Dining in The Hamptons can feel overwhelming. It doesn’t matter if you’re spending an afternoon looking at Hamptons homes for sale or you’re here each summer vacationing. Restaurants come and go all of the time. With new choices popping up each week, it can be tough to find the best from the rest.
These six upscale restaurants in the Hamptons are favorites of the Lori Schiaffino Team, not just for the quality of food and service but for the variety, too. From Italian to sashimi, a world-class wine cellar, and more, don’t leave this vacation hot spot before trying these restaurants out.
The American Hotel
45 Main St. #3012
Sag Harbor, NY
You can tell those who own property in the Hamptons from those looking at Hamptons homes for sale simply by asking them when the last time they went to the American Hotel was. Truthfully, this classic little spot isn’t just the most charming hotel around but also a Hamptons dining staple. Open for more than 20 years now, The American Hotel has a seasonal menu and some excellent dishes.
The real standout, though, is the wine cellar. The American Hotel boasts perhaps the best selection of wines in the area and has won the “Grand Award for One of the Greatest Wine lists in the World.” Only 87 restaurants in the world have received this. Approximately 1,000 wines are available at any given time, with about 10,000 in the cellar. If you’re in the Hamptons and love wine, this will be your new favorite spot.
Si Si
295 Three Mile Harbor Hog Creek Road
East Hampton, NY
East Hampton, NY
No visit to The Hamptons is complete without spending a summer evening at Si Si’s. This Mediterranean restaurant focuses on local, seasonal, and vibrantly fresh food, with a compact menu that changes regularly. The cocktails are what bring regulars back for more, though. If you’re looking for Hamptons homes for sale near the perfect evening bar, this is it.
The views are also incredible, and if you can time your visit right, there is a special Sunset Hour menu. It’s like happy hour, but the best happy hour you’ve ever had. Si Si’s is located at EHP Resort, which has a marina. That means you can visit by boat if you so choose.
Lulu Kitchen and Bar
126 Main St.
Sag Harbor, NY
Sag Harbor, NY
This little downtown favorite has brought locals and new residents looking for Hamptons homes for sale for years. Even Gwenyth Paltrow of Goop fame loves it! The chef’s goal isn’t anything over the top or extravagant. Instead, Lulu’s focuses on simple, authentic flavors and cooking with wood-fired grills. This translates to big flavor, though.
Some menu favorites are grilled buttermilk chicken with pasture-raised chicken, garlic kale, garlic chips, and a carrot puree. If you want to step outside of the box, though, the bone-in halibut with agrodolce and a celeriac-lemon mousseline are both great choices.
Highway Restaurant & Bar
290 Montauk Highway
East Hampton, NY
East Hampton, NY
I know, the name makes it sound less like the best place to eat while looking at Hamptons homes for sale and more like a questionable diner on the side of the road. However, nothing about this gorgeous restaurant is standard. The menu features fresh ingredients and changes seasonally based on what the chef can find locally.
The menu is “New American,” which means it is all over the place in the best possible ways. From Korean chicken buns to papaya and crab salad, a fresh ravioli with spring peas, lemon, and prosciutto, and so much more, this is an exceptional dinner spot for anyone visiting or living in the Hamptons.
Dopo La Spiaggia
6 Bay St.
Sag Harbor, New York
Sag Harbor, New York
This cozy restaurant in Sag Harbor has long been a favorite spot for celebrity vacationers like Sarah Jessica Parker and Calvin Klein. It’s for good reason, too — the Tuscan-style food is fresh, house-made, and incredible.
Pasta choices include rigatoni with homemade sauce and vodka sauce, a garganelli with jumbo crab meat and Calabrian chilis, and a squid-ink tagliolini with shrimp, calamari, and bay scallops. Entrees are no less impressive, such as the “under the brick” chicken with spinach, black olives, and capers.
If you get nothing else, try the carasau flatbread, which is almost paper-thin and served hot and topped with rosemary, olive oil, and sea salt.
Remember that there are two locations, though this is far from a chain restaurant. The second is located in downtown East Hampton. The food is still stellar, but the views and atmosphere aren’t quite the same. Be sure to check out at least one before leaving the Hamptons, though.
Kissaki
670 Montauk Highway Suite E
Water Mill, NY
Water Mill, NY
If you are tired of the Americana classics that the Hamptons are known for, Kissaki is an excellent, luxurious alternative. Owned by the same parent company and run by the same chef that owns the Kissaki in Bowery, the restaurant is small and incredibly intimate, bringing a level of traditional Japanese flair with counter service and the chef's special tasting menus.
The best, by far, is the 18-course tasting menu. If that’s too much, consider the smaller six- or nine-plate options. Selections rotate, but the a la carte options are also amazing, including something called the Bara Chirashi. This sushi rice bowl is cubed sashimi of the chef’s choice, Tamago, cucumber, ikura, and uni.
Looking to move to Hamptons real estate?
Not a resident of the Hamptons yet? It’s okay, you can be! If you’re looking for Hamptons homes for sale and feel a little overwhelmed, reach out to the Lori Schiaffino Team today! Specializing in luxury real estate, leader Lori Schiaffino has more than 25 years of transaction experience working with countless high-profile clients around the world. From exclusive listings to expert advice, Lori and her team can get you that dream home in the Hamptons, so you never have to worry about not making your dinner reservation.