The elite corner of America you’ve never thought you could visit – until now – The particular Telegraph

The first time I went to the Hamptons, I was invited by a friend’s parents to their summer timeshare. Wanting to be a good guest, I offered to help in the kitchen. We were met by the gentle laugh and a guiding hand back to the particular pool. “Don’t worry, dear, we have a chef, ” I actually was told. I  ate two fat lobsters for lunch that day, learning fast how holidays here are done. It’s safe to say that everyone in New York wants a friend with a house within the Hamptons.  

With its grand gated abodes and astronomical rental prices – only further inflated by the pandemic – if you aren’t lucky enough to receive a rarified invite, the Hamptons can feel decidedly inaccessible. Comprising a series of storied villages plus hamlets along the South Fork of Long Island, Nyc, it has been the particular chosen retreat for the well-heeled ever since the particular Long Island Rail Road connected this former farming outcrop with New York City in 1834.  

But the small enclave of Amagansett has remained more low-key than its flashier neighbours. The arrival of hotels such as the particular Roundtree and newly renovated Reform Club have paved a way with regard to visitors from further afield to experience the Hamptons without the required proverbial Rolodex, whether for a week or a long weekend; tagged on to an autumn city break when a person can leave the high-energy build up to Hallowe’en behind regarding crisp leaves and cosy evenings.  

You don’t even need the car; those of us without helicopters take the near-legendary Hampton Jitney coach, which has been ferrying New Yorkers through Manhattan to the East End, as it’s called, since the particular 1970s. On the ride out, you pass fields of grain and rows of grape vines, a reminder that Long Island’s economy is still largely agricultural – plus offers some pretty good wine. The Jitney stops in each village: bougie Bridgehampton, where the Bridge, a yearly gathering of  world-class cars and contemporary art, is a social calendar highlight; Eastern Hampton, the ritzy retail hub home to Gucci and Manolo Blahnik; and then, before reaching the surfer haven of Montauk at the tip, a person arrive in Amagansett.  

“The additional east you go the more down-to-earth it gets, ” says Sara Ringelmann, who works at Deep Blue Vintage, which usually recently opened a pop-up in a restored 19th-century carriage house here (00 1 631 276 6778; deepbluevintage. com ). The building is under the protection of the Amagansett Historical Association (the hamlet dates back to 1680), which was formed after successfully derailing a planned megamarket. Locals buy groceries at a number of farm stands or the Amber Waves market, stocked with bountiful seasonal produce from its  adjacent 25-acre farm (00  1 631 267 5664; amberwavesfarm. org ).

Hotels such because the Roundtree, just the short walk away, which opened during the pandemic, are woven into the fabric of life here, rather than apart from this. There are only 15 rooms, spread over a number of suites and cottages, and while a delicious breakfast is served in the pretty flower-filled garden, there is no restaurant or bar, keeping it  decidedly unsceney while  also encouraging guests to support nearby establishments. The particular Reform Golf club, too, offers suites plus cottages, but no on-site dining (00 1 631 267 8500; reformclubamagansett. possuindo ).

Main Street, despite spanning just two blocks and a town square, has a concentration associated with restaurants. Wölffer Kitchen is bright plus good intended for groups, and even better for drinking Wölffer Estate’s famed rosé, produced within the Hamptons (00 1 631 267 2764; wolfferkitchen. com ).  

Arguably the best cuisine in town comes from Il Buco al Mar, which usually opened right after the success of the summer 2021 pop-up (00 1 631 557 3100; ilbuco. com/pages/il-buco-al-mare ). There’s an entire menu devoted in order to seemingly trendy tinned fish – furthermore sold in the particular Il Buco Vita boutique next door – but go straight to get the  charred prawns in chermoula plus lime or the local bass along with juicy baby artichokes. The owner, Donna Lennard, a longtime Hamptons denizen who moved here full time during the pandemic, keeps the cafe open actually in the particular quiet winter months, when the population drops as fast as the particular temperature.  

More casual lunch options come in the form of dripping brie paninis from Cavaniola’s Gourmet Cheese Shop (00 1 631 267 5608; cavaniolas. com ), or tacos from La Fondita (00 1 631 267 8800; lafondita. net ), best enjoyed with a frozen margarita from adjacent Coche Comedor (00 1 631 267 5709; cochecomedor. possuindo ).

But you’re here for the beach, really. The great swathe of golden sand in Atlantic Avenue Beach provides everyone a few space. It is only a mile-long stroll through town, yet you may make the most of the particular Roundtree’s Beach Buggy service, which transports you and your gear there and back. Or, when it’s too cold to sit on the sand, borrow the baby-blue beach cruiser bikes plus cycle in order to the equally spectacular Indian Wells Seaside along the particular coast.  

Afternoons can be whiled away in the abundance of beautifully curated boutiques, which demonstrate that while the vibe may be chill, the clientele will be still high flying. Come evening, it is about bonfires on the particular beach (the Roundtree may facilitate this tradition for you) or a night on the Stephen Talkhouse, which usually has hosted the likes of Sting, Paul Simon and Coldplay (00 one 631 267 3117; stephentalkhouse. com ).  

On Fridays the place to be is Moby’s, on the road towards East Hampton, long beloved for its unstuffy Amalfi-style dining (00 1 631 604 2227; mobysny. com ).    

It’s easy to slip into breezy Amagansett life: sign up for an ing fresco yoga class on the square or even join the particular obligatory morning beach stroll. Everyone within New You are able to wants the friend with a house within the Hamptons – but these days you really don’t need one to have a holiday there.

How to do it

The Roundtree (00 1 631 267 3133; theroundtreehotels. possuindo ) offers doubles from £437  per night. The Hampton  Jitney ( hamptonjitney. com ) departs from 59th Street   in Manhattan, from  £33 one way  

Are you tempted to visit the Hamptons’ lesser known Amagansett? Let all of us know in the comments section below