8 Best Hotels in Long Island, New York

Off the beaten path and a world away from the Hamptons "scene," this down-to-earth yet nicely appointed motel on a pretty waterfront spot in Hampton Bays is popular with families and couples. Rooms have wooden floors and a contemportary homey feel; all include microwaves, small refrigerators, and coffee makers, and some have kitchenettes. There's an outdoor pool and barbecue area, and boat slips are available. Several restaurants, a popular weekend nightclub, and a beach are within walking distance, and water-sports rentals are right next door. Cottages accommodating four guests are fully updated with full kitchens, flat-screen TVs, and all the comforts of home. If you're missing anything, the friendly staff will help you find what you need.

A hip and sophisticated take on a classic Greek Revival inn, this town-center lodging has been in operation since the 1870s, but its current owners, a Swedish hospitality group, have endowed it with cool Scandinavian flair. Each of its spacious and luxurious rooms and cottages is uniquely designed and inspired by artists, designers, writers, and scientists, ranging from modern edge to cozy traditional. Rooms in the three cottages can be rented singly or combined to accommodate larger groups, making it a family-friendly option. In the restaurant the chef prepares sumptuous daily specials using fresh local seafood and produce as well as Swedish imports like Västerbotten cheese. The garden hosts live music, cocktails, an Ping-Pong on weekends. A continental Scandinavian breakfast is included in high season and on weekends in the off-season.

This is one of the few nice, co-ed places to stay in this ever-popular, gay-friendly, and notoriously fun Fire Island community, with apartments on or near the ocean and a common ocean deck providing direct beach access. In a quiet part of the community, it's just a short walk to town and the nightlife, and provides a quiet refuge from Cherry Grove's wild side. Each apartment has a simple, modern design and a kitchen or kitchenette.

Close to major East End attractions and at the beginning of Long Island's wine country, this boutique hotel has plenty of amenities and activities right on-site. The casually elegant restaurant features local musicians, and there's a large outdoor pool area, fitness center, weekend yoga classes in-season, on-site spa, and a friendly staff eager to please. It nicely blends the sort of luxury amenities you'd expect of a large hotel chain, down to its Aveda bath products, with a decidedly local feel.

Built in the 1790s as a classic Cape Cod cottage, this place has been turned into anything but your typical B&B—rooms have each been luxuriously designed around a particular theme, with the utmost good taste and flair. Each room has a fireplace, and beds have feather mattresses and high-thread-count cotton sheets that would be hard to leave were it not for the savory smell of the professionally cooked brunch wafting up the stairs.

In business for eight decades, this resort on Star Island in Montauk Harbor, with a mini-replica of the Montauk Lighthouse, has a 232-slip marina, a private beach, various restaurants and lounges, and family activities. These include bonfires and movies on the lawn, fishing, a spa, indoor and outdoor pools, and surf camps and paddleboard lessons. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, private terraces, and nautical design. Not every room has an ocean view, so if this is important to you, make sure you verify this when booking.

A landmark Tudor-style building in a quiet spot outside of town offers a peaceful retreat with a hip, lounge vibe. It's bungalow-like rooms are small but well-appointed with a beachy feel, and there are also cabana suites. Bamboo walkways lead to a large, heated pool surrounded by oversized sunbeds, and when a DJ is not spinning tunes poolside, there's always chill reggae or loungy music setting the tone. Grab a drink or a bite to eat at the poolside lounge or on-site restaurant. Their summer concert series attracts big names like Maxi Priest.

An international crowd has flocked to this trendy hotel ever since celebrity hotelier Andre Balazs (of Los Angeles's Chateau Marmont and SoHo's Mercer) opened it in the late 1990s. Each retro-style guest room has a sundeck that looks out over the parking lot to the water. The beachfront French bistro–style restaurant provides the best people-watching around, and a great place to relax with a cocktail and enjoy the lingering sunset.