Gurney's Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa

Perched above the rolling surf on Montauk’s legendary dunes, Gurney’s is where New York’s city-weary come to exhale. Mornings start with salt air and the distant thump of waves, best savored from a private balcony as gulls wheel overhead. The vibe shifts with the sun—beach club afternoons bring a parade of linen shirts and sunburned laughter, while evenings see a hush fall over the oceanfront decks, broken only by clinking glasses and the murmur of fire pits. The Seawater Spa, with its eucalyptus steam and ocean-fed saltwater pool, feels like a modern sanctum for the stressed and the stylish alike. Five dining venues keep things lively, from breezy brunches to elegant seafood dinners, all with the Atlantic as their backdrop. Locals know the off-season is when Gurney’s reveals its quieter soul: wellness classes and long walks on a nearly empty private beach. It’s a touchstone for the East End community and a sun-bleached bridge between old Hamptons charm and contemporary escape.