Amagansett: The Hidden Hamptons Gem Featured in Netflix's The Diplomat

Updated November 14, 2025

"It doesn't have 'Hampton' in the name, and it's not Montauk, so it doesn't get the same recognition. But that's exactly what makes Amagansett special."

If you've been watching Netflix's political thriller The Diplomat, you might have noticed that Season 3's sixth episode, titled simply "Amagansett," puts this quiet East End hamlet in the spotlight. In the episode, President Grace Penn (played by West Wing alum Allison Janney) and her husband Todd (Bradley Whitford, who West Wing fans will instantly recognize as Josh Lyman) host Ambassador Kate Wyler and her team at their stunning Amagansett beach house for a high-stakes diplomatic crisis meeting.

For those of us who live and work on Long Island's East End, seeing Amagansett get its moment was a long time coming. Nestled between the brand-name cachet of East Hampton and the rugged appeal of Montauk, Amagansett has always been the quiet middle child, beloved by locals and in-the-know visitors, but often overlooked by those chasing the Hamptons hype.

The Montaukett Legacy: "Place of Good Water"

Before it was a summer destination, before it appeared on Netflix, Amagansett was home to the Montaukett people, an Algonquian-speaking Native American culture who lived at the eastern end of Long Island for thousands of years. The name "Amagansett" comes directly from their language, meaning "place of good water."

That "good water" they referred to? It came from fresh water springs located near what we now call Indian Wells Beach. For the Montauketts, this reliable source of fresh water near the ocean made Amagansett an invaluable settlement area. Today, Indian Wells Beach remains one of Amagansett's most beautiful and accessible public beaches, with its white sand, Atlantic waves, and, yes, significantly fewer crowds than you'll find at Main Beach in East Hampton.

The Montaukett legacy lives on not just in the name, but in the cultural memory of the area. One of Amagansett's most colorful historical figures was Stephen Talkhouse, a Montaukett Indian and descendant of Chief Wyandanch. He became famous for his legendary roundtrip walks from Montauk to East Hampton and Sag Harbor, sometimes covering 50+ miles in a single journey. The popular music venue Stephen Talkhouse, located in Amagansett, is named in his honor and has hosted everyone from Bon Jovi and Billy Joel to Jimmy Buffett and The Killers.

Why The Diplomat Chose Amagansett (Even If They Didn't Film There)

Presidential motorcades, like the one shown in The Diplomat, rely heavily on Chevrolet Suburban SUVs

In The Diplomat Season 3, Episode 6, the writers chose Amagansett as the location for President Grace Penn's private beach house, the setting for a pivotal emergency diplomatic meeting. While the actual filming took place at the stunning Seacroft Estate on Centre Island in Oyster Bay, the choice of Amagansett as the setting was deliberate and revealing.

For a high-ranking official seeking privacy, discretion, and a true escape, Amagansett makes perfect sense. It's close enough to the power centers of New York City (about two and a half hours by car), but far enough, and quiet enough, to feel like a true retreat. Unlike the scene-and-be-seen culture of Southampton or the celebrity circus of East Hampton's Main Street, Amagansett offers understated elegance and genuine tranquility.

And let's talk about that motorcade. If you watched the episode, you saw the unmistakable presence of presidential-level security, complete with a convoy of black Chevrolet Suburbans, the backbone of every real-world Secret Service motorcade. These heavily modified SUVs serve multiple roles: communications vehicles, counter-assault teams, and secure transport for protective details. The Suburban has been the workhorse of presidential motorcades for decades, and The Diplomat got that detail right.

The West Wing Reunion You Might Have Missed

Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford reunite in The Diplomat as President and First Gentleman

Here's a delightful Easter egg for political drama fans: both actors playing President Grace Penn and her husband Todd in The Diplomat are West Wing veterans. Allison Janney, of course, immortalized Press Secretary C.J. Cregg in Aaron Sorkin's beloved series, winning four Emmy Awards for the role. Bradley Whitford played Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman, the brilliant and passionate political operative at the heart of President Bartlet's administration.

Watching them together in the Amagansett scenes, now as the President and First Gentleman navigating real-world political crisis, feels like a full-circle moment for fans who grew up on Sorkin's rapid-fire dialogue and walk-and-talk hallway scenes. The Diplomat creator Debora Cahn was a writer and producer on The West Wing, so these casting choices are clearly intentional nods to that legacy.

What Makes Amagansett Special (And Why Locals Want to Keep It That Way)

Ask anyone who lives in or regularly visits Amagansett what makes it special, and you'll hear variations on the same theme: it's the Hamptons without the pretense. It's the place you go when you actually want to relax, not when you want to be photographed relaxing.

Amagansett Square, the quaint outdoor shopping area in the heart of the hamlet, truly serves as the community's gathering place. It's cozy, walkable, and unpretentious. You'll find excellent coffee, boutique shops, and some of the best casual dining on the East End, all without the crowds or the parking nightmares you'd encounter in East Hampton village.

Amagansett Hotspots Worth Visiting

• The Lobster Roll (aka "Lunch"): This is the spot. Unpretentious seafood shack with a gorgeous garden out back. The lobster roll is legendary, the vibe is perfect, and you'll see everyone from locals to celebrities eating elbow-to-elbow at picnic tables.
• Doubles: Right in Amagansett Square, Doubles serves quick-service Caribbean food that's fresh, flavorful, and authentic. The jerk chicken is outstanding.
• La Fondita: Colorful, fun Mexican street food with a great outdoor garden. They're also known for their environmental activism and community involvement.
• Fini Pizza: Retro-style pizzeria with a spacious lawn on Main Street. Great slices, great pies, and a laid-back atmosphere.
• Stephen Talkhouse: One of the best live music venues in all of the Hamptons. It's a no-frills spot that's hosted some of the biggest names in music. Check their schedule, you never know who might show up.
• Indian Wells Beach: Beautiful, less crowded than its neighbors, with that signature "place of good water" history. Perfect for a peaceful beach day away from the crowds.
• Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center: About five miles outside of Amagansett, this is a must-see for art lovers. The former home and studio of Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner offers a fascinating glimpse into their lives and work. The Pollock-Krasner House represents an important part of Amagansett's artistic heritage. Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner made this area their creative refuge in the 1940s and 50s, helping establish the East End as an artist's haven.

Getting to Amagansett (The Presidential Way)

Amagansett is accessible by car via Route 27 (Montauk Highway) or the more scenic Route 27A along the coast. If you're flying in, Long Island MacArthur Airport is the closest option, though many visitors arrive via JFK or LaGuardia. Either way, the best approach is to arrange private transportation, especially during peak summer weekends when parking in Amagansett becomes a challenge.

If you really want to arrive in style, the way fictional presidents do, consider booking a Chevrolet Suburban for your trip. Spacious, comfortable, and unmistakably presidential, it's the perfect way to experience Amagansett without worrying about parking, navigation, or summer traffic. Plus, you can enjoy a glass of wine at The Lobster Roll without designating a driver. And if you're exploring the broader region, don't miss the nearby North Fork wineries. Amagansett is perfectly positioned between the North Fork wine country and the South Fork beaches. Door-to-door service means you can explore at your own pace without the hassle of public transportation schedules or taxi lines.

Why Amagansett Deserves More Recognition (But Not Too Much)

There's a beautiful irony in writing a blog post advocating for Amagansett to get more recognition while simultaneously hoping it doesn't get too much recognition. That tension, between pride in a special place and the desire to protect it from overexposure, is something every local feels.

Amagansett doesn't need to compete with East Hampton's brand or Montauk's surf culture. It's perfect as it is: a quiet, historically rich, genuinely welcoming hamlet where the beaches are beautiful, the food is excellent, and the crowds are manageable. Unlike the bustle of Southampton or the marina scene in Sag Harbor, Amagansett offers something increasingly rare: authentic tranquility. It's where the Montauketts found their "place of good water" centuries ago, and it's where modern visitors can still find exactly that: a place to refresh, reset, and reconnect.

So yes, The Diplomat got it right. Amagansett is exactly where a fictional president would want to escape. And it's exactly where you should go the next time you're looking for the Hamptons without the hamptons.

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Sources & Further Reading

• The Diplomat on Netflix - Watch Season 3, Episode 6 "Amagansett"
• A Brief History of Amagansett - The Roundtree Stories
• Amazingly Amagansett - Hamptons.com
• A Local's Guide to Amagansett - Edible Long Island
• Where Was The Diplomat Filmed? - Atlas of Wonders
• The Fascinating Anatomy of the Presidential Motorcade - The War Zone