From the best place to stay to the best places to eat, here is our ultimate guide to enjoying Southampton, a cute village in Suffolk County just a 2.5 hour train ride from New York City.
While a trip to the Hamptons is typically associated with the summer season, Southampton - a beach town located in Long Island - can be enjoyed year-round. The town combines rich history with contemporary affluence as guests enjoy nearly 7 miles of unspoiled beaches along with charming Main Street beaming with upscale shops and fine restaurants.
HOW TO GET TO SOUTHAMPTON
Located just about 85 miles east of Manhattan, Southampton is one of the most accessible town in Long Island.
By Train
Departing from New York Penn Station, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) takes you to Southampton Station in about 2.5 hours. You don't have to worry about rush hour traffic with this transportation option. One way ticket is between $22-30 depending on whether it's peak or off-peak.
By Bus
One of the most popular options to get to Southampton is by bus. Hampton Jitney provides service between the two Forks and New York Metro, while the Hampton Luxury Liner does between the South Fork and New York Metro. It takes about two hours from Manhattan for anywhere between $40-60 one way.
By Car
If you are in for a road trip, you can get to Southampton by car in just around two hours. Once you leave Manhattan, take the Long Island Expressway (I-495) toward Long Island until you reach Exit 70. Then, take Exit 70 toward New York Highway 27 (NY-27), which is also known as Sunrise or Montauk Highway.
WHERE TO STAY IN SOUTHAMPTON
Southampton Inn
This utterly charming and classic inn, nestled within the historic village of Southampton, offers the personal attention of a bed and breakfast with the services of a hotel. This cozy, Tudor-style getaway by the beach offers 90 elegant guest rooms surrounded by magnificent estates within walking distance of boutiques, museums, art galleries, and theaters.
The Inn's 90 guest rooms, all with slightly different decor, feature individual temperature control, sparkling tiled bathrooms, refrigerators, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The rooms combine European elegance with traditional Hamptons character - bright, airy and outfitted with modern amenities.
The grounds consist of several acres of manicured lawns and gardens, with amenities that everyone can enjoy, such as 50-foot heated outdoor pool, all-weather tennis court, croquet and volleyball, game room for all ages, and Claude's Restaurant.
During your stay, don't forget to check out its onsite restaurant, Claude's, where guests can enjoy a signature breakfast, indoor and outdoor dining in our garden courtyard, or a cocktail on the pool patio. The Inn also offers a complimentary, seasonal polka dotted shuttle that takes guests to the top-rated Coopers Beach, just one mile from the Inn’s front door. You can also rent a bike to cruise through the historic streets of Southampton to the beach.
In light of COVID-19, the Southampton Inn and its exemplary staff has been strictly following CDC sanitizing and disinfecting protocols since March. They have recently implemented a new technology to sanitize guest rooms and public areas even more efficiently. Guests can take a dip in the heated pool, which is limited to 10 people at a time in order to ensure the safety of guests.
WHERE TO DINE IN SOUTHAMPTON
From sushi to steak to burgers, here are all the top restaurants in Southampton.
Union Sushi and Steak
Located in the heart of Southampton, the brand new Union Sushi and Steak - which opened this summer - fuses the energy of a supper club from the days of old with a modern ambiance. The menu spans from dry-aged steaks from Niman Ranch in Colorado to the assorted fresh sushi and sashimi.
The outstanding raw fish menu Seafood and Raw Bar menu at Union Sushi and Steak highlights everything from fresh sushi and sashimi to innovative rolls. Perfect for sharing, the Large Sushi Platters features 8 pieces each of assorted sushi and sashimi, along with spicy tuna roll and the signature Union Roll (lobster and avocado topped with marinated skirt steak, eel sauce, and yuzu mayo). Other favorites include the Little Plains Roll (fluke tempura topped with a mix of crab, scallop, yuzu mayo, tobiko, and eel sauce, Social Roll (toro, scallion, avocado, cucumber, wasabi tobiko, and yuzu mayo), and the riceless Mecox Roll (cucumber wrapped, tuna, yellowtail, salmon, crab, avocado, and ponzu sauce for those looking for a low-carb option.
If you are not too keen on sushi, make sure to check out the Entree section for some great selection. The great vegan option is the Cast Iron Vegetable Ratatouille (quinoa, zucchini, summer squash, crimini mushrooms, eggplant, asparagus, heirloom tomato in a tomato basil broth). Don't overlook the great sides like Wild Mushroom Ragu and Corn Pudding to accompany your main dishes.
No matter how full, there is always room for dessert! Try the fall favorite Warm Apple Tartlet served with a side of berries and ice cream, or the gooey Chocolate Lava Cake with vanilla ice cream and a mountain of whipped cream.
Claude's Restaurant at the Southampton Inn
Enjoyed by visitors and locals alike, the Claude's Restaurant at the Southampton Inn serves breakfast and all-day picnic menu featuring locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant offers indoor dining, which has expanded through the bar area and part of the ballroom, to allow extra space between tables for social distancing. Guests can enjoy al fresco dining at the beautiful courtyard or get the colorful picnic baskets loaded with All-American classics like wrapped sandwiches, salads, artisanal cheeses, fresh baked breads, home-made cookies, fresh fruit smoothies, and Champagne.
To start, try the mouthwatering Buffalo Cauliflower Bites. You will enjoy every bite of the perfectly battered and deep-fried cauliflower smothered in tangy and spicy buffalo sauce and served with cool ranch dip on the side. Another must-have is the Caprese, which features layers of homemade sliced mozzarella and sliced tomatoes with a drizzle of basil and balsamic, all topped with arugula.
From its expansive menu of sandwiches and salads, some of the standouts are the Lobster Roll and Arugula Salad. The Lobster Roll features a generous portion of lobster salad served on toasted, buttered roll with crispy house-cut fries and pickle. The Arugula Salad includes peppery arugula, crumbled goat cheese, sliced caramelized apples, and crunchy almond slices for a great balance of textures. You can also add proteins like tuna steak prepared to your liking, grilled salmon, shrimp, chicken, or avocado.
Southampton Social Club
Helmed by the seasoned chef Scott Kampf, the Southampton Social Club is a trendy restaurant featuring American fare and drinks in upscale venue with live music, garden, and patios. The venue is toasting to a major milestone this year, celebrating its 10th year anniversary by transforming the club into an outdoor sanctuary. Guests can enjoy a full menu of fresh sushi, seafood, and steaks on its new synthetically turfed, high-heel-friendly lawn, which boasts room to seat 200 people while respecting social distancing protocols.
For all the cheese lovers out there, the Burrata Caprese is a must. The appetizer highlights creamy, melt-in-your-mouth burrata on top of local heirloom tomatoes with a drizzle of fresh basil oil and balsamic. Another appetizer that is perfect for sharing is the Tuna Tacos. In between crispy wonton shells are fresh tuna tartare in lime vinaigrette and topped with mango salsa and micro greens. The tacos are laid on top of fresh avocado puree for the perfect finish.
The outstanding selection of sushi rolls at the Southampton Social Club are perfect for sharing. Some of the fan favorites include Eel and Crab (mango, red crab, mayo, eel on top), Social Club Roll (scallion, avocado, cucumber, toro sashimi, wasabi toboko), and Yellowtail (scallions, avocado, cucumber, yellowtail sashimi, wasabi stem).
The divine trio of seafood entrees are absolutely outstanding. Clockwise from top to bottom are the Diver Scallops featuring four pieces of juicy, plump scallops cooked to perfect, and served with creamy tomato saffron risotto, grilled asparagus, and truffled pesto. The Prince Edward Island Mussels is served in savory garlic white wine consommé flavored with pancetta, heirloom tomato, and leeks. Make sure to soak up every juice with the toasted baguette on the side. Finally, the Seared Wasabi Pea Crusted Tuna is a delectable, Asian-inspired dish of tuna steak on top of stir-fried bok choy, carrots, scallion, shiitake mushrooms, and sesame soy soba noodles with refreshing cucumber relish.
The Funnel Fries at the Southampton Social Club will change your perception of fried dough. This elevated version of state fair favorite treat features crispy fried dough in the shape of French fries, and topped with powdered sugar and caramel praline. The dessert is absolutely addicting, and you just keep coming back for more. The Chocolate Decadence is a chocolate lover's heaven. Outside is hard-shelled valrhona chocolate with creamy dark ganache inside, and served with delicious heavy cream and mixed berries.
Union Burger Bar
Set in an actual speakeasy from the days of Prohibition, Union Burger Bar has a warm, cozy and nostalgic feeling while offering a fun twist on some of America's favorite food items: burgers, shakes, and more. The Burger Bar menu is rich in variety and slathered with flavor. Well-regarded for its fresh Colorado Beef burgers that also are hormone, anti-antibiotic and additive free, the Burger Bar is dedicated to environmental sustainability.
Great for sharing, the huge NYC Street Pretzel is baked fresh and served warm with doughy center. The cheese queso dip on the side is the perfect accompaniment to the pretzel. Another standout is the Corn Fritters, deep fried in wet, gooey batter with bits of corn inside. Dip them in creamy horseradish dipping sauce.
Also try the Health Nut from the salad menu, featuring a bed of romaine and kale mix with toppings like hearts of palm, sweet corn, heirloom tomato, avocado, and toasted pumpkin seeds in oregano lime vinaigrette. You can top it with choice of proteins ranging from Black Angus burger and chicken breast to grilled shrimp and mahi mahi.
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