We’ll let you in on a little secret. The off-season in Montauk rules. This once sleepy fishing village on the tip of the East End of Long Island has become a summer hotspot thanks to its mix of great restaurants, hip hotels, creative locals, and awesome beaches. An easy getaway from the city, it can sometimes feel like summer camp for Manhattan’s cool crowd. Over the years, many of those urbanites, including Faherty’s VP of Creative, Naomi Azuma, have fallen under Montauk’s spell and now call it home year-round. Winter and spring bring a special kind of magic—quiet beaches, empty trails, chilly but crowd-free surf—and provided the perfect backdrop to shoot our Spring Collection. We enlisted some of our favorite local Faherty friends, including photographer and surfer Bartholomew Schwarz, gallery owner Trip Patterson, surfer Maddie Puckett, musician Sophia Bastian, restaurateur Demi Lauren Gonzalez, and music historian Johan Kugelberg, to model our newest styles. Here, they share their insider picks of what not to miss in Montauk.
Where to Eat + Drink
This local gem is known for its epic sunset views overlooking Fort Pond Bay, live music, and piled-high lobster rolls.
Tastemaker Sean McPherson, the hotelier behind NYC hotspots including the Bowery and Maritime hotels, is responsible for the effortless cool of this intimate inn. Locals and guests mingle over oysters and mezze platters at the Mediterranean-inspired restaurant.
This locally loved dive located steps from the fishing docks is decorated with an eclectic mix of nautical kitsch and taxidermy and serves delicious, no-frills seafood dishes, like heaping bowls of mussels and one of the best clam chowders on the sound.
Way before food trucks were cool, family-run Ditch Witch was hawking grab-and-go beach eats from a truck nestled at the entrance to Ditch Plains Beach. Today, the menu offers the perfect balance of healthy (avocado toast and poke bowls) and indulgent (gooey cinnamon buns and BBQ pulled pork burritos) options.
Faherty friend Demi Lauren Gonzalez co-owns this locally-minded café and catering company known for sensational dishes like local fluke ceviche in coconut milk and ginger and crab crostini.
Surf & Skate Scene
This multi-generation, family-run shop stocks all of your surf needs and can provide intel on the latest surf conditions
Ditch Plains
You need to earn the knowledge of Montauk’s secret surf spots, but everyone knows Ditch Plains. This popular beginner spot is known for its consistent waves and cliffside views.
Family-run, this shop curates a great selection of New England-meets-Cali cool clothing and also offers board rentals and surf lessons.
Originally designed and built by skateboard legend Andy Kessler in 1999, the park was recently renovated and expanded thanks to a massive community fundraising campaign. Local skater and Faherty friend Bartholomew Schwarz helped consult on the design.
Do & See
For Music: The summer line-up at the Surf Lodge never disappoints with a mix of big names, like the Chainsmokers and Macy Gray, and up-and-comers like Faherty friend Sophia Bastian.
For Shopping: To see the best Montauk has to offer visit Shipwreck Montauk. This jewelry and gift shop is known for its nautical bling (shark tooth pendants, Spanish galleon rings) and coastal-inspired homeware. They also offer small group jewelry making workshops
For Art: Set on a working horse farm, the Ranch is a unique exhibition venue founded by former Marlborough Gallery president Max Levai.
Faherty friend Trip Patterson is the owner of Tripoli Gallery in nearby Wainscott.
For Big Nature: The Amsterdam Beach Trail begins in a pasture and winds through a nature preserve of bluffs and dunes, providing hikers a view of Andy Warhol’s former estate, Eothen.
For Sunrise: It’s worth the dawn patrol wake up to catch sunrise at Camp Hero, a 415-acre state park laced with trails and known for excellent fishing.
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