Long Island might lie just less than an hour from New York City, but it feels a world away from the buzzing concrete jungle. This long, thin island radiates the most charming of small-town feels, offering an excellent food scene, great shopping, and miles of sandy beaches. Lots of craft breweries and ample greenery make the experience all the better, making Long Island the perfect destination for a luxurious vacation. The options for a luxury hotel in Long Island NY are different from those in New York. How you ask? Think about this: nautical escapes from the city, Gatsby-like mansions, spending the day by the sea and then kicking back poolside, and sipping on the vino at Martha’s Vineyard.
These unique experiences are what makes Long Island’s luxury hotels a breath of fresh (sea) air. No matter the kind of luxury you’re looking for, Long Island has it. And with some of the Top Things To Do In New York City not more than an hour away, it’s the perfect destination for exploration while staying away from the bustle. To that end, here are the 11 best luxury hotels in Long Island New York.
Table of contents
- Topping Rose House
- The Roundtree
- The Menhaden
- The Chequit
- East Hampton Art House
- Aqua by American Beech
- Hotel Montauk Manor
- Viana Hotel & Spa
- Allegria Hotel
- The Garden City Hotel
- The Vanderbilt Hotel Suites
- Recommended Restaurants/Bar in Long Island
- Recommended Things To Do in Long Island
- Where To Stay in Long Island
Topping Rose House
11
Topping Rose House is a photogenic, historical, and landmark luxury hotel in Long Island NY at its swankiest, south-eastern end. The 19th-century grand family home is the only hotel in the heart of the Hamptons and boasts balustrades, columns, and a bright white clapboard facade. Meanwhile, the interiors are more Upper East Side gallery, with a contemporary art collection adding splashes of color to a sea of white. Amenities include a spa, a gym, and a heated outdoor pool, and there’s a three-hour gratis loan of a Lexus, its USP. The restaurant sits in an elegant, sea-facing dining room, but the garden and the terrace are lovely spots to sip a glass of wine when the weather is nice.
Choose from 22 modern yet bucolic rooms with swanky mod-cons and huge, state-of-the-art bathrooms. Go for the Cottage King Room, which has its own garden that can be accessed by sliding glass doors from the bedroom itself.
The Roundtree
10
The Roundtree is one of the truest luxury hotels in Long Island New York. It’s also Amagansett’s first true luxury hotel, but with the look and feel of a warm guesthouse. Located just a five-minute drive from Amagansett Beach, it’s also just 10 minutes to East Hampton village. Originally a working farm, the main classic Hamptons structure with shingle-style exteriors is more than 125 years old. The gorgeous manicured landscaping only adds to the luxurious charm. Plus, it has large tables, sun loungers, crisp white umbrellas, a lemonade stand, cornhole boards, and a firepit with s’mores ready to be toasted. What’s more, there are even beach chairs and the most Instagrammable cruiser bikes available for everyone.
The lawns are the perfect place to dig into complimentary breakfast comprising organic juices, teas, coffee, yogurt, granola, delicious local pastries, and fresh fruit. Plus, there are even baked goodies and cookies offered throughout the day. With just 15 rooms, including cottages and suites, staying here is an intimate experience indeed. The largest of them all is the three-bedroom cottage with a living/dining area, a gas fireplace, and a full kitchen. Scandinavian decor, plush robes, Nespresso coffee machines, and complimentary minibars surely make staying here a luxurious experience.
The Menhaden
9
The Menhaden is a “quintessentially local” luxury hotel in Long Island NY. Tucked in the heart of North Fork wine country in Greenport Village, the refreshing boutique hotel is named after the local fish. The hotel is the epitome of modernist minimalism, with a bright white backdrop and lots of natural woods. Marine blue accents in the furnishings lend a splash of vibrancy. Moreover, bicycles lined up outside the entrance for guests to borrow them. Plus, the hotel even ferries guests in its electric moke and runs a Shelter Island private water taxi. The ground-floor restaurant with a fabulous guest-only rooftop bar serves delicious small plates and decadent breakfast when it comes to food. In fact, the cafe even displays interesting artifacts found during construction, including a ship’s mast, horseshoes, bottles, and bricks.
Rooms and suites are spacious with metallic coffee tables, cane chairs, and large glass vases holding palm fronds. Plush robes, huge mirrors, and inky-blue glass polka dot tiling in the bathrooms add luxury touches. If you want to splurge, fo for the rooms with soaking tubs. Finally, every guest room floor is a ‘galley’ which includes complimentary soft drinks and snacks.
The Chequit
8
The Chequit is one of the most lovingly-restored luxury hotels in Long Island New York. The genteel Victorian bolthole boasts fabulous views over the Long Island Sound. Inspired by the style and spirit of the glamorous 1940s, its former guests include bigwigs such as Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra! However, the interiors of this former Methodist retreat are innately “1940s heyday.” Think oversized potted plants and daybeds on the wraparound terrace and high-backed velvet armchairs and chaise-longues in the lobby. Except for an ironclad no-smoking and checkout time, everything is flexible and personalized. Guests are requested to send across dietary demands and check-in times so everything can be ready before their arrival.
Afternoons are for boozing on complimentary wine on the terrace, while the days are free for you to borrow the vintage bikes and explore the island. During winters, the restaurant transforms into the coziest British-style pub you’d have ever seen. Think hearty English fare alongside raucous trivia nights! Furthermore, a complimentary breakfast of coffee, tea, pastries, freshly-baked muffins, homemade muesli, cereals, and fruits is served on the terrace. Choose from 39 rooms, each with a unique design and layout, Bigelow bath products, mini-fridges, and enormous plush beds. You’ll even find sunhats and high-end Turkish towels for the beach! Go for the top-end Terrace Suite, which has a clawfoot tub in the bathroom and its own roof terrace with a loveseat.
East Hampton Art House
7
The East Hampton Art House is less of a luxury hotel in Long Island NY, and more of a work of art and a creative work-in-progress! Imagine a villa B&B that stretches in a curve around the most gorgeous outdoor pool you’ll ever see, right in the heart of lush and verdant surroundings. Since this is a hands-on experience, you’ll see artists all over the villa creating masterpieces in their studios. It’s their art that hangs throughout the property, making for a unique, gallery-like experience. Amenities include a well-stocked 24-hour Butler’s Pantry and a complimentary gourmet breakfast every day. Get this – local gourmet bagels, Belgian waffles, and homemade breakfast potatoes; Instagram-worthy indeed. We’d recommend the fabulous Master Spa Suite, whose bathroom is as large as the room and has a jetted spa bathtub right by the window. But, that’s not all. It even has its very own sauna!
Aqua by American Beech
6
When it comes to traveling in a group, the Aqua by American Beech is one of the topmost luxury hotels in Long Island New York. Do you need a comfy but lavish room for a weekend with your pals? Aqua’s rooftop suite is the answer; it has a full kitchen, a dining room for six people, and even a private deck looking out to the stunning Aquebogue in Long Island. What’s more, this hotel is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, as it offers a bevy of outdoor activities. For instance, paddleboards, bikes, and kayaks are available for fun in the sun. Are you someone who prefers some tranquil solo time? You can treat yourself to a beachfront customized massage right with only the sound of the waves. Oh, and you’re just a few miles from a golf club, the Hamptons, and the famed Jamesport Vineyard.
Hotel Montauk Manor
5
Miami Beach comes to the northern Atlantic coast in the form of Hotel Montauk Manor, a luxury hotel in Long Island NY. The majestic hotel is housed in an architecturally magnificent English Tudor mansion atop a verdant hill. It’s reminiscent of the Great Gatsby era; think plush armchairs with lion-paw feet, potted ferns, and Spanish arches. However, there’s modernity thrown into the mix too. For instance, its day spa peddles pre-natal and stone therapy massages. Plus, everything’s laid out for you to hit the beach – umbrellas, chairs, and even bonfires. Choose from a smattering of distinctly decorated condominiums, complete with contemporary and bright furnishings and balconies. Aside from the most divine outdoor pool, amenities here include a tennis program and a restaurant offering traditional northern and southern Italian cuisine.
Viana Hotel & Spa
4
Who said luxury couldn’t be eco-conscious? Viana Hotel and Spa is one of the greenest luxury hotels in Long Island New York. You get to reduce your carbon footprint like anything at Long Island’s sole LEED-certified green-built hotel. It might be business-like rather than boutique to look at, but don’t let the exterior fool you. On the inside, you’ll find the world’s most divine spa with bamboo robes and towels for cozying up after a massage. It’s also famed for rejuvenating, botanically-based skin care treatments. Rooms and suites are indulgent with mod-cons, huge windows, and a marble bath. Furthermore, the restaurant Marco Polo’s is famed for its gluten-free Long Island Little Neck steamed clams. Wrapping up the amenities are the indoor pool and whirlpool set in a majestic, marble-filled space.
Allegria Hotel
3
Allegria Hotel is the only luxury hotel in Long Island, NY, on the oceanfront, right on the water. In fact, you could jump right onto the shores of Long Beach from its poolside deck! What’s more, it’s the only Long Island hotel that can sign you up for surf lessons. The ocean-view rooms and suites are smart and feature the most decadent bathrooms with rain showers and limestone bathtubs. You’ll also find a host of mod-cons, such as beverage coolers and massive 50-inch flatscreen TVs. If that wasn’t enough, there’s even a fabulous rooftop pool for cooling off during hot Long Beach summers. There’s something here for epicureans, too, with the restaurant serving delicious Long Island striped bass and Allegria clam and corn chowder – yum!
The Garden City Hotel
2
Stylish interiors and outstanding service are what make the Garden City Hotel one of the best luxury hotels in Long Island New York. With origins going back to 1874, the hotel complex boasts multiple structures. In fact, it’s famous for welcoming Charles Lindbergh before his transatlantic flight, and he’s just one of its many illustrious guests. The Polo Restaurant is a standout and serves refined American fare with modern touches. Dig into cheesecake lollipops and pastrami salmon at the Red Salt Room if you’re looking for something casual. Rooms and corporate-chic rather than coastal, but they’re amazing for romantic escapes. This is partly due to room service delivering exquisite meals to your perch and plush Luxe Dreams pillow-top beds. An indoor pool and a fitness center complete the offerings.
The Vanderbilt Hotel Suites
1
Don’t just “stay” on Long Island, but rather live like wealthy locals at The Vanderbilt Hotel Suites, the best luxury hotel in Long Island NY. Get a taste of the high-flying life at this Westbury hotel which offers rooms as well as rental residences with a fabulous, five-star twist. Dive deep into their slew of fantastic facilities, such as a private screening room for watching movies and a 24-hour concierge service to make reservations at that restaurant you like. While the children’s playroom keeps them occupied, take a breather and sip on a cocktail at the sensational outdoor pool on a comfy chaise lounger under an umbrella. Finally, wrap up the day at one of the two restaurants with spellbinding views of the ocean.
Recommended Restaurants/Bar in Long Island
- Mosaic: This game changer of a restaurant features a daily rotating menu of seasonal stuff and whatever the chef is in the mood for, apparently! So much so that there’s no physical menu at Mosaic; all you do is offer up your food allergies, and let the food roll out. When the food arrives, a smart waiter delivers a heartfelt monologue that describes the dish. In fact, the food is so beautiful that you’ll be admiring it for a few good minutes before eating. Oh, and the plating? Instagram gold.
- Sandbar: Helmed by a James Beard Award-nominee, Sandbar is the marriage of updated trends and classic cooking. Tucked in a cool space in the heart of Cold Spring Harbor, the restaurant frequently changes its farm-to-table menu, with a focus on seafood. Try the signature Berkshire pork chop and the Long Island clam chowder. And bring out your best dresses, for the interior is yacht club-chic.
Recommended Things To Do in Long Island
- Long Island Winery Tour: Long Island is famous for its gorgeous vineyards, so why not explore them on this luxurious and laidback tour? Relax with friends and family, enjoy soothing live music, and sip on the best Long Island cider or wine while looking out to the beautiful vineyards! You’ll be picked up from your hotel and dropped back, while visiting some of the best wineries on the island.
- 3-Hour New York Skyline Boat Tour: There’s nothing like seeing New York City’s iconic skyline from the water. The light that shines on the city is very different depending on time of day, swathing the skyline in a warm glow. Climb onboard Monty’s Ark for a comfortable 3-hour ride of the NYC skyline and make memories of a lifetime.
Where To Stay in Long Island
As its name suggests, Long Island is one long strip of land jutting out in the North Atlantic Ocean. There are many little neighborhoods to stay in here, each with its own appeal and attractions. So, it’s important to figure out where to stay in Long Island, as that can get slightly tricky. To begin with, there’s one of Long Island’s best neighborhoods, East Hampton North. It’s the ideal destination for people who want a good mix of attractions, restaurants, and the beach, as it has a little of everything. In fact, it’s the perfect introduction to Long Island!
Next, there’s the tiny village of Greenmore, which has a local and quaint feel to it. The laidback area is home to many unique luxury hotels and is set away from the hustle and bustle. You might also want to check out the Best Hotels in Long Island, New York, while you’re checking out its best neighborhoods.
Party animals will absolutely love Smithtown, which is “the” place to stay in Long Island for nightlife and parties. Set right in the heart of the center of the island, it’s chock-full of vibrant clubs and bars that provide entertainment until the wee hours of the morning. Finally, the gorgeous and verdant area of Lake Ronkonkoma is all about wellness retreats, parks, and indie boutiques and restaurants.
