When staying in the Hamptons, you simply can't do better than a manor house consistently ranked by Condé Nast Johansens as “Most Excellent Inn of the Americas.” Nestled in East Hampton Village, The Baker House 1650 puts you within a quick stroll of shops and restaurants, coveted nearby access to East Hampton Main and Georgica beaches, and a place to play the role of robber baron for the duration of your stay.
Describing The Baker House 1650 as a boutique property is an understatement. Don't even think of staying here if you merely need a place to hang your hat and rush off with a packed itinerary. Situated behind Main Street's prestigious hedges, the property's main entrance opens into a wide open sunny reception area connected to an expansive parlor with a grand piano to one side and a large fireplace surrounded by plush sofas and chairs inviting you to sink in for some conversation or with something to read from their extensive library of books and magazines.
A well-stocked self-serve bar stands at the ready for relaxation-inducing cocktail essentials, a well-rounded fine wine selection by the glass or bottle, single-malt scotch, small-batch bourbon, and select cognacs. Step outside onto the back patio overlooking an in ground Infinity pool surrounded by meticulously tended grounds perfect for cooling off between beach and shopping jaunts.
Complimentary for guests, Baker House 1650's basement level spa is outfitted with an endless swimming pool, Jacuzzi soaking tub, sauna, steam shower, and even a wine refrigerator filled with Champagne and other sparkling wines. Although built in 2000 and thoroughly modern, the ambiance feels organic and original to the house. You can reserve it for private use, personally schedule spa treatments, or head down whenever the spirit moves you.
All of the property's seven guest rooms (including a separate Carriage House) feature baths with soaking or spa tubs, mini bars, Frette linens and towels, L’Occitane bath amenities, flatscreen TVs, and Bose stereos. In the main house, a magnificent colonial revival staircase leads to one-of-a-kind abodes like the Hunting Room, with exposed hand-hewn beams and massive wood-burning fireplace facing a queen wooden frame bed with large windows overlooking the village green. The Gardiner Room is light and airy, with a view of the gardens decorated in pale yellow William Morris papers and fabrics featuring a luxurious king bed, woodburning fireplace and a two-person spa tub.
The Baker Carriage House, situated on its own private, exquisitely landscaped acre just behind the main house, is more recently restored, featuring larger suites retaining many original details of its original agrarian usage like barn doors, wrought iron spiral staircase, hay doors, and slate and wooden floors. Bedrooms are furnished with wooden sleigh beds, writing desks, plush seating, and antique rugs.
You get access to your own private pool surrounded by a blue stone patio lined with Kingsley-Bate teak loungers as well as plenty of other seating options nestled along the vine-covered garden walls underneath a 200-year-old wisteria tree.
Waking up here each morning is a special occasion, with a bountiful selection of homemade fresh baked goods, fruit, and local farm-fresh eggs used in their signature eggs benedict and fluffy crepes. Plenty of healthy options include fresh squeezed juices, granolas, and premium yogurts.
The Baker House 1650's 17th-century-Cotswold-inspired architecture along with an interior exuding a homey yet majestic aura make it appear to be a permanent fixture in time but a broader evolution is revealed upon closer historical examination. First constructed in 1648 by sea captain Daniel Howe and then sold two years later to one of East Hampton’s original founders, Thomas Baker, the manor house became Baker’s Tavern serving as the town meeting hall and community center.
Fast forward to 1899, when Shakespeare devotee James Harper Poor purchased the property naming it "As You Like It." In 1911, coinciding with a golden age of Anglophilia, Poor hired prominent turn-of-the-century English Arts and Crafts Movement inspired architect Joseph Greenleaf Thorp for a major Elizabethan style renovation that stands to this day. The original shingled house was wrapped in stucco transforming the American-style colonial into an expansive English manor of sprawling rooms and British-style refinements. J. Harper Poor's daughter Mildred had her wedding here in 1915 and the resulting invitation and newspaper announcement hang in the lobby to this day.
Photos courtesy of Baker House 1650. Coverage made possible by participating in a partially sponsored visit.
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