Get to know Montauk

If you want to spend time on the East End, it doesn’t get much more east or end than this. When you look at a map of the oddly-shaped New York landmass, Montauk is that easternmost terminus, hugging the Atlantic at the tip of Long Island. As such, Montauk can often feel like the end of the earth. With six state parks in only approximately 170 square miles, though, it’s a place of enviable beauty. Praised for having some of the best beaches in the Hamptons, the hamlet has been home to famous residents like Andy Warhol, Rufus Wainwright, and Edward Albee. It’s a fashionable place to be, but with a more casual vibe and closer to nature than its westerly neighbors. In pure scenic appeal terms, Montauk’s dunes and sunsets give it the most significant wow factor of all the villages in East Hampton.

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Montauk History & Culture

Montauk has made its mark across the centuries. The most literal shining example of that legacy is the Montauk Point Light, commissioned in 1792 under the authorization of President George Washington — the first public works structure built by the then-new U.S. government. Entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher bought most of the East End in 1926, intending to make Montauk the northern counterpart to Miami Beach. The 1929 stock market crash scuttled those plans, but not before Fisher erected around 30 Tudor Revival-style buildings. Leisurama arrived in the early 1960s, plunking down 200 prefabricated vacation homes in Culloden Point. Perhaps Montauk’s biggest allure today is its fishing. Whether it’s onshore, aboard a sailing charter, or submerged in the water for skishing, you are bound to find people casting off and setting all kinds of saltwater records.

Montauk Dining & Shopping

Waterside eating and drinking options are, in general, abundant. Because Montauk is synonymous with all kinds of fishing, you’d be wise to savor the fruits of that labor by putting daily catches like fluke and tuna onto your plate. Lobster rolls and platters, along with local oysters from Gardiner's Bay, further anchor the menu of local staples. The area also has its fair share of non-seafood eateries, in addition to bakeries, coffee shops, food markets, and a brewery. Retail isn’t strictly limited to water-wear wares; however, there is a particular focus on stores looking to outfit your next beach or fishing venture. As Montauk is often a summer vacation destination, plenty of shops sell the perfect souvenir to commemorate your trip or thank your neighbor for watching the pets back at home.