Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa

The iconic luxury address in Montauk.

The only full-service luxury resort directly on the beach, Gurney’s combines expansive ocean views with one of the finest spas on the East Coast. Spend mornings at the seawater spa, afternoons on the private beach, and evenings gathered around the resort’s oceanfront fire pits.

Why You’ll Love It

• Private beach with reserved loungers
• Oceanfront cottages
• Seawater Spa
• Multiple restaurants and bars
• Surf lessons
• Complimentary transportation around town

Marram Montauk

For travelers who prefer understated luxury.

Minimalist interiors, quiet beachfront surroundings, and one of the most beautiful cafés in Montauk make Marram feel intimate and effortlessly stylish.

Why You’ll Love It

• Oceanfront location
• Beautiful design
• Mostrador Marram café
• Walking distance to town
• Fire pits and beach access
• Relaxed boutique atmosphere

Elevated Dining

The Crow’s Nest

Your splurge dinner. Perched on Lake Montauk with a beach bar for pre-dinner drinks and sweeping sunset views over the lake. Walk up the hill when your table is ready for a seriously elevated meal. The lobster pasta and whipped ricotta are standouts. Cocktails ~$26, entrees $50+. Perfect for a girls’ dinner or date night — the vibe is dressed-up but still Montauk.

Duryea’s

A century-old fish market turned swanky waterfront restaurant on Fort Pond Bay. The Lobster Cobb Salad is legendary. Raw bar and lobster-everything menu, chic nautical outdoor seating on the dock, and the kind of sunset views that make your phone come out immediately. One of the most photographed dining spots in Montauk.

Mavericks

The see-and-be-seen upscale steakhouse on Fort Pond. Locally made pasta with lobster, fried chicken with caviar, bone-in tuna ribeye served like a steak with harissa. Top-notch cocktails and live music on weekends. Full indoor dining room with a beautiful bar overlooking the water. Come around sunset.

Gigi’s at Gurney’s

The new flagship restaurant at Gurney’s, opened for the 2025 season. Vibrant social hub with shareable Italian coastal plates — Angry Lobster (1.5 lb in smoky spicy sauce), Giant Shrimp Scampi, Hamachi sushi rolls. Sweeping ocean views, seating for 120 indoors and 110 on the patio. Great for groups.

Navy Beach

A Montauk staple right on the sand with panoramic bay views — one of the best sunset spots in town. Seafood-forward with small sharing plates. Call ahead for outdoor table reservations. Stay for the sunset, it’s always worth it.

The Dives

LUNCH Lobster Roll

The lobster roll shack on Montauk Highway as you drive in. Paper plates, picnic tables, no frills. Best lobster roll in town. The name says it all — this is the move for a casual midday stop and a great photo.

Gosman’s Clam Bar & Topside

Right on the dock — a historic complex that’s been there over 100 years. Order clams and watch the fishing boats come in. New ownership in 2024 brought in Bagatelle for the main dining room (upscale French Mediterranean), but the Clam Bar is unchanged and that’s the one you want.

668 The Gig Shack

Local dive on Main Street where the year-rounders actually go. Casual surf cuisine heavy on fresh local fish, creative cocktails, and live music on weekends. Zero pretense, great vibe, and excellent for a low-key experience.

The Surf Lodge

Technically not a dive but it belongs in this category — a hybrid beach club, restaurant, and nightlife spot on a scenic pond. Order the tuna tartare, get a drink, and stay for the DJ set or live music after 9pm. This is where the Montauk summer scene happens.

Ditch Plains Beach

The iconic surf beach and the social heart of Montauk. Wild, beautiful, and where everyone goes. Even if you don’t surf, rent a board for the photo and spend the afternoon here — the backdrop is incredible. This is the quintessential Montauk moment.

Montauk Point Lighthouse

Sits at the very tip of Long Island with sweeping Atlantic views. Dating back to 1796 and surrounded by dramatic cliffs — one of the best photo stops on the East Coast. Go early morning for the best light and no crowds.

Gurney’s Seawater Spa

Worth visiting even if you’re not staying there. Finnish rock sauna, Roman bath, and full treatment menu. The saltwater pool alone justifies a day pass. Book treatments well in advance, it fills up fast in the summer.

Deep Hollow Ranch

The oldest working ranch in the country, offering horseback riding across 3,000 acres of beach and countryside. 

Thursday Farmers Market

Runs weekly in town 9am–2pm with North Fork farmers bringing exceptional produce. Grab a coffee, walk the market, and pick up tomatoes and basil. 

Sunset Beach Bonfires

A true local ritual and honestly one of the best things you can do. Sit around a fire on the beach, ocean sounds, stars above, drinks from a cooler. It does get chilly at night even in peak summer — bring a blanket and a great jacket. Check local bonfire rules before setting up.

Day Trip to Block Island

A ferry ride away and worth every minute — a charming, quieter New England island with great beaches, lobster rolls, and a completely different pace. Perfect for an extension day if the trip allows.

Think weathered cedar shingles, windswept dunes, striped umbrellas, lobster rolls on picnic tables, salty hair after a swim, linen shirts at sunset, barefoot walks on the beach, and cocktails around an oceanfront fire pit.

Montauk isn’t about perfection—it’s about ease. Equal parts surf town and luxury escape, it’s where East Coast summer feels its most authentic. Come for the beaches, stay for the sunsets, and don’t be surprised if you’re already planning your return before you’ve even driven back toward the Hamptons.