Where the Hamptons Go for Seafood

From legendary lobster shacks to polished waterfront tables, these are the places where the East End still does seafood its own way.

There’s a certain kind of Hamptons meal you don’t really need to explain. Set a table near the water, open something chilled, and order a lobster roll or maybe a dozen oysters—or a bowl of steamers that tastes like actual summer.

The East End is stacked with seafood places, but the true standouts always bring a little extra—something beyond a solid raw bar. Some of these spots have been around forever. Others arrived recently, a little sleeker but still get it. Some are made for lazy, sandy-haired sunsets, while others just want you to eat lobster with your hands, then head back to the beach.

They all know the deal: here, where you’re sitting is as much a part of the meal as what’s on the plate.

The Classics

Some seafood joints out here have been part of the landscape so long, it feels like they grew out of the beach grass. They trade in consistency, not reinvention.

In Amagansett, Clam Bar has held court for 45 years — still unmistakably casual, still on the side of the highway, still packed all summer. The only tough decision: cold and creamy lobster roll, or hot and buttery? Both feel absolutely correct, especially after you’ve just towelled off from the beach. You can’t miss it at 2025 Montauk Highway, Amagansett.

Right down the road, LUNCH — locals just call it the Lobster Roll — has been serving up seafood since 1965. Its Southampton spot carries that same easy vibe: fresh, no-nonsense seafood, spectacularly relaxed, and lobster rolls stacked high with sweet claw and knuckle meat. Located in Amagansett and now also in Southampton.

Bostwick’s Chowder House in East Hampton keeps things even more stripped-down: just picnic tables, softshell clams, lobster rolls (hot or cold), and grilled mahi tacos. No reservations, so bring your patience. Get your name on the list because there’s always a wait, no matter the season. Bostwick’s is located at 277 Pantigo Road in East Hampton.

Waterfront Tables

If anything rivals lobster rolls out here, it’s the dinner-with-a-view.

Bostwick’s on the Harbor, perched above Three Mile Harbor, has seafood specials and a killer view. The raw bar sampler throws together clams, Peconic oysters, tuna poke, and fat shrimp. There’s lobster and seafood pasta too—easy to lose track of time when the sky goes pink. It is located at 39 Gann Road in East Hampton.

Cross Noyack Bay and you hit The Bell & Anchor, all sweeping water views and a menu that swings between straight-up seafood and heartier fare. Think fish and chips, lobster garganelli, fritto misto, plus a rotating slate of oysters from the East and West Coasts — it makes for the perfect date night. It is located at 3253 Noyack Road in Sag Harbor.

Over in Hampton Bays, Sundays on the Bay takes the whole formula and rides it into the evening — incredible sunset views, seafood specials, cocktails, live music on weekends. Brunch, lunch, happy hour, or dinner.  It is located at 369 Dune Road in Hampton Bays.

A local favorite is Cowfish, also in Hampton Bays, where you can literally pull your boat up to the dock and wander in. The marina views set the tone; the menu — seared yellowfin tuna, chilled lobster tails, all the summer seafood greatest-hits — keeps you at the table. Drive over to 258 E. Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays.

The See-and-Be-Seen Scene

Some spots aren’t just restaurants — they’re destinations.

Duryea’s Montauk is the Hamptons’ most Instagrammed deck, but the plates hold up. Everyone takes a photo, but everybody finishes their meal too. The lobster Cobb is just as famous as the water view; the lobster roll never leaves the menu. You’ll want to show up hungry, especially if fries are calling your name. The HQ is located at 65 Tuthill Road in Montauk.

Duryea’s has a little brother in Orient Point, where the team brings their lobster Cobb, OG lobster roll, and some Mediterranean moves — hello, hot butter lobster roll — to the North Fork at 40200 Main Road in Orient Point.

On the other side of East Hampton, Moby’s delivers seafood in a sleeker package. The raw bar is the logical starting point, but you really want to order the Moby’s Tower—oysters, prawns, whole lobster. The place hums, stylish and social, making dinner feel like an event. Head on over to 341 Pantigo Road in East Hampton.

And then there’s Dockers, where the energy never quite quits. Waterfront tables, multiple bars, outdoor space, live music—the vibe is come for lunch and forget about leaving. The Cadillac lobster roll comes topped with caviar and, just for good measure, truffle-Parmesan fries on the side. Keep going west until you arrive at 94 Dune Road in East Quogue.

A Little More Mediterranean

If you want your seafood with a passport, head to R.AIRE at Hampton Maid — Chef Alex Bujoreanu puts his Mediterranean roots on the plate. Tapas, paellas, the works. The paella is a particular showstopper: built on housemade stock, sofrito, bomba rice and loaded with calamari, mussels, shrimp, and clams. Over 70 wines make it pretty easy to stick around for a while. It is located at 259 E. Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays.

Barlume Beach brings the same coastal sensibility, but with a Montauk Harbor twist—think beach club, marina, hotel and restaurant all rolled into one. Dock your boat, find a table, order a spritz and a few bright, seasonal seafood plates. And if you want to keep the adventure going, there are charters ready to take your meal offshore. Head on over to 435 E. Lake Drive in Montauk.

Jean-Georges, If That’s the Mood

Sometimes the occasion calls for more polish—maybe even a little Jean-Georges.

At Topping Rose House, you get the Jean-Georges take on East End seafood. Crispy salmon sushi shares a menu with warm shrimp salad and other dishes pulled from local farms, orchards, and fishermen. The dining room, bar, and outdoor patio all feel intentionally dressed up. Sometimes the beach shack needs to step aside.

Because, let’s be honest, sometimes the best seafood dinner out here is the one where you decide, yeah, I’m actually putting on a dress tonight.

The East End has changed a lot since some of these spots first showed up, but seafood is still the thing that feels unmistakably local. The best Hamptons meal is simple: something just pulled from the water, a good cold drink, a table outside, and enough time to watch the sun drop beyond the dunes.

That’s the real catch. Everything else is just garnish.

Ty Wenzel

Ty Wenzel is an award-winning writer, designer, and marketing professional with a career spanning fashion, publishing, media, and digital innovation. A recent breast cancer survivor, she began her career as a fashion coordinator for Bloomingdale’s before serving as fashion editor at Cosmopolitan Magazine. Her work has appeared in numerous national publications, including The New York Times, and she is the author of a memoir published by St. Martin’s Press. In 2020, Wenzel co-founded James Lane Post, where she covers lifestyle, real estate, architecture, and interiors. She previously served as a writer and marketing director for The Independent. Her work in journalism, social media, and design has been recognized with multiple PCLI and NYPA awards, including best website design and best magazine. Wenzel is also the founder of the Hamptons-based social media agency TWM Hamptons Social Media, where she develops high-level branding and digital strategy for luxury clients.