Best Restaurants East Hampton 2025: Where to Eat in the Hamptons

1. Nick & Toni’s

136 North Main Street, East Hampton

Widely recognized as the most sought-after reservation in the Hamptons, Nick & Toni’s has defined East Hampton fine dining since 1988. Consequently, securing a table here remains the clearest signal that you understand how the East End operates.

The massive wood-burning oven anchors the dining room, producing dishes that have earned praise from critics and celebrities alike. Executive Chef Joe Realmuto sources produce from the restaurant’s own one-acre organic garden, working alongside Chef de Cuisine Courtney Sypher-Barylski to deliver what Bon Appetit described as cuisine that is both “simple yet sophisticated.”

Furthermore, the wine program holds Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence. Notable dishes include the wood-oven roasted whole fish with caramelized fennel, house-made cavatelli, and the signature clam pizza with Swiss chard and bacon. On Sunday through Thursday evenings, the kitchen offers pizza specials that draw devoted regulars.

Celebrity Intel: Hollywood stars frequently dine alongside local business leaders. As one reviewer noted, you may find yourself seated next to real Hollywood stars at any given evening.

Value Tip: The $32 two-course prix fixe (available Sun, Mon, Wed, Thu) represents exceptional value, with $11 quartino wine pairings.

2. Swifty’s at The Hedges InnNEW 2025

74 James Lane, East Hampton

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 in 2019 before making its Hamptons debut under owners Andrew and Sarah Wetenhall.

Notably, the setting matters as much as the menu. The Hedges Inn dates to 1873, and the Wetenhalls have wisely preserved its historic charm while adding their signature touches, including a pink vintage beach runner and electric Volvos for village jaunts.

Executive Chef Tom Whitaker presents elevated American classics with meticulous consistency. The menu sources locally from Montauk Shellfish, Braun Seafood, Balsam Farms, and Catapano Dairy Farm. Signature dishes include the Designer Meatloaf (crafted from a fashion designer’s personal recipe), Jumbo Lump Maryland Crab Cakes with creamed spinach, and the Pink Lobster Roll featuring Marie Rose sauce.

Additionally, Sunday Trivia Nights from 5-6:30pm have become a cult favorite, having migrated from their successful Palm Beach programming.

Who You’ll See: The restaurant draws what The Infatuation describes as “the Ralph Lauren crowd,” expect society figures, media executives, and fashion industry veterans.

3. The 1770 House

143 Main Street, East Hampton

OpenTable named The 1770 House among America’s Top 100 Restaurants, and one visit explains why. Chef Michael Rozzi delivers refined contemporary American cooking in a setting that dates back 250 years, making this simultaneously one of the most historic and accomplished dining rooms on the East End.

The restaurant offers two distinct experiences under one roof. The main dining room, accessed through a book-lined lounge with an antique fireplace, seats 40 guests amid antique wooden tables and high-back cushioned wicker chairs. Downstairs, The Tavern provides a more casual atmosphere while maintaining the same kitchen’s exacting standards.

Signature dishes include Montauk fluke tartare, mussel and saffron chowder, and the Tavern’s famous meatloaf, which has been featured on Food Network’s Barefoot Contessa with Ina Garten. The five-course tasting menu with sommelier wine pairings represents the pinnacle of the experience.

Value Opportunity: The $65 two-course prix fixe offers access to Chef Rozzi’s cooking at a more accessible price point. Early bird seating (Sun-Thu, 5:30-6pm) includes two courses for $50 plus $10 house wine.

4. East Hampton Grill

99 North Main Street, East Hampton

Part of the Hillstone Restaurant Group (the team behind Houston’s), East Hampton Grill delivers the corporate consistency that discerning diners secretly appreciate. Open since 2011 in the former DellaFemina’s space, EHG has become a year-round staple precisely because it never disappoints.

The atmosphere reads like dinner at a sophisticated art collector’s home, complete with an enviable collection, wood-burning fireplace, and the service polish that Hillstone properties are known for. Notably, the staff brings a fresh icy glass to refresh your martini midway through sipping, a signature touch.

The menu executes American classics with precision: rosemary buttermilk biscuits, oysters on the half shell, and the EHG cheeseburger consistently deliver. Hamptons-exclusive items like pan-fried fluke and fried bay scallops with cocktail sauce showcase local sourcing, while the ribs have developed a devoted following.

Bar Strategy: The bar serves the full menu and offers sports on TV, making it ideal for solo diners or those without reservations.

5. The Palm at Huntting Inn

94 Main Street, East Hampton

Since 1980, The Palm has occupied space inside the Huntting Inn, one of East Hampton’s most beautiful and historic landmarks on what National Geographic named one of America’s most beautiful Main Streets. The restaurant serves as the sixth Palm location after the Manhattan original, which opened in 1926.

In a departure from the urban settings typical of Palm restaurants, the East Hampton location offers a more serene setting while maintaining the brand’s signature steakhouse excellence. USDA Prime aged steaks and jumbo Nova Scotia lobsters anchor a menu that also includes authentic Italian dishes.

The walls display the brand’s famous caricatures of celebrities and regulars, and the establishment remains a gathering place for local business leaders, politicians, and socialites. Manager Andrew Tobin notes that the location alternates between busy summers full of celebrity guests and quieter, small-town winters.

Signature Moves: The classic wedge salad, Prime ribeye, and Nova Scotia lobster maintain standards that have made The Palm an American institution.

6. Moby’s

341 Pantigo Road, East Hampton

Now in its twelfth season, Moby’s occupies a restored 1880s farmhouse on Pantigo Road and has become synonymous with East Hampton summer dining. The expansive grounds feature string lights illuminating a yard with cornhole and fire pits, where dogs and kids play across the lawn every evening.

The menu centers on coastal Italian cuisine cooked over wood fire, with an emphasis on local seasonal produce and fresh seafood. Signature dishes include wood-fired pizzas (try the Soppressata with hot honey), grilled octopus with marinated chickpeas, and rigatoni cacio e pepe. The tuna crudo with avocado and calabrian chili showcases their approach to lighter fare.

Furthermore, the wine list has developed a reputation as top-tier. Happy hour is particularly recommended for signature blue crabs paired with skin-contact wines. Weekend lunch offers small plates and veggie-based bowls in a more relaxed setting.

Group Dining: Parties of 9+ can book family-style coastal Italian celebrations featuring multi-course menus.

7. Camp RubirosaNEW 2025

31 Race Lane, East Hampton

The beloved Nolita pizzeria’s first-ever expansion brings their famous Tie-Dye Pizza to the East End. Owner Maria Pappalardo and entrepreneur Brian Bedol have transformed the former Laundry space into a nostalgia-inducing summer camp experience, complete with vintage water skis, campfires streaming on flatscreens, and servers in camp-inspired uniforms.

The menu features Rubirosa’s greatest hits: thin-crust pies including the signature Tie-Dye with tableside pesto swirl, house-made pastas like sausage and broccoli rabe cavatelli, and linguine vongole. Summer exclusives include Montauk black bass and local shrimp scampi, plus Long Island market vegetables.

Tables fill quickly, particularly for the back patio. However, high-tops offer excellent viewing of the main dining room action, where not-too-sweet espresso martinis on tap keep things lively until close.

Manhattan Credentials: The original Nolita location remains perpetually packed, making this East Hampton residency a rare opportunity to skip the downtown wait.

8. Lucky’s East HamptonNEW 2025

85 Montauk Highway, East Hampton

Founded by Gene Montesano of Lucky Brand Jeans, Lucky’s Steakhouse replaced the Ina Garten-lauded Cove Hollow Tavern in June 2025, retaining the former institution’s beloved staff. The Montecito original opened in 2000, with subsequent locations in Malibu and SoHo preceding this East Hampton debut.

The menu features west coast favorites alongside East Coast exclusives. Gene’s Filet (filet mignon with fresh horseradish and red wine sauce) represents the signature dish, while thick-cut cajun bacon showcases the East Hampton-specific offerings. The robust wine program and tableside martini service round out the experience.

The cozy bar within the dining room creates a casual but elevated atmosphere. For those mourning Cove Hollow Tavern, some beloved dishes have migrated to sister restaurant Vine Street Cafe on Shelter Island.

9. Bostwick’s Chowder House

277 Pantigo Road, East Hampton

Bostwick’s represents the Hamptons seafood shack experience at its finest. Paper plates and occasional hour-long waits aside, this East Hampton institution 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 for these shoreside favorites. The New England clam chowder, baked stuffed clams (a house specialty), and fried oysters with remoulade sauce round out the essential orders.

Daily blackboard specials showcase the freshest catch from local fishermen, while the complete menu runs from fish tacos to whole steamed lobsters. The attached market offers prepared foods for beach picnics.

Sister Location: Bostwick’s on the Harbor (39 Gann Road, Springs) offers upscale waterfront dining with harbor views and a butter-poached lobster roll.

10. Little Charli East Hampton

44 Three Mile Harbor Road, East Hampton

The Bleecker Street pizzeria returns for its second East Hampton season, co-located with Common Ground East on Three Mile Harbor Road. Pizzaiolo Salvatore Olivella brings impressive credentials: stints at Rossopomodoro (Eataly), Danny Meyer’s Marta, and Serafina shaped his mastery of authentic Roman-style pizza.

The 34-hour fermentation process and wood-burning oven using cherry and oak produce a signature smoky char and crispy crust. The Chef’s Pie (a meter-long pizza with prosciutto, burrata, arugula, shallots, and fresh truffle) makes a statement for groups, while individual favorites include the Margarita, Snow White, and the spicy Diablo with Soppressata and honey.

Pastas include rigatoni alla vodka and linguine with clams, while desserts feature bombolini and Uncle Fluffy’s S’mores Pie from the original West Village menu.

Interactive Experience: Pizza-making classes on Sunday afternoons offer hands-on instruction, ideal for date nights or family activities.