The Ultimate Guide To Enjoying East Hampton

You might not be able to judge a book by its cover, but you can certainly judge a Hamptonite by their town.

East Hampton's historically posh reputation does in fact hold up. Alarmingly so as of late, getting posher by the second - Main Street transformed over the years into a Rodeo Drive of luxury, logo loving designers. Prada looks across the way at the new Louis Vuitton which sits just a few doors down from Gucci and Chanel and Loro Piana and you get the point.

There are, however, still plenty of places worth frequenting that won't fully have you lost in an entitlement-induced, pained-by-pretentiousness eye roll.

Curious which spots are the only ones worth visiting next time you're in East?

RITA CANTINA
28 Maidstone Park Road
Rita Cantina is the life of the party up in Springs - which, for what it's worth, is maybe the best area in East from a traffic and chill perspective. Kickstart your day at brunch or end your day at dinner with their margaritas and Oaxacan Fried Chicken, which is deep fried not once, not twice, but three times.  

THE 1770 HOUSE
143 Main Street
Consistently ranked as one of Ina "The Barefoot Contessa" Garten's top spots out East, 1770 House is without question the most charming space to dine or stay. Originally built as a home back in 1663, the colonial beauty became an inn in 1770 (get it?). Six guest rooms, two carriage houses,  a sunlit restaurant with beautiful garden seating, and a cozy lower level tavern make up the must-visit property perched just on the edge of town.

AERIN
7 Newtown Lane
Whether you're on the hunt for the perfect hostess gift, or just looking to treat yourself, Aerin Lauder's namesake boutique is the answer. Shop a mix of Aerin's own beautiful entertaining and lifestyle designs and a carefully curated edit of stylish wares from the tastemaker's favorite brands like Alix of Bohemia, D'Ascoli, Sarah Bray and more.

NICK & TONI'S
136 North Main Street
Nick & Toni's is a standard go-to for an elegant, easy dinner. Well, I guess not technically easy, considering reservations are never easy to grab, but you get it. Don't forget to order the Zucchini Fritto for the table!

CARISSA'S BAKERY
68 Newtown Lane
Chic is the word to best describe Carissa's, an all-day bakery specializing in European-style breads, viennoiserie, sophisticated sandwiches, gourmet pantry staples and almost too-pretty-to-eat whimsically decorated cakes. Always worth stopping by for a loaf of their Olive Ciabatta.

EAST HAMPTON GRILL
99 Main Street
You can't go wrong with East Hampton Grill, which is why it's perpetually packed. It's straight forward, upscale-ish American fare that's by no means healthy and therefore exactly what you want. Like, it's nice, but not too nice, you know? The biscuits, the deviled eggs, the tuna tartare, the ground chuck and brisket burger. Pro tip: the Nice Little House Salad is a real sleeper. Very unassuming, very delicious.

ROWDY HALL
10 Main Street
Hidden right in the center of town, this no-frills pub is the perfect place to escape East Hampton's penchant for stuffiness. The Giant Bavarian Pretzel and Truffle Parmesan French Fries are a must.

GUILD HALL
158 Main Street
Ah, Guild Hall... the cultural center of The Hamptons - part museum, part performing arts theatre. Stop by Thursday through Monday to catch a concert, dance performance, screening, reading, play, or just stroll the halls of their gallery.

TUTTO CAFFE
55 Main Street
Everyone knows that Golden Pear is the cafe go-to for quick breakfast bites and to-go coffee (even though their prices are legit Montauk Highway robbery). This new addition to town, however, from the Tutto il Giornio group, is a far better option for when you're looking to savor your cappuccino. Take a seat, grab a biscotti, fight the urge to check your phone.

LONGHOUSE RESERVE
133 Hands Creek Reserve
When you've had too much of the beach, spend an afternoon exploring LongHouse Reserve. This 16-acre sculpture garden has pieces by Buckminster Fuller, Yoko Ono, Willem de Kooning and more sprinkled throughout its beautiful grounds. Peter's Pond is a personal favorite.

THE SWEET SPOT
106 Newtown Lane
You scream, I scream... Cool off with 15 different flavors of self-serve frozen yogurt at this new addition to town. Oh, and all the toppings. You can never forget the toppings!

ROUND SWAMP FARM
184 Three Mile Harbor Road
You've not truly experienced The Hamptons until you've feasted on the overwhelmingly delicious, impressively expensive array of prepared foods whipped up by Round Swamp Farm. The picture perfect country market features some of the best fresh produce out East alongside grab-and-go dishes like Roasted Shrimp, Fresh Lobster Salad, Chicken Fingers with Honey Mustard. Personally, our favorites are their Summer Zucchini Flat Bread and Summer Succotash. Shopping at Citarella is for emergencies only!

THE MONOGRAM SHOP
19 Newtown Lane
There's just something about stamping your monogram on stuff that feels oh so satisfying, no?  This stitch-happy shop has been serving up a lineup of cool, customized gear for over twenty years. From playful plastic cups perfect for partying by the pool and extra large tote bags to schlep all of your stuff to and from the city to personalized ice buckets to gift your weekend hosts.

EAST HAMPTON GARDENS
16 Gingerbread Lane
Don't have a picket-fenced parcel of land to play with? No matter. There's plenty to ogle over at East Hampton Gardens besides plants and pots. Their shop is stocked with everything from gorgeous tabletop treasures and decorative accents to delectable gifts and more. 

JED DESIGN AND ANTIQUES
74 Montauk Highway
Come for the amazing collection of antiques, stay for Charlie the Poodle. Owner Jack Deamer has truly created a shop full of treasures that's a feast for the eyes - the antithesis of your basic shell and driftwood-filled, white-washed, insert-yawn-here beach interiors.

THE CLUBHOUSE
174 Daniels Hole Road
If you ask us, this place is THE hottest club in The Hamptons. Because really, where else out East can you hit an arcade (skee-ball, anyone?), play mini golf, bowl, listen to live music, grab dinner, drinks and watch the big game on tv?!

HARPER'S BOOKS
87 Newtown Lane
Most art galleries in The Hamptons aren't exactly affordable. For the art lover not looking to take out a loan, we'd highly recommend a visit to Harper's, a fine art gallery featuring a fabulous edit of rare books sure to delight your inner aesthete.

MOBY'S
341 Pantigo Road
Over the years social weekenders have followed this Hamptons mainstay from its original location just on the edge of East and Amagasett, to its short stint at a spot in the Springs, back to its spacious post on Pantigo Road. The large lawn setup is what makes this place a scene. Corn hole and cocktails, anyone? But you've been warned - if you're that person who always gets bug bites, come physically and emotionally prepared.

BOOKHAMPTON
41 Main Street
Forget to pack a beach read? Desperate for a rainy day activity? Didn't forget to pack a beach read but did already read yours and now need another? Picking through the shelves at BookHampton is always time well spent.

ERIC FIRESTONE'S THE GARAGE
62 Newtown Lane
You'll always find something interesting on view at Eric Firestone Gallery's outpost The Garage, a 7,000 square foot open warehouse space tucked away in town which features a rotating show of exciting artworks and installations.

GOLDBERG'S
100 Pantigo Place
Would a bagel by any other name taste as sweet? Goldberg's certainly has a monopoly on the East End bagel game, and other than the long, emotionally trying line you'll have to brave in order to get your carb fix, we're totally fine with that.

[Photos via 1770 House, Rita Cantina, Carissa's Bakery, Tutto Caffe, East Hampton Gardens, BookHampton]