Be Our Guest: The Hamptons hotel scene heats up for summer

Last year was a tough one for commercial real estate, and those headwinds blew all the way out to Montauk. Unlike the previous few summers, which saw quite a few new Hamptons hotel openings, this year is relatively quiet. 

But 2024 still promises to be an exciting season in the Hamptons, with several notable debuts, renovations and activations: The new Zey Hotel in Greenport will be open for its first full season, the Grassmere Inn in Westhampton is reopening as Seven Beach Lane and Canoe Place in Hampton Bays is reclaiming the mantle of cultural hub with its Front Row Series. So hit the gym and get that body beach-ready, as we’ve rounded up exactly where to stay to be a part of the action.

We’re particularly excited about this debut (coming in June), since it’s really the only new construction to emerge this season. Developer Peconic Equities (Fire Island Beach House, West End Flats in Long Beach, LI) is keeping its cards close to its vest, but insiders say the former Grassmere Inn, with its circa-1885 mansard roof and dormer rooms, remains intact as a glassy extension is added to the 16-room high-end hotel. Investors have reportedly dropped more than $14 million on redeveloping the Victorian, including adding a pool, a restaurant, loads of fun programming and OTT landscaping. We’re waiting with bated breath as this jewel a mile from the beach gets ready for its close-up, with The Surf Lodge’s Ben Levine raring to go as general manager.

Here’s some trivia for you Summer People: “Marram” is the beach grass that grows on the sand dunes of Montauk and gives this surf resort its name. Other trivia: The 96-room retreat sits smack in the middle of an $11 million beach-restoration project that stretches from Montauk to Fire Island. Along with its epic location, the Marram epitomizes laid-back luxury, with its Frette linens, Tuft & Needle Mint mattresses and walk-in showers — not to mention its screen-free approach to the Hamptons lifestyle. Instead of Netflix and chilling, we suggest a day that begins with complimentary outdoor yoga, followed by a surf lesson courtesy of Engstrom Surf (run by a trio of siblings). Enjoy a lazy poolside afternoon paired with canned cocktails (new this summer), as you whale watch from beneath the shelter of your umbrella. Evening delights include paella (also new) by chef Fernando Trocca at Mostrador, the hotel’s South American-influenced restaurant, and group s’mores gratis at a dune-side fire pit. Rinse, repeat, then throw in a guided meditation session, crystal workshop or tarot-card reading for some variety. Go home with your chakras aligned and your spirit refreshed.

This classic inn takes pride of place at the center of the village, yet still plants guests amidst five blooming acres with a gorg heated pool and patio. It’s been a staple of the scene since it opened more than 25 years ago, but this year will be especially fab, thanks to a soft-goods upgrade (from Tempur-Pedic mattresses to Matouk linens) of its 90 rooms and suites, not to mention a new team behind the restaurant. Regulars know to secure a spot on the lawn for Negronis and cloud-watching, and to leave plenty of time for croquet, pickleball and tennis. Grab a bike (for a small fee) or the shuttle to ride the waves at Coopers Beach, or stay on-site and dine at the newly refreshed Claude’s Restaurant. Culture vultures can get their fill during Sunday Summer Salons, an interactive speaking series that begins on June 9 with Joy Behar at the mike.

Shopaholics, unite! This coastal-chic retreat set between Amagansett and East Hampton gives weekenders seeking some retail therapy easy access to the highest high street Out East, a strip that includes Chanel, Gucci and Prada. Just make sure your new ’fits are on the quiet side — Journey East epitomizes understated luxury, meaning the 25 rooms and suites aren’t flashy like so many other Hamptons spots. Here, the walls are shiplap or simply painted; furnishings and fixtures are made of metal, wood and leather; and the sinks are free-standing. The unpretentious saltwater pool is newly heated, while Adirondack chairs are strategically scattered on the lawn near fire pits and cornhole pitches. (Warning: Heels will simply sink, better to go barefoot.) New this summer are the reanimation of two on-property cottages: one for co-working (boring!) and one for yoga (we approve!). When you’ve finished your shopping spree, be sure to hit Blue & Cream or Lululemon for appropriate athleisure.

Southampton fixture and TV personality Zach Erdem has expanded his empire to the North Fork, opening not only a couple of eateries but also a new hotel: The Zey. The white-on-white clapboard property sits right on Main Street and offers just 10 rooms and suites, some with balconies, all with exposed beams, vibrant art and access to the garden, game room and movie nights. He’s hired Turkish pastry chef Gürsel Aydın (whose illustrious résumé includes the Çırağan Palace and the St. Regis in Istanbul) to oversee the baked delicious- ness available starting mid-May at the property’s Bourdon Patisserie & Artisan Bakery — a concept Erdem says he plans to roll out nationally. Meanwhile, guests can arrive by seaplane or boat from the city and rock up to ZErdem across the street, a contemporary Mediterranean hot spot that’s as rollicking as his 75 Main in Southampton. Come for the pan-seared scallops and bran- zino ceviche; stay for the scene back in the lobby. “The Hamptons is so built up,” says Erdem. “My customers from Southampton arrive to Greenport and are surprised that there’s more action here.”

White-hot architectural firm Workstead has taken what is said to be the oldest inn in America and given it a clean, modernist update. The three-story main building now houses 20 rooms and suites, plus a new spa by Sommetbeauty and a restaurant that sprawls from indoors to out, all situated on six blooming acres. Also on-site: five adorbs cottages for guests who want to cosplay as full-time Hamptons residents. New this second full season is the summer Beach Experience, a pampering ocean day that includes round-trip transportation to a nearby sandy spot complete with chairs, umbrellas, towels and a Yeti cooler filled with goodies from the hotel’s Good Ground Tavern. Even more exciting is the property’s Front Row series, a weekly gathering of thought-leaders and entertainers that range from a candlelight tribute to Taylor Swift to a performance by actor and (who knew?) jazz pianist Jeff Goldbum with The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra.