In the summertime, Montauk means busy beaches, pool parties, and crowds. From any spot in town you can hear the thumping bass at Sloppy Tuna, and crowds of 22-year-olds travel en mass like college students on their way to Anatomy 101.
Come fall, the share houses empty back out into New York City, and the easternmost hamlet of the Hamptons on Long Island returns to the locals and the surfers. Temperatures drop, hurricane swells pick up, and Montauk becomes the tranquil beach town that’s impossible to achieve in July or August.
Enter Ruschmeyer’s, one of the hotels/restaurants/nightlife hotspots with long lines and sky high rates during the high season and cozy vibes when it cools off. The freestanding cabin rooms add to the autumnal appeal of the property, as does the rustic lobby with retro knick knacks and board games.
The fall menu at the property’s eponymous restaurant features comfort food like lamb shank with Brussels sprouts, campanelle pasta with smoked tomato, and wood-fired pizza (plus a kids menu with favorites like buttered noodles and chicken fingers, perfect for the whole family).
Work off the calories at Montauk Point State Park or Ditch Plains Beach nearby—or take a class at the hotel’s fitness studio, where the likes of New York Pilate’s, Box + Flow, and Tonehouse host pop up classes. Afterward, nosh on Indie Fresh food and Montauk Juice Factory beverages.
At night, you won’t find any lines at nearby hangouts The Surf Lodge or The Gig Shack if you feel like venturing out. And you might not want to: In Ruschmeyer’s own sprawling backyard, fire pits offset the chill.
