Over the last five years Montauk has evolved from fisherman and surfers to a hyper-popular beach destination for the New York City summer crowd. As the evolution has occurred, a shift from the original old school spots has taken place with an influx of more modern restaurants, bars, and shops. Our 24-hour guide covers both worlds.

Why The Pros Love Montauk

"It’s a fancy, chill town with a really cool vibe. The beach is just one block away from where I work, so I can take a break, go swimming, and come back to work."
FED Pro  >  Chef Oscar Hernandez (La Brisa)

"It is an incredibly beautiful place where you can kick back and spend a lot of time doing quiet activities, like read books and take walks. And you are always within five minutes of a beach. Montauk has been modernizing over the last few years, but it still seems locked in time."
FED Pro  >  Chef Eli Sussman (formerly of Ruschmeyer's)

"Montauk is a beautiful place to be. For a chef, you are literally getting the stuff pulled right out of the water and brought to the restaurant for you."
FED Pro  >  Chef Max Sussman (formerly of Ruschmeyer's)

"It is a beautiful seaside town. Sometimes it is hard to believe that you are only three hours outside of New York. The best part about Montauk is that you have the best of both worlds, you can come out and party like a rock star or you can just disappear."
FED Pro  >  Chef Chris Rendell (The Surf Lodge)

MORNING | Breakfast

Bagels | Goldberg's Bagels 

"They are a local institution on the east end of Long Island. Grab a coffee and an early morning bagel."
FED Pro  >  Chef Chris Rendell (The Surf Lodge)

28 S Etna Avenue, Montauk, NY 11954 | T: 631.238.5977
2101 Montauk Highway, Amagansett, NY 11930 | 631.267.5552
100 Pantigo Place, East Hampton, NY 11937 | T: 631.329.8300
www.goldbergsbagels.org

Healthy | Joni's Kitchen

"For breakfast, I would definitely hit up Joni’s. Healthy, fresh, clean. Really good after a big night out or if you want to get up and go for a surf or hit the beach. It is a great way to start the day with lots of healthy options."
FED Pro  >  Chef Chris Rendell (The Surf Lodge)

"After a long night, nothing beats a breakfast burrito at Joni’s. Eat at one of the picnic tables outside or walk a block to the beach. Joni's also has an excellent smoothie list with extensive additions like goji and maca."
FED Pro  >  Kylie Monagan (Calissa)

9 S Edison Street, Montauk, NY 11954
T: 631.668.3663
www.jonismontauk.com

Healthy | Naturally Good Foods & Cafe 

"This is a place where I can get something nice and light to eat that will get me through the day. I pick up a smoothie in the morning and sometimes I get their great wrap with brussels sprouts and tuna. Everything is super fresh and delicious. The people who work here are amazing; they are so happy and smiling."
FED Pro  >  Chef Oscar Hernandez (La Brisa)

"They serve everything organic. There are juices, smoothies, organic local eggs and great healthy dishes. It's a very local vibe and they are open year round, which attracts the locals for sure."
FED Pro  >  Chef John Yashinowsky (Crow's Nest)

779 Main Street, Montauk, NY 11954
T: 631.668.9030
www.naturallygoodfoodsandcafe.com

MORNING + LUNCH | On the Beach

Coffee, Snacks, Lunch | Ditch Witch 

"This is one of my favorite little snack spots. This coffee wagon is an icon at Ditch Plains beach, the popular surfing spot. When I go surfing in the morning, I get a cup of coffee. You can also have lunch here; they make quesadillas and tacos right in the wagon on the sand. It’s very popular so there can be a 40 minute line all day long in the summer."
FED Pro  >  Chef John Yashinowsky (Crow's Nest)

40 Deforest Road, Montauk, NY 11954

FOOD SHOPPING

Seafood, Meat, Vegetables | Gosman's Market 

"All the fish that we buy from Gosman's is amazing, fresh seafood. They have the best products."
FED Pro  >  Chef Oscar Hernandez (La Brisa)

"This shop is great for wandering around and checking out the local bounty. Not only do they have a wonderful fish selection, but they also have great meat and a lot of vegetables, beautiful olive oils, vinegars, arborio rice, and things like that. If you really want to have a nice dinner at home, shop here."
FED Pro  >  Chef Chris Rendell (The Surf Lodge)

"You can walk through just to see the local seafood since they save the best for their own showcase and they also prepare lobsters that can buy cooked or cook them yourself. They also sell organic meats, vegetables right from the farm, and there's always local corn. It’s great one stop shopping."
FED Pro  >  Chef John Yashinowsky (Crow's Nest)

484 W Lake Drive, Montauk, NY 11954
T: 631.668.5645 | www.gosmans.com/fishmarket.html

Montauk Farmers Market

"Balsam Farms is one sell a tremendous variety of produce. I love their corn, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, Swiss chard, beets, leeks, carrots - the list is endless. You can basically create a whole meal just by cooking everything there."
FED Pro  >  Chef Joe Realmuto (Nick & Toni's)

Thursdays Jun - Oct
On the green across from the Chamber Building, 742 Montauk Highway, Montauk, NY 11954

LOBSTER ROLLS

LUNCH | Tacos

La Brisa de Tacombi 

Traditional Mexican tacos (meaning the small corn tortilla sized ones) using local fresh seafood from the Montauk docks. The corn tortillas are made on  the premises each morning for tacos and chips. Chef Oscar Hernandez recommends ordering the crispy local tile fish tacos with jalapeño mayo and spicy pickled cabbage, as well as their freshly-made juices.

"Part of the Tacombi restaurant group, La Brisa brings a bright, coastal Mexican vibe to a busy corner in Montauk’s main square. Enjoy a post-dinner Paloma with fresh citrus and sit at one of their outside tables."
FED Pro  >  Kylie Monagan (Calissa)

752 Montauk Highway, Montauk, NY 11954
T: 631,668.8338
tacombi.com/locations/Montauk

AFTERNOON | Ice Cream

John's Drive-In 

"I am a big diner guy and this is an old school place which has a 1950s burger joint kind of vibe. We get our ice cream for the restaurant from them and are using it for dessert in an ice cream float."
FED Pro  >  Chef Eli Sussman (formerly of Ruschmeyer's)

695 Montauk Highway, Montauk, NY 11954
T: 631.668.5515

BEER TASTING

Montauk Brewing Company 

"I love their beers. It's local young guys who started it. It has been a huge success and we serve their beer at the Crow’s Nest. Their beers are all over New England. It is nice and fresh and served only in the can. Bring a case of Montauk ale home."
FED Pro  >  Chef John Yashinowsky (Crow's Nest)

"After breakfast, grab a beer flight and nab one of the coveted tables on the outside patio. The bar gets busy shortly after opening, so make sure to arrive early. The seafood joint next door will let beer drinkers use their tables -- just put in a couple orders of calamari and lobster salad.."
FED Pro  >  Kylie Monagan (Calissa)

62 South Erie Avenue, Montauk, NY
T: 631.668.8471
montaukbrewingco.com

POST BEACH DRINKS

Crow's Nest 

"I really love the ambience, it is absolutely the best in the Hamptons. They also have very good food like nice crudos, which are refreshing."
FED Pro  >  Chef Mathias Brogie (The Maidstone)

"Really good, local food and they have a wonderful lawn out back to hang out on before dinner. I usually get the whole fluke."
FED Pro  >  Chef Marc Murphy (LandMarc, Ditch Plains)

"This rustic, Mediterranean type spot delights with its views of the ocean and handwritten menu. Take a stroll along the water while waiting for simple, but eclectic dishes like harissa chicken and beets with pomegranate."
FED Pro  >  Kylie Monagan (Calissa)

4 Old West Lake Drive, Montauk, NY 11954
T: 631.668.2077
crowsnestmtk.com

SUNSET WATCHING

Beer | The Montauket 

"For sunset in Montauk there is only one spot and that is the Montauket. It has a spectacular sunset year round. You’ll find a real blend of locals hanging out with newcomers who have discovered it. It is a little out of the way on Fort Pond Bay. They serve Montauk Brewing Company beer on tap, both an IPA and a summer ale."
FED Pro  >  Chef John Yashinowsky (Crow's Nest)

88 Firestone Road, Montauk, NY 11954
T: 631.668.5992

Rosé | The Surf Lodge

"If I want to get a little fancier and have a glass of rosé and watch the sunset, I hit the Surf Lodge. It is a cool spot. The set up is beautiful. It is a great experience. It is so relaxing."
FED Pro  >  Chef Oscar Hernandez (La Brisa)

183 Edgemere Street, Montauk, NY 11954
T: 631.483.5037 | thesurflodge.com

Rosé & Lobster Rolls | Navy Beach 

"This place is an amazing spot for sunsets. They have a big deck or you can grab a lounger on the beach, get a bottle of rosé, a few lobster rolls and watch the sun go down."
FED Pro  >  Chef Chris Rendell (The Surf Lodge)

"After a nap on the beach, grab a glass of rose, and enjoy the last moments of sun at Navy Beach's waterfront bar."
FED Pro  >  Kylie Monagan (Calissa)

16 Navy Road, Montauk, NY 11954
T: 631.668.6868
navybeach.com

DINNER

Seafood | The Dock 

"It is one of the last truly local spots. The vibe is a good blend of fishermen coming right off the boats, locals who like to dine here, and new city people who realize that is really the best spot around to have a casual meal and some good fresh fish. It is very simple tavern food that is always excellent, fresh, and consistent. They make clam chowder with actual clams and you can get a fish sandwich and know the fish came right off the boats."
FED Pro  >  Chef John Yashinowsky (Crow's Nest)

"It is a local’s paradise. All the people from Gosman’s are here, they are slinging fish all day and then coming here afterwards to drink a beer. It is pretty cool."
FED Pro  >  Chef Gray Gardell-Gross (668 Gig Shack)

"This is a great bar. It is very civilized with really good seafood. I love the mussels. Sit at the bar and grab a couple of beers. It’s a real local hangout away from all the crowds. They have a list of rules that specify no phones and if you have children, make sure they are under control."
FED Pro  >  Chef Chris Rendell (The Surf Lodge)

"It is this awesome place that is located at the dock, right next to Gosman’s Fish Market. It is one of those places that over time has acquired its own unique voice that could never be replicated. They should never change anything they do there. I love what it says about Montauk."
FED Pro  >  Chef Eli Sussman (formerly of Ruschmeyer's)

"It is on the dock and it's called The Dock. It might be confusing, but it's terrific. The food is simple, fresh, and tastes great. They have awesome specials that they write on a piece of yellow legal pad paper and pass it around from table to table. When things are done, they just cross them off with a Sharpie. The wild prawns and fresh day boat scallops are terrific."
FED Pro  >  Chef Max Sussman (formerly of Ruschmeyer's)

1 Montauk Harbor , Montauk, NY 11954
T: 631.668.9778 | thedockmontauk.com

Seafood | Dave's Gone Fishing 

"This is a great local establishment owned by Dave Marcley and they have been here for 25 years. It is very consistent and they serve seafood right off the dock. They have a veteran staff who have been here for a long time, so you know you are going to be treated well."
FED Pro  >  Chef John Yashinowsky (Crow's Nest)

"It is just one of those places with classic service and food in Montauk. It is old school. I get either the cioppino or, if it's available, the surf and turf that comes with a half lobster tail."
FED Pro  >  Chef Chris Rendell (The Surf Lodge)

467 East Lake Drive, Montauk, NY 11954
T: 631.668.9190 | www.davesgrill.com

Mexican | The Hideaway 

"It’s down at the docks, tucked back off the road and you enter through a boatyard. It very much speaks to what the locals do here in that they are slightly removed from the chaos of the vacationers."
FED Pro  >  Chef Eli Sussman (formerly of Ruschmeyer's)

364 W Lake Drive, Montauk, NY 11954
T: 631.668.6592 | thehideawaymontauk.com

New American | Ruschmeyer's 

"I love coming here for dinner. The food is great and the setup and ambience are amazing. They also have an fantastic bar."
FED Pro  >  Chef Oscar Hernandez (La Brisa)

161 2nd House Road, Montauk, NY 11954
T: 631.668.2877 | Website

LATE NIGHT