Get to know Amagansett
Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller lived here. In the late 1950s, the most famous couple in America would escape to their small converted windmill home, where the famous playwright would write and the legendary actress would prepare for Some Like It Hot. Perhaps no other Long Island village or hamlet wears its mystique better than these 6.6 square miles in East Hampton dropped between the ultra-exclusive Maidstone Club and Montauk. After all, post-Marilyn and Miller, other residents of Amagansett have included the likes of Bill and Hillary Clinton, Paul McCartney, Jerry Seinfeld, and Billy Joel. Further Lane, which unwinds through East Hampton and continues east into Amagansett parallel to the beach, is one of the best addresses in the Hamptons, with locals able to recite by heart the sale prices of various mansions — since the owners are often famous.
History & Culture
The earliest settlers — who never could have imagined that their rustic adopted home would become world-renowned — were English and Dutch descendants who found the area inhabited by the Montaukett. The rich history of the hamlet, which was established in 1680, is safeguarded by the Amagansett Historical Association, the grounds of which includes structures from the 18th and 19th centuries. With special emphasis on the period from 1725 to 1925, the association houses carriages, furnishings, letters, and early photographs. Also located in Amagansett is the East Hampton Historical Society, which looks after seven historical buildings, including a farmhouse dating from 1680, a preserved shingled house from 1720 on Main Street, and the East Hampton Town Marine Museum.
Dine & Shop
Goods and services are plentiful on Montauk Highway/Main Street, which is abuzz with a few new restaurants that debuted for the 2019 season. Coche Comedor, from the same owners and executive chef as Nick and Tony’s in East Hampton, serves up tasty Mexican, while Morty’s Oyster Stand offers local and far-flung varieties, plus spicy poached shrimp and a $34 lobster roll. Sotto Sopra features Italian cuisine that’s a step above; the Northern Italian menu is courtesy of its Michelin-starred executive chef, Josh Salvi. Homeowners will become familiar with the Bayberry House & Garden Center, and sunbathers heading to Indian Wells Beach will want to stock up at Brent’s General Store and Amber Waves Farm.
