Where to Book Your Stay in the Hamptons, New York State

History, style and a touch of whimsical all go into the mix at this popular East Hampton boutique hotel. Accommodation here is all earthy-tone elegance – renovated deluxe rooms or cottages seamlessly blending historic beauty and mod cons. Particularly impressive is the 250-year-old three-bedroom cottage – with a cathedral ceiling and two bathrooms. Meanwhile, s’mores are prepared in the backyard every night and bikes and swimwear are available to make the most of the surrounding area.

The fact that Topping Rose House has a fleet of luxury cars that shuttle its guests around town and to Hampton’s glorious beaches is indicative of the bespoke service you can expect at this luxury hotel. A renovated 19th-century mansion, you’ll find traditional architecture mixing with contemporary design across the 16 rooms – while a restaurant by star chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, a heated outdoor pool, spa services and creative cocktails on tap means the lavish treats keep on coming.

Situated in downtown Riverhead, the Preston – conveniently – is minutes away from the Hamptons on the South Fork and close to the historic wine country of Long Island on the North Fork. The building itself dates back to 1905 and was once owned by Henry H Preston – the first salaried sheriff of Suffolk County. While the rooms are spacious and modern, the hotel has held onto its historic charm – boasting the original floors, beams, fireplace, stonework, barn doors and hardware.

The Hampton Maid has the good fortune of being in the best area to stay in the Hamptons. The location – close to the beaches hugging the North Atlantic, shady wooded trails, world-class golf courses, tennis courts and cultural gems – makes it the perfect base to go on a different adventure every day. At the hotel itself, there’s a natural aversion to cookie-cutter design – where each room has its own distinct personality. And the food dished up here is rather legendary – whether it’s the moreish breakfast or global cuisine dinners at R.AIRE.

The only luxury hotel in the Hamptons that’s right on the beach, Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa has the most stunning panoramic vistas from all of the 158 rooms, suites and beachfront cottages. Importantly, you also get access to the Beach Club – the resort’s 609m (2,000ft)-long private stretch of sand that’s kitted out with everything you need for a day in the sun, including hundreds of beach chairs and umbrellas.

Channeling that of an English butler, a Butler’s Manor is the sort of place that anticipates your needs – rather than reacting to them. Made up of only five rooms on an acre (0.4ha) of English gardens, you’re assured of a personal touch – with staff keen to share insider’s knowledge on where to find the best beach, a top dining spot, or watering hole for a cocktail. If Anglophiles need more convincing that this is a little slice of English hospitality, a Butler’s Manor is located in Southampton – the oldest English settlement in New York State.

As the name suggests, this harbor-side inn is within walking distance of the historic village of Sag Harbor – a major whaling and shipping port in the 19th-century before becoming a bolt-hole for the wealthy who have long been charmed by its recuperative powers. A stay at the Sag Harbor Inn certainly puts the spring back in your step – whether it’s the fresh sea air or the views over Sag Harbor Cove with its collection of colorful sailboats.

If you ever wondered where to stay in the Hamptons to feel like a local, the Sound View Greenpoint is the place for you. Taking inspiration from classic, modernist North Fork beachside homes, every room here has two sets of doors – one that leads directly to the outside path system, the other to the hotel’s private beach. Seafood restaurant, the Halyard, allows you to get a taste of the region’s produce – supplied by local foragers, farmers, growers and fishermen.