The highly anticipated Canoe Place Inn & Cottages opens its doors today, signifying a return to glory after sitting vacant for nearly two decades. Situated on the site of America’s oldest inn, for hundreds of years Canoe Place in Hampton Bays was referred to as “The First Stop Out East.” Now, the iconic inn historically frequented by starlets, socialites, politicians and presidents alike, will once again, revitalize the beloved hamlet in the Town of Southampton.
Set on six manicured acres adjacent to the Shinnecock Canal, accommodations at the restored Canoe Place include 13 guest rooms, seven luxurious suites and five guest cottages. The boutique-style inn also features a regionally inspired, chef-driven restaurant and bar with indoor and al fresco dining, a pool, spa and destination-worthy events spaces. Just across the canal are 37 residential style Canoe Place Boathouses, serviced by luxury membership club, Inspirato.
Meticulously restored by established Long Island developers Mitchell and Gregg Rechler of Rechler Equity Partners, the team tapped some of the industry’s top talent for the momentous undertaking, partnering with independent hospitality management firm, Main Street Hospitality to bring Canoe Place to life. Acclaimed design firm Workstead reimagined the interiors for the new build while James Gersten and his firm Silver Street Hospitality conceptualized and will oversee the food & beverage program.
“Since we began on this restoration journey back in 2005, it has been our priority to not only honor the history of these grounds but to bring something special back to the Hampton Bays community,” says Mitchell Rechler of Rechler Equity Partners. “Whether creating hospitality education programs with Hampton Bays School District or simply offering a place to gather for life’s moments, big and small, we are honored to bring Canoe Place back as an intrinsic thread in the fabric of the community and a portal of discovery for travelers and new guests.”
DESIGN & ACCOMODATIONS
At Canoe Place, the grandeur of a bygone era meets the understated comfort of a classic Hamptons residence. Workstead selected the vintage-inspired scalloped motifs, botanical and trellis-patterned wallpapers, clawfoot bathtubs and meadow-like carpets complement hunter green and white striped awnings on private balconies and original wood burning fireplaces to create the ultimate, “garden by the sea” Hampton’s retreat.
In-room bathroom amenities by sustainable beauty line Costa Brazil mark the brand’s first hotel partnership. Guests will also appreciate thoughtful touches such as the cozy Alicia Adams alpaca signature throws at the end of each bed, phone charging pads on the nightstand and locally sourced wines and spirits in the beautifully appointed mini-bar.
Perched on a hillside above the inn along winding pathways are one- to four-bedroom guest cottages, each equipped with a private backyard, grill and fire pit, outdoor shower and wrap-around front porch creating the allure of an exclusive neighborhood but with the conveniences and luxuries of the Inn.
Canoe Place’s formidable art collection, personally curated by Mitchell and Gregg Rechler, adds a fantastical touch, showcasing the work of local and internationally renowned artists, including Doug Aiken, Yoan Capote and Tony Tasset. Known for his representations of Native American traditions contextualized within history, a Jeffrey Gibson painting prominently positioned in the lobby pays homage to the Shinnecock people who first inhabited the area.
SPA
A beautifully appointed, full-service spa created in partnership with the acclaimed ONDA Beauty team mirrors the hotel aesthetic. The design brings the landscape of the outdoors in with a sunny palette, botanical motif and trellis details, creating the ambiance of a serene garden. Whimsical, pastoral murals adorn the walls of three treatment rooms, including a room for couples. A relaxation room is wrapped from wall to ceiling with a playful striped covering, emulating the feel of a cozy tented garden pavilion.
The spa offers exclusive treatments which include the Rejuvenating Facial and Body Bliss Treatment. Signature ONDA experiences such as the Ultimate Lift Facial and Total Wellness Massage will also be offered using ONDA’s curated collection of clean beauty products. Co-founded by Larissa Thomson, Naomi Watts, and Sarah Bryden-Brown, ONDA offers esthetician-led facials, massages, energy healing, and body treatments.
DINING
Canoe Place features a range of food and beverage experiences that share a common language of local ingredients and flavors showcasing the region’s bounty with menus that evolve with the seasons. The property’s restaurant, Good Ground Tavern, helmed by Relais & Château veteran Chef Ülfet Ralph brings creative, Mediterranean-infused takes on classic cuisine, centered around open fire cooking, house-made pastas and pizzas, and craft cocktails. Signature dishes include CP Clams Casino, Wood-Fired Montauk Bass, Sausage and Pepperoncini Pizza and Herb Olive Oil Cake with Fennel and Orange. The comfortable, modern tavern will offer 100 cozy indoor seats between the Tavern bar and charming wood-paneled, China-lined Bottle Room and an additional 120 al fresco seats at the outdoor ‘garden by the sea’ terrace and bar filled with lush greenery and climbing trellis. Discreetly tucked away behind the tavern, a private study featuring its original brick fireplace serves as an intimate cocktail destination, reminiscent of the Inn’s days as a speakeasy.
WEDDINGS & EVENTS
Celebrated for its raucous history of performances, dances and banquets, the opening of Canoe Place also marks the return of the region’s most inspiring event spaces. The stunning 5,087 square foot Grand Ballroom features soaring, vaulted ceilings with seating for up to 350 guests. An adjacent 2,454 square foot, window wrapped Pavillion, 5,160 square foot central kitchen and expanses of green grass for dramatic tented events all with state-of-the-art technology create an event destination unlike any other out East. Canoe Place revives the tradition of glamorous Hampton Bays gatherings with all of the sophistication and capabilities for modern event production.
THE FIRST STOP OUT EAST
The unsung hero of the more laid-back Hamptons, Hampton Bays is a cultural crossroads rich with corners to be rediscovered, boasting more waterfront and protected beaches than any other area in the Hamptons. Just 90 miles from NYC and minutes from favorite Hamptons villages such as Southampton, accessibility is just one of the many highlights of this classic but cool canal-front enclave in Hampton Bays.
Dating back to 1679, Canoe Place has lived many lives as a gathering place. From Teddy and Franklin D. Roosevelt to Cary Grant and Lucille Ball, Albert Einstein, Babe Ruth and Bon Jovi, Canoe Place has played host to American history through the ages. A coaching inn occupied by British officers during the Revolutionary War, a star-studded inn and dance hall of the early 20th century, a speakeasy of the prohibition era, and a nightclub of the 80’s through the early aughts, Canoe Place has now returned as a place of joyous gathering and casual luxury for returning and new generations of guests.
“Canoe Place brings together everything that Main Street Hospitality is all about in one incredibly exciting place: community-led hospitality, the preservation of American history, and places where guests can connect in truly meaningful way,” says Sarah Eustis, founder of Main Street Hospitality, “It has been our honor to work alongside Rechler Equity Partners to revive one of the Northeast’s most treasured landmarks.”
INN BOOKINGS: Canoe Place is open year-round with room rates starting at $595 per night. For reservations, please visit the www.canoeplace.com or call 631-498-8664.
RESTAURANT RESERVATIONS + HOURS: For reservations call 631-763-6300 or email dining@canoeplace.com.
Breakfast: 7:30–10:30AM Lunch: 12:00–3:00PM Dinner: 5:00–10:00PM
For more information and reservations, please visit canoeplace.com
