Between Southampton And East Hampton Is A Long Island Hamlet With Beaches, Tasty Local Eateries, And Family Fun

For generations of summers, New Yorkers have traded the city's skyscrapers and sweltering streets for the Hamptons' charming villages, shingled cottages, and vast sandy beaches along the southeastern shore of Long Island. Here, the pace of life slows to morning bike rides to the beach while it is still empty or picking up fresh produce at local markets. A quaint hamlet that encapsulates the Hamptons' lifestyle is Bridgehampton, which is tucked about a 15-minute drive between the larger villages of Southampton and East Hampton. Occupying the central heart of the Hamptons, Bridgehampton is anchored by its petite commercialized Main Street lined with a handful of local eateries, shops, and inns. South of town, you'll drive down roads hiding grand mansions before reaching the hamlet's 5-mile stretch of beautiful sandy beaches that lead to the Atlantic Ocean.

Bridgehampton was originally settled in the mid-17th century, and its wide-open land that reached the sea was perfect for farming. After the construction of the Long Island Railroad in the mid-19th century, the hamlet transformed into a summer resort destination. Today, Bridgehampton's former farmland has largely been converted into private estates, and the hamlet's average home value is now around $4.8 million, according to Zillow. However, visitors can enjoy many of Bridgehampton's family-friendly charms without spending million-dollar sums, such as sunbathing at the free public beach, getting ice cream at the century-old diner on Main Street, or enjoying time at Bridgehampton's dedicated children's museum.

Bridgehampton is about a three-hour drive from Manhattan or a three-hour train ride from New York's Penn Station. The best time to visit Bridgehampton for beach days is between June and September when temperatures hover between 71 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the shoulder seasons of spring and fall are also a nice time to explore Bridgehampton while avoiding the summertime crowds and high prices.

Bridgehampton's main public beach is Mecox Beach, a golden-sand stretch nestled between Mecox Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. This beach is especially family-friendly as it has plenty of amenities and seasonal lifeguard supervision. Set back from the dunes is a large parking lot (which requires a beach permit), as well as bathrooms, showers, and concessions. Here, days can be spent swimming in the rolling waves, sunbathing, building sandcastles, playing beach volleyball, or strolling along the shore. Just east of Mecox Beach lies Ocean Road Beach, which is especially ideal for aspiring and advanced surfers as it is home to Salty Sessions surf academy. Here, children can learn the basics of the sport and try out their balance on surfboards with expert instructors, while more seasoned surfers can join the surf school to ride waves with fellow surfers. For more beach fun, head about 10 miles away to Coopers Beach, voted the top U.S. beach for 2025. 

If you're traveling with children, an alternative to the beach on a rainy day or during an off-season trip is Bridgehampton's Children's Museum of the East End. Located north of Main Street amidst a green, forested setting, this modern museum caters to children aged 7 and younger with plenty of family fun, such as an outdoor playground, a music garden, and an art studio. It also has Hamptons-specific exhibits, such as an interactive farm stand and a hollow ship to play inside. "What I love most is that the museum encourages open-ended, imaginative play," raved a reviewer on Google where the museum has a 4.6-star rating."The staff was friendly and welcoming, and the museum felt safe, well-maintained, and family-friendly throughout." During the fall months, families will also adore a visit to nearby Hank's PumpkinTown in the under-the-radar destination of Water Mill where youngsters can pick pumpkins and enjoy hay rides.

Bridgehampton's Main Street stretches for a few blocks along Montauk Highway and is lined with local eateries, boutiques, and inns. The town's beloved diner is Candy Kitchen, which first opened in 1925 and serves up classic American fare, such as breakfast staples and burgers as well as homemade ice cream and milkshakes. Guests can either sit on stools at the counter or in cozy booths, and cash is the only form of payment accepted. Another Bridgehampton institution is Pierre's, a cheerful French bistro also on Main Street. You'll find traditional French cuisine on the menu, from the weekly Friday special of bouillabaisse to steak au poivre, but the local favorite is the roast chicken entree with ratatouille and potatoes.

For a stay that combines delicious food and stylish accommodations, check out the Topping Rose House, a historic Bridgehampton landmark. Occupying a prominent corner on Main Street, the white Greek Revival-style home was originally built in the 1840s. Today, it is a boutique hotel with 22 rooms and suites spread between the main residence and contemporary cottages on grounds which also include a swimming pool, spa, gym, and event barn. The hotel's upscale restaurant Jean-Georges, is helmed by celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Here you can begin with indulgent appetizers of egg toast caviar, East Coast oysters, or squash blossom pizza before tasty main courses of seared black bass, roasted lobster, or spicy lamb chops.

While Bridgehampton has delicious food, it also harvests excellent wine at vineyards nearby. In fact, Long Island has an award-winning wine country that deserves Napa-level hype. For a tasting of local wines, head to Channing Daughters Winery, which was voted the number one thing to do in Bridgehampton on Tripadvisor.