The Hamptons continues to epitomise the sought-after elegance of America’s New England, embodying the aspirational East Coast lifestyle filled with colourful hydrangeas, white-clad houses and the wild Atlantic beaches.
At the heart of East Hampton, two hours upstate from New York City, is The Baker House 1650: a luxury boutique hotel that, for an American property, is abundant with an impressive measure of history. Dating back to 1650 (it’s all in the name), and to the original English settlers who set foot on Long Island, the building has been at the centre of colonial life for decades: notably hosting a famous New York society wedding in 1915.
The hotel
Today, The Baker House 1650 is one of The Hamptons’ most loved luxury guest houses, offering those who check-in a historic stay that is often hard to come by in the US. 200-year-old wisteria canvases the rear of the property among the lush, private garden, whilst inside antiques and smartly appointed furniture echoes the building’s storied past spanning over 300 years.
Uniting this smaller-scale experience with the amenities of a luxury hotel, the guest house sits at the heart of everything The Hamptons famously offers. Whilst next door and behind the original Baker House 1650 is the Carriage House: the modern sister property that guests can either check into, or simply walk over to enjoy the garden and larger pool as we did.
Rooms and suites
Stepping into our room framed with old wooden beams and noticeably English features, as two girls who have just flown across the pond from London, The Baker House 1650 has familiar touches throughout. Entering the storied doors, the age-old property to this day feels like staying in a private Hamptons family home, with an intimate experience unlike many other hotels.
In the main house, each of the individually designed and named rooms have period features from decades gone by with antiques and fireplaces. Whilst next door at the Carriage House, rooms interpret the original building in a contemporary style. In the heart of the original building – our room, coined “The Huntting” is accurately described as being cosy with an authentic charm. With a fireplace at its centre, wooden beams and timeless furniture, this 400 square foot room overlooked the well-kept village for an immersive New England experience.
Dressed in quintessential William Morris wallpaper, one of the finest rooms in the main house is ‘The Gardiner”. From the French word (keeper of the garden), this 500-square-foot room, dripping in old English style, feels like stepping into your grandmother’s well-dressed bedroom with a luxurious king-sized bed. Next door, the Carriage House is home to two contemporary rooms: the Loft Suite with its own entrance and The Lily Pond on the ground floor, which balance old with new.
Food and drink
With French doors leading onto the garden, the heritage breakfast room is set with beams and charming low ceilings. Whilst only serving your morning meal, with a distinct English touch: it’s executed brilliantly (without any extravagant American breakfast plates in sight). Instead, I tucked into soft, creamy scrambled eggs dressed with edible flowers, alongside a bowl of colourful fruit salad, with miniature pots of jam and coffee served in elegant cups.
Nearby, The Hamptons boasts a swathe of excellent eateries. For us this included dinner at the nearby Jean-Georges at Topping Rose House and a long Italian-inspired lunch at Sant Ambroeus East Hampton. Dining around The Hamptons reflects its historic fishing roots with a variety of fresh seafood from lobster to clams and oysters. Meanwhile, many other restaurants work closely with local producers for a farm-to-fork ethos. Local vineyards and craft breweries also yield locally grown labels to try.
Spa and wellness
The Baker Spa sits beneath the main house and is a hidden tardis of wellbeing among the building’s foundations. Surprisingly large, the award-winning spa includes a heated pool, sauna, jacuzzi tub and steam showers. This is paired with a collection of treatments to choose, from massages to facials. Meanwhile, outside, two swimming pools situated cater for a touch of wellness among the mature gardens.
What to do
The Baker House is situated at the heart of all the iconic Hamptons region has to offer. Nearby is the famous sandy beach where you can walk along the wild Atlantic coastline that first welcomed the English settlers. Meanwhile, the elegant high street is lined with opulent boutiques from Ralph Lauren to Rolex, ice cream parlours and decadent boutique food stores.
In a nutshell
The Baker House 1650 is an intimate and luxurious guest house for anyone seeking the ultimate Hamptons environment. A celebration of the region’s distinctly English roots and New England persona, expect a stay that invites guests to settle into a heritage-inspired experience that echoes its decades gone by.
Factbox
Address: 181 Main St, East Hampton, NY 11937, United States.
Phone: +1 631-324-4081.
Website: bakerhouse1650.com.
All imagery credit: The Baker House 1650
