There is no place like The Hamptons for The Holidays and no better place to find holiday cheer than the newly restored Canoe Place Inn & Cottages in Hampton Bays. Gather family and friends and warm up with a Hot Spiked Cider or Mulled Wine at Good Ground Tavern’s spacious bar, cozy study and festive outdoor fire pit, join in a Christmas carol or two, make gingerbread houses and latkes — there’s a host of holiday activities to get even the grumpiest grinch feeling the wonderful spirit of the season.

Canoe Place is a treasured Long Island landmark founded in the 17th century as the Canoe Place Inn, it’s the oldest inn established in America. For hundreds of years, Canoe Place became known as the “First Stop out East” – where friends, families and cultures have gathered for generations. The restoration of the property includes 20 guest rooms, five rebuilt guest cottages, on nearly six meticulously landscaped acres that also include a 350-seat private event space and 100-seat restaurant with outdoor seating for 120 guests. Canoe Place blends the comforts and intimacy of a family home with the amenities of a boutique seaside resort, all meticulously designed as a gathering place for visitors and residents.

Poised to be the East End’s next great restaurant, Good Ground Tavern is now open daily, inspired seasonally. Situated inside the gorgeous Canoe Place Inn & Cottages, the tavern is the latest in a series of openings invigorating the classic-but-cool canal-front enclave in Hampton Bays. Silver Street Hospitality leads the culinary program across the property, in partnership with Main Street Hospitality.

Helmed by Relais & Château veteran Chef Ülfet Ralph (below), Good Grounds offers creative, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, centered around open fire cooking, house-made pastas and pizzas. Working in partnership with the East End community of farmers, artisanal makers and fishermen, the rhythm of the seasons will always be the driving force behind the menu. “The East End’s fertile soil and bountiful waters have so much to offer that my mind races with endless possibilities,” said Executive Chef Ülfet Ralph. “I am excited to simply grill whole fish caught that morning over our wood burning grill with olive oil and herbs. That’s something I could eat every day.”

A reflection of the simultaneous sophistication and comfort of the Hamptons, the cozy, modern tavern offers 100 indoor seats between the Tavern bar and charming, China-adorned Bottle Room. An additional 120 seats are found al fresco at the outdoor ‘garden by the sea’ terrace and bar, filled with lush, greenery. 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.

Don’t miss out the seasonal fun:

Fireside Fridays: a regular weekly seasonal gathering of old and new friends for hot cocoa, hot toddies and s’mores takes a spirited twist on December 2nd with the Canoe Place Inn & Cottages Christmas Tree

Lighting Ceremony and Yuletide festivities including hot chocolate, marshmallows, Dickens carolers and keep your eyes peeled, you might just spot Santa.

Fireside Holiday Tree Lighting: Be merry and bright at our first annual tree lighting ceremony. Sip hot chocolate and enjoy marshmallows by the fire. Listen to festive music from The Dickens Carolers and see Santa himself! 

Gingerbread House Making: Come back the next day for Gingerbread House-Making in The Study. Santa’s helpers will lead families in constructing their own homes made of gingerbread. Enjoy hot chocolate, cider and cookies. All materials will be provided.

Latke Making with Slow Food: Join Executive Chef Ulfet Ralph and local non-profit organization, Slow Food for a very special East End Hannukah celebration.

• The evening’s festivities kick off with cocktails & canapés, followed by a latke-making lessonwhere you learn how to grate, mix, and season organic local Sagaponack potatoes into delicious latkes and make apple sauce from Indian Neck apples from scratch.
• A 3-course Hannukah dinner pre-fixe follows in The Study featuring Matzo Ball Soup, Beef Brisket with Shaved Carrot and Radish Salad, Kugel with Winter Vegetables, Rugelach and of course, Latkes and Apple Sauce that you’ve created! A portion of sales will go to Slow Food East End.

12 Days of Christmas Tasting Menu: A 12 course tasting menu in honor of the holiday will be featured at Good Ground Tavern the week before Christmas. From A Partridge in a Pear Tree, Caramelized Pears infused with Ruby Port Wine and a touch of Maple, served on Baguette Rounds w/ Catapano Chevre all the way to 12 Drummers Drumming, pouches of drum kettle corn to go, every day is covered with creative dishes prepared by Chef Ulfet Ralph. Christmas Eve will be a limited a la carte menu with specials and Christmas Day will offer the regular menu, served 12pm-8pm.

On New Year’s Eve, celebrate in the very spot where revelers have rung in the new year for centuries with a special 5-course menu accompanied by Live Jazz and some holiday surprises.  Reservations required.

New Year, New You with Neil Toyota: Set your intentions for the New Year with Meditation with Neil Toyota. Toyota has been practicing Kadampa Buddhism and meditation for many years and is known for his clear, direct teaching with warmth and sincerity and will show participants how to integrate Buddha’s teachings into busy, modern daily life.

New Year’s Day Hang Over Brunch: Whether you run in the New Year at Canoe Place or elsewhere, ease the first hangover of 2023 with a buffet brunch and bottomless beverages at Good Ground Tavern.

For more information and reservations call 631.763.6300 ext. 6304 or please visit canoeplace.com