A Mindful Guide to Sag Harbor

slow travel favorites, hidden gems, and style notes from a weekend in the Hamptons

After a two-hour drive from the City, we arrived in what locals call the most charming town in the Hamptons: Sag Harbor. It’s more of a village than a town, really, a quaint Main Street, a harbor that catches the golden light at sunset and rows of picturesque homes with blooming hydrangeas in their front yards.

We went out East for my husband’s photography work and while he was shooting, I spent two days discovering the area!

I’m always looking for the quiet, aesthetic, high-quality spots. The hidden farm-to-table restaurants, the boutique hotels, vintage stores and cute little book shops. Anything that feels mindful and authentic. In this guide, I’m sharing the gems I discovered, what I wore, where we stayed, and some recommendations I gathered from locals.

HIDDEN GEMS

01 — Il Cappucino

I found this cozy Italian spot on my first evening and spontaneously had a dinner for one on their terrace. I love being able to just walk in somewhere spontaneously, no reservation needed. It might be the European in me, but this feels like pure living! Il Cappuccino has been a neighborhood staple since 1975, still run by the same family with recipes passed down through generations. I had the spaghetti with clams and finished with their homemade passion fruit sorbet.

I chatted with the waiters a little and asked for other recommendations. Which is how I found the next spot.

02 — The American Hotel

I had lunch here the next day and fell in love. There were fresh roses on every table, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere had a real old-school charm. The hotel dates back to 1845, originally hosting sailors and traveling salesmen. After changing ownership in the 1970s, it was renovated into an 8-room boutique hotel. While we didn’t stay here this time, I’d love to try it on our next visit. Definitely worth stopping by for lunch or dinner.

03 — Sagtown

More of a neighborhood gathering spot than a secret gem, but I’m including it anyway. Great coffee, healthy breakfast options, and a peaceful courtyard location right off Main Street.

04 — Road to Nowhere

Discovered this Hamptons-based slow fashion brand! They have another location in Montauk where the brand started. Founded by a couple who wanted to create the ideal travel wardrobe, they use natural materials and focus on quality pieces. Everything is made in LA. The Simone knit cardigan stood out to me when I was in their boutique as well as a lot of their menswear pieces, such as this collar shirt made from organic cotton (I’d say menswear is their strong suit).

05 — Sag Harbor Books

This charming independent bookstore felt like a real community hub. I walked in one evening around 8pm and it was still buzzing. It had cozy lighting, people were chatting or flipping through books and the energy was warm and welcoming.

06 — Carissa’s Bakery

Chic bakery by the harbor, we went there on our last morning and got a few things for the road. Their sandwiches are great, their croissants I didn’t like as much (I’m spoiled after 3 years in Paris). The interior design is beautiful and you can sit by the water if you feel like doing a picnic.

07 — Goop

Next to Carissa’s is a Goop boutique with some great clean beauty brands. The store design is beautiful and they also had some clothing options there, some of it was made with natural materials, but I also saw quite a few polyester pieces. Your reminder to always check the composition on the tag!

OUTFIT DIARY

I tried to pack light and stick to just a carry-on since we were only there for 3 days. You’ll see me rewearing and restyling the few pieces I brought, a mix of staples from mindful independent brands and a few vintage treasures.

Friday — travel day & exploring the village

Wearing a vintage four-pocket jacket, straight-leg Nudie jeans, Aureum Collective sunglasses, and my new lace ballet flats from the Canadian brand Maguire. Picked them up in SoHo last week and I have a feeling they’ll be my most-worn shoes this summer.

Saturday daytime look — lunch & window shopping

This sweater vest used to be my dad’s sweater, I borrowed it from his closet so often that the fabric at the elbows eventually wore through. When it finally had holes, I brought it to my local tailor in Germany and had it turned into this vest, so I could keep wearing it. The linen shorts are by UK brand Olana, the belt is Aureum Collective, and I’m rewearing my Maguire lace ballet flats.

Saturday evening look — dinner with my husband & the team

Wearing the same Olana linen shorts, a cotton collar shirt by Swedish slow fashion brand Asket (this particular shirt is from last season, I added a link to a similar one) and another pair of suede kitten heels I picked up at Maguire last week (couldn’t resist).

Sunday morning look — coffee run & back on the road

We had to be back in the City at 6, so I spent the morning showing Andrew some of my favorite Sag Harbor spots and we went to Carissa’s Bakery before heading out. It was too chilly that morning to wear the Asket t-shirt I brought, so I wore the same look as Friday, but added a vintage silk scarf I found at the Vintage Twin and a vintage bag I got from Dammi Vintage at Brooklyn Flea.

OUR HOME FOR THE WEEKEND

We stayed at Baron’s Cove, a waterfront hotel that hosted the whole team for the shoot. It has a pool, cozy cabins, rental bikes, and a lot of nautical charm, perfect for a weekend escape. While we had a lovely stay, I do think it’s slightly overpriced for the quality of service and food. If you’re considering it, I recommend booking early for the best rate.

LOCAL RECOMMENDATIONS

01 — Tutto Il Giorno

This restaurant came highly recommended, it’s close to the harbor and looks beautiful. It seems to be a place where reservations are necessary. I captured a calm moment, but most of the time it seems to be pretty packed.

02 — Cedar Point Lighthouse

I met a lovely Australian woman who recently relocated from NYC to the Hamptons with her family. She recommended Cedar Point as a peaceful walking route. The lighthouse itself is only accessible by foot, but it looks like a beautiful afternoon stroll.

03 — Annabel The Shop

Another tip from my new Australian friend — this is a mindful, multi-brand boutique with several Hamptons locations. They carry some slow fashion labels I already love and I’m looking forward to visit it on our next trip!

I hope this little guide inspires your own trip out East, whether it’s a weekend escape or just a day to slow down. Sag Harbor lives up to it’s reputation as the most charming village of the Hamptons, it has a beautiful balance between laid-back and elevated. If you’ve been and have favorite spots of your own, I’d love to hear them in the comments! And if you go, let me know what you discover.

Thank you for reading and see you next Thursday!

x Sarah

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