Everyone knows the script for a Hamptons getaway. You battle gridlock on the Long Island Expressway, check into a sprawling estate wrapped in manicured hedges, and spend your weekend dodging people who take themselves way too seriously. It is exhausting. That is precisely why the transformation of an old waterfront motel into Faraway Sag Harbor changes the entire equation for anyone actually looking to exhale.
Located at 31 West Water Street, this 67-room property refuses to play by traditional South Fork rules. Instead of leaning into tired coastal clichés or sterile modern minimalism, it honors the gritty, artistic past of a village that once sheltered writers like John Steinbeck and painters like Jackson Pollock.
Trading Neon Signs for Quiet Luxury
If you remember this spot back when it was Baron's Cove, forget everything you saw. The property underwent a massive renovation between the 2025 and 2026 seasons under the direction of the Faraway Hotels group. They stripped away the dated elements and rebuilt the compound layout into something that feels deeply bohemian yet polished.
You won't find plastic deck chairs or generic hotel art here. The aesthetic leans heavily on dark hardwood floors, vintage-inspired furnishings, textured fabrics, and thoughtful details that make the rooms feel lived-in rather than staged.
The layout matters. It is a layered seaside compound rather than a towering block. Rooms are split between harbor-facing lofts with double-height ceilings and quieter garden rooms tucked behind private teak-framed patios.
- The Harbor Lofts: Ideal if you want scale, featuring high ceilings, open layouts, and sweeping views of the water.
- The Garden King Rooms: Perfect for privacy, opening directly onto quiet green courtyards where you can drink your morning coffee away from the crowd.
- The Suites: Generous square footage with separate living spaces that comfortably host small groups or families without feeling cramped.
What It Costs and When to Go
Let's talk logistics because visiting the Hamptons requires a budget reality check. Rates fluctuate wildly depending on whether you are sliding into Sag Harbor during the peak July heat or catching the shoulder season in late September. Expect entry-level village rooms to hover around competitive mid-tier boutique prices, while the expansive harbor lofts scale upward significantly.
Reservations under the Faraway brand officially opened for stays starting in June 2026. If you want a tip on timing, skip the frantic mid-summer weekends entirely. Book a mid-week stay in June or wait for September when the water stays warm, the day-trippers vanish, and Sag Harbor actually belongs to the people staying there.
Beyond the Room Keys
A hotel is only as good as what happens when you leave your bed. Faraway didn't just slap a fresh coat of paint on the walls; they completely overhauled the guest experience.
The focal point of the property remains the heated saltwater pool. It is sun-dappled, flanked by private cabanas, and features actual service where staff bring drinks and bites right to your lounger. Step outside the pool gates and you will find a fleet of complimentary loaner bicycles. Use them. Sag Harbor is entirely flat and bike-friendly, meaning you can pedal into town for coffee or down to Havens Beach in under ten minutes without ever touching your car keys.
Food-wise, the arrival of Zagara shifts the culinary anchor toward Amalfi-inspired coastal Italian flavors. Sitting on the waterfront with a plate of fresh seafood as the sun sets over the harbor beats fighting for a table at an overcrowded mainstream hotspot any night of the week.
They also integrated wellness features that feel earned rather than tacked on. You get access to an on-site gym outfitted with Technogym equipment, a pop-up residency from ONDA Beauty for treatments, and even a padel court for a quick, social match. Plus, guests get cross-property perks if they take a short ferry ride over to check out their sister property, The Pridwin Hotel and Cottages on Shelter Island.
How to Plan Your Stay
Stop overcomplicating your next trip to the East End. If you want a hotel that feels connected to the history of the town rather than walled off from it, book a harbor-facing loft, grab a bike from the rack, and spend your afternoon by the saltwater pool. Pack light, skip the pretense, and let Sag Harbor do what it has done best for decades.
