Topping Rose House
Hotel Name: Topping Rose House
Number of Rooms: 22
Location: At the very center of Bridgehampton, 100 miles from downtown Manhattan.
With an address like 1 Bridgehampton, you know there’s serious history behind the Topping Rose House, which was built in 1842 for Judge Abraham Topping Rose and his family. Judge Abe and his wife Eliza Van Gelder raised six children in the house, living there until the late 1850s. It remained a private residence until the 1930s, after which it began a new life as an inn and restaurant. The current version – by far the most luxurious iteration – is the grand dame of Hamptons hotels (but she is fittingly subtle about that designation). As its address indicates, you’re in the center of the action when you’re based at Topping Rose, the perfect spot from which to stroll to galleries and boutiques, and just a short shuttle from the beach-grass lined shores of the Atlantic. The 22 rooms are as laid back as you can get at a hotel that’s home to a special occasion restaurant by Jean-Georges, private garden terraces, and a contemporary art collection with works by local and international artists.
What We Loved: The property’s small size allows the team to add fun, personal touches, like welcome amenities that showcase local treats (think bars from Hampton Chocolate Company and fresh-squeezed rhubarb lemonade made with produce from the on-property garden.)
What We Didn’t Love: Everyone’s here to unwind, but sometimes the service is a little too relaxed.
Right For: Foodies, Americana enthusiasts, and New Yorkers looking to escape the city’s hustle and bustle in favor of some historic charm.
Wrong For: People who want to be right on the beach or who need fastidious hand-and-foot service.
Best Time to Visit: Bridgehampton is synonymous with summer, but autumn and winter are also charming here, when you can sip hot cider from the property’s orchard in front of the fire, or tramp through the one-acre farm in wellies (the hotel maintains a collection in every size).
TLF Tip: The Hamptons is brimming with art and art history, especially that of the Abstract Expressionists, those glamorous and distinctly American post-war creatives. Walk in the shoes of Jackson Pollock at the Pollock-Krasner House, or check out the works of contemporary artists-in-residence at the former home of Elaine de Kooning, which now operates as an incubator and exhibition space. The Parrish Art Museum, Long House Reserve Sculpture Garden, and Guild Hall are worth a trip too.