Gurney's Guide: Montauk

Montauk’s proximity to New York City, not to mention its protected parkland and endless beaches, makes our home base the perfect getaway all year round. Sure, the East End is well-known for its warm summer months, but it may come as a surprise that our favorite shops, restaurants, and must-see sights are open long after Montauk cools down. So if you’re spending spring at either Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa or Gurney’s Star Island Resort & Marina, consider this your guide for the best things to do in Montauk this season.

EAT

Montauk restaurants and more.

Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee

Amagansett 

Head to Amagansett Square any day of the week, and you’re bound to spot a line at Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee. The busy—yet totally unfussy—spot serves a  patented, shade-grown “stir brew coffee” that keeps regulars buzzing all year long. And while you’re there, stock up on vegan baked goods (their sprinkled blackout donut is a knockout) and gourmet grocery items for picnics on the beach.

Open daily, 6:30am

Tillie’s  

Montauk

Tillie’s at Gurney’s Montauk Resort is open for breakfast and lunch all year round. Served in a casual space surrounded by white oak accents, find elevated American classics like buttermilk biscuits alongside brioche french toast, lemon ricotta pancakes, and cold-pressed juices for breakfast. For lunch, stop by for an altogether different menu that features fresh seafood dishes like East Coast oysters, lobster cocktail, and Montauk clam chowder. 

Open daily, 7am - 11am for breakfast, 12pm - 3pm for lunch  

Joni’s Kitchen

Montauk

Just south of Main Street, Joan Bronsan’s popular breakfast and lunch spot serves seasonal, organic, and vegan dishes. Popular with local surfers and visitors alike, Joni’s has been a town staple since 2000—and luckily, some things never change. 

Open daily, 8am - 3pm

 

Hampton Chutney Company

East Hampton

A local favorite for takeaway, Hampton Chutney Company serves up South Indian specialties like crispy dosas—stuffed with an array of hearty chutneys, meats, and vegetables—plus salads, soups, and more. For a tasty pick-me-up, grab an oat milk chai to go (you won’t regret it).

Open daily, 10am - 7pm

 

Bungalows By The Sea

Montauk

Gurney’s Montauk has partnered with Jung Lee, an acclaimed event designer and founder of Fête, to create a one-of-a-kind experience at the resort’s seasonal Bungalows by the Sea. Each private bungalow seats up to six people and includes a seasonal menu, curated cocktails, an open air fire pit and the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean. The new bungalows will be live through Labor Day, 

Open daily 11am - 10pm

 

Scarpetta Beach 

Montauk

Open nightly, Scarpetta Montauk’s ocean-front Italian restaurant offers classic and seasonal dishes that measure up to its world-class wine list. Their homemade pastas pair perfectly with local seafood in dishes like Lobster Tagliolini Nero, while other delights recall far-flung decadence, like their imported Akaushi Wagyu Strip. 

Daily, 5:30pm - 10:00pm

 

Sen

Sag Harbor

Since 1995, Sen Restaurant has been a year-round mainstay in Sag Harbor. Owned by a sake sommelier, the restaurant has a penchant for high-end sushi crafted with high-quality fish—paired, naturally, with the East End’s most elaborate sake menu.

Open Friday to Wednesday, 4pm - 9pm

 

PLAY

Things to do in Montauk and the Hamptons this spring. 

 

Wölfer Estate Vineyard

Sagaponack

Long Island’s wine country, which includes both the North and South Forks, is reason enough to head out east year-round one of our favorite establishments is Wölfer Estate Vineyard, where the winery’s lofty tasting room overlooks 55 rolling acres seven days a week. 

Tip: Make a reservation ahead of your visit and aim for a spot on their breezy terrace.

Open daily, 11am

East Hampton Shopping 

East Hampton 

Along Main Street and Newtown Lane in East Hampton, you can find some of the very best shopping all in one place. Boutiques like Clic and Tenet channel the coastal aesthetic with a mix of clothing and homegoods, while the vintage haven What Goes Around Comes Around captures one-of-kind pieces from the past. Going contemporary? Outposts from our favorites shops, like James Perse Hamptons and Theory, are certainly up for grabs. 

 

Parrish Art Museum

Water Mill

Situated on 14 acres of lush meadows, the Parrish Art Museum, anchored by a 34,400-square-foot building designed by Herzog & de Meuron, features a mix of indoor and outdoor exhibition spaces that provides a whole new way to experience modern art. Now on view: Field of Dreams, ten works by international, multi-generational artists activating the grounds as part of the Museum’s new Art in the Meadow initiative. 

Open daily, 11am - 5pm

 

Montauk Brewing Company

Montauk

Known for their catchy “come as you are” motto, this homegrown Montauk brewery, which began as a basement operation between friends, is now a nationally recognized brand offering sessionable beers and, more recently, hard seltzer. From IPAs and English Pale Ales, to Pilsners and fresh seasonal brews, Montauk Brewing Company’s no-frills Tasting Room is located right in the town of Montauk inside a red brew-barn that can’t be missed.

Tip: Try the Watermelon Session Ale, available March through August

Open Thursday to Monday, 12pm - 5pm

 

Montauk Lighthouse

Montauk

No matter the season, no visit to Montauk is complete without a trip to Montauk Point State Park to see the Montauk Point Lighthouse. Owned and operated by the Montauk Historical Society, the National Historic Landmark was the first lighthouse built in New York State, commissioned in 1972 by President George Washington. 

Tip: Nearby Camp Hero State Park offers incomparable views of the Lighthouse as well as 415 acres of landscape inclusive of natural bluffs overlooking the Atlantic ocean and trails for hiking, horseback riding, and biking. 

Open Saturday and Sundays, 10:30am - 3:30pm