If you’ve read the blog over at our NYC real estate sister site StreetEasy, you know we love a good book. Whether we’re curling up by the fire during the colder months, sprawled out on the beach working on a good base layer, or rumbling below ground on the subway, a book always makes a great companion. To help you find the perfect one, we’ve tracked down our favorite spots to find a good read out east. Here are the five best bookstores in the Hamptons.
Southampton Books, Southampton
Not to be confused with the UK bookshop of the same name (though you should definitely read this story, too), Southampton’s entry on the list is, well, a textbook example of what a Hamptons book shop can be. The store sells all the genres you’d expect, curates quarterly shop bestseller lists, and even hosts killer events like “Game of Thrones” book parties and trivia nights.
Book Hampton, East Hampton
Nestled on a quaint Main Street in East Hampton, Book Hampton is a sleek, modern literary outpost with one of the best selections of coffee table books we’ve ever seen. As a place to stop after brunch, you can’t get much more classic than this, but don’t sleep on the regular author readings, and be sure to chat up the staff — they’re generally excited to recommend a good read.
Black Cat Books, Shelter Island
Set in in a charming, detached house, Black Cat books has been a used book purveyor since the ‘90s, and remains a fixture in the self-contained community of Shelter Island. You’ll find 20,000 titles to choose from at a given time, and the owners are pretty particular about those selections. Note that the regular hours (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) are only in effect during the summer, though you can stop in by appointment or “by chance” during the off-season. Even the hours are whimsical!
Harbor Books and Dobra Tea, Sag Harbor
Harbor Books is probably the hippest stop on this list. The shop offers a whole line of collegiate-cool swag (go for the hoodie), rotating book club selections from celebs like Emma Roberts’ Belletrist, and even a Spotify playlist to read to. Head to Dobra Teas in the back and you’ll think you’ve stepped into a legit Far East tea shop, with locally sourced leaves and fresh baked goods. This place is way more than just a bookstore.
Burton’s Book Store, Greenport
This no-frills, totally nice bookstore is admittedly not located in the Hamptons proper. Still, considering it’s in Greenport (the first North Fork town off Shelter Island’s north ferry) it’s worth popping into. The shop has pretty extensive hours in the summer, but a limited schedule in the winter. We’d recommend calling, though, because apparently the off-season closing times are “ish” only.
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