Destination Guide
East Hampton
New York
The East End is one of the most dog-friendly stretches in America — if you know where to go.
Most Hamptons guides will tell you dogs are "welcome on the beach before 9 am." That is technically true and completely useless. What actually matters: which hotels treat your dog like a guest instead of a liability, which patios have shade and water bowls already out, and which beaches the locals take their dogs to after the lifeguards leave for the season.
East Hampton is not just dog-tolerant — when you know the right spots, it is genuinely dog-first. The community here has a quiet, deep affection for dogs that reveals itself in small ways: the water bowl outside the bookshop on Main Street, the off-menu dog treat at the café, the unspoken agreement among regulars about which stretch of beach to share after hours.
Here is everything we know.
Most Hamptons hotels "allow" dogs the way airlines "allow" carry-ons — technically yes, spiritually no. These places actually want you both there.
The best dog hotel on the East End, full stop. LDV Hospitality (the "la dolce vita" people) reopened this 1840 property in summer 2024 with Frette linens, Santa Maria Novella bath products, and Chef Jorge Espinoza (ex-Scarpetta) running the kitchen. None of that is why you are here. You are here because they have a "Woof Menu" in three portion sizes — Chihuahua, Husky, and Mastiff — and a Yappy Hour from 4–6pm Sunday through Thursday with 50% off the dog menu. No fee. No weight limit. They actually mean it.
Pet angle: Woof Menu in three sizes. Yappy Hour. Dogs in the garden seating anytime. Isaac Mizrahi calls the annual ARF dog walk his favorite Hamptons activity — and this hotel is the starting point for that crowd.
Order/Do: Smoked wagyu, seafood plateau, garden patio at sunset
Phone: (631) 324-5006 | Directions
The 2,000-foot private beach is the draw. In summer, dogs get before-9am and after-6pm access. But the real move is off-season: October through May, the beach is completely unrestricted, rates drop to around $300/night, and you have the Atlantic to yourself. Major 2025 renovation, seawater spa, five restaurants including the new Gigi’s Montauk.
Pet angle: Off-season is the play. No crowds, no restrictions, no competition for the sand. Your dog will think you rented the entire coastline.
Order/Do: Seawater spa for you, beach sprint for the dog
Phone: (631) 668-2345 | Directions
Michelin Guide listed. Small Luxury Hotels member. Continental breakfast arrives in a picnic basket with pastries from Il Buco. The real flex: Neil Simon’s Beach House — a 4BR cottage with private beach access, from $708/night. They provide dog beds, bowls, treats, and dedicated paw towels for post-beach cleanup. Hoses outside for the full rinse.
Pet angle: Paw towels specifically for sandy dogs. Outside hoses. Dog bed waiting in the room. This is what "dog-friendly" looks like when you spend real money on it.
Order/Do: Book Neil Simon’s Beach House if your group can split it
Phone: (631) 267-6600 | Directions
The Jean-Georges patio is the real reason to stay here. Twelve pet-friendly outdoor tables at a Michelin-starred restaurant, your dog at your feet, farm-to-table food from the 1-acre on-site garden. Cottage rooms have private patios. The 30 lb limit is the catch — this one skews small-dog.
Pet angle: Jean-Georges patio dining with your dog is the most civilized experience on the East End. Bed and bowls provided.
Order/Do: Request a cottage room with a private patio
Phone: (631) 537-0870 | Directions
Ask for the "Travels with Charley" package. John Steinbeck lived in Sag Harbor and wrote his famous road-trip book about traveling cross-country with his poodle Charley — starting right here. The package includes a dog bed, bowls, frisbee, and treats. You have to book it by phone. The literary wink is worth the call.
Pet angle: Steinbeck literally road-tripped with his poodle from this town. The package is a real nod to that history. Waterfront property, great bar.
Order/Do: Call to book the Travels with Charley package directly
Phone: (844) 227-6672 | Directions
No size limit, all outdoor areas open to dogs, and a "Canine Concierge" if you are traveling with multiple pets. The Surf Lodge is the scene hotel — celebrity DJs, sunset cocktails, Instagram everything — but the dog policy is genuinely the most permissive of any luxury property on the East End. $600–$1,250/night.
Pet angle: No size limit + every outdoor space = best outdoor dog policy in the Hamptons. Dogs on the deck, the patio, the sand.
Order/Do: Sunset on the deck with live music. That is the shot.
Phone: (631) 483-5037 | Directions
The only Hamptons hotel that makes organic dog food in-house. Down-filled dog beds. Fenced yard for off-leash play. Pet-friendly suites are 19, 20, 32, 40 and the Grayburn Cottage. If you care more about your dog eating well than being seen, this is your place.
Pet angle: Chef-made organic dog food, fenced yard, down-filled dog beds. They try harder than anyone for your dog, specifically.
Order/Do: Ask for the Grayburn Cottage — most space, most privacy
Phone: (631) 324-9766 | Directions
Nearly half of Hamptons rentals accept dogs, but read the fine print. The Real Deal reported a 7-lb Maltese that caused $75K in damage at a Bridgehampton estate — so expect deposits of $500 to $10,000 at the high end. Best platforms: KEY.co and Plum Guide flag pet status clearly. StayMarquis works if you ask for "Policy 1." Price tiers: $5K–$10K/week gets you Springs with fenced yards, $10K–$25K gets Water Mill with tennis and acreage, $25K+ gets full estates with staff.
Pet angle: A fenced private estate is the ultimate dog vacation. No rules, no schedules, no dirty looks from the concierge. Just confirm "pet-friendly" means "we want you here" not "we need the booking."
Order/Do: Always ask about pet deposits and cleaning fees before booking
19 dog-friendly restaurants on BringFido. A handful that are worth your time. Here are the ones where the food, the patio, and the dog welcome all land at once.
Chef Jorge Espinoza (ex-Scarpetta) runs the kitchen. Your dog gets a three-tier Woof Menu. You get Yappy Hour from 4–6pm with half-price cocktails while the dog eats. The garden patio has water bowls out before you sit down. This is the only restaurant on the East End where dog owners outnumber non-dog-owners at dinner, which means zero awkwardness.
Pet angle: Dog menu in Chihuahua, Husky, and Mastiff portions. Half-price Yappy Hour for humans. Garden seating anytime.
Order: Smoked wagyu, seafood plateau
Phone: (631) 324-5006 | Directions
The only restaurant in the Hamptons — maybe anywhere — serving a four-course prix fixe for dogs. The $32 "Paw Course": Evian water, artisan dog biscuit, bacon-wrapped chicken with short rib gravy and shaved summer truffles, then PB-banana-coconut ice cream. On a manicured lawn. Your dog eats truffles here. Let that register.
Pet angle: Truffle-topped entree for dogs. Four courses. On linen. This is the most absurd and wonderful dog dining experience on the East Coast.
Order: Escargots, fondue, raclette (you). Paw Course (dog).
Phone: (631) 500-9085 | Directions
Celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Twelve pet-friendly outdoor tables on a covered terrace. A 1-acre on-site farm supplying the kitchen. The vegetable-forward dishes are the move here — whatever is seasonal from the garden. This is the splurge dinner. Book the terrace, mention the dog.
Pet angle: Michelin-starred dining with your dog at your feet on a garden terrace. The staff handles it gracefully.
Order: Whatever’s seasonal from the farm. Trust the vegetables.
Phone: (631) 808-2000 | Directions
"Mykonos in the Hamptons." Plush outdoor couches, string lights, sunset views over the fields. The patio setup actually works for dogs — enough space between tables, soft surfaces, shade. This is where you go to be seen while your dog sprawls on a cushion.
Pet angle: The outdoor layout is generous enough that your dog has real space. Low tables, soft seating, good shade coverage.
Order: Grilled octopus, hummus, avocado tzatziki
Phone: (631) 500-9292 | Directions
Waterfront deck, live music, any-size dogs, no fee. The "Canine Concierge" is a real thing for people with multiple pets. The $150 three-tier chicken tender tower is a legend — absurd and worth it. Dogs on the deck at sunset with live music playing is the Instagram shot of your trip.
Pet angle: All outdoor areas, any size dog, no fee. The most permissive restaurant dog policy in the Hamptons.
Order: The three-tier chicken tender tower. You have to.
Phone: (631) 483-5037 | Directions
The Milan original dates to 1936. The East Hampton outpost has a charming outdoor garden that feels transported from northern Italy. This is where you go for a long, slow, very good Italian lunch when the dog is tired from the morning beach run and just wants to sleep under your chair.
Pet angle: Garden seating is shaded and calm. Good for dogs who need to decompress after an active morning.
Order: Tonnarelli cacio e pepe, vitello tonnato, aperol spritz
Phone: (631) 527-5990 | Directions
Manicured gardens, white tablecloths, proper southern Italian cooking. The outdoor seating is lush and private feeling. Sag Harbor is Steinbeck’s old neighborhood, and the walk along Main Street with your dog before dinner is half the experience.
Pet angle: Garden seating is well-spaced and leafy. Walk Main Street in Sag Harbor with the dog beforehand.
Order: Calamari, burrata, any pasta
Phone: (631) 725-7009 | Directions
They hand your dog an organic biscuit and set down a water bowl the moment you sit down. No asking. No awkward pause. Just immediate acknowledgment that the dog is part of the party. The food is farm-to-table and good. But the instant-biscuit move is why this place makes the list.
Pet angle: Organic dog biscuit and water bowl on arrival. Zero hesitation. The gold standard for a restaurant greeting a dog.
Order: Seasonal specials, anything from local farms
Phone: (631) 725-1810 | Directions
Restored 1880s home. Covered back patio with enough space that dogs are not in anyone’s way. The wood-fired pizza and raw bar are the strengths. Good for a relaxed dinner after a beach day when you do not want to change out of linen.
Pet angle: Covered back patio is spacious and dog-appropriate. No fuss from staff.
Order: Wood-fired pizza, raw bar, branzino
Phone: (631) 604-2790 | Directions
Waterfront, casual, the kind of place where lobster bibs are mandatory and nobody cares that your dog is eyeing the clam strips. BringFido confirmed. Outdoor seating right on the dock. This is the post-Ditch-Plains lunch move.
Pet angle: All outdoor seating, waterfront, casual enough that dogs are part of the scenery.
Order: New England clam chowder, steamed lobster
Phone: (631) 668-5330 | Directions
All outdoor. Picnic tables. Toes in the sand. No walls, no doors, no indoor section — which means 100% dog-friendly by default. The most Hamptons-casual meal you will have. Come sandy, stay sandy.
Pet angle: Literally all outdoor seating. There is no "inside" to be excluded from. Your dog is welcome by architecture.
Order: Lobster roll, fried clams, rosé
Phone: (631) 267-6348 | Directions
Dogs allowed inside and outside. A portion of sales benefits ARF, the Hamptons’ beloved animal rescue. There is often a resident pup on-site. This is the post-beach beer stop, no question.
Pet angle: Inside AND outside. ARF partnership means this place puts money where its mouth is on dog welfare. Resident dog on premises.
Order: Whatever IPA is on tap. Grab a seat outside.
Phone: (631) 668-8471 | Directions
Beach rules on the East End are a patchwork of municipal codes nobody fully enforces. Here is what actually applies — and where the real dog spots are.
The largest dog park on Long Island. Twenty-plus acres, fully fenced, completely free. This is the community gathering spot for every dog person on the East End. The locals call it "the happiest place in the Hamptons," and they are not wrong.
Pet angle: Off-leash, fully fenced, 20 acres of running room. No permit, no fee, no nonsense. The dog park other dog parks wish they were.
Do: Go in the late afternoon when the regulars show up. Bring water.
Directions
Ditch Plains at sunrise: surfers in the background, dogs running free, salt air. One of the most photogenic dog moments on the East Coast. As one Dan’s Papers writer said of her dog Yukon at Ditch Plains: "He pees on surfboards." Off-season (October through May), there are zero restrictions and zero crowds. This is the beach.
Pet angle: Off-season is off-leash paradise. In summer, the before-10am window is the move — arrive with the surfers.
Do: Sunrise session at Ditch Plains, then coffee in Montauk village
Directions
Dramatic parabolic sand dunes — towering white peaks with the bay behind them. Otherworldly landscape that feels more like Cape Cod meets the Sahara than Long Island. Short trail, but visually stunning. Your dog will lose its mind bounding over the dunes.
Pet angle: Leashed dogs welcome. The sand and terrain are pure sensory overload for dogs. Bring water — no shade.
Do: Morning hike before it gets hot. The phantom forest (trees buried in sand) is the photo op.
Directions
The Mill House Inn calls this their "secret dog-friendly beach" — and they are right. Harbor backdrop, calm water, local-only feel. No lifeguards, no enforcement hassles, no competition for space. Dogs can wade and swim freely. If you want a quiet beach day without the Main Beach scene, this is where to go.
Pet angle: Calm harbor water is safe for dogs to swim. Quiet, uncrowded, local feel.
Do: Bring a kayak or paddleboard. Free launch access.
Directions
The only dog-friendly winery in the Hamptons proper. Wolffer does not allow dogs. Channing Daughters does not allow dogs. Duck Walk does — inside and outside, with complimentary tastings on 30 acres of vineyards. Skip the rest and come here.
Pet angle: Dogs welcome indoors and out. The only winery in the Hamptons that allows it. Period.
Do: Complimentary tasting, then walk the vineyard rows
Phone: (631) 726-7555 | Directions
A world-class sculpture garden that opens to dogs on select Saturdays. The amphitheater goes off-leash. Laurie Anderson once performed a "Concert for Dogs" here — ultrasonic frequencies and all. That is the energy of this place.
Pet angle: The one time dogs are allowed in this world-class garden. Off-leash in the amphitheater. Check their calendar for dates.
Do: Walk the sculpture paths, let the dog run the amphitheater
Directions
They specifically encourage bringing your dog on a paddleboard. Calm East Hampton waterways, beginner-friendly instruction, and your dog standing on the front of the board looking noble. If you can balance, this is the most fun activity on the list.
Pet angle: They teach you to paddleboard with your dog. Not tolerated — encouraged. Calm water, dog-sized life vests available.
Do: Morning session when the water is glass-flat
Directions
A 60-foot catamaran that welcomes dogs on a 4-hour cruise around Shelter Island. Your dog can swim off the boat in the bay. That sentence alone should be enough.
Pet angle: Dogs can jump off the boat and swim in Sag Harbor Bay. Four hours of sailing, wind, and water.
Do: Sunset cruise. Bring a towel for the wet dog on the ride back.
Phone: (646) 599-3996 | Directions
The East End’s biggest dog event. 600+ people and their dogs walk from Mulford Farm to Main Beach every October. Isaac Mizrahi considers this his favorite Hamptons activity. Dylan Lauren brings her dog Leelah. Ellen and Chuck Scarborough show up. If you are here in fall, do not miss this.
Pet angle: 600 dogs on the beach at once. The single best dog-community moment of the year on the East End.
Do: Register early. Walk the full route. Stay for the beach party.
Directions
The postcard beach. The golden hours — sunrise and sunset — are the dog-friendly hours. And they are the best hours anyway. Parking fills before 8am on summer weekends, so walk from town or arrive at dawn. At a 2013 village board meeting, one resident put it plainly: "A freaking dog should be allowed to run free at the beach when the beach is closed." That is the spirit here.
Pet angle: Before 9am and after 6pm May through September. Off-season, enforcement drops and locals walk dogs freely.
Do: Sunset session. The light is extraordinary and the sand cools enough for paws.
Directions
A realistic long weekend in East Hampton — built around what is actually open, actually dog-friendly, and actually worth your time.
Check into The Maidstone and let Ashton decompress — new smells, new room, give them 30 minutes to sniff everything. Then take an easy walk to East Hampton Main Beach to stretch legs after the drive. Nothing ambitious — just let Ashton set the pace. For dinner, head to The Maidstone Restaurant. Request outdoor seating when you book and mention you are bringing a dog. Bring a portable water bowl and a chew toy to keep Ashton occupied while you order.
Start early. Grab coffee and head to Springs Park before the crowds — go before 9 am if it is a beach. This is Ashton's highlight of the trip, so let them lead. Brunch at Jack's Stir Brew Coffee after. In the afternoon, explore Cedar Point County Park at a relaxed pace. Ashton will be tired from the morning — keep it mellow. Back to the hotel for a rest. Dinner at Bostwick's Chowder House — sunset seating if they have it. Ashton gets the best seat: under the table with a view.
Sleep in. Ashton earned it. Take a morning walk to Montauk Highway — somewhere familiar feels right on the last day. Breakfast at Pepperoni's Pizza. Request late checkout (most dog-friendly hotels are flexible about this). If you have time before heading out, Osprey's Dominion Vineyards is worth a quick visit. Take a final photo of Ashton in front of the hotel. You will want it.
Once the summer crowds vanish and the beach permit enforcement essentially disappears, Cedar Point County Park becomes a completely different place. After October, you can walk the full peninsula beach with your dog off-leash and encounter almost nobody — just sand, water, and the lighthouse at the tip. The locals know this. The seasonal rangers are gone, the parking lot is empty, and the entire stretch of shoreline between Northwest Harbor and Sag Harbor Cove belongs to whoever shows up first. It is the best-kept secret on the East End, and it is the single thing that will make you rethink when you visit East Hampton with your dog.
Rules that only locals know, sourced from the East Hampton Star, Dan's Papers, and town government records. Getting this wrong means fines, confrontations, or a ruined beach day.
Town beaches (May 15 – Sep 15): Dogs restricted 10am–6pm. Must stay 500ft from paved road ends on ocean beaches, 300ft on bay beaches. Leash required when traversing restricted areas.
Village beaches (May 15 – Sep 15): Dogs prohibited entirely 9am–6pm. At all other times, leash required within 300ft of any road end. The Village is stricter — one hour earlier cutoff and a total ban during restricted hours, not just a distance requirement.
After September 15, beach restrictions lift almost entirely across both Town and Village. Dogs can run on nearly any beach off-leash. Hotels relax policies, restaurants thin out, and the weather is still beautiful through October. If you have any flexibility on timing, this is when to visit with your dog.
Bistro Ete serves a “Paw Course” menu for dogs: Evian water, housemade biscuits, bacon-wrapped chicken thighs, and peanut butter coconut ice cream. This is peak Hamptons dog dining.
Page at 63 Main in Sag Harbor greets dogs with organic biscuits and water bowls. Clam Bar at Napeague is 100% outdoor and has been dog-friendly for decades — an iconic roadside seafood stop. The Lobster Roll (LUNCH) has welcomed dogs at outdoor seating for over 50 years.
ARF (Animal Rescue Fund) in East Hampton has a newly redesigned facility and is a major community institution. Johnny’s Dogs LLC offers dog walking, pet sitting, and transportation throughout the Hamptons. Little Lucy’s Canine Couture in Southampton hosts seasonal events like doggy photos with Santa and Halloween costume parades.
Emergency vets, dog parks, groomers, and supplies in East Hampton — saved so you do not have to Google it at midnight.
1054 Montauk Hwy, Water Mill. 24/7 emergency care. Spa-like environment with overnight stays. The one you want in a crisis.
WebsiteThree Mile Harbor-Hog Creek Rd. 20+ acres, fully fenced, off-leash, free. Largest dog park on Long Island.
Directions205 Windmill Lane, Southampton. 1 acre, fenced. Has a 20-foot metal dog sculpture you cannot miss.
Directions375 County Road 39, Southampton. Hot towel wraps, Moroccan oil treatments. Dan’s Best of the Best winner since 1986.
Book141 Springs Fireplace Rd, East Hampton.
91 Jobs Lane, Southampton. High-end dog fashion and accessories.
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