EAST HAMPTON in the off season-- cozy, charming and uncrowded
This year for Christmas, we told our mother that instead of exchanging presents the best gift for us would be to get out of New York City for a few days and go somewhere together. Somewhere that felt Christmas-y and where we could revel in New England charm. We decided on East Hampton-- after experiencing Majorca in the off season and loving the feeling of having a place more to ourselves and really getting to know the locals, East Hampton sounded perfect. Having been there a few times in the summer and fighting with the crowds that swarm the Hamptons in the warm months, our winter getaway was the perfect converse experience - no battling traffic and other tourists!
On the way out to East Hampton, we stopped for a decadent lunch at Bobby Van's in Bridgehampton. The truffle chicken salad sandwich was heaven. Truffle anything has our number. After lunch we checked out 25 Park, the best store we've been in in ages -- so well curated with a variety of designers we're familiar with and love (Haute Hippie and Tracey Feith for example) and some newer ones we'd never heard of (Jemma Wynne and Virginia Johnson).
We stayed at c/o The Maidstone, an inn that balances utterly charming with utterly cool. Owned by a Swedish woman and decorated by Nicole Tolstoy (Leo Tolstoy's great-granddaughter), we loved the peacock colored walls Josef Frank covered chairs, sheepskin rugs that juxtaposed fantastically with the classic, New England white clapboard style buildings in which they're housed. Honestly the style happening in this hotel is the chicest we've seen and we went about photographing and taking notes so as to replicate in our own homes! Randye at the front desk is a gem who has worked in several of the best hotels in East Hampton and was such a wealth of information and guidance-- she really enhanced our stay! The included breakfast every morning was outstanding with fresh squeezed juices, eggs, waffles, whatever you desire.
The first evening, we enjoyed a glass of local champagne fireside at the bar at the hotel. We headed just down Main Street for dinner at the incredibly cozy 1770 House. A 180 degree difference from our hotel in design, the 1770 House is very Americana in decor with wood beamed ceilings and dark wood paneled walls, oriental rugs and tasseled drapes. We loved the bottle of 2002 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon we ordered-- smooth and layered and also the least expensive red wine they offered ($52). We had dinner before a fireplace which was delicious and a deal for $35/person for three courses. The Fishers Island oysters and desserts were frankly the highlight of dinner-- the date pudding was ridiculous.
Stuffed, we headed to Kurbits Cottage, our room at c/o The Maidstone and the delightful Hastens mattresses for sweet dreams.... More on East Hampton and Montauk tomorrow!! xxox