- 35 Shore Rd, Shelter Island Heights, NY 11965
Sunset Beach is technically on Shelter Island, not in the Hamptons, but it’s well-deserving of a spot on this list. To get there, you’ll take a ferry from North Haven in Sag Harbor (it’s only about five minutes), and then continue the drive on Shelter Island until you reach Sunset Beach.
Located right on an impressive little stretch of beach, this hotel and restaurant from André Balazs brings a bit of the French Riviera stateside. The orange, yellow and white decor is beachy yet elevated, with raffia-accented lights throughout. If possible, try to get one of the tables overlooking the water within the three-level restaurant; there’s also ground-floor seating along the sand.
The seafood-heavy French menu includes mussels, octopus, burrata and tomatoes, steak frites and more, and while the food is inarguably overpriced, you’re not coming here (just) for the cuisines—this is about the overall experience; sipping a fizzy cocktail and nibbling on crudité and fries while basking in the sunset.