A Star Is Reborn

If you don’t think the world is ready for a “vegetable butcher,” the new Gurney’s is about to prove you wrong.

In just four years, Gurney’s has evolved from a single seaside retreat into a full-blown hospitality empire. The expansion began with The Residences at Gurney’s, a set of modish condos adjacent to the 148-room flagship property, which was built in 1951 off Old Montauk Highway. Then came Gurney’s Newport, a converted $599-per-night hotel on Goat Island, just offshore from the swank Rhode Island stomping ground of Rockefellers and Vanderbilts. Now, this summer marks yet another addition: the former Montauk Yacht Club on Star Island — and the Indy has your first look inside.

Star Island Resort & Marina is the product of a yearlong, $13-million renovation by BLDG Management and designer Stella Abdoulin that has transformed the once-unassuming resort into a posh, watery oasis. In addition to 107 new guestrooms, which start at $350 per night and are likely to sell out throughout the summer season, the 35-acre property includes an overhauled lobby, three pools, a private beach, a ballroom, and no less than three eateries: the Pool Club, an outdoor café with waterfront chaise lounges chairs and an appropriately seaworthy menu; Il Forno Market, a grab-and-go option offering gourmet pizzas, fresh baked goods, and an array of sandwiches and salads ideal for hauling to the beach; and Showfish, styled as a locavore’s paradise.

Helmed by Jeremy Blutstein, former chef de cuisine of Almond in Bridgehampton, Showfish’s 180-seat, all-day operation’s menu is built around the fruits of the land and sea within 20 miles of the kitchen. Your striped bass will arrive at the hotel dock day-of, courtesy of a local fisherman; the produce, stunned and slaughtered in the aforementioned “vegetable butchery,” will arrive on the morning it’s to be plated for you.

But it’s the marina that really sets this property apart. With a staggering 232 slips, it’s the largest in the Hamptons, capable of hosting seafaring vessels of every scale, from dinghies to superyachts. (Leaving no revenue stream untapped, Gurney’s will be offering dockside food and beverage service to those with no interest in stepping ashore.)

“We have an extensive knowledge of Montauk from the last several years operating the original Gurney’s,” owner George Filopoulos told The Independent. “We know what guests look for.” And, crucially, exactly how to make ‘em pay.

Gurney’s Star Island Resort & Marina; 32 Star Island Rd, Montauk, NY 11954