Unique Stays in the Hamptons

The Hamptons are best known for big houses and busy summer weekends. The homes on this page show a different East End: smaller, more personal places with a sense of the people who built them.

In Springs, the old artists' corner of East Hampton, an architect's cottage sits quietly in the trees. In Montauk, at the end of the island, Sea Roost is a fisherman's haven close to the water. Both are owner-listed and chosen for their design and character rather than their square footage.

Every home on Locèlle is listed by its owner, and you book with them directly, without added platform fees.

• The quieter East End. Springs and Montauk feel a world away from the busiest villages.
• Beaches and bays. Ocean beaches, calm bay water and some of the best sunsets on Long Island.
• Artistic history. Springs was home to Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner, and their house is open to visitors.
• Book direct. Locèlle introduces you to the owners so you can book with them without platform fees.

Summer is high season, with full beaches and the highest rates. September and early October are many locals' favorite months: warm water, open restaurants and far fewer people. Winter and spring are quiet and calm, ideal for walks on empty beaches.

Expect around two and a half to three hours by car from Manhattan, more on summer Fridays. The Long Island Rail Road runs to East Hampton and Montauk, and the Hampton Jitney bus runs from Manhattan throughout the year. Seaplane and helicopter services operate in summer.

• Beaches: Ditch Plains and Kirk Park in Montauk, Louse Point and Maidstone Park near Springs.
• Visit: the Montauk Point Lighthouse and the Pollock-Krasner House in Springs.
• Eat: lobster rolls, farm stands and wineries on the North Fork, a short ferry away.