The DL: Getting to Southampton takes around 2-2.5 hours from NYC. The first time I took a day trip here I second guessed if this would be to much for the day, honestly it really wasn’t! The way there and back is down time where you can read, listen to music, work, nap, whatever you want to do. Once you arrive and spend the day you’ll be happy you decided to getaway. I enjoy going for the beach and exploring the downtown, there is so much to do!
The Village of Southampton, was settled in the 1600s by English Puritans, and became the first permanent English settlement in the State of New York. Today it is home to the 1% of the rich and famous and you can tell as soon as you step into the town. Here is a guide on how to spend the perfect day in Southampton.
Day Trip to Southampton Details
How to get there:
- Option 1: Take the LIRR from Penn Station to Jamaica then transfer to the Montauk Line and get off at Southampton (this is what I have done before) – its one ticket not 2. You can also take the subway to Jamaica and catch the LIRR to the Montauk Line and get off at Southampton
- Option 2: Take the Jitney to the Southampton Station
- Option 3: Rent a car
Once you get off the LIRR you can walk down Elm street to get to the main downtown or you can walk down North Main Street (don’t have sidewalks for a little bit of the walk). We walked one way in and one way out. Elm street you can see beautiful houses and North Main Street you can see more of the business and random restaurants and shops.
Morning in Southampton:
On your way in or out, make sure to stop by Tate’s Bake Shop, they close at 3PM.
Grab coffee here: Tates, Hampton coffee company (out of the way if you are walking), Golden Pear, Starbucks downtown if you must, four oaks cafe and juice bar, Wishbone Farms
Grab breakfast here: Goldbergs (no real gf options but have açaí bowls), Southampton Cheese Shop, one of the sit down restaurants on the main downtown strip.
Head to the downtown and do some shopping, some of my favorite stores:
- Hildreths Homegoods
- Breezin Up – any Southampton gear you could want
- BookHampton – some of the best coffee table books here
- Tenet, Love Shack Fancy, and Intermix
- Club Monaco and the Ralph Lauren for vibes
Afternoon in Southampton:
For sit down lunch/brunch try: 75 Main, Sant Ambroeus, or Sip N Soda if looking for a more casual diner feel.
We ended up grabbing sandwiches and took them to eat later on the beach. Go to golden pear (order ahead, line gets super long) or Seans place (gf options and liquor store across the street) if you want to do this.
There is also a Citarella, CVS, Stop and Shop to grab groceries to take to the beach too!
How to get the beach – you can uber ($20 each way from the downtown) or you can use circuit, which is a free electric shuttle, you just need the app. Parking fills up quickly and is about $50 per car so the shuttle is the way to go. Its a pretty far walk and not a lot of dedicated sidewalks from the downtown to the beach. There is bathroom, concessions, and showers to rinse off. You can rent chairs and umbrellas $15 each – cash only!
If you don’t want to hit the beach other options include visiting the Southampton Arts Center, the Parish Museum, the Southampton History museum, more shopping, explore some of Agawam Park (small park on the water) or drive by celebrity homes if you brought a car. You are so close to surrounding towns to visit and explore.
Evening in Southampton:
Grab dinner at the following:
If coming from the beach and want something more low key try – Publick house, Bamboo sushi, Fellinghams sports bar or Union Burger Bar.
Good for outdoor dining – Blue mar, Claudes, Union Sushi and Steak
Nicer dinner – Le Chef, T Bar (right be LIRR), Le Charlot, Dopo Argento, Tutto Il Giorno South,
Grab a drink before you head to the train, or see if any local events are going on in the downtown – when we went they were having a summer jazz concert for free!
If staying longer check out my other guides to The Hamptons, like this one to Montauk.
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