This famous fishing town outside of NYC is surprisingly cool.
Montauk , once most popular among fishermen and surfers , today , offers an eclectic mix of parties , share house , springy music , brewery , lobster rolls , and , yes , still some of the best fishing and surfriding in the Northeast .
About 120 miles from NYC , Montauk is accessible by train , but I opt to spare myself theHunger Games - like folly that ensues at Penn Station on a Friday good afternoon and hit the route instead . For this trip , I rented a gondola fromTuro , which is basically an Airbnb for car - share-out , because I ’d take theHamptonstraffic over the Long Island Rail Road ’s crowded train cars any day .
After tackling the Long Island Expressway , you ’ll notice yourself on the appropriately named Montauk Highway , a.k.a . Route 27 . Take a consequence to admire small towns like Bridgehampton and East Hampton , each offer a mix of name - brand computer memory , local clothes designer , andeateries . block up for a bite to eat atTownLine BBQin Sagaponack , Goldberg ’s Famous Bagelsin Southampton ( the best bagels in all of New York , I curse it ) , orCarissa ’s the Bakeryin East Hampton .
Montauk, New York|haveseen/Shutterstock
Travel time:
4 hour from NYC by car.3 hr from Penn Station on the Long Island Rail Road .
If you don’t do anything else: Lobster rolls in Montauk
The most important full point you ’ll unavoidably make is for a lobster roll , and there ’s a plethora of popular spots to select from . So many , that some people even engage in lobster roll crawls .
In fact , you may take in heated debates on who has the best one . Is itBostwick ’s Chowder House ? TheClam Bar at Napeague ? Someone will belike confidently pronounceThe Lobster Roll(a.k.a . Lunch ) as the winner . Personally , I ’m Team Clam Bar , but , really , you ca n’t go wrong with any of them .
Fill the weekend with:
Things to do outdoors in Montauk
First stop : the beach . If surfing ( or watching other people surf ) is your thing , make your way over toDitch Plains Beachfor Long Island ’s best wafture — just call up the summer crowds will be out to play as well . If relaxation and restroom is more your speed , foreland toKirk Park Beach , which is within walk distance of Montauk ’s magic business district . Here you ’ll find sunbathe summertime renters and weekend warrior hash out what hot spot they ’ll hit that Nox . For a beautiful beach hike , check out nearbyCamp Hero State Park .
Local museums in Montauk
If it ’s your first clip in Montauk , consider drive out toThe End(yes , it ’s quite the literally - named destination ) to check out the famedMontauk Point Lighthousecommissioned by George Washington ’s judicature . Take a look inside and check out the lighthouse ’s museum to see letters signed by Thomas Jefferson as well as keep up maps of Montauk from the 1800s . Down the route you ’ll also find theCarl Fisher House , which host lectures and exhibits on Montauk ’s chronicle , and theMontauk Indian Museum , where you could learn about the endemic tribe that originally settled there .
Nightlife in Montauk
For such a small beach town , the night life choice in Montauk are abundant , with everything from bougie hotel barroom scenes atGurney ’s Montauk Resortto local dives likeShagwong Tavern . Check outThe Surf Lodge , a restaurant / hotel / unrecorded medicine locus that is attracting amazing talent this summertime with enactment likeAnderson .Paakas DJ Pee .Wee andBLOND : ISH . For more tunes , The Montauketis always a bang-up place to catch local ring accompanied by a killer sundown . And I ’d be neglectful not to mentionMemory Motel , the famed dive measure and motel made famous by The Rolling Stones song of the same name .
Eat, drink, and sleep:
Restaurants & bars in Montauk
Pregame dinner party with a visit toMontauk Brewing Co.for the East last staple fibre Summer Ale before head out to one of the many Montauk dining spots you ’ve probably scroll through on Instagram . There’sHarvest on Fort Pond , which swear out awing Italian culinary art featuring local produce and seafood , and theCrow ’s Nest , for chill vibe and craft cocktails . For even more unfermented seafood , there’sInlet Seafood , Duryea’s(get the far-famed Lobster Cobb Salad ) , andGosman ’s , just to name a few . No matter where you select , a good meal should always end with soft serve fromJohn ’s effort - In .
Where to stay in Montauk
The increasing popularity of Montauk means there are more selection in accommodations than in most other Hamptons Ithiel Town . One of the largest ( and maybe priciest in peak time of year ) is the aforementionedGurney ’s . This resort - style hotel has a seaside version of Manhattan ’s popularScarpettarestaurant just off the lobby as well as a individual beach and of late renovated Seawater Spa boasting a bath house and IV Drip Lounge . There are many other cheaper hotel pick to choose from , as well as beach motels , but in the summer months , none of these will comethatcheap . Weekend rentalsare also a smart way to go — just fill the house with a gang of friends hankering to scat the city .
Ditch Plains Beach|rj lerich/Shutterstock
Photo courtesy of The Surf Lodge
Photo courtesy of Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa
