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Tell someone from New Jersey that you’re from Long Island and the likely response will be, “Is that near the Hamptons?” (Embarrassingly, I was once that person.) The Hamptons may be Hollywood’s playground come summer—a land where Kelly from down the street hosts a national morning show—but it’s always part of our Island. The tabloids tend to focus on the glitzy parties, but visitors and locals would be remiss if they didn’t step off the red carpet to explore the beaches, art, shopping and restaurants. These 12 places to go in the Hamptons belong on every Islanders’—and Jersey guys’ and girls’—itineraries.

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Eat

Nick & Toni’s, East Hampton

This simple but elegant restaurant gets heaping helpings of buzz come summertime. In part, it comes from famous clientele like the Baldwins and Gayle King, but the honey-infused desserts made with help from the resident bees are the true stars. The chocolate honey cake, for example, is rich, creamy and sweet—trying it is more important than a swimsuit diet. Phone: 631-324-3550 | Address: 136 North Main St. Click to taste 

Wölffer Estate Vineyard, Sagaponack

The last stop on the Hamptons Wine trail, Wölffer Estate Vineyard rewards guests for making it all the way out East with Summer in a Bottle. The name isn’t a euphemism, it’s the one of the offerings available in white and here-to-stay rosé—until it sells out, which it did last year. The vineyard will play host to the James Bear Foundation’s Chefs & Champagne Saturday, July 29. The annual event will bring together the likes of James Ahearn (Verde Wine Bar), Stephan Bogardus (The North fork Table & Inn), Brian Cheewing (Wölffer Kitchen) and Alex Guarnaschelli and Michael Jenkins (Butter) for a night of sipping, swirling and nibbling. Phone: 631-537-4771 | Address: 3312 Montauk Highway Click to taste

CowFish & Rumba, Hampton Bays

The sister restaurants offer guests a chance to escape for the evening. CowFish is a bit more upscale than its older sibling, Caribbean-style escape Rumba. The restaurant feels more like a resort. The Adirondack chairs are ideal for sipping a tangy Homewrecker (mango vodka, cucumber, canton & house made sour) while peering out at Indian Cove marina during happy hour. Multiple rooms in the two-story restaurant also offer waterfront views, as well as a sushi menu and an Iron Skillet Cookie that’s giant, gooey and got-to-have. For a nightcap, take the RumBarge to Rumba, where the reggae tunes and tropical decor take people to a different kind of Island. Cowfish: Phone: 631-594-3868 | Address: 258 E. Montauk Highway Click to Taste | Rumba: Phone: 631-594-3544 | Address: 43 Canoe Place Road Click to Taste

Highway Restaurant, East Hampton

Highway Restaurant dispels the myth that one must wear a black tie for a night out in East Hampton. The favorite stop of Hilaria Baldwin uses nautical colors and rustic furnishing to create a laid-back but stylish vibe. Regulars rave that you can’t go wrong with anything on the eclectic menu of New-American fare, but the steamed pork buns served with red cabbage slaw are at the top of the food chain for their smoky-and-spicy profile. Phone: 631-527-5372 | Address: 290 Montauk Highway  Click to Taste

Southampton Social Club, Southampton

Southampton Social Club offers a scene for the in-bed-before-10 crowd and those looking to dance the night away. The outdoor booths, enclosed by white drapery, set the stage for a chic date night. When the sun sets, a DJ takes over and gets people grooving. Phone: 631-287-1400 | Address: 265 Elm St. Click to Taste

Stay

c/o Maidstone, East Hampton

A mere 10-minute walk from East Hampton Village and less than a mile from Main Beach, c/o Maidstone invites guests to park their cars and stay a while. The interior is bold but classy, mixing elements of modern and traditional Scandinavian design like woolly Gotland sheep hides, turquoise walls and plenty of plants. It’s eclectic, cozy and feels like home. Bonus: dogs are welcome. Phone: 631-324-5006 | Address: 207 Main St. Click to Stay

Baker House, East Hampton

Travel back in time to England without leaving the Island. Baker house is a quaint, manor-style bed and breakfast that’s a hop, skip and a jump from Main Beach and three miles from LongHouse Reserve. Exploration is a must when in East Hampton, but from the moment guests walk up the cobblestone path leading to the entrance, they’ll be tempted not to leave the hotel. The plush rooms, tastefully decorated with white linens and wooden accents, don’t help hibernation temptation. Try the spa, where massages, facials and an endless pool take guests on another excursion—to heaven. Phone: 631-324-4081 | Address: 181 Main St. Click to Stay

Play

Parrish Art Museum’s annual party

Guild Hall, East Hampton

A mecca for arts, culture and music, Guild Hall’s calendar is known for being as assorted as a mix tape. The museum will open its summer exhibition season with Taryn Simon: The Innocents (June 17-30), which focuses on the Innocence Project, an organization that has used DNA evidence to exonerate nearly 350 people in the United States since 1992. Escapists will enjoy a visit from members of the New York Philharmonic with Soprano Susanna Phillips (Saturday, June 24) and Jay Leno (July 1). Phone: 631-324-0806 | Address: 158 Main St. Click to Visit

Parrish, Water Mill

Roy Lichtenstein’s sculptures, “Tokyo Brushstroke I” and “Tokyo Brushstroke II” are becoming as recognizable as the iconic watermill that welcomes guests to Water Mill. The installation located on the lawn of the Parrish Art Museum is part of a permanent gallery that showcases artists with ties to Long Island, like Pollock Krasner and Willen de Kooning. Like these works, the annual midsummer party is a fixture on the Hamptons social calendar. This year, hundreds of artists, business leaders and philanthropists will come out for a night of food and art Saturday, July 15. Phone: 631-283-2118 | Address: 279 Montauk Highway Click to Visit

The Stephen Talkhouse, Amagansett

Local legends and internationally-known names like Kiefer Sutheland are known to take the stage at this intimate live music venue. And note, just because the schedule only lists one act for the evening doesn’t mean that’s all visitors are in for. Coldplay put on a surprise show last August. Unexpected bonuses aside, this year’s schedule includes Phoebe Legere (Tuesday, July 4), Rhett Miller (Friday, July 14)  and Martin Sexton (Friday, July 21). Phone: 631-267-3117 | Address: 161 Main St.  Click to Visit

Bay Street Theater, Sag Harbor

The producer behind Broadway juggernauts including RENT and Hamilton is gifting Bay Street Theater goers with a treat this summer. He’ll direct The Man in the Ceiling, a play based on Jules Feiffer’s book about boy cartoonist Jimmy Jibbett, May 30-June 25. In July, raise a glass on The Long Wharf to Bay Street Theater’s 26th birthday. Phone:631-725-0818 | Address: Corner of Bay St. and Main St. Click to Visit

Urban Zen, Sag Harbor

Woodmere native Donna Karan opened this lifestyle boutique to benefit the Urban Zen Foundation after seeing the how non-traditional healing techniques, including yoga, helped her husband during his cancer battle. It’s become the perfect place to find statement items, like lamps and coffee tables, for a home. Phone: 631-725-6176 | Address: 4 Bay St. Click to Visit

Find out what’s new and happening in the Hamptons when the Pulse summer issue drops May 24. For the ultimate itinerary, grab a copy of Pulse’s annual Summer Guide, out in June.