Coastal Cuisine and an "East Coast Erewhon": Athena Calderone's Guide to the Hamptons

Welcome to Locals Only. In this series, we're tapping notable locals in the style space to share a tight list of their top recommendations of what to see, eat, and shop in their home city. They'll share off-the-radar recs that you won't find in your average guidebook, resulting in digestible mini guides revealing where the city's most fashionable residents are actually hanging out.

If you were to search up interior design terms like "mid-century" and "minimal" on Pinterest, then you'll likely see images of a pristine marble kitchen island, antique rattan stools, and rustic brass finishings—the details that have defined Athena Calderone's internet-viral Amagansett beach house and mid-century home style for a generation. The interior designer, author, creative director, and "modern girl's Martha Stewart," according to The New York Times, is the mind behind so much of what defines the minimally cool, vintage-peppered aesthetic that has filled the internet with inspiration for years.

For the EyeSwoon founder, the pristine beaches, local farm stands, luxury boutiques, and coastal cuisine have defined her home life out east for the past 16 years. Like many New Yorkers, she spends large swaths of the summer months in her Amagansett residence as well as any weekends when she's not working on one of her various home renovation and interior design projects back in the city, like the 1930s-era Tribeca apartment she recently moved into.

Of course, no two towns are alike, making the Hamptons near impossible to really know—unless you're a local, that is. Here, Calderone has shared her 12 essential spots, from where to have the best seafood-and-wine pairings to her favorite local home goods boutique.

How long have you called Amagansett home? How much time out of the year do you typically spend out east versus in the city?

We purchased the home 16 years ago, and despite buying and selling various homes in the city over the years, this is the one place that has remained constant. We love coming home to Amagansett to slow down and reconnect not only with nature but also with each other. It unified us as a family, demanding that we slow down and plant our feet in the sand. We come out east as much as possible on weekends and will spend a chunk of our summer here this year while we renovate the Tribeca apartment.

What are some of your favorite towns in the Hamptons, and where do you find yourself spending the most time?

We mostly stick to Springs, East Hampton, and Montauk.

What does a typical day off look like for you while staying here?

Walking Tuco along the beach and throwing sticks for him to fetch in the ocean, having coffee on our back patio, breakfast at Carissa's, buying fresh seasonal vegetables at Balsam Farms or Amber Waves, and then cooking a simple, delicious meal for my family. It's definitely more relaxed and easy than our days in the city.

What to Pack

"The Crow's Nest! I truly think this is the best property in all of the Hamptons. From the Kuba cloth clad walls, the twinkly light, and the rolling green lawn that leads right into Lake Montauk, it's almost like summer camp for adults. And let's not forget the Mediterranean fare. From the mezze platter to the halibut and new kebab menu, what's not to love?!"

"For the best flavor, Il Buco al Mare just gets it right. They have the most delicious seafood-focused Italian that feels straight out of Italy. The prawns, clams, and oysters are a few personal faves, but I especially love the whole grilled fish. It's so pure and simple with lemon and herbs—just the way I love to eat in the summer."

"The Parrish Art Museum has a rich history and a vital cultural presence in the Hamptons. The architecture and design of the building itself are just as inspiring as the art within its walls. I also love to visit the Dia Bridgehampton. Previously known as the Dan Flavin Art Institute, it was designed by the artist as a permanent installation of nine works in fluorescent light. Today, it is run by the Dia Art Foundation, who present yearly exhibitions by local artists on the first floor gallery."

"The Warm Store. The best clothing shop with the cool-girl surf aesthetic. Their motto is 'Go where it's warm,' and everything curated here evokes surf and summer culture."

"I have two that I visit and love equally: Balsam Farms and Amber Waves Farm. I love gathering my produce from these because they are both in close proximity to my home, and they each offer their own specific local fare.

"Amber Waves Farm has offered me so much over the years, but perhaps the most poignant has been the education it's given me on the importance of buying local, reconnecting with the land and to the farmers who have become dear friends—female farmers I might add! I have photographed Cook Beautiful with their friends, hosted many dinners, and even picked wildflowers throughout the season. I have my local CSA there, and I purchase everything from kale, arugula, fresh herbs, and organic potatoes all grown from their fields. My favorite yogurts, eggs, and chickens are also from Amber Waves."

"I love Louse Point Beach in Springs. It's the beach closest to my house, and it is just magical at sunset. We always bring Tuco here for walks, and it's a beautiful spot for a beach picnic."

"I have been loving SLT and Align hot yoga."

"We all love Sant Ambroeus in NYC and Milan. I know, I know—it's nothing new, but the consistency and quality of their classic Italian food is just exceptional and something the Hamptons were missing… until now!"

"Somebody please franchise this place! Everything sold here is fresh and delicious. I'm talking pies, chicken fingers, shrimp skewers, prepared salads, guacamole, dips, and chips. Whenever I am entertaining for the weekend and don't have time to cook, Round Swamp is my go-to. It's such a gem."

"E-E Home shares my beautifully elevated but approachable design philosophy. I just adore their unique curation of tabletop and homewares, and I almost always purchase something for my home when I visit."

"When I'm craving a little Saint-Tropez meets Mykonos on the East Coast, then Duryea's is my go-to. It has Euro vibes with a distinct Hamptons point of view. Watch the sun set on the dock as people pull up in their boats, and enjoy the perfect lobster salad, grilled steak, and the world's most delicious fried calamari with a glass of Sancerre. Okay, so the prices are high, but the portion sizes make up for [it]. Make a reservation for a large group, and be prepared to wait. (It's worth it tho!)"

"If I had to pick a Calderone family favorite, it would be Carissa's. Everything is delicious here, and I mean everything! The bread, the bakery treats, the prepared sandwiches, the breakfast tacos, the beet kimchi reuben, the salads, the soups, the fresh-pressed OJ, the best matcha you could ever want, the décor, the service. I mean… It's all good."

Here's the final list—screenshot away!