The Essence of Wainscott
Situated on the town line, Wainscott welcomes one to the Town of East Hampton. The hamlet’s 17th-century founder John Osborn named it after an English village, and today’s residents keep its pastoral character alive through initiatives such as the Wainscott Heritage Project. The nonprofit saved the historic Little House and hopes the Town of East Hampton’s significant acquisition of the Osborn Homestead on Wainscott Pond achieves optimal results for the community. Citizens enjoy country life with proximity to the action in surrounding villages’ more developed downtowns. They also have the convenience of excellent primary education in their backyards, including Ross Lower School, the Country School and the Wainscott School, one of New York’s oldest in operation. East Hampton Airport lies within its borders, too.
Nearby Neighborhoods:
East Hampton, Sagaponack, Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor
Dining & Shopping
For decades, the Seafood Shop has provided quintessential shore dining and catering in an old-fashioned grocery store setting. Order a legendary lobster roll, among ocean delicacies, to eat on its outdoor patio, and peruse the daily catch for dinner at home. Wainscott lucked out when Levain Bakery opened its East End outpost for classic and seasonal cookies. Goldberg’s Famous Bagels also has a location here to feed hungry house guests. Local institution La Capinnina Pizza specializes in traditional New York pies and prepared Italian dishes like lasagna. Red Door Asian Bistro’s sushi, ramen and Chinese dishes make for easy meals. Nearby Highway Restaurant and Bar’s themed nights include Asian to Mexican, in addition to the regular menu’s American fare. Sommelier-staffed Wainscott Main Wine & Spirits focuses on small growers’ biodynamic, organic wines to sample at frequent wine tastings. In season, visit farmstands run by the Babinski family (produce) and the Osborn girls (flowers and gifts). Retail concentrates on home and design, with Serena & Lily, Aboff’s Paints, HomeGoods, and Riverhead Building Supply Masonry & Tile. At her namesake Hamptons Design Studio & Shop, interior designer Michael Del Piero’s private collection features “The Hamptons” slipcover sofa and club chair. Outdoor settings are beautified by landscape design firm Wainscott Farms.
Culture & Attractions
East End cultural institution LTV Studios draws audiences throughout the region for intimate performances in its black-box studio. The Hamptons Summer Songbook by the Sea, Hamptons JazzFest and Hamptons Dance Project are among its annual series. Southampton-born Tripoli Gallery relocated to its current space in 2019, where annual group show “Thanksgiving Collective” has become a fixture on the cultural calendar. The Clubhouse entertains all generations. While families can enjoy its 18-hole mini golf, bowling alley and arcade, adults have their pick of top-notch acts from concerts to comedy. The Wainscott Chapel, a schoolhouse-turned-community center, continues its longtime mission through current stewards, the philanthropic Wainscott Sewing Society; annual events include the Wainscott Strawberry Festival and Neighborhood Ice Cream Social. Other beloved fundraisers are the Wainscott Polar Plunge on New Year’s Day and ARF-Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons’ summertime Bow Wow Meow Ball. One of the area’s last remaining historic windmills, the Wainscott Windmill permanently landed here after roving around various hamlets since its construction in 1813.
Leisure, Nature & Wellness
Flanked by Wainscott and Georgica ponds, Wainscott Beach sees smaller crowds preferring a quiet day by the surf. Local nonprofits enabled the Town of East Hampton to purchase and convert a commercial property into the Wainscott Green “Rick Del Mastro Memorial Park” honoring the late citizen who championed the project. Trekkers along the 125-mile Paumanok Path pass through Wainscott, while more nature trails can be found in the 25-acre Buckskill Meadow Preserve with additional activities like disc golf. The Hon. Fred W. Thiele, Jr. Recreational Facility’s state-of-the-art, athletic fields, courts and tracks accommodate multiple sports. A tennis player’s dream, East Hampton Indoor Tennis operates 365 days a year. The decades-old club features indoor and outdoor har-tru courts as well as those dedicated to pickleball and platform tennis. Located on the same grounds, the seasonal Brias Padel & Wellness Club added more padel courts and summer camp. Barry’s Bootcamp in Wainscott, its first location out East, upgrades workouts with dual studios, exclusive classes and complimentary parking.
