What began as a quiet rejuvenation of a beloved 1950s motel has become something far more resonant: a living, breathing place where the past and present hold hands. Where design doesn’t just please the eye, but stirs something deeper. And where hospitality feels more like memory than marketing. Recent stories in The New York Times, Wallpaper*, Elle Decor, Condé Nast Traveler, T Magazine, Vogue, Travel + Leisure, and more trace our evolution, not as a reinvention but a return. A return to context, to connection, to the kind of place that doesn’t need flash to be unforgettable. Instead, it offers something rarer: a sense of belonging. A sense that this was always here, waiting for you to find it.
Can we (finally) learn to love un-loved fish?
For O’Hara, the topic is at the forefront of his menu and his mind. A bit of a naturalist, the chef, who cut his teeth at New York’s Michelin-starred Four Horsemen, grew up on Long Island and has spent a lifetime fishing with his family. As his career began to expand, he found his thoughts homing in on things closer to, well, home.
“I started asking myself: How can we make a difference in our restaurants? So we began using bycatch and other heavily underutilized seafood,” says Chef Finn O’Hara of Silver Sands Motel. His surfclam ceviche, served in the shell, has become one of the most popular dishes at Eddie’s, the property’s seasonal beachside restaurant.
“On the North Fork, especially in the food industry, we have an obligation to help people discover what’s in our waters. It’s not all salmon. We use something like 3% of the edible seafood available to us. There is so much more out there that people are uncomfortable with for some reason, and I attempt to make it so delicious that they are not uncomfortable any longer.”
A motel-to-hotel renaissance is sweeping the country
Hotels Above Par features Silver Sands in “Retro Motels Return With Boutique Flair,” exploring how America’s historic motor lodges are finding new life as design-forward boutique hotels. The story considers what makes these properties worth preserving, from their intimate scale and outdoor gathering spaces to the vintage details and local memories that give them character.
“They weren’t built to impress with grandeur, but to connect you to a place,” says Anna Perros, brand creative director and strategist at Silver Sands. That connection guided the restoration, with the original footprint, boathouse, and blue-and-red neon seahorse retained. Period floor tiles became the countertop at Eddie’s Oyster Bar, while the iconic scallop-shell room numbers now reside in the lobby.
“After longtime guests began stopping by, I realized my role wasn’t to reinvent Silver Sands, but to be its steward,” says Alexander Perros, proprietor and developer. “The vision became about preservation and quiet elevation.” Silver Sands illustrates how a new chapter in hospitality can build on a property’s past without erasing it.
Silver Sands Named a Finalist in the 2026 WLA Professional Awards
Silver Sands was named one of 6 global finalists in the Hospitality & Tourism Landscape Design category at the 2026 World Landscape Architecture Professional Awards.
Designed by Hollander Design Landscape Architects, the landscape reflects a philosophy of context-driven development, listening to the land, honoring local ecology, and preserving the emotional memory of place. Thousands of native plantings, mature trees, pollinator habitats, and water-wise design allow the property to dissolve into its surroundings, with nature not as the backdrop but as the lead character. Across the 45-acre, fossil fuel-free property, original building footprints were preserved, turf and pools were decommissioned to reduce water use, and the shoreline and 18-acre salt marsh were protected. The result is a living landscape that supports biodiversity and demonstrates how hospitality can restore rather than consume.
“Long Island’s more sedate prong has spent two decades shrugging off the ‘un-Hamptons’ label, a tag that grates right until you’re swirling sustainable rosé in a Macari Vineyards tasting room with not one rosé-branded yacht crowding the view. This is farm country that happens to brush up against the sea – oyster shacks, hand-lettered pie stands, the antique carousel still spinning in Greenport’s walkable harbor village. The wineries are the draw… The LIRR reaches Greenport in under three hours, so you can skip the car, though one pays for itself across the vineyard sprawl. Silver Sands Motel leads the field, a 1957 roadside holdout remade across 45 waterfront acres, with 1,400 feet of private beach, a full service spa and three restaurants, its mid-century bones buffed rather than buried.”
Silver Sands Motel & Beach Bungalows was featured in the 2024 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards as a standout stay on the North Fork of Long Island. Set across 45 waterfront acres in Greenport, the beachfront hotel offers 1,400 feet of private beach, an offshore oyster farm, and a relaxed coastal atmosphere that draws guests looking to unplug by the water.
Editors highlighted the property’s thoughtful amenities, including firepits, fishing charters, and Flamingo Estate bath products, as well as the opportunity to explore the largest oyster farm in New York State before enjoying oysters at Eddie’s, the on-site waterfront restaurant. Time at Silver Sands often unfolds simply, with beach days, vineyard visits across the North Fork, and ferry trips to nearby Shelter Island shaping the rhythm of a stay.
How many motels do you know that stock their rooms with Matouk towels, Frette or Linge Particulier bathrobes, and Flamingo Estate bath products? Meet Silver Sands Motel & Beach Bungalows, set on 45 acres fronting Peconic Bay in Greenport. This North Fork property’s neon light has flashed since the 1950s, but it’s come a long way since then; the vibe today is much more “quiet luxury” than hipster-chic.
To that end, one of the bungalows functions as the Salt Marsh Wellness Sanctuary, offering therapies that range from facials and massages to yoga and guided breathwork. Meanwhile there’s plenty of mid-century atmosphere on display at the upscale diner-style Nookies, while the seasonal Eddie’s serves oysters alongside Mediterranean fare. And The Boathouse is exactly that: a century-old boathouse transformed into a seafood-focused restaurant with a sailor-bar vibe.
Far from sceney locales like Montauk and Southampton, the North Fork of Long Island offers a more relaxed way to head out east for a weekend getaway. The area is beloved for its quiet stretches of sand, like Orient Beach State Park and Wildwood State Park, as well as its vineyards and tasting rooms.
Check into the Silver Sands Motel, a 1950s waterfront property that maintained its nostalgic exterior while reimagining 20 guest rooms. It’s also home to beach shacks, two-bedroom bungalows, and larger beach houses designed for families or extended stays. Be sure to pencil in some time to enjoy the 1,400 feet of private beach and explore the hotel’s private oyster farm.
Silver Sands Motel was recognized for its good, clean, and fair hospitality, standing out for its holistic and sustainable approach to hotel operations. The all-electric, fossil-fuel-free hotel prioritizes native and low intervention landscaping, works closely with local farmers and fisheries, and operates year-round while paying livable wages.
The property’s three on-site restaurants, Nookies, Eddies, and The Boathouse, were also recognized for their commitment to closely sourced seafood and regional producers. According to executive chef Fintan O’Hara, Silver Sands Motel’s distinction lies in its integrated approach to sustainability, hospitality, and food, making it a standout destination on the North Fork of Long Island.
Silver Sands Motel & Beach Bungalows on the North Fork of Long Island embodies laid-back luxury and describes itself as “deliberately un-Hamptons.” Its neon seahorse has welcomed guests to the waterfront property since 1957, and while its upscale amenities and modern conveniences are new, its vibes are as carefree and unplugged as ever. The focus is on enjoying its 1,400 feet of private beach; spa treatments, yoga, and Pilates at the new Salt Marsh Wellness Sanctuary; and sailing, fishing, and unwinding by the firepits. The pastel-colored dream oozes cheer with vibrant patterns and colorful accents across its 20 rooms and private bungalows. Its on-site eateries are destinations unto themselves, serving fresh seafood (including oysters from the property’s own 15-acre underwater farm), wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, and cocktails.
At the tip of Long Island’s laid-back North Fork, this reimagined modern waterfront retreat whisks you to the late 1950s when it opened. Location is a big part of its charm: on 45 landscaped acres, with a private sandy beach overlooking a glittery bay, it’s made for unplugging and offers travellers far more than a simple motel room for the night. Choose from 20 reinvigorated motel rooms, eight beach shacks, two two-bedroom bungalows and two large beach houses. A pastel-infused decor screams of its analogue days while modern touches like smart TVs and a string of elegant dining options bring it into the present. These include Eddie’s, an alfresco restaurant serving oysters plucked 200ft from your table.
Reopened in June 2023, Silver Sands Motel & Beach Bungalows is a design-forward boutique hotel and wellness retreat on the North Fork of Long Island. Set on a quiet crescent of Pipe’s Cove in Greenport, the property combines 1950s coastal charm with modern style, featuring turquoise-painted cottages, a private 1,400-foot beach, and an 18-acre salt marsh facing Shelter Island. Guests can enjoy massages, yoga sessions, and facials at the Salt Marsh Wellness Sanctuary, or dine at Nookies, Eddie’s Beachside Restaurant, and The Boathouse. Rooted in sustainability, Silver Sands operates a 15-acre oyster farm and celebrates the North Fork’s rich maritime heritage.
Vintage Motels by travel writer Ellie Seymour celebrates the rebirth of America’s classic roadside inns as design-led destinations. The book highlights 40 restored motels across the country, including Silver Sands Motel & Beach Bungalows in Greenport, Long Island. With its pastel-toned 1950s architecture, glowing neon sign, and beachfront setting on the North Fork, Silver Sands is recognized as a standout example of modern coastal reinvention—a boutique hotel where mid-century nostalgia meets contemporary comfort, redefining the American motel experience for a new generation of travelers.
Celebrating the 100-year story of America’s roadside lodging, the article by The New York Times charts how motels transformed travel, architecture and culture across the country. It highlights the rise of the motel as a symbol of mid-century mobility, its neon-lit designs, and the modern revival of boutique roadside stays. The piece positions the motel as an enduring icon of American design and wanderlust.
The Boathouse at Silver Sands Motel in Greenport, Long Island debuts as a cozy new restaurant and bar for the North Fork’s cooler months. Led by chef Finn O’Hara, the reimagined waterfront venue serves elevated local classics like oysters, mussel chowder, and smoked bluefish rolls. Once an actual boathouse, the warm, maritime space honors Silver Sands’ 1950s heritage and the dream of original owner Ed Jurzenia. Open year-round, the Boathouse adds to Silver Sands’ growing dining scene alongside Nookies and Eddie’s, offering a new gathering place rooted in history and community.
“It was his four-year stint at the Michelin-starred The Four Horsemen in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, that both honed his abilities and sparked a think-outside-the-mise-en-place creativity. ‘It was mind-blowing for a young cook,’ Finn O’Hara says. ‘They were into whole-fish butchery and there was an incredible attention to detail.’ At Nookies and Eddie’s, his food is at once fun and approachable yet full of sincere local sourcing and the kind of nuanced creativity that makes you hyperaware that what you’re eating is far from ordinary.”
Set on 45 acres overlooking Peconic Bay, Silver Sands Motel underwent a retro-chic renovation in 2022 overseen by Leroy Street Studio & Hollander Design Landscape Architects. The 20 revamped rooms are now decorated with colorful midcentury-inspired furnishings and playful fabrics, while a collection of stand-alone cottages provide a more secluded experience with screened-in porches and outdoor rain showers. Dining options include Nookies, a modern take on a classic diner, which offers oysters straight from the property’s own saltwater farm.
Often billed as a less swanky alternative to the Hamptons, the North Fork of Long Island has all the makings of a fall retreat. From Riverhead to Orient, there’s ample opportunity for wine tastings, farm visits, scenic hikes, and vintage shopping. Over at Silver Sands Motel, a rejuvenated 1950s retreat, you can book private oyster tours at Pipes Cove Oyster Farm (some say the bivalves are at their best in the fall months) or a private winery tour and tasting at McCall Wines.
Weddings at Silver Sands are intimate, soulful, and rooted in a true sense of place. With only two full-property buyouts offered each year, couples enjoy exclusive access to a 1,400-foot private beach, two destination restaurants, and 33 stylish accommodations. From sunset vows by the bay to a celebratory dinner beneath a century-old oak at Eddie’s, and late-night fun at the award-winning Nookies diner, every moment feels effortlessly special.
“At Silver Sands, oysters come from our very own farm and are harvested less than 200 feet from where we prepare them,” said Executive Chef Finn O’Hara. “For our Buttery Cabbage Toast with House-Smoked Oysters, we hot-smoke the oysters over applewood, remove them from the shell, and marinate them in their own smoky liquor. They’re layered over house made focaccia with buttery braised cabbage, then finished with a generous hand of chives and lemon. It’s one of my favorite ways to honor a product that has shaped this place we call home.”
Silver Sands Motel in Greenport is a restored 1950s motor hotel with 33 rooms and bungalows on 1,400 feet of sandy Pipe’s Cove beach. The property includes two restaurants: Nookies, a classic diner, and Eddie’s, for outdoor dining on the beach.
Have a hearty, old-school breakfast at Nookies in the restored 1950s-era Silver Sands Motel, on 45 acres at the end of Silvermere Road in Greenport. After a maple-perfumed, Bunyanesque slab of French toast, enjoy a beach walk or walk back to the Main Road on Silvermere, and a few yards east to Wm. J. Mills & Co. if you’re looking for canvas travel bags or a set of sails.
Out of 900 entries, our landscape won the top honor in the Landscape + Outdoor Spaces category at Hospitality Design’s HD Awards.
Silver Sands Motel’s landscape, designed by Hollander Design, sets a new standard for sustainable hospitality. Thousands of native plantings, preserved century-old trees, pollinator pathways, and water-wise design foster biodiversity without chemicals or excess irrigation. Shoreline reinforcement and salt marsh preservation safeguard fragile ecosystems, while guests are invited to explore pollinator-friendly habitats that connect comfort with ecological stewardship.
Set on 45 acres, including a 1,400-foot swath of sandy shore overlooking Shelter Island – the gleaming new Silver Sands retains its unplugged charms with organic design and lush landscaping. It’s a cinematic setting where, depending on the time of day, you might conjure Italian seaside vibes, faded Borscht Belt nostalgia or a scene from a Wes Anderson movie.
As for the crowd? A mix of Northeastern creatives and business professionals, couples and families; and also locals enjoying beer buckets and just-plucked Pipe Cove Oysters from the property’s 15-acre underwater farm. Silver Sands is a labor of love – and in terms of its setting and cuisine, you won’t find anything like it in the North Fork.
A pastel-colored, design-forward gem on the North Fork, Silver Sands reopened in 2023 after transforming a 1950s property into a fairy-tale beachfront escape. With 20 rooms, eight beach shacks, two bungalows, and two beach houses, each space shines in its own way, using nostalgic elements and “Easter eggs” throughout, like original motel floor tiles for the countertop at Eddie’s, the beachfront bar and restaurant.
Arriving at Silver Sands almost feels like you’ve been transported to the marshes and wetlands found between Savannah and Tybee Island – anywhere but Long Island.
Guests interested in getting their hands dirty can sign up for an oyster farm tour or just enjoy the food and drinks at both on-site restaurants, which include local touches like fruits from North Fork farm stands and wines by the glass from nearby vineyards.
Again, no shade to the Hamptons, but North Fork is our next great suggestion for a getaway, especially if you’re a foodie. If the Hamptons are all about see-and-be-seen hot spots, North Fork is where to go for farm stands, unpretentious restaurants, and winemakers like Macari Vineyards and Peconic Bay Vineyards.
The hotels here have a particularly unpretentious air about them – so when you’re in the North Fork, there’s a real sense that you can let your hair down, enjoy some local food and wine, and connect to the beauty of the landscape.
The recently renovated Silver Sands Motel in Greenport includes several nods to the region’s midcentury-modern heyday, and a killer waterfront location that is tough to beat. Make sure to grab a meal at on-site diner Nookies, which offers indulgent old-school milkshakes and smash burgers.
Now, with the completion of two beach houses, the microresort, as Alexander Perros calls it, can accommodate larger parties who want their own space (they each have three bedrooms). Both houses have private gardens and full kitchens, though their occupants will likely still want to venture out for bocce or bird-watching, or to try the on-site diner, Nookies. There’s also an outdoor restaurant with an oyster bar whose offerings travel all of 200 feet from the water to the table. For Plato’s Beach House, Perros and his wife, Anna Perros, who took the lead on the pre-existing structures’ interiors, were inspired “by the sea and sky – there are lots of blues, yellows and pinks,” he says. The second place, Casa de Buddy, had “deep, groovy ’70s vibes,” which they preserved with vintage pieces such as a snakelike De Sede DS 600 Modular Sofa and a playful palm tree lamp by the artist Mario Lopez Torres.
While we often celebrate our favorite hotels around the world, we rarely spotlight the spaces within the hotel that make the property shine. Often, these are the areas – the bars, the restaurant, the rooftops and more – that become destinations unto themselves, pulling in a devoted set of locals to help turn a hotel into a place that residents use, too. Below, the hotel restaurants that compete with the best places to eat, anywhere – and the dishes you can’t miss.
A major renovation breathed new life into this iconic 1950’s North Fork motel, and luckily the twenty-two seat Nookies still captures all the nostalgia of a midcentury roadside diner. There’s still a tuna melt and decadent milkshakes on the menu, but there are some welcome additions to appeal to twenty-first century travelers, too.
To see how the North Fork has grown in popularity as the cool kids’ alternative to the been-there-done-that Hamptons, look no further than this 1950s motel. One of its most prized features is original: It has its own private beach, a rarity in these parts. But now the property also includes all the perks of a veritable oceanfront resort, with 12 standalone bungalows, beach houses and cottages complementing the 20 hotel rooms that face Peconic Bay and Shelter Island.
The Silver Sands Motel in Greenport, NY, opened in 1957 as a laidback motel that felt more like a beach home away from home than a fussy hotel. When the property changed hands a few years back, the new owners were keen to keep the family-oriented spirit of this beloved destination alive. They wanted to honor what Silver Sands had been and try to retain that sense of nostalgia, while still creating a modern, comfortable destination for new travelers…
If you’re looking for carefree days and analog appeals, stay at the Silver Sands. Set on 45 acres, including a 1,400-foot swath of sandy shore overlooking Shelter Island – the gleaming new Silver Sands retains its unplugged charms with organic design and lush landscaping. It’s a cinematic setting where, depending on the time of day, you might conjure Italian seaside vibes, faded Borscht Belt nostalgia or a scene from a Wes Anderson movie.
An array of chic-and-cheery rooms, 33 in total, extends to longer-stay, multi-bedroom beach houses with vintage furnishings, reading nooks, and screened-in porches. The best seats at Eddie’s – the property’s al fresco eatery – are at the bar that comes artfully wrapped around a century-old oak tree. New York City chefs are behind the refined seafood (oysters are plucked on-site) and wood-fired Neapolitan pies, while Nookies offers elevated diner staples: farm eggs, mussels with fregola, and a root beer float.
The rooms are adorned with lively accents of yellow, red and seafoam blue and bathrooms featuring cheerful tiles, Flamingo Escape toiletries, luxurious Matouk towels and striped Linge Particulier bathrobes. The new three- and four-bedroom beach houses come complete with full kitchens, private gardens and fireplaces.
Two restaurants are on site: retro diner Nookies, with its mint-green swivel barstools and shiny chrome details, and Eddie’s for wood-oven-fired Neapolitan pizza, freshly caught seafood, local produce and lobster rolls.
At any time of year, you can easily explore the area over a weekend. But in late fall, the crowds have ebbed, the beaches are mostly empty, locals are savoring the autumn harvest, and the crisp mornings feel ripe for an outdoor adventure along the timeless waterfront.
Silver Sands Motel & Beach Bungalows breathes new life into an iconic 1950s property, featuring 20 design-conscious hotel rooms, 12 cottages, 2 beach houses, a restaurant and bar, complimentary bikes and 1,400 feet of secluded beach in Pipes Cove.