10 Best Things to Do in Southampton, New York

By VacationIdea Staff on October 3, 2022 - Updated

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Located on New York’s famous Long Island, the town of Southampton is well known as a “beach town,” however, there’s much more to it than sand and surf. Whether visitors are history buffs, art lovers, foodies, or wine enthusiasts, there’s a little bit of something for just about anyone in Southampton, New York. The town has also started to make a name for itself as the epicenter for culture and arts in the Hamptons, home to attractions like the Southampton Cultural Center, the The Watermill Center, and the Parrish Art Museum.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1.Southampton History Museum

Originally organized in 1898 before being incorporated in 1910, the Southampton History Museum explores life in Southampton, New York, dating back to when the British first came to the area. A part of the history museum, the Rogers Mansion Museum Complex consists of a dozen historic buildings that helps tell the story of the town’s development during the nineteenth century, including an 1825 barn and 1830 one-room schoolhouse. The Southampton History Museum also features exhibits not about Southampton, such as the exhibition about the Titanic that includes a variety of memorabilia and recordings of the tales of some of the survivors.

17 Meeting House Ln, Southampton, NY 11968, Phone: 631-283-2494

2.Conscience Point Historic Site

Despite being a relatively small landmark, the Conscience Point Historic Site commemorates one of the most important events in the history of the United States as it chronicles the arrival of the first British Settlers in New York. The settlers arrived on the harbor in June of 1640 and lived in the area alongside the Shinnecock Indians who had called the area home for centuries before the arrival of the English. Today, Conscience Point is owned and maintained by the Southampton Historical Museum. Get to know more about the Shinnecock People after visiting the historic site and be sure to see the commemorative plaque that marks the spot wherein the colonists arrived from Lynn, Massachusetts.

1640 Conscience Point Road, Southampton, New York 11968, Phone: 631-283-2494

3.Parrish Art Museum

The Parrish Art Museum aims to highlight the creative process, as well as how artists and art transform the experiences of people and their understanding of the world around them, along with how they live in it. A place for cultural engagement, the museum creates connections between people and art through its presentation of exhibitions, artists-in-residence, programs, events, educational initiatives, and its interpretation of its collections.

279 Montauk Hwy, Water Mill, NY 11976, Phone: 631-283-2118

4.Shinnecock Museum and Cultural Center

Housed in a log-style building, the Shinnecock Museum and Cultural Center is a small museum in the Long Island town of Southampton, New York that exhibits local artifacts belonging to the Shinnecock tribe, who have lived in the area for thousands of years. Visitors can learn about local history and about the tribe specifically. During the summer, guests can explore the village outside, while indoors, there’s an exhibition space of around 5,000 square feet to see.

100 Montauk Hwy, Southampton, NY 11968, Phone: 631-287-4923

5.Southampton Cultural Center

The Southampton Cultural Center is a unique arts center in Southampton for performance, exhibits, and education. With programs designed for people of all ages, the center offers year-round classes, lectures, workshops, and art exhibits. There are also several live performances hosted by the Southampton Cultural Center throughout the year, including theater, jazz, classical recitals, and the Concerts in the Park series, a popular event in the community. Classes provided by the center range from acting classes to art classes to singing and music lessons among many others.

25 Pond Ln, Southampton, NY 11968, Phone: 631-287-4377

6.Duck Walk Vineyards

Duck Walk Vineyards, located just outside of Southampton in the town Water Mill, is one of Long Island’s most well known vineyards when it comes to quality wine. Spanning across more than 100 acres, the winery produces around 5,000 cases of award-winning wines every year, which has led Duck Walk to become a staple in one of the country’s most famed growing wine regions. Wines produced by Duck Walk Vineyards include dessert wines, sweet wines, dry wines, red wines, and white wines, ranging from their Vidal Ice Wine to their Blueberry Port, made using wild blueberries from Maine.

231 Montauk Hwy, Water Mill, NY 11976, Phone: 631-726-7555

7.The Watermill Center

The Watermill Center, as the name suggests, is located in Water Mill, New York, just a short distance from the center of Southampton. This unique “laboratory for the arts and humanities” offers the freedom, space, and time for the global community to “create and inspire.” Established by Robert Wilson, a theater director and avant-garde visionary, in 1992, the center lies on approximately ten acres of the Shinnecock tribe’s ancestral territory and hosts events and tours for visitors. The Watermill Center places a focus on collaboration and creativity, integrating performing arts with inspiration from visual arts, research from sciences, and resources from humanities.

39 Water Mill Towd Rd, Water Mill, NY 11976, Phone: 631-726-4628

8.Plaza Cafe

The Plaza Cafe has been noted as the “Best Seafood Restaurant on Long Island” according to Newsday, as well as rated three stars with the New York Times and listed as one of the country’s top restaurants in The Zagat Surveys. With an eclectic menu that changes with the seasons, there is an emphasis on sustainability at the restaurant, offering the freshest seafood available both in the markets and locally. Food presentations are simple and fresh, complemented by seasonal produce. The Plaza Cafe also offers an award-winning wine list focused on small production wineries to go with their menu.

61 Hill St, Southampton, NY 11968, Phone: 631-283-9323

9.Southampton Arts Center

Dedicated to building a strong and tight-knit unity through the arts, the Southampton Arts Center is a treasured non-profit organization that has quickly made its way to the top of many art lovers' bucket lists. Southampton Arts Center doesn’t just produce and showcase beautiful and inspirational art, they have also made it their mission to be socially and regionally relevant, and to be as inclusive of the community's diverse members as possible. Come to the center to see multi-disciplinary exhibits, watch fantastic artistic performances, and get to know the community of artists that make the Southampton Arts Center the treasure that it is.

25 Jobs Lane, Southampton, New York 11968, Phone: 631-283-0967

10.Pelletreau Silver Shop

Sitting quietly on Main Street, just across from the Chamber of Commerce, is the charming and tiny Pelletreau Silver Shop. This quaint establishment finds its humble beginnings in 1686 when it was built by John Woodruff Jr. This hip-roofed shop is now one of four historic sights currently maintained by the Southampton History Museum and continues to operate as a trade shop. The Pelletreau Silver Shop is the oldest continuously-running trade shop in all of the Americas, making it a must-visit for all those who visit Southampton. Besides visiting it for its historical value and eye-catching exteriors, you may just find a trinket or two to commemorate your stay at Southampton.

80 Main Street, Southampton, New York 11968, Phone: 631-204-5317