Westhampton

EAT & DRINK

Westhampton Steakhouse 142 Mill Rd (631-288-7161, westhamptonsteakhouse.com). Housed in the red brick building that was once home to Se7en nightclub, this trilevel steakhouse offers just as many nightly events and specials as it does cuts of meat: on Tuesdays, fulfill your dinner-and-a-movie quota when the purchase of any entrée gets you a free pass to the nearby Hampton Cinema. Stop by the third-floor mahogany bar for happy hour on a Friday to get $3 beer and wine and $5 martinis, which might just be the best drinking deal you’ll get in these parts.

Sunset Café 49 Sunset Ave (631-998-0372, sunsetcafewhb.com). An organically inclined café, Sunset offers soups, pressed paninis, salads and other light fare for the environmentally conscious. Baked goods like apple-cinnamon or cranberry-orange yogurt muffins ($1.75 each) come courtesy of Westhampton’s Holy Moses Bakery.

The Patio 54 Main St (631-288-4878, thepatiowhb.com). Before a management change in 2007 breathed new life into this once-faltering old-guard establishment, the Patio was known more for its bar scene than its food. But chef Katherine Kane’s creative American dishes have done much to change that. Spring for the $30 three-course prix-fixe menu, where $4 more than the cost of an entrée also gets you crisp greens and key lime pie. On Friday and Saturday nights, couples huddle in the candlelit nooks of the glass-lined patio to listen to live music.

Sushi1 210 Mill Rd (631-288-5096). A husband-and-wife team serves up supremely fresh fish and other Eastern fare at this traditional Japanese restaurant. Semi-transparent screens serve as room separators, so you can eat your spicy yellowtail and rainbow rolls in peace. A local favorite, the tiny dining room fills up fast, so don’t be surprised if there’s a wait.

Eckart Luncheonette 162 Mill Rd (631-288-9491). Get your nostalgia on at this area landmark, an old-fashioned soda shop operated by the fourth generation of the family that opened it in 1911. Original tin ceilings, a wooden phone booth and a 1920s cash register take you back more than a few decades (and the diner-style comfort food takes you specifically back to your childhood). Go for breakfast, when you can linger over a vintage newspaper from the magazine rack with a steaming cup of coffee.

WHERE TO STAY

Westhampton Seabreeze Motel 19 Sea Breeze Ave (631-288-6886, westhamptonseabreeze.com). $120–$300 per night. Don’t let the word “motel” put you off: Though you won’t be getting Bulgari bath amenities here, the ten rooms at the no-frills Seabreeze come clean and well-equipped (free WiFi, cable TV, fridge and microwave). Plus, you’re just ten minutes from the beach, where you’ll be spending most of your time anyway. If the facilities aren’t up to your standards, the same owners also rent out private homes for the month, week or weekend.

Bath & Tennis Hotel and Marina 231 Dune Rd (631-288-2500, bathandtennis.com). $279–$649 per night. If you want to be lulled to sleep by the Atlantic’s crashing waves, book a stay at one of the oceanfront rooms and suites at this full-service resort. Between the five tennis courts, an outdoor pool and the marina, it can feel a bit like a seaside country club, but you can easily escape that at the on-site spa and fitness center. Bonus: direct beach access.

WHAT TO DO

Westhampton Beach Historical Society and Tuthill House Museum 115 Mill Rd (631-288-1139, whbhistorical.org). For a peek at what life was like in Westhampton from the 1700s through 1850, head to this 19th-century house that once served as a post office (although we can tell you right now, it probably involved a lot less cougars). You’ll view photographs of the area’s early days plus a turn-of-last-century peanut-roasting machine once used at the local general store.

Pigs Can Fly! 124 Main St (631-288-0655). The kitschy merch that clutters this village mainstay is just as whimsical as the store’s name. A refreshing departure from the pricey labels that dominate the Hamptons’ shopping scene, instead peruse animal-themed pillows and doormats, cartoonish Sarut toasters ($65) and candy-colored Accessories Unlimited bags ($45–$75).

Pikes Beach Off Dune Rd (631-728-8585). Nonresident season permit $300, nonresident daily permit $20. Popular with fly-fishermen and plovers, the 400-foot Pikes Beach is a laid-back, family-friendly option for basking in the sun. Though there’s no concession stand here, keep your eyes peeled for the bright yellow Beach Treats truck in the parking lot, which sells Ciao Bella Gelato, snow cones and Push-Up pops.