The South Fork’s Coziest Restaurants

Get warm and fuzzy with a meal at any of these local favorites.

It’s cozy season — and that means visiting the East End’s warmest and fuzziest dining destinations. The good news? There’s more than enough cozy on the South Fork to go around. The bad news? You’ll have to make a decision about where to dine, and that won’t be easy. Here, we’ve rounded up five of our favorite destinations for cold weather dining in the Hamptons. Baby, it’s cold outside, so book a table nearest the fire and dine to your heart’s content. Tis the season, after all. 

1770 House

When it comes to cozy, dinner at East Hampton’s legendary 1770 House is hard to beat. Outfitted with historic details (wallpaper, original fireplaces, hand-hewn beams), this restaurant offers a more formal upstairs dining experience and a warm and friendly downstairs pub. Each space has plenty of cozy appeal — it just depends on what you’re in the mood for. As the cold weather arrives, this is the perfect place to get warm over a plate of delicious food. 

Coche Comedor 

Tucked into a restored diner, this Mexican-inspired spot, which serves dinner five nights a week, is among the coziest spots on the East End. Bright colors and imported tile reminiscent of Mexico warm up the interior, and bright, rib-sticking food (don’t sleep on the chicken adobo) will warm up your dinner plans, as will a comprehensive roster of tequilas and mezcals. Tuck into a booth and dine through the colder months at this East End treasure. 

Il Buco al Mare

This Hamptons outpost of the de rigueur New York City restaurant will warm you from the inside out with its signature wood-fired oven. Start with one of four focaccias (rosemary, olive, margherita, eggplant and anchovy) before moving on to any of the wood-fired mains, which include whole branzino, smoked chicken, duck breast, striped bass, and black garlic steak. A warm wooden interior, paired with the smell of the oven, makes this one of the coziest dining destinations around. 

The Maidstone

Don’t miss an opportunity to check out one of the Hamptons’ most interesting, cozy, and inviting restaurants, The Maidstone. Located within East Hampton’s Maidstone Hotel, the 40-seat restaurant has historic features (like a wood-burning fireplace), paired with modern décor. It’s the perfect place to unwind with an after-work cocktail, to chill on a December evening, or to catch friends for a bite. But beware: once you’re inside these cozy environs, it may be hard to pull yourself away and reenter the cold world outside.

Sam’s Restaurant 

Pizza is the name of the game at this storied East Hampton haunt, which still boasts the same bar and booths from decades ago, when it first opened. Come for the superlative pizzas, but stay for the rollicking, cozy, and warm atmosphere, which is just as welcoming in the middle of winter as it is on a humid August night. The food is just as great as the environment at this longstanding Hamptons winner. (If there are better affordable pies on the East End, we sure don’t know about them.)