The best restaurants in the Hamptons operate on different rules than their Manhattan counterparts. Reservations that take months in the city sell out in hours here. Celebrity chefs who command waiting lists downtown become summer neighbors competing for the same local ingredients. The dining scene reflects everything the Hamptons represents: access, exclusivity, and the performance of casual luxury.

This guide organizes the essential dining experiences by village, from Southampton to Montauk, covering institutions that have defined Hamptons dining for decades alongside 2025’s most significant openings. Whether you’re entertaining clients, planning a date night, or seeking the lobster roll that justifies the drive, understanding the landscape matters as much as knowing the food.

East Hampton: Where Reservations Are Currency

East Hampton concentrates the highest density of destination dining in the Hamptons. The competition for tables at peak season rivals any major food city, with the added complexity that many patrons are neighbors who will remember if you take their preferred spot.

Nick & Toni’s

No discussion of East Hampton restaurants begins anywhere other than Nick & Toni’s. Since 1988, this wood-fired Mediterranean kitchen has defined what Hamptons fine dining means. The celebrity clientele is legendary. Any given evening might seat Hollywood stars alongside hedge fund managers and fashion industry figures, all pretending not to notice each other.

The food justifies the reputation. Wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas, and locally sourced proteins reflect the Tuscan farmhouse aesthetic without becoming precious. The $32 two-course prix fixe, available Sunday through Thursday, represents exceptional value in a market where dinner regularly exceeds $100 per person.

Reservations are essential. Call 631-324-3550 or book through Resy, understanding that summer weekends often require weeks of advance planning.

Swifty’s at The Hedges Inn

The most anticipated opening of 2025, Swifty’s debuted in May with over 1,600 people turned away on opening weekend. Originally a beloved Upper East Side institution, the restaurant was revived at Palm Beach’s Colony Hotel before making its Hamptons arrival under owners Andrew and Sarah Wetenhall.

The setting matters as much as the menu. The Hedges Inn provides the preppy, pink-hued backdrop that signals old-money East Coast sensibility. Executive chef Tom Whitaker draws inspiration from classic American and continental traditions, featuring a signature Cobb salad, club sandwich, and meatloaf made from a fashion designer’s personal recipe.

The crowd skews Ralph Lauren. Expect blazers and sundresses, not beach cover-ups. This is where Palm Beach meets the Hamptons, and both parties are overdressed for the occasion.

1770 House

Set inside an 18th-century colonial home on Main Street, 1770 House has been serving guests for 250 years. The dual dining concept features fine dining on the main level and a refined-casual tavern downstairs, both showcasing local bounty and five-star service.

The menu includes Amish chicken with asparagus and Montauk fluke tartare, executed with the kind of understated excellence that doesn’t need to announce itself. This is where you bring the in-laws or close a deal that requires discretion rather than spectacle.

Sant Ambroeus

Originally a Milan pastry shop in 1936, Sant Ambroeus arrived in Manhattan in 1982 and has been delighting New Yorkers with elegant Italian classics ever since. The East Hampton location blends Italian and seaside cuisine using locally sourced ingredients, offering refined yet unpretentious dining from breakfast through dinner.

The artichokes and arugula salad, the homemade ravioli with spinach and ricotta, and the Faroe Island salmon represent the menu’s range. The year-round operation makes Sant Ambroeus a reliable choice when seasonal pop-ups have closed and you still need somewhere excellent.

Southampton: Old Money Energy

Southampton restaurants reflect the village’s positioning as the financial capital of the Hamptons. The clientele trends older and wealthier than East Hampton, with dining preferences that favor classic preparations over culinary innovation.

Tutto Il Giorno

Owned by Gabby Karan de Felice, Tutto Il Giorno serves fresh, seasonal Italian dishes in a beautifully designed space that embodies Hamptons dining at its most sophisticated-casual. The private garden makes this a destination for extended lunches that become dinners.

The spicy tuna tartare is mandatory. The Linguine with cockles and flamed tomatoes and the whole grilled branzino represent the menu’s strengths. Additional locations in Sag Harbor and Tutto Caffe in East Hampton extend the brand across the region.

El Verano

Chef Julian Medina’s upscale Mexican restaurant brings the posh summer escapes of Mexico City’s wealthier residents to Southampton. Caviar-topped toro taquitos, queso fundido with freshly shaved black truffles, and black truffle elote signal the price point. Pumpkin spice margaritas signal the crowd.

The spacious dining room is lush with live plants, pastel-hued booths, and the energy of people spending money they don’t need to think about. El Verano Taco Lot, the casual outdoor taqueria next door, offers a more accessible entry point.

Donohue’s Steakhouse

A classic Upper East Side establishment expanding to Southampton, Donohue’s brings its renowned steaks, chops, and timeless ambiance to the East End. The ribs with a nice salad are the move, though Hamptons-exclusive items like pan-fried fluke and fried bay scallops add local character.

The bar offers full menu service for those preferring a more relaxed evening with sports on TV. Get a reservation, or expect to wait with a drink on the patio.

Sag Harbor: The Creative Class Table

Sag Harbor restaurants attract a different demographic than the Southampton finance crowd. Writers, artists, and creative industry figures who prioritize the village’s year-round character over pure seasonal spectacle support a dining scene that values atmosphere as much as cuisine.

The American Hotel

A Hamptons institution with old-school charm, The American Hotel brings Manhattan polish to Sag Harbor. White tablecloths, a legendary wine list, and timeless French-American fare make this the destination for power lunches and elegant dinners. The Drew Room offers intimate, quiet ambiance for locals seeking discretion.

The award-winning menu features fresh seafood, shellfish, meat, and poultry, all locally sourced. This is the restaurant your parents would choose, which is either recommendation or warning depending on your preferences.

Lola Burr at Page

A cozy ambiance complements the hearty New American fare at Page’s wood-burning oven and grill. The self-described “seed to table” approach features contemporary, globally inspired takes on American cuisine, from Thai fisherman’s stew to Montauk oysters.

Don’t sleep on the almond flounder or the garlic brown butter popovers. If you really want to splurge, consider the showstopping chateaubriand.

Sen

For a more casual daily sushi situation, Sen is Sag Harbor’s go-to. The quality of fish reportedly attracts Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin, which tells you what you need to know. This isn’t omakase theater. It’s reliable, excellent sushi in a village setting.

Red Hook Tavern

Brooklyn cool just blocks from Main Street. The $30 dry-aged burger, thick and juicy with American cheese and cottage fries, is nearly identical to the Red Hook original. The raw fish dishes, chowder, and caviar-topped deviled eggs represent Hamptons-specific offerings.

The patio offers harbor views and ridiculous sunsets. Well-made classic cocktails are the move here.

Montauk: The End Has the Best Seafood

Montauk restaurants operate on entirely different energy than the western Hamptons villages. The surf culture, working harbor, and more casual atmosphere create dining experiences that prioritize freshness and setting over formality.

Duryea’s Lobster Deck

Long gone are the days when Duryea’s was a simple deck serving lobster rolls. It’s grown up and fancy these days, but you can still get a lobster roll, and it remains one of the best in the Hamptons. The approximately $50 price tag reflects both the quality and the setting, with one of the most beautiful waterfront locations in the region.

The lobster Cobb salad and seafood tower pair perfectly with rosé and sunset. This is as much about the vibe as the food, and the vibe delivers.

Mavericks Montauk

After a year of anticipation, Mavericks delivers refined surf and turf with panoramic ocean views overlooking Fort Pond. The 700-pound shark sculpture at the entrance signals the ambition. The seafood is caught fresh daily, vegetables come from local farms, and beef is sustainably sourced from within New York.

The $170 caviar option indicates this is for one of those kinds of nights out. Treat someone special, mark a milestone, or celebrate in grand fashion just because.

Navy Beach

Since 2010, Navy Beach has become a modern-day classic, with white picnic tables and navy umbrellas set right in the sand. New menu items for 2025 include shrimp tempura hand rolls and everything bagel-crusted salmon. Zero-proof and low-alcohol options from Wölffer Estate Vineyard and Montauk Brewing Co. expand the beverage program.

This is casual Montauk at its best, the kind of place that makes you understand why people fight the traffic.

The Surf Lodge

Part restaurant, part scene, The Surf Lodge combines dining with the energy of Montauk nightlife. The setting matters more than the menu here, though the food is competent. Come for the sunset, stay for whatever happens after dinner.

The Seafood Essentials

Any guide to the best restaurants in the Hamptons must address the seafood institutions that define the region regardless of village boundaries.

Bostwick’s

Paper plates and occasional hour-long waits aside, Bostwick’s delivers some of the area’s best casual seafood in a laid-back setting with market umbrellas and patio dining. The lobster roll commands attention: six ounces of fresh-caught meat, available hot buttered or cold with mayo, served in a split griddled potato roll.

Chef Bobby Flay has been spotted here. The New England clam chowder, baked stuffed clams, and fried oysters with remoulade sauce round out the essential orders. No reservations accepted. Plan accordingly.

The Clam Bar

This red roadside shack has been a landmark for over 30 years. The large ordering window, paper plates, and picnic tables signal the experience. Clam strips, the grilled chicken sandwich, and the vine-ripened tomato stuffed with lobster salad represent the menu’s range.

Open April through October or November, weather depending. This is the Hamptons stripped of pretension, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

Lobster Roll (LUNCH)

Everyone calls it “LUNCH” thanks to the huge sign you can’t miss driving Montauk Highway. The Long Island-style seafood menu includes lobster rolls both buttered and with lobster salad, creamy clam chowder, and fried clam strips. Summer brings late nights on the patio where anyone eager to dance to a Top 40 DJ comes to party.

2025’s Notable Openings

The summer season brought significant additions worth tracking for next year’s planning.

Arthur & Sons returned for a second Bridgehampton season, with owner Joe Isidori adding Artie’s in the Hamptons for burgers and specialty margaritas. Camp Rubirosa brought the beloved NYC pizzeria’s tie-dye pies to East Hampton. Bagatelle finally arrived at Gosman’s Dock in Montauk after years of anticipation. Fēniks opened on Jobs Lane in Southampton, with Chef Douglas Gulija offering Greek, Asian, and Croatian fusion.

Mary Lou’s Montauk blended Palm Beach style with Montauk energy, featuring $50 wagyu burgers and Studio 54 flair. Ocean Club at Montauk Yacht Club brought Chef Jarad McCarroll’s expertise to the newly renovated waterfront property.

The Reservation Reality

Hamptons dining requires strategy that Manhattan residents find surprising. The compressed summer season means demand spikes dramatically from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with Fourth of July weekend representing peak difficulty.

Book weeks in advance for Friday and Saturday dinners at destination restaurants. Monday and Tuesday often offer easier access to otherwise impossible tables. Lunch reservations at dinner-focused restaurants provide access to the same kitchens with less competition.

The right table at the right restaurant communicates as much as any business card in this market. Understanding the landscape, knowing where different crowds congregate, and securing access before you need it separates sophisticated operators from weekend tourists.

Social Life Magazine has covered Hamptons dining for over two decades. Our perspective reflects genuine presence in these rooms, not tourist-guide aggregation.

Experience Hamptons dining at its finest:

Related Reading: