The long-awaited Canoe Place Inn & Cottages in Hampton Bays, New York, has reopened this year after remaining closed for nearly two decades. A beloved landmark on eastern Long Island, Canoe Place traces its roots to the 17th century, occupying the original site established in 1679. For centuries it was known as “The First Stop Out East.” The iconic inn—once a favorite of actors, socialites, politicians and presidents—now welcomes guests again in the charming village of Hampton Bays in the township of Southampton.
© Matthew Williams
Over the centuries, Canoe Place evolved through many incarnations: a coaching inn occupied by British officers during the Revolutionary War, a star-studded inn and dance hall in the early 20th century, a Prohibition-era speakeasy, and later a nightclub through the 1980s into the early 2000s. The property has hosted an array of notable visitors—from Teddy and Franklin D. Roosevelt to Cary Grant, Lucille Ball, Albert Einstein and Babe Ruth—while reporters, entertainers and public figures frequently stopped by for a meal, a drink or an overnight stay.
Set on six carefully maintained acres beside the Shinnecock Canal, the restored Canoe Place Inn & Cottages offers a boutique hospitality experience with 13 guestrooms, seven suites and five private cottages. The property includes a chef-driven restaurant and bar with indoor and outdoor seating, a pool, a full-service spa and event spaces designed for weddings and gatherings.
© Matthew Williams
The comprehensive restoration was led by Long Island developers Mitchell and Gregg Rechler of Rechler Equity Partners, who collaborated with Main Street Hospitality to revive the property. Interiors were reimagined by the acclaimed design firm Workstead, while James Gersten and Silver Street Hospitality developed and now oversee the food and beverage program.
Workstead’s design blends vintage-inspired details with natural textures to create a “garden by the sea” feel. Scalloped motifs, botanical and trellis-patterned wallpapers, clawfoot tubs and meadow-like carpeting complement hunter green and white striped awnings, private balconies and original wood-burning fireplaces. Sustainable Costa Brazil amenities mark the brand’s first hotel partnership, and small comforts—Alicia Adams alpaca throws on each bed, bedside phone charging pads, and a minibar stocked with locally sourced wines and spirits—underscore the property’s thoughtful approach to hospitality.
© Matthew Williams
Tucked along winding paths above the inn are one- to four-bedroom cottages, each with a private backyard, grill and fire pit, outdoor shower and wraparound porch. These cottages provide the privacy and feel of a small neighborhood while keeping guests close to the inn’s amenities and services.
The inn’s curated art collection, assembled by Mitchell and Gregg Rechler, highlights local and internationally recognized artists such as Doug Aiken, Yoan Capote and Tony Tasset. A prominent Jeffrey Gibson painting in the lobby honors the Shinnecock people, acknowledging the region’s Indigenous history and cultural roots.
A full-service spa created with the ONDA Beauty team reflects the hotel’s pastoral aesthetic. Three treatment rooms—including a suite for couples—feature whimsical murals, and the relaxation space is wrapped in striped coverings to evoke the comfort of a tented garden pavilion.
© Matthew Williams
Canoe Place offers a variety of dining experiences emphasizing local and seasonal ingredients. Good Ground Tavern, led by Relais & Château alum Chef Ülfet Ralph, presents Mediterranean-influenced dishes crafted over open flame alongside house-made pastas, pizzas and inventive cocktails. Signature menu items include CP clams casino, wood-fired Montauk bass, sausage and pepperoncini pizza, and an herb olive oil cake with fennel and orange.
Dining areas include the Tavern bar and a wood-paneled Bottle Room lined with china, plus outdoor seating on a lush terrace described as a “garden by the sea.” Behind the tavern, a private study with an original brick fireplace provides an intimate cocktail setting that nods to the inn’s speakeasy past.
© Matthew Williams
Hampton Bays is a quieter corner of the Hamptons with abundant waterfront and protected beaches. Located about 90 miles from New York City, Canoe Place is minutes from Southampton, East Hampton and West Hampton Beach, making it an accessible retreat for city visitors and a gateway to the region’s coastal attractions.
Canoe Place operates year-round. Room rates start at $350 in fall and winter and from $700 in spring and summer; rates include continental breakfast.