Sleep in. Brunch will still be there when you wake up. • Photo courtesy of Baron’s Cove
In today’s hectic world—and with life’s hectic pace—there are few things that feel more deserved than catching some uninterrupted zzz’s and knowing that at the tail end of this series of glorious letters lie some eggs. The bed-and-breakfast model is a classic hospitality option for just that, providing a peaceful time-out from the everyday and allowing you to start your day feeling pampered, cared-for and indulgently nourished. The only way the experience could be improved upon, at least in this writer’s humble opinion, is by extending the time frame and options for both: by making your weekend escape a bed and brunch.
More time to sleep in! More time to dawdle before actually getting in the shower! More food items to choose from, beyond the basics! Also: booze! Sounds like a win-win.
On Long Island, where a different sense of place is possible within just a short drive, it’s especially easy to orchestrate a miniature get-away. Head out Saturday morning, enjoy dinner in a new or different town, slumber into the late morning, and partake in a hearty brunch before real life hits you in the face again. Here’s where we recommend.
Long Island has plenty of inns out east and business hotels to the west, but did you know we also have one shining AAA Four Diamond Award-winner, too? Well, this iconic hotel, opened in 1874, is it, and for excellent reason.
Its 269 guestrooms and suites were all recently renovated while a new indoor pool and fitness center were installed. A Red Door spa makes lounging around that much easier, but the island’s most decadent Sunday brunch, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., gives you reason to get out of bed … late.
Try:
- Lobster tail, king crab, crab claw, and shrimp cocktail from the raw bar
- The roasted vegetable salads from a lengthy display
- One of every dessert by the chocolate fountain
- Fresh pasta cooked to order
- Extensive meat carving station and gourmet chafing dishes
- Unlimited house wines, Mimosas, Bellinis, Bloody Marys and Champagne
Greenport is popping, and American Beech is right in the heart of it all. Located in Stirling Square on Main Street, the five elegant and spacious suites in the historic carriage house are just right for a long, deep sleep before brunch.
Priority reservations at the exceptional restaurant downstairs make it a must; head down between noon and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday or 11 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Sunday for New American delights. Afterward, take a stroll to the harbor, or work it all off (if you must) with their complimentary bike rentals.
Try:
- Cheddar chive scones
- Tasso ham, crawfish and gouda mac and cheese
- Spaghetti squash latkes with applesauce and herb crème fraiche
- Burrata cheese with rhubarb jam and seven grain toast
- Egg sandwich on a pretzel buns with gruyere and garlic aioli
- Buttermilk fried chicken with spiced honey and blue cheese
Montauk is the new Hamptons. Or so they say. But really, Montauk is now where those in the know head for a taste of authentic Long Island beach culture. The Surf Lodge bridges both the tony and surfer life, its rustic beach-chic designed rooms providing a quiet space for guests to retreat to after enjoying the live music, entertainment, art, fitness classes, and other amenities that take place on the grounds.
Frette linens on Wright mattresses help keep you in bed late since brunch doesn’t start until 11:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. On the upside, it doesn’t end until 3:00 p.m., either, so you can start your morning off with a free bike rental if you prefer.
Try:
- Cantaloupe gazbacho with eggplant bacon and borage
- Scrambled tofu, not just for vegans with its heirloom cherry tomatoes, yellow squash and blossoms, chives and rosemary potatoes
- Avocado toast on grilled sourdough and with poached eggs
- Raw seafood tower with oysters, shrimp, tea-smoked mussels, roasted clams and king crab claws
- Blue crab and prawn toast with chili, garlic and mascarpone dressing
This family-friendly Sag Harbor resort is truly family-friendly—dogs are welcome in select Village Garden rooms. But don’t confuse that relaxed approach to guests with that of standards. Voted #1 Hotel in New York and Mid-Atlantic by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler in 2016 and awarded Four Diamonds by AAA, this is nautical style at its most elegant.
Although breakfast is served daily here until 11:00 a.m., it’s extended to brunch on Saturdays and Sundays until 3:00 p.m. in their lovely main dining room. There, high exposed-beam ceilings and cobalt blue accents once again show mastery of melding rustic notes with East End elegance.
Try:
- Any egg dishes; they’re organic from Browder Farms
- Mason Dixie Eggs with cheddar grits, braised greens and tomato chutney
- Roasted Bass”wich” with their signature slaw and garden tartar sauce
- Organic smoked salmon on seven-grain bread with a hard-boiled egg
- Brioche French Toast, cut thick with warm Nutella and peppered sausage
Three cottages and 19 individually designed rooms have been recently updated at this classic East Hampton inn, whose green and white striped awning is as iconic as the windmills and pond before it. Beach parking is included with your stay, as is use of their bikes, organic cotton robes, and aromatherapy burners for even more East End zen. For even more creature comforts, dogs are permitted to stay as well.
Better yet, invite your furry friend to brunch with you on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Opt for a seat in the garden or lounge to do so, and sip on one of David Stanridge’s (of Clover Café New York) excellent smoothies as you wait.
Try:
- The Energy Smoothie with cold-brew coffee, banana, almond butter, dates, almond milk, and raw honey
- Orange blossom French toast with stewed blackberries and vanilla yogurt
- Overnight oats with mixed berries, stewed apricots, and pecans
- Whole-grain avocado toast with lobster salad
- Vegan specials and Montauk Juice Company juices
Historical, haunted, and magical in a myriad of other ways, this charming collection of staterooms, studios, and suites is a perfect place to discover Stony Brook’s country charm. The estate itself is dates back to 1751, when the original structure of the Old Homestead was built by Richard Hallock, but the rooms weren’t debuted until 1939. It was then that Mrs. Frank Melville began serving tea, then welcoming overnight guests.
Be one of them, but make sure your stay includes a Sunday, where you can indulge in brunch from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Try:
- Desserts, pastries, cookies, and pies from the on-site bakery
- Either one of the roasts; two are guaranteed
- Beggar’s purse of mushroom and chicken in white wine sauce
- Omelets made to order
- Shrimp cocktail on ice
Photo courtesy of Sea by the City
California isn’t the only LBC that’s the place to be. Long Island’s Long Beach is hot and not only because summer’s kicking in. The boardwalk is more full of fantastic brunch options than ever before, but if you want to rest up right, The Allegria is where you do it. It’s “Long Island’s only luxury oceanfront hotel,” with floor-to-ceiling windows, a rooftop pool, and modern, clean, South Beach aesthetic.
Brunch buffet seatings at Atlantica on the Ocean are available from 11 AM – 3 PM, so you can catch your beach rays both before and after the best meal of the day. Stroll down the extensive boardwalk after to work up an appetite for dinner.
Try:
- Omelets made to order
- House-baked desserts and cookies
- Various composed vegetable and pasta salads
