Boutique Hotel with Upscale Restaurant and Poolside Dining

After putting Miami Beach on the map in the early 1920s, famed developer Carl G. Fisher set his sights on Long Island. Envisioning a "Miami Beach of the North," he purchased thousands of acres in Montauk and built lavish retreats, including the American Tudor–style estate that now houses Solé East Resort. Fisher lost his investments when the stock market crashed, but Solé East Resort and the hamlet of Montauk have come to embody the vacation destination he had envisioned.

Solé East Resort is perched on a narrow strip of land between Fort Pond and Fort Pond Bay, within walking distance of the ocean and downtown Montauk. Standard and garden-view rooms are done up in beach-bungalow style with wooden siding, rough-hewn sisal rugs, and all-white furniture. The airy color scheme gives the place a dreamlike feel, and Italian linens, down comforters, and pillows spun from cotton candy add a luxurious touch.

The all-white interior of the Backyard Restaurant is quite elegant, but on a warm day, the best place to eat is poolside, where tiki torches illuminate patio seating. Chefs at the Zagat-rated eatery plate fresh seafood alongside meat and veggies from the local farmers' markets. Though the beach is just a five-minute walk away, it's hard to beat lounging by the pool on a wicker day bed or warming up by the fire pit at night.

Montauk, New York: Plentiful Beaches near the Hamptons

Montauk is sometimes billed as "The Last Resort," a play on its location beyond the Hamptons on the easternmost tip of Long Island. Montauk is surrounded on three sides by bays and beachfronts, including Hither Hills State Park, which features picnic areas and hiking trails along the Atlantic. Ditch Plains boasts a consistent surf break, and Camp Hero State Park is one of the East Coast’s best surf-fishing spots for striped bass and bluefish, which typically run from late spring through the fall (permit required).

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