I’m a huge fan of The Hamptons. I love the beaches, the cute towns (Villages? Hamlets?) each with their own distinct personality, the fresh picked produce, the spectacular sunsets, and the relaxing atmosphere from being there during a weekday instead of a super crazy weekend. Although as a kid my family favored Montauk and Southampton, and as a young adult I was a total Quoguer, in my serious adult life I’ve never done anything but Sag Harbor.
For me Sag is the most centrally located to all the things I like to do, it’s right on the bay which I love, I can walk to town and avoid parking wars with the added bonus of getting my steps in, there are lots of low-key spots, a fun smattering of interesting shops and delicious eateries pepper the town, Sag has a more chill vibe than the other villages, and staying there is almost affordable.
So imagine my surprise when I read about the opportunity to do a “workcation” at the famed Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton– a place previously out of reach. If you’re not familiar with the property, TRH is a “reimagined 19th century mansion and estate where traditional architecture, contemporary design and modern comforts come together in perfect harmony.” Translation? It’s a five-star, full-service, luxury boutique hotel at the corner of Montauk Highway and OMG We’re Actually In The Hamptons.
And up until now, it’s been altogether unaffordable. Enter their winter special and please say it like Dana Carvey doing his famous SNL Church Lady imitation, “Well… isn’t that special?!” It was a completely doable week of fabulousness for a fraction of the cost, breakfast included. Michael and I couldn’t wait to check it out.
We immediately booked a Cottage Room nestled between the Orchard and Topping Rose Farm that featured a private outdoor space accessed by an elegant sliding glass door. Jeez, they even made the door sound lux! Complimentary coffee and the morning paper were offered and we were encouraged to take in views of the beautifully landscaped grounds whenever possible during our stay. But with bed linens by Frette, bath towels by Matouk, robes by SFERRA, and herbal bath products by Farmaesthetics, we assumed it might be challenging to want to even leave the room!
The Cottage came with a smart TV and complimentary Wi-Fi, twice daily housekeeping, free in-room snacks, access to the barn during work hours where tables, chairs, and an all-day beverage bar were offered, and a group happy hour each evening immediately after quitting time. We had to remind ourselves that this wasn’t a vacation for us, it was actually a workcation… but we were determined to blur that line as much as possible.
So we arrived for our stay early on a Sunday, even though check in for our Bridgehampton resort wasn’t until 3pm because we wanted to relish a full day visiting some of the neighboring towns. Many shops that used to be open only for the busy summer season extended their calendars way after Labor Day because during Covid so many people decided to decamp to their beach houses to work from their second homes due to the flexibility the pandemic allowed. (Sadly I’m not of that class and only have the one City apartment with a mortgage as my permanent dwelling. Hashtag NYC Poor.) So the Hamptons are chock full of places that remain bustling all year long.
We had a great walk around Southampton and scored the last completely gigantic square of homemade Banana Chocolate Chip Bread from Tate’s headquarters. Yum! I stocked up on the glossy magazines that graced every stoop and entryway to read up on Hamptons celeb gossip, local chatter, retail news, and goings on about the East End.
Then we hit Amagansett Square, browsed around the always fun clothing store Gloria Jewel, and shared a piping hot bowl of lentil soup with flake salt on the picnic tables outside of Doubles. We even rubbed shoulders with one of the Real Housewives of NYC who was by her own admission, “hiding out.” So shhhhh. By the time Michael finished his latte at the Starbucks in East it was check in time. So we motored back to Bridge to gather our belongings for the indoor haul.
The hotel was everything that we had imagined and more. It felt so homey and cozy. We loved the decor, hospitality, and the privacy of our Cottage enclave. With only twenty-two guest rooms at the property we felt so fortunate to have scored a coveted spot. We relaxed with some complimentary high-end snacks (they even had Tate’s cookies!) and downed a quick beverage before we showered and changed for dinner.
The famous chef Jean-Georges manages the on-site restaurant at the hotel and we planned ahead by booking a reservation for their Sunday supper. They boast a menu that celebrates the seasons by presenting farm-to-table cuisine using ingredients sourced from the area’s reputable fishermen and farmers. I was impressed with their offerings and we couldn’t wait to dig in.
Michael started with the Beet Salad with Feta, Black Olives, and Red Wine Vinaigrette while I soaked up the ambiance. For our main course I had the crispy skin Black Sea Bass with Butter-Blanched Spinach and Green Olive Vinaigrette and Michael opted for the Faroe Island Salmon with Maitake Mushroom, Leeks and Chili-Garlic Emulsion. Both were outstanding– light but filling. After a long drive, a full day, and a great dinner we were happy to crash at our temporary new home.
The Monday alarm screeched way too early for my taste, but we both had to be up and coherent for early calls and work deliverables. Also, we were excited to sample the simple bites for breakfast back in the Jean-Georges dining room. Michael had the Eggs Benny with Smoked Salmon and a side of Pain au Chocolat and I went with the Egg White Omelet with Crispy Potatoes and Mixed Greens. We each had the Green Juice of blended Spinach, Cucumber, Kale, Apple, and Lemon. Both of our dishes were a wow!
The day flew by with an unexpected 30-minute break on our patio basking in the bright sun sans heavy jackets. What a treat to ditch the winter coats! We happily unplugged at 5pm, leaving us a little time to walk around Sag Harbor before our dinner reservations at Le Bilboquet right on the water. It goes without saying that their famous NYC Cajun Chicken with Greens and Crispy Fries completely stole the show. The restaurant was super chill, almost empty in fact and we had a great night with the place practically to ourselves.
It’s amazing how quickly we settled in… Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday were all an upscale version of Groundhog Day that we never wanted to end. We had the delicious and welcome complimentary daily breakfasts in our own J-G restaurant and lucked out with good weather all week so we took advantage of impromptu strolls around the well-manicured grounds. Yummy afternoon snacks helped to power us through the 3 o’clock slump, and we picked a different restaurant for dinner out each night to maximize the opportunity to sample the local offerings.
Elaia’s in Bridgehampton was incredible for local Greek food and Sag Pizza was fun casual thin crust heaven with a side of kale salad. We popped into all the shops in Bridge since they were walking distance from our crash pad and spent a lovely lunchtime wandering the quaint stores in East Hampton. Lucky for us many boutiques had huge end of season sales and we indulged in a tiny bit of retail therapy. Ahhhhh. Of course nothing I bought was on sale, (Typical!) but I do love my new serrated paring knife and cute spring jacket.
Check-out at noon on Friday was quickly upon us and it proved to be painful just thinking about our departure and impending return to reality. To ease us back into my lesser City accommodations and limited cook-it-yourself menu, we planned an encore drive by at Tate’s Bake Shop back in Southampton for some crispy cookies to soothe our souls and decided to throw in a little walk around the outlets stores in Riverhead for good measure.
We found it especially hard leaving TRH. Who could easily say goodbye to those thick bath towels, the fabulous freebies, and the attentive staff that seriously pampered our every need. We had such a relaxing and fun stay. The five-star experience certainly was something special. Dare I say… practically sinful? In this case though I bet even Satan himself would have approved.
jenslittleblackbook.com 