Things to Do in Montauk, NY

Updated at : 18 Sep, 2024

Locals will tell you that once upon a time Montauk was a tranquil little fishing town popular with surfers. For wealthy New Yorkers, however, it is become the ideal jet set vacation. With hotel rates beginning at $700 a night for a room at the height of summer, this is an expensive place to visit. For an ordinary room as well. Finance people will often tell you how they get there using a Blade—Uber for helicopters. That kind of location exists here.

Though you have to be smart, there are ways you might afford it if you do not own a house in The Hamptons. On my birthday, I first visited Montauk; we rode the train and divided a hotel room with two queen beds among four people. We did it with five the next time. Before we got to the bar, we pre-drank at the hotel and ate pizza instead of dining out in a restaurant. We had so much fun we decided we needed to return every summer.

What I wasn’t anticipating when I traveled to Montauk in mid July was the insane nightlife, but I guess it’s New York by the ocean, and New Yorkers do like to party. Outside of bars though there’s much to enjoy, including ocean-view eateries, hiking paths and lovely beaches. When Manhattan becomes so hot and stuffy in summer it’s good to escape the city and just enjoy the soothing beach vibes.

Hit The Beach

Surely the beach is what you came for. Montauk boasts miles of tanning-friendly beaches for you.

• Ditch Plains Beach

• Amsterdam Beach and Kirk Park Beach

• Edison Shoreline

• gin beach

• Hither Hills State Park:

• Turtle Cove Beach of Montauk Point State Park

If you have a car, you can travel to other beaches; if you want to party, just put your blanket down on the town beach outside Sloppy Tuna. Here you will discover the highest concentration of 20/30-somethings enjoying themselves and playing music.

The Surf lodge

Everyone heads to The Surf Lodge, a hotel/restaurant/bar with a bay view, at sunset. It's the place to see and be seen; on weekends, it's also somewhat difficult to get in and lines of people outside are common. Either better still, reserve dinner there a few weeks in advance, or arrive early. If you do try your luck at waiting in line, avoid acting as though you know someone who works there; the security staff will roll their eyes since they have heard too much of this. Particularly if you are in a group, be ready to shell out $$$ for a table and bottle service. Friday night and Sunday are the more sedate days; Saturday night is the busiest.

Drinks Offered By Montauk Brewing Company

Spend a day at Montauk Brewing Company to satisfy your thirst—a great cool beer on a hot sunny day is unparalleled. Living in New York, you will most likely have seen their beer all across the city; however, it's good to taste it right from the source. Order a pint of whatever suits your taste and enjoy some sun in their backyard. A beer flight is also great.

The Montauk Lighthouse

Montauk tip State Park's historic Montauk Lighthouse is located on the easternmost tip of Long Island. Since Montauk is at the end of Long Island, you will actually frequently hear Montauk referred to as "Montauk End of the World". Built to alert arriving fishermen of the hazardous rocks at Montauk Point, the lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in New York State. See the Atlantic Ocean and Block Island in the distance from the lighthouse in sweeping perspective. Adult admission is $12; senior's is $8; children's is $5. Remember they close in adverse weather; check their website for present opening times.

The Nest Of The Crow

The restaurant and guesthouse Crow's Nest Montauk features wooden furnishings strewn over a sizable lawn. Excellent views of Lake Montauk make this a wonderful spot for a sunset supper. There is a wide cuisine featuring roasted beet salad, lobster fettucine, sea bass ceviche and rib eye steak.

Grab Bagels From Goldberg's

You will need something to line your stomach the next day and help with hangover after a night of partying. Usually with a big wait in the mornings, Goldberg's is a well-known bagel store in the town center. If you see folks you met the night before sporting sunglasses to hide their weary eyes, you should not be startled. Usually, every morning in Montauk, I eat smoked salmon bagels from Goldberg.

Schedule A Surf Lesson

Never picked up surfing skills. You can enroll in surf lessons at numerous establishments including:

Coreyswave Engstrom Surf Sunset Surf Shack

Ruschmeyer’s Ruschmeyer’s Montauk becomes raucous on a weekend and is popular with groups since the restaurant offers large oak tables in a beer hall style environment. The hotel provides cabin-style rooms with views of Fort Pond lake, plus a variety menu of pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, salads and entrees. Taste their Tartufata pizza using Mozzarella, Urbani Truffles, Porcini sauce, baby spinach, roasted tomatoes. Once everyone has finished supper, everyone starts dancing and it becomes more of a club.

Ride Horses Out Of Deep Hollow Ranch

Want to try something a bit unique? For the day at Deep Hollow Ranch, the oldest operational cattle ranch in the United States, feel like a cowboy/cowgirl. Riding horses Western style on Montauk's immaculate beaches and paths will let you enjoy the amazing surroundings all along.

Montauk Resort and Seawater Spa Gurney's

Right on the beach, Gurney's luxury hotel/resort is also a big party venue on a Saturday. While my buddies and I were fortunate enough to know someone who could get us in, else you had to reserve a daybed with minimum expenditure. On the 2,000 foot long private beach of The Beach Club, partygoers are dancing to techno/house music.

Scarpetta Dinner

Arrange a table at Scarpetta, the sister restaurant of the elegant Italian restaurant in Manhattan, for a boujis fine dining experience. Nestled within Gurney's Montauk Resort, the restaurant features an outdoor deck with expansive views of the ocean and mid-century contemporary décor mixed with nautical themes. Black cod and branzino among fresh fish dishes and Italian pastas abound on the menu.

Dance The Evening Away At Memory Motel

Though it's also quite fun, Memory Motel is the type of place your feet adhere to the floor. After everything else closes, visit Memory Motel and be ready to dance on a rather packed dance floor. Go to the pizza window down the street to absorb all the alcohol when your feet cannot keep you going any more.

Hear Live Music The Gig Shack

Sit down at 668 The Gig Shack on Montauk's Main Street for a laid-back afternoon or evening and listen to their daily live music. Order meals for the table and a Montauk Cocktail created from locally grown, fresh juices—with or without alcohol.

Check out Camp Hero State Park

Open for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and picnicking—just not swimming—Camp Hero State Park is 415-acre Montauk Point. If you enjoy fishing, the park is open around-the-clock to let anglers with permits access and features some of the best surf fishing locations worldwide. Within the park you’ll find wooded woods, freshwater ponds, seaside vistas and stunning cliffs. Pets are also allowed (cheer for dog owners!).

Eat at Inlet Seafood Restaurant

Love seafood? Head to Inlet Seafood Restaurant, which is one of the top seafood restaurants on Long Island. Owned by six commercial fisherman, this restaurant delivers the freshest seafood landed daily by their boats and brought straight to your dish. The menu contains a large assortment of fish and seafood, as well as sushi. Yum!

Spend a leisurely Sunday at Montauk Beach House

Exhausted from a hectic Saturday night? Hit to the pool at Montauk Beach House, get a Bloody Mary and enjoy their relaxed house vibes. Located in the center of town, Montauk Beach House is the finest place to enjoy a lazy Sunday before you take the jitney home.

Navy Beach

Another famous watering area in Montauk is Navy Beach, which is set on a 200-foot private beach looking west across Fort Pond Bay and Gardiner’s Island. This laid-back restaurant serves seaside food and has one of the largest selections of rosé wines in the Hamptons. Enjoy dinner in their nautically decorated dining room or dine al fresco at picnic tables immediately on the beach.

Read Also: Activities Available in Montauk, New York

 

Where to Stay in Montauk

As I noted previously, Montauk Hotels are pricey thus even the “affordable” hotels are still expensive in summer. If you want to find affordable deals then you’ll need to visit Montauk out of peak season. Montauk’s summer season spans from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Outside of these times hotels tend to be significantly more reasonable but the negative is that many places close during off-season and it’s cold along the beach.

Affordable Options

Montauk Blue Hotel is where I generally stay. Right on the beach in the center of town, this hotel boasts clean rooms with views of the ocean. It’s nothing flashy but it’s comfortable and rooms have 2 beds so you can squeeze four people into a room.

Montauk Manor isn’t on the coast but it boasts various on-site facilities, including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, complimentary vehicle parking and a spa. Rooms also contain a kitchen if you wish to make your own food.

A Wave Inn is located in town fairly close to Montauk Blue Hotel. You’re within walking distance of various restaurants and stores and the hotel includes an outdoor pool you can relax at.

Mid Range Choices

Breakers Montauk features 25 rooms, a cafe + bar, an ocean view pool, direct beach access across the street, an outdoor ocean view sun terrace and patio and bikes. Rooms are light and airy with seaside design and Leesa mattresses. Depending on the size of your gathering there are numerous different room alternatives, including

Hero Beach Club stands immediately on Umbrella Beach in Montauk and boats a trendy pool with furniture from Bali, as well as a wide green grass with bonfire pits and soft seats. Rooms feature a Montauk beach vibe with stunning modern décor and high grade bath amenities.

Luxury Options

Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa is probably the most elegant and most expensive option in Montauk. The resort is enormous — it includes five on-site drinking and dining establishments (including Scarpetta), a saltwater pool, a full-service spa and a sauna. It also sits on its own 2,000 foot-long beach with daybeds and cabanas.