Locals will tell you that once upon a time Montauk was a tranquil little fishing town popular with surfers. Nowadays, however, it’s the ideal jetset vacation for rich New Yorkers. It’s an expensive location to visit, with hotel fees starting at $700 per night for a room in the height of summer. And that’s for an average room. You’ll often hear finance folks telling you how they used a Blade (Uber for helicopters) to get there. It’s that type of place.
If you don’t own a property in The Hamptons there are ways you may do it on a budget but you have to be wise. I initially went to Montauk for my birthday and we rode the train and divided a hotel room with 2 queen beds amongst 4 individuals. Next time we did it with 5. We ate pizza instead of dining out in restaurants and pre-drank at the hotel before we visited the bar. We had so much fun we decided we needed to return every summer.
What I wasn’t anticipating when I traveled to Montauk in mid July was the insane nightlife, but I guess it’s New York by the ocean, and New Yorkers do like to party. Outside of bars but there’s much to enjoy, including ocean-view eateries, hiking paths and lovely beaches. When Manhattan becomes so hot and stuffy in summer it’s good to escape the city and just enjoy the soothing beach atmosphere.
Hit The Beach
The beach is what you came for, right? Montauk boasts miles of beaches for you to tan on, including:
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Ditch Plains Beach
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Kirk Park Beach Amsterdam Beach
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Edison Beach
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Gin Beach
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Hither Hills State
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Park Montauk Point
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State Park Beach
Turtle Cove
If you have a car you may go to several beaches, or if you want to party just put your blanket down on the beach outside Sloppy Tuna in town. This is where you’ll find the highest concentration of 20/30-somethings performing music and having a good time.
The Surf Lodge
At sundown everyone gathers to The Surf Lodge — a hotel/restaurant/bar that overlooks the bay. It’s the place to see and be seen but on weekends it’s also incredibly hard to get in and there are typically queues of people outside. Get there early, or better still, make a reservation for supper there a few weeks in advance. If you do try your luck at waiting in line, don’t pretend to know someone who works there (unless you actually do) — the security officers will roll their eyes like they’ve heard this too many times. Just be prepared to pay $$$ for a table and bottle service, especially if you’re in a group. Friday night and Sunday are the calmer days, with Saturday night being the busiest.
Drinks at Montauk Brewing Company
There’s nothing like a great refreshing beer on a hot sunny day so spend a day at Montauk Brewing Company to satisfy your thirst. If you live in New York you’ll definitely have seen their beer all around the city but it’s wonderful to sample it right from the source. Order a beer flight or a pint of whatever suits your fancy and catch some sun in their backyard.
Montauk Lighthouse
Montauk Lighthouse is a historic monument situated on the easternmost point of Long Island in Montauk Point State Park. In fact, you’ll often hear Montauk called “Montauk End of the World” due to the fact that it’s near the end of Long Island. The lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in New York State and was designed to warn incoming seafarers of the perilous cliffs near Montauk Point. Visit the lighthouse for magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean and Block Island in the distance. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and and $5 for children. Make sure to check their website for current opening times and remember they close in poor weather.
The Crow’s Nest
The Crow’s Nest Montauk is a restaurant and motel with wooden furnishings strewn around a huge lawn. The views over Lake Montauk are amazing and it’s a terrific spot to visit for a sunset supper. The menu is eclectic, with items like roasted beet salad, lobster fettucine, sea bass ceviche and rib eye steak.
Get Bagels at Goldberg’s
After a night of partying you’ll need something to fill your stomach the next day and soothe the hangover. Goldberg’s is a popular bagel restaurant in the town center which normally has a large wait in the mornings. Don’t be shocked if you see someone you’ve met the night before donning sunglasses to cover up their sleepy eyes. I normally eat smoked salmon bagels from Goldberg’s every morning I’m in Montauk.
Take a Surf Lesson
Never learnt how to surf? You may take surf lessons with numerous schools including:
Coreyswave Engstrom Surf Sunset Surf Shack
Ruschmeyer’s
Ruschmeyer’s Montauk becomes raucous on a weekend and is popular with parties as the restaurant provides long hardwood tables in a beer hall like setting. The hotel provides cabin-style accommodations with views of Fort Pond lake, plus a variety menu of pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, salads and entrees. Try their Tartufata pizza, with Mozzarella, Urbani Truffles, Porcini sauce, baby spinach and roasted tomatoes. After everyone’s finished supper everyone begins dancing and it turns into more of a club.
Ride horses with Deep Hollow Ranch
Want to try something a bit different? Feel like a cowboy/cowgirl for the day at Deep Hollow Ranch, which is the oldest functioning cattle ranch in the U.S.A. You’ll ride horses Western style on Montauk’s pristine beaches and trails, soaking in the gorgeous scenery along the way.
Gurney’s Montauk Resort and Seawater Spa
Gurney’s is a premium hotel/resort situated directly on the beach that also happens to be a prominent party scene on a Saturday. When myself and my buddies went to Gurney’s we were lucky enough to know someone who could get us in but else you had to reserve a daybed with minimum cost. The celebration at The Beach Club is lighted, with people dancing to techno/house music on the hotel’s 2,000 foot long private beach.
Dinner at Scarpetta
For a boujis fine dining experience, grab a table at Scarpetta - the sister restaurant of the expensive Italian bistro in Manhattan. Located within Gurney’s Montauk Resort, the restaurant has mid-century contemporary design blended with nautical influences, including an outdoor terrace with panoramic views of the ocean. The menu comprises a range of Italian pastas and fresh fish dishes, including black cod and branzino.
Dance the night away at Memory Motel
Memory Motel is the type of place where your feet adhere to the floor but it’s also a lot of fun. Go to Memory Motel after everywhere else is closed and be prepared to dance on an extremely busy dance floor. When your feet can’t hold you up any longer, hurry to the pizza window down the block to soak up all the booze.
Listen to live music @ 668 The Gig Shack
For a relaxed afternoon/evening, sit down at 668 The Gig Shack on Montauk’s Main Street and listen to their daily live music. Order a Montauk Cocktail prepared with fresh, locally sourced juices (with or without the booze) and food for the table.
Visit Camp Hero State Park
Camp Hero State Park is a 415-acre state park located on Montauk Point, suitable for hiking, biking, horseback riding and picnics (but not swimming). If you appreciate fishing, the park has some of the greatest surf fishing areas in the world and is available 24 hours a day to fishers with permits. Within the park you’ll find forested woods, freshwater ponds, seaside panoramas and stunning cliffs. Pets are also permitted (cheer for dog owners!).
Read Also: Boat For A Whitewater Adventure Nyt
Where To Stay In Montauk
As I noted earlier, Montauk Hotels are pricey thus even the “affordable” hotels are still expensive in summer. If you want to find affordable deals then you’ll need to visit Montauk out of peak season. Montauk’s summer season spans from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Outside of these times hotels tend to be significantly more reasonable but the negative is that many places close during off-season and it’s chilly along the beach.
Affordable Options
Montauk Blue Hotel is where I generally stay. Right on the beach in the middle of town, this hotel boasts clean rooms with views of the ocean. It’s nothing flashy but it’s comfortable and rooms have 2 beds so you can squeeze four people into a room.
Montauk Manor isn’t on the coast but it boasts various on-site facilities, including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, complimentary vehicle parking and a spa. Rooms also contain a kitchen if you wish to make your own food.
A Wave Inn is located in town fairly near to Montauk Blue Hotel. You’re within walking distance of various restaurants and stores and the hotel includes an outdoor pool you can relax at.
Mid Range Options
Breakers Montauk features 25 rooms, a café + bar, an ocean view pool, direct beach access across the street, an outdoor ocean view sun terrace and patio and bikes. Rooms are bright and airy with seaside design and Leesa mattresses. Depending on the size of your gathering there are numerous different room alternatives, including
Hero Beach Club stands immediately on Umbrella Beach in Montauk and boats a trendy pool with furniture from Bali, as well as a wide green grass with bonfire pits and soft seats. Rooms feature a Montauk beach atmosphere with stunning modern décor and high grade bath amenities.
Luxury Options
Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa is probably the most elegant and most costly choice in Montauk. The resort is enormous — it includes five on-site drinking and dining establishments (including Scarpetta), a saltwater pool, a full-service spa and a sauna. It also stands on its own 2,000 foot-long beach with daybeds and cabanas.