What's New for Summer in the Hamptons

MONTAUK, N.Y. (TheStreet) -- Memorial Day weekend kicks off summer in the Hamptons.

Whether arriving to that grand second or third home along the water in East Hampton or simply crashing at one of the numerous surf shacks and inns that dot the area, visitors will inevitably arrive to a Hamptons flush with upgraded hotels, renovated restaurants and renamed nightclubs that operate out of old spaces that seem to take on a different look and theme every other year. Like so many summers before, a fresh coat of paint and new name goes a long way in the Hamptons where everything old becomes new again.

If you haven't secured your Hampton vacation home, you'll have a number of hotel options. In recent years, travel stories have focused on Montauk and motels such as the Surf Lodge and the Sole East Resort, which offer hip lobby bars and modest rooms.

Summer visitors will be greeted by new waterfront restaurants and bars.

This year, there is a more grown-up option in Montauk. The Panoramic View is one of the few oceanfront hotels in the Hamptons. It's perched atop a lush inlet that is home to a renovated seaside hotel that also offers private villas available for purchase for $1.9 million and up. White siding and oversized picture windows contain cottage-style rooms that won't win any interior design awards, with their chunky slip-covered furnishings and metal headboards. But their large ocean-facing balconies and private beach access guarantees a peaceful night of sleep at a surprisingly affordable price.

The Reform Club Inn in Amagansett offers a seven-suite and three-cottage retreat that's equal parts luxury inn and private home. A shingled facade with crisp white picture windows and wooden pergolas lead to a small reception and communal kitchen. You'll find English antiques, modern art and roaring fireplaces. Despite its intimate size, its rooms offer private entrances, loft-style kitchenettes with marble counters, terraces with outdoor fireplaces and dramatic bathrooms with porcelain tubs.

The dining scene in the Hamptons is a bit like musical chairs. The Grill on Pantigo replaces Wei Fun in East Hampton. The Grill offers a playful dining space of mod '50s accents and a menu of meatloaf, burgers and shellfish.