The Shoals opened in May on the North Fork in Long Island, New York.
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JArriving by car to shallow water A hotel in Southwold, Long Island, about 95 miles east of New York City, will quickly notice the many boats moored on the water, right in front of the hotel’s lawn. The Shoals Hotel, which bills itself as a “boat,” has 20 slips and 20 rooms, allowing guests to access either by land or sea. But aside from the welcome boats—and having its own Kris-Kraft speedboat available for charter—the new hotel, which opened in May 2022, honors the sea in subtle ways.
Architect Thomas Juul-Hanson designed the hotel to hint at the property’s nautical history without relying on cheesy wooden ship wheels or rope art. Alternatively, guests may note the building’s cedar exterior and that two storeys of rooms are on a site with great views of Peconic Bay and the marina. All apartment-style rooms have private outdoor spaces, fitted kitchenettes and open living areas with modern sofas and lounge chairs reminiscent of yacht seating, as well as built-in beds and modular furniture in natural materials such as light wood, jute and linen.
Book now: shallow water
But what excites us outside the rooms is what excites us most: Apart from the boats, there is a spacious garden with plenty of deck chairs, fire pits and a food truck Which serves lobster rolls, chicken, ice buckets of pink wine and fresh oysters. This oyster comes from the squat building behind the truck that is the new onshore facility for Little Ram Oystera women-owned oyster company established in 2018.
The Little Ram Oysters farm is underwater (of course), just off Little Ram Island (hence the name), across Peconic Bay from the Shoals. Until recently, co-owners Elizabeth Peebles and Stephanie Bassett, business and life partners, ran their oyster business from their boat, hauling cages and flipping oysters by hand before returning them to the water until they were old enough to harvest and sell to restaurants and locals. (Stirring helps give oysters a cleaner, rounder, and firmer shell, with meatier oysters inside.)
“We love that the building has always been staffed by women.”
“If the owner wanted to change the use of this space in some way, they would have to go through a whole process to do so,” Bassett says. “So this was the wonderful moment where [the Shoals owners] We wanted to encourage and embrace a working waterfront and we needed a space to work, and it was a great union. And we love that the building has always been staffed by women.”
Now, women are harboring the electronic cup and sorting machine inside. They are showing tours From the space where hotel guests and visitors can see the machine in action, get hands-on experience with the floating nursery outside, and see how the hatchery works. Visitors will also learn how to ram and savor oysters outside with the Shoals Food Truck. Or guests can forgo the tour and simply do a gradient class.
Exploring the North Fork outside the hotel
Keep driving and you’ll see the brand new Southold Social by PayardSouthold Social is first A project with his name on it ever since. The renovated space is elegant and simple, with nature-focused paintings by local artist Charles Wildbank adorning the walls and a large tented patio at the back. The menu skews French, although there is a pasta section and plenty of seafood – this is the North Fork after all.
Further down the road maroon, a favorite from the town of Northport that opened a second location here during the pandemic. Come hungry and splurge on the tasting menu – be prepared for nearly 20 fun and creative bites inspired by Italian and Asian-American fare like Korean-style spare ribs topped with gummy bears (really), shrimp scampi, truffle grilled cheese and lobster soup, Bobby Flay won– Win the meatballs. Across the street Southold General, another recent venture for Payard’s and Shoals owners, where customers can buy pastries, sandwiches, and salads, as well as peruse locally made groceries. Sit in Einstein’s Square (so named because Albert Einstein spent time there) while you savor your treats.
No visit to the North Fork is complete without a stop at a winery or two (or five, but who counts?). If you keep on the main road, you’ll see duck wok grape vineswhich has been family run since 1994. Around the corner pointe brilliancean amazing winery that specializes in sparkling wine méthode Champenoise, and on the way from there one womanowned by Claudia Poretta, who grew up in Calabria and now makes wines including Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, and Groener Feltliner.
End your trip with a walk on the beach or a swim in the sea at Southold Town Beach. After all, here, he always returns to the water.
>> Next: The best weekend getaway from New York City
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