Weekend Getaway Perfection 

I took a weekend getaway to Greenport with a few girlfriends to discover all that’s new in the favorite North Fork village. I love Greenport any time of the year, and even though it’s known for being a summer waterfront town, that shouldn’t stop you from visiting in the winter. There’s just as much to enjoy.

We stayed at Menhaden, a boutique hotel with high-end service, and from the moment we checked in, it felt like home. The rooms were beyond spacious and beautifully decorated. The copy of “Moby Dick” on the bedside was a nice touch to pay homage to the town’s whaling history.

Menhaden is also home to The Merchant’s Wife, its on-site restaurant, as well as a café and a roof deck outfitted with a cute winter igloo (we had to drop in to take a photo or 300).

Instead of the mini bar price gouging we’re all so used to (“Don’t you dare touch that $12 bag of chips”), you’ll find unlimited snacks, endless Pellegrino sparkling waters, fresh juice, and coffee and tea in a gallery on each floor of the hotel. In the morning, there are complimentary warm pastries. (You had me at complimentary  Pellegrino!)

Dinner on Friday night was at the Halyard, located at the Sound View hotel, and it was just what we had in mind. With a menu crafted by chef Stephan Bogardus (formerly of North Fork Table & Inn) it offers seafood goodness that does not disappoint. I ordered the monk fish with a side of cauliflower with a black garlic tahini. When I tell you this cauliflower is something to be excited about, I mean it. So is all of the food at Halyard. After dinner we headed to the on-site piano bar for a red wine nightcap, and enjoyed live music in this cozy setting.

Sound View is also hosting an artist-in-residence program with artists like Kara Hoblin, Ryan Bock, Kim Fulmer, Lindsay Branham, and more throughout the winter. Check the website for a full schedule of events coming up.

On Saturday, it was brunch at The Merchant’s Wife, and I couldn’t recommend it more, made even better with the unlimited mimosa option (yes, please!). The avocado mash on the avocado toast is, in my humble opinion, unrivaled. (It’s the little things in life that make me happy!).

After brunch we rode Greenport’s antique carousel like the children we pretend we still are. You’re never too old for a carousel. And for $2 per ride, it’s the best deal in town.

Shopping in Greenport is always fun. We found ourselves at The Times Vintage, which sells everything from records to vintage clothing. I found the perfect piece of luggage, a vintage baby blue Samsonite, so I can always feel like I’m boarding a Pan Am flight in 1964.

Next stop of the day was Kontokosta Vineyard, which offers brilliant views of the Long Island Sound, as well as a brilliant cheese plate and wine, of course.

Greenport does very well with spectacularly crafted cocktails and the places we stopped in for a drink over the weekend did not disappoint. Try the Gin Mist with fresh lavender at The Merchant’s Wife or the cosmo (it’s not just any cosmo) at Black Llama Bar at American Beech.

Dinner at First and South on Saturday night was magnificent. We indulged in dishes like mussels and chicken paillard. I would highly recommend the vegetarian French onion soup, filled with hearty vegetables and a very nice gruyere.

jessica@indyeastend.com
@hamptondaze