The Real Montauk: 5 Classic Spots

As the Hamptons continue to colonize the far East End, these spots hark back to a saltier era.
Description
Insider Exclusive Offer: 

Duryea’s Lobster Deck and Seafood Market
With buildings that date to the 1920s and were part of the original Montauk fishing village on Fort Pond Bay, Duryea’s has an authenticity that’s undeniable. Lunch and dinner are served seven days a week and include the freshest lobster, mussels, and flounder you can find on the East End. Go for sunset: Bring a bottle of rosé, order a lobster roll, and sit out on the plastic chairs by the water. Summer in the Northeast doesn’t get better than this.
Duryea’s Lobster Deck and Seafood Market: 65 Tuthill Road, 631.668.2410

The Hideaway
Hidden out by Diamond Cove Marina, this open-air joint has an apt name. The Hideaway overlooks Lake Montauk and makes everything from scratch, including salsas, tamales, and sopes. The food is simple and plentiful, from Mexican staples such as tacos and quesadillas to house-smoked barbecue to steamed mussels and shrimp. Thirty tequila options and a killer peach sangria don’t hurt either.
The Hideaway: 364 West Lake Drive, 631.668.6592

Shagwong Restaurant
If you’re looking for a drink-with-the-local-fishermen vibe, the Shagwong is the spot. Established in 1969 and one of the few Montauk restaurants open year-round, the tavern has a reputation for being one of the original hot spots in town. With lots of seafaring history, the Shagwong encapsulates the salty character of Montauk.
Shagwong Restaurant: 774 Main Street, 631.668.3050

Star Island Grill
Star Island Grill, part of the Star Island Yacht Club & Marina, hosts a slew of boaters and locals searching for a view of Montauk Bay and the fresh local catch. Open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, the seaside spot offers a variety of casual lunch options, including fish sandwiches, lobster rolls, and fried calamari. Star Island Grill also opens early for a fishermen’s breakfast, and if you catch anything, the chefs will prepare and cook it for you.
Star Island Grill: Star Island Road, 631.668.5052

West Lake Clam & Chowder House
Set amid the charter fishing boats at West Lake Marina, the West Lake Clam & Chowder House is a local favorite for its fresh sushi platters and raw bar. The no-frills ambience and outdoor seating make it a great après-beach spot.
West Lake Clam & Chowder House: 352 West Lake Drive, 631.668.6252

View Montauk in a larger map

—Chelsea Burcz
  • Ocean House
Robb NYC Guide: Boutique Hotel Escapes Picking a weekend getaway spot isn't as easy as it sounds. Nothing...
  • Avenue A Club. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
Welcome to Exotic Car Heaven The Ironbound section of Newark is about as plush as its name implies...
  • Harlow. Photo by Owen Hoffmann.
Decadent Dining Returns Richie Notar is sick of casual dining. The restaurateur who managed the...
  •  Golf & Body NYC. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
Manhattan’s New Golf Club Billed as a state-of-the-art urban country club, Golf & Body NYC is a...
  • Truman’s Gentlemen’s Groomers. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
The Best Shave in New York If you’re anything like us, your morning shave routine involves a...
  • Madison Fine Time. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
An Extraordinary Patek Collection Watch collectors and admirers, there’s a new must-see attraction in...
  • Freemans Bench-Made Bespoke. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
Robb NYC Guide: Custom Suits Few purchases are more important to get right than a suit—and there...
  • Nat Sherman. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
The Year in Pictures One of the great things about working at Robb Report NYC is being able to...
  • Grilled scallop and uni at Neta. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
The Ramen Revolutionary Long Island native Ivan Orkin moved to Japan 10 years ago and opened 12-...
  • Auden. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
Fine Dining Is Back at the Ritz It’s been nearly a year since BLT Market closed on the ground floor...
  • 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL
Great Find: Cooper Classic Cars When Elliot Cuker decided to open Cooper Classics Collection more than 30...
  • E. Vogel. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
A Lasting Custom Footwear Tradition Custom clothing has gotten a fashion update and broadened its base in...
  • Freemans Bench-Made Bespoke. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
Freemans Goes Bespoke Freemans Sporting Club was a kind of modern-day menswear pioneer when it...
Bicycles Go Bespoke Yes, riding a bike in New York is more convenient and less dangerous than...
  • Jimmy. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
Our Favorite Rooftop Bars When the temperature and humidity compete to see which can hit 100 first,...
  • Ursus Books and Prints. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
Collector’s Guide: Rare Bookstores Argosy Book Store Founded in 1925, Argosy is a third-generation family-...
  • The Hideaway
The Real Montauk: 5 Classic Spots Duryea’s Lobster Deck and Seafood Market With buildings that date...
  • Leffot. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
Great Find: Leffot shoes If men’s shoes were a religion, Leffot might be a temple. Actually,...
  • Bhambi’s Custom Tailors. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
NYC’s Top Tailors You know the feeling: You have some garments altered, and when you pick...
  • Croteaux Vineyards
Provence on the North Fork As you pull up to the charming, shady entrance to Croteaux Vineyards, on...
Great Find: Marjorie Eliot's Parlor Jazz Back in the days of the Harlem Renaissance, a cottage industry of private...
  • Holland & Sherry
Bespoke Everything   For 185 years, the Scottish company Holland & Sherry...
  • Delamar Greenwich Harbor
Delicious Drive Destinations La Maison Blanche, Shelter Island This breezy boutique hotel in a big...
  • Five Story
New York’s Very Own Colette New York’s most inspired new boutique came to be not out of passion...
  • Carnegie Club. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
Where to Smoke Like Don Draper  It’s been long enough now that it’s hard to remember...
Great Find: Cocktail Kingdom Hidden on the fifth floor of a building on 25th Street in Chelsea is one...
The Art of Framing When the Metropolitan Museum of Art decided to celebrate its new American...
  • Booker and Dax. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
Better Cocktails Through Science As director of culinary technology at the French Culinary Institute, Dave...
The Greatest Sake Selection All 150 of the sakes available at Kirakuya, a new Japanese restaurant in a...
  • Aptheke. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
Chinatown's Delicious Surprises Brother and sister duo Heather and Christopher Tierney know all about how...
New York’s New Top Flight It took a luxury yacht designer to notice that while the Upstairs/...
  • Snap
Sports Bars Done Right Time was, finding a good sports bar in New York was about as easy as...
Make Your Own Power Lunch Sure, a long boozy lunch in a corner seat with a commanding view at the...
From Law Suits to Making Suits Great Jones Alley is one of those little-known slices of New York that,...
  • A.F. Rapoport Hot Buttered Rum at Joseph Leonard. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
Hottest Cold-Weather Cocktails A.F. Rapoport Hot Buttered Rum at Joseph Leonard Self-proclaimed “...
  • Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare
Chef’s Table: Ultimate Off-Menu Dining You’ve been to Per Se. You did the new dining room at Le Bernardin....
The Best Haircut in New York “Three weeks,” says Takamichi Saeki. “You haven’t...
  • Peter Elliot Boots, etc. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
Boots and All If there were a benevolent king of the Upper East Side, he might be Peter...
  • Culture Espresso
The Fine Art of Espresso New York’s always been a coffee town. Those blue-and-white deli cups...
  • Armando Cabral Men’s Footwear. Photo by Chelsea Curtis.
Rising Footwear Designer Armando Cabral Twenty-nine-year-old Portugal native Armando Cabral started his career as...
BYO Best of NYC Whether you bring a bottle of 1997 Opus One to the table, or a favorite...
Cocktail Cures at the Bar on Fifth Bar on Fifth mixologist Robbie Clift knows the cocktail cure for almost...