The draw of The Hamptons is unmistakable. For some, it’s a summer hideaway filled with sun-splashed days and shingle-sheltered seaside views. Others can’t confine their love of this relaxed, romantic, rapturous locale to just one season, finding the pull toward the sea and away from their city digs too potent to resist.
Such is the tale of Jennifer Mabley and Austin Handler, the married principals of Mabley Handler Interior Design, a New York City-bred firm that made the move to Water Mill with them and his since become a leading Hamptons design shop. The pair took a short break from planning the “home scope” of their next project to take us on a town-by-town tour of their favorite places to soak in the Hamptons’ allure.
Union Cantina — 40 Bowden Square, Southampton, NY 11968
“This excellent new Mexican restaurant and tequila bar quietly opened just after Labor Day on the site of the former Publick House, yet it’s not having any trouble keeping its seats filled. Word is quickly spreading among locals, visitors, and celebrities alike that executive chef Scott Kampf’s inventive and delectable south-of-the-border cuisine is pitch perfect. We could eat his Mexican sweet corn for dinner every night!””
Water Mill, The Cut Beach — Half-mile past 1055 Flying Point Road, Southampton, NY 11968
“Water Mill’s main beach is Flying Point, but if you hang a left past there, about a half-mile down the road, you’ll find a less crowded beach called The Cut, so named because it is where Mecox Bay cuts through the sand into the ocean. The shallow pools created by the tidal flows make this a popular destination for families with small children who aren’t ready to shoot the barrels of the Atlantic Ocean. And, since there are only about 30–40 nearby parking spaces, it is much less crowded than Flying Point Beach. You should get there early to score a parking spot, though. Otherwise you’ll be hiking or biking there!”
Michelle Farmer Collaborate — 2491 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton, NY 11932
“The area is well-known for its world-class shopping, but if you look past the seasonal beach outposts for the typical run of NYC/Beverly Hills fashion mainstays, you’ll find a true hidden gem. Michelle Farmer Collaborate offers the finest in women’s and men’s fashion, as well as jewelry. The store is curated by the eagle-eyed couple, Michelle and Peter Farmer, who split their time between Bridgehampton and Palm Beach, as they scour the globe for the latest in luxury resort fashionwear.”
SagTown Coffee — 78 Main Street, Sag Harbor, NY 11963
“While it may be more convenient to stumble into the Golden Pear, discerning coffee connoisseurs will be rewarded for making the trip down the alley to SagTown Coffee. The vibe is rustic and relaxed, and the La Colombe coffee they serve is pure-brewed perfection. I dare you to find a better latte anywhere else in the Hamptons. And their baked goods aren’t too shabby, either. Throw in plenty of outdoor seating in the summer, and you’ll have to admit that SagTown is without rival in the Hamptons.”
Sagg Pond — Sagg Main Street, Sagaponack, NY 11962
“We’re surrounded by water, with the Atlantic Ocean to our south and Peconic Bay to our north, but some of the smaller waterways in between are the real hidden secrets of the Hamptons, especially for standup paddle boarders and kayakers. Nestled between Bridgehampton and Sagaponack lies a curvy, two-and-one-half-mile-long body of water called Sagaponack Pond, or Sagg Pond. Accessible either from the bridge on Bridge Lane, or the Sagg Main Beach parking lot, it’s easy to get on the water and get your paddle on. And, when the water is deep enough, you can paddle all the way out the back of Sagg Main Beach and jump in the ocean to cool off after a hard afternoon’s paddle.”
Serena & Lily Beach Market — 332 Montauk Highway, Wainscott, NY 11975
“When the Sausalito-based home furnishings catalog company Serena & Lily decided to launch their first retail store, it came as a surprise to many that they would open in the Hamptons even before opening a northern California location. But once you discover their chic beach furniture, bedding, rugs, wallpaper and lighting, it all starts to make sense. Serena of Serena & Lily designs all of their exclusive patterns, which are so evocative of the Hamptons beach lifestyle. And their Beach Market is chock-full of great home accessories, and a great selection of perfect hostess gifts as well. Nothing says, “Thanks for letting me crash at your beach pad!” like a stylish gift from Serena & Lily Beach Market.”
Bay Kitchen Bar — 39 Gann Road, East Hampton, NY 11937
“This restaurant location has hosted many different iterations over the years, but it looks like Bay Kitchen Bar is here to stay. Now in its fourth year, they serve up an amazing selection of seafood in a fresh, lively Hamptons setting. And while the food is amazing, there’s one thing that’s even better: their sunset. The view looking out over Three Mile Harbor as the sun heads to bed is probably one of the most beautiful vistas in all of the Hamptons…and that’s saying something!”
Mary’s Marvelous — 207 Main Street, Amagansett, NY
“This unassuming Amagansett storefront belies the incredible homemade treats on offer inside. To those in the know, Mary’s Marvelous offers the best selection of sandwiches and soups around, and there are many choices that are made fresh each morning, and available wrapped and ready to go. Just don’t wait too long to get there. If you fancy a later lunch, you may be out of luck, as the pre-made sandwiches tend to fly off the shelves. Her baked goods are as marvelous as the lunch treats, so there’s often quite a breakfast scene as well.”
Duryea’s Lobster Deck — 65 Tuthill Road, Montauk, NY 11954
“When it comes to Lobster Rolls, everyone in the Hamptons swears that their favorite place is the best. Well, let me put that argument to rest… Duryea’s Lobster Deck has THE BEST lobster rolls anywhere around, hands down, The End (which, funnily enough, is Montauk’s unofficial nickname.). Now, plenty of people will claim that Lunch (on the side of the highway on the way out to Montauk) is the best around, but when you really compare them, it’s not even close. Lunch has a serviceable lobster salad on a hotdog bun, while Duryea’s lobster salad is chock-full of huge lobster chunks, perfectly blended with celery and dill, served on a generous sesame seed roll. Oh, and the view? You can choose between Lunch’s dusty highway locale, or the stunning vista of Fort Pond Bay from Duryea’s. Game, set and match!”
The Good Farm Delivery — The Hamptons, 631-848-9472
“We are surrounded by farms in the Hamptons, offering everything from local corn and potatoes, to a variety of fruits, vegetables and homemade baked goods. Now, you could spend all day driving all over in search of the best that each individual farm has to offer, or you could join a CSA and go hand-pick your own. Or, if you’re smart and want to save your time but still get the best farm finds out there, you could jump on Megan Schmidt’s website, The Good Farm Delivery, and order up a Good Grab of the best locally grown organic/natural fruits and veggies available that week, delivered anywhere throughout the Hamptons, right to your door (or boat, no kidding!). Megan curates the best of what’s in season every week from several dozen local farms and vendors, but you can also go custom and pick your own collection of homegrown edibles. In addition, she has amazing culinary add-ons, like small-batch Hamptons-baked bread from Carissa’s Breads, cheeses from Catapano Farms and Mecox Bay Dairy, heirloom free-range eggs from Iacono Farm, and artisanal, homemade, natural soaps from the Southampton Soap Company. How did we survive before The Good Farm Delivery? It is EVERYTHING that is good about the Hamptons!”
A Mabley Handler Interior Design room at the 2016 Holiday House Hamptons, open now through Labor Day weekend.
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