and the oysters from Orient Point, just across Gardiner's Bay. New this summer is Duryea’s Sunset Scoops, a nostalgic ice cream cart offering housemade ice cream. Tip: Download their app for takeout because the wait times can be super long.

A must-stop for Montauk's surfers, Joni Brosnan's shop serves up healthy sandwiches, salads, smoothies, the popular protein-rich breakfast wraps, and more.

Marram is one of Montauk’s newer hotels, and its beachside restaurant, Mostrador, has that same cool, laid-back energy. The concept, borrowing heavily from the counter-service spots you find throughout Latin America, has been distilled down to a simple formula: the protein of your choice plus hyper-local veg and salad. These perfectly prepared pairings—fresh fish, grilled lamb chops, spicy chickpeas, beets, and feta—make every plate sing. We have it on good authority that as of right now, this is some of the best food in the Hamptons. And note: They don’t accept reservations.

The ultimate locals' joint, Sail Inn is a cozy tavern in the heart of Montauk Harbor with homemade dishes, a full bar, pool, and darts. In 2022, the mother-son team of Colleen Croft and Luca Guaitolini—who also own the upscale Upper East Side restaurant Elio's—took over and elevated the food without losing the low-key spirit. Chef Giuseppe Lentini, who spent 20 years as executive chef at Elio's, makes everything from scratch: pasta for lasagne on his hand-crank machine and fresh fish sourced from Gosman's each morning. They also host live music on select weeknights and karaoke late on Fridays. And note: It’s cash only.

Overlooking Lake Montauk, Crow's Nest is one of the best spots in town to catch the stunning sunset. Sean MacPherson’s famed high-end lakeside restaurant and inn has a relaxed yet luxurious feel, with a menu that boasts Mediterranean dishes. It's a super-busy, super-popular boho spot, complete with a teeny beach, bonfires, and a low-key dining room.

If you're in the area, Duryea's Market and Café is the spot for morning coffee, gourmet to-go food, and creative culinary products. Located next to the Lobster Deck, they make great picnic baskets perfect for the beach, plus all-day pastries and sandwiches perfect for a snack or a morning bite.

The owner of The Crow's Nest has just opened The Lighthouse Café in Montauk State Park situated across from the 1792 Montauk Point Lighthouse—found at the very tip of the Hamptons. Built for the surfing community, the café serves small plates and cocktails with views of Block Island and the vast ocean ahead. Lowkey and casual with picnic tables scattered about, it's the perfect spot for a midday snack, or a small bite and relaxed cocktail while watching the sunset with friends.

Founded by Kate Diament, Montauk General Store is a lifestyle brand rooted in coastal living, wellness, and community. What began as a series of immersive pop-ups across New York, Miami, and LA is opening its first permanent storefront in the heart of Montauk this summer—a gathering space that blends a matcha bar with a tightly curated mix of skincare, wellness, beauty, ceramics, art, books, pantry staples, and Montauk General's own merchandise. And the matcha? Our favorite in the Hamptons, hands down.

This brewery has a simple concept in a sometimes complicated town. It's a casual tasting room with flights of six beers or a pint of its favorite. Wave Chaser IPA, Watermelon Session Ale, or other seasonal favorites. No food, no gimmicks, no six-packs or kegs. Just a social pitstop for a cold beer after the beach. And your leashed dog is always welcome.

A candy and fudge shop for when you need a sugar boost. Tucked right in the heart of Montauk, Fudge N Stuff is a longtime, nostalgic mainstay that's been delighting locals and beachgoers for generations—the kind of place that smells like freshly made fudge the moment you walk in, with shelves of saltwater taffy and every classic candy you grew up loving.

Round Swamp's furthest east location is also the smallest of the bunch—just in case you didn't get enough in Bridgehampton or East Hampton.

What we dubbed the best produce in the Hamptons, Balsam Farms now has a Montauk outpost that operates as pick-up only.

While Mary Lou's is technically a restaurant and bar, we're filing it firmly under “late-night spot”—because that's where it shines. The design is over-the-top in the best possible way, which is a big part of the fun. It's the kind of place that gets going when most of Montauk is winding down, with a buzzy crowd and just the right amount of energy for the end of a long summer day.

Bambi's serves the kind of food that leaves you feeling really good. Everything is crafted from scratch without any unnecessary additives, which translates to some of the cleanest, highest-quality, best-tasting plates around. The menu spans salads, bowls, smoothies, and toasts—exactly what you want when you're craving something nourishing.

This light-filled coffee shop's beachy décor features a driftwood-covered bar and repurposed-wood café tables. They brew all their own coffee, which can be ground, packaged, and taken home. Even if you’re not a coffee lover, you'll want to take a look at the three-level pour-over contraptions that take up a deservedly large share of the counter space. Oh, and there's a pretty extensive standalone tea station, too.

Fashion industry veteran Ingrid Solomonson opened this highly curated concept space, where a mix of textures, shapes, colors, and summer vibes sits alongside local clothing, art, and home goods—it feels like many mini boutiques in one. Community events like live music and cocktails give it an extra local feel.

Adam Mar is a small Montauk shop with an edit of surf pieces the owners love—boards worth riding and a selection of unisex clothing that goes perfectly with the local vibe. Rooted in craft, community, and time spent in and around the ocean, it's simply a running collection of what inspires them.

It would be crazy not to include Montauk Point Lighthouse on any list of must-sees in Montauk. Commissioned by President George Washington in 1792, it's one of the best-known and most-beloved icons of Long Island—it’s also the first lighthouse built in New York, and the fourth-oldest working lighthouse in the nation. Montauk Point offers unforgettable 360° views over Block Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. The lighthouse also has a museum beside it, and the surrounding park hosts live musical events throughout the summer.

The 30,000-square-foot Seawater Spa at Gurney's Montauk has just been reimagined with help from the team behind AIRE Ancient Baths. This summer, they’re hosting a La Prairie pop-up from June 15 through September 11, with ocean-view facials and body treatments, plus they’re offering new VOYA thalassotherapy journeys built around the restorative power of the sea. The spa also runs a summer workout series with Pilates sculpt, bootcamp, restorative yoga, strength training, and sound baths.

The Floating Wellness Cabana at Montauk Yacht Club is an oasis—literally located on a boat on Lake Montauk—with treatments built around ELEMIS, the award-winning British skincare brand. The menu spans from luxe facials to deep tissue massages and body treatments.

This Pilates class adds an extra challenge to the popular workout. It takes place in an infrared-heated studio that gets to around 90 degrees. If sweat-drenched is your thing, then this new-to-Montauk workout that's swept Miami and New York is worth a try. And this summer, it will launch its first Wellness Lifestyle House: a fully immersive destination designed around movement, community, and discovery. The space will be anchored by signature Fuze House classes and Cafe Fuze (where you can grab post-workout smoothies), alongside a dedicated retail floor featuring leading fitness, lifestyle, and wellness brands.

The Courts is a full padel, pickleball, and tennis facility located on the northeast end of the Montauk Yacht Club property. Designed for both serious matches and casual play, the waterfront setup includes five dedicated courts (two padel, two pickleball, and one tennis), with premium equipment available on-site. There's also an alfresco lounge for spritzes and light bites between sessions. Check their website for booking.