Hero Beach Club

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Look, I’ve stayed at a lot of places in the Hamptons over the years, but Hero Beach Club actually gets it right in a way that’s hard to find out there anymore. You pull up on Montauk Highway – and honestly, you might drive past it the first time because it doesn’t scream “look at me” like some of the flashier spots – but that’s sort of the point. This place feels like what Montauk used to be before it got completely overrun with city money.

The whole vibe is this perfect mix of upscale and laid-back that’s tough to nail. I mean, you’re definitely paying for quality here (it’s got that solid 4-star feel), but nobody’s making you feel underdressed if you walk through the lobby in flip-flops with sand still between your toes. The rooms have this coastal thing going on without being cheesy about it – think clean lines, good linens, and windows that actually open so you can hear the ocean at night. What really sold me was the attention to details that matter: proper water pressure in the shower, blackout shades that work, and – this is key in summer – air conditioning that doesn’t sound like a freight train. You know what I’m talking about if you’ve ever tried to sleep through a Montauk heat wave.

The location is honestly perfect for how I like to do Montauk. You’re close enough to walk to Gosman’s Dock when you want that classic lobster roll experience, but far enough from the absolute chaos of downtown during peak season. Ditch Plains is right there if you surf or just want to watch people who are way better at it than you’ll ever be. Parking isn’t the nightmare it is at some places – they actually thought about the fact that people drive out here. And here’s something nobody tells you: the staff actually knows the area. Ask them about where to get the best fish tacos or which beach has the gentlest waves for kids, and you’ll get real answers, not just whatever’s in the tourist brochure. I’ve been coming out to Montauk for fifteen years now, and this place captures what keeps drawing me back – that feeling of being somewhere special without all the pretense that’s taken over so much of the East End.