Latest news with #HedgesInn
New York Post
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Meet Robert Caravaggi of buzzy Swifty's in Palm Beach and the Hamptons
Great New York restaurants aren't easily forgotten. And when Swifty's, the society cafe heir to Mortimer's — which had delighted and infuriated the city's bold face names in equal measure — closed its doors in 2016, people never really stopped talking about it. It turned out that Swifty's was just ahead of the trend. It reopened in Palm Beach in 2019, just before the pandemic that would see practically all of its old Upper East Side patrons make the move to South Florida. It was all thanks to owner Robert Caravaggi, who is now for the first time expanding his once-defunct club house for the cashed-up and carefree. We caught up with Caravaggi to learn all about the new Hamptons iteration of Swifty's and what's become of its 'millionaire bacon.' This season, you're bringing your ebullient Palm Beach restaurant Swifty's to the Hedges Inn in East Hampton. It originally opened in 1999 on the Upper East Side. How do you account for its enduring charm? Advertisement 'We had an excellent launch a year after Mortimer's closed, with a wonderful, long-standing following who wanted their club to continue. We created our own mystique and style that has been enhanced through my partnership with Sarah and Andrew Wetenhall, owners of The Colony Palm Beach.' What's on the menu? Swifty's cosmopolitan American style doesn't shy away from burgers and fries. Glen Alsop 'Guests should expect a similar menu style: cosmopolitan American with European influence. Our menu will include an emphasis on local ingredients, but also favorite long-standing items such as jumbo lump crab cakes with signature creamed spinach and designer [Bill Blass] meatloaf. The 'millionaire bacon' has become 'billionaire bacon.' ' What's your life like outside the restaurant and what's your connection to the Hamptons? Advertisement 'I know the East End quite well and I have many friends who either live or spend their summers there. But my wife Blaine and I live in the Hudson Valley. I am also a musician. I sing, write songs and play a few instruments in the rock and roll genre. I sometimes perform with my favorite group [Brothers of Others] at Swifty's. The discerning audience seems to approve!' What got you into the business? A cocktail at the Hedges Inn East Hampton's new restaurant. Glen Alsop 'I got my start at my father's New York restaurant called Quo Vadis, starting part time in my teens. It was a classic upscale European establishment that had a very grand following. My father, Bruno, taught me that graciousness in a restaurant is paramount to success. That influence served me well at Mortimer's and Swifty's later on.' Do you see Swifty's expanding beyond Palm Beach and the Hamptons? 'I do. I think our name, concept, mystique and food is a formula that diners seek out. Our regulars appreciate their long-term inclusion, recognition and familiarity. Our new regulars want the same, to be included and taken care of. Breeding loyalty through generations is very important.'
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Colony Hotel founders bring Palm Beach posh to East Hampton's Hedges Inn
Despite having only 13 rooms, the historic Hedges Inn — which sits at the entrance to East Hampton village and across from its idyllic pond — has made oversized headlines in the last year. Scott Sartiano, the man behind celebrity-packed private club Zero Bond, leased the inn last summer in the hopes of launching a spinoff club. He was met with insurmountable resistance by village officials and residents, who feared a nightlife vibe and its accompanying noise and traffic. After a flurry of opposition, his lease was not renewed. Now the bed-and-breakfast's new owners, Sarah and Andrew Wetenhall, have been welcomed with open arms. It doesn't hurt that the Wetenhalls had a home in East Hampton for 15 years (until 2021) and also transformed The Colony Hotel into a buzzy Palm Beach destination where vacationing New Yorkers and locals alike flock to its poolside restaurant Swifty's and its rousing trivia and bingo nights. Advertisement 3 The Hedges Inn in East Hampton will have a 'summer Americana' aesthetic. Susan Kaufman The couple brought many of those same elements to the Hedges when it opened last week — along with the whimsical design that's been part of The Colony's lure. 'There is a style that thrives with destinations close to the sea,'' Sarah tells Alexa. 'We want the Hedges to become the best version of herself, and a visual representation of East Hampton, the way The Colony is a visual representation of Palm Beach. It will have the summer Americana aesthetic that's so well loved.'' That means shake shingles; lots of red, white and blue; plus plenty of pops of The Colony's famed pink. The inn's ground floor was already renovated by the previous owners, and the rooms will be refreshed this year, with a larger overhaul planned after the summer season. Advertisement 'Andrew and I love to travel, but we also love the creature comforts of home,'' Sarah explains. To this end, they are adding Matouk sheets, towels and robes along with luxury amenities. 'We are all about creating a fun summer, and we will do so with a smile on our face and kindness in our time,'' she says. As at The Colony, they will offer their Instagram-famous branded bicycles with baskets and route maps, along with buggies that transport guests, chairs, umbrellas and coolers to the beach. 'They make us visually who we are.' The inn, first established in 1873, will now have a 24-hour full-service desk, valet parking, butler service, a provisions bar with complimentary drinks and snacks, curated itineraries and a concierge-by-text service — nicknamed Ahab, after East Hampton artist Jackson Pollock's poodle. In addition to hotel rooms, there will be a three-bedroom, stand-alone residence next door to the property, ideal for extended stays. 3 Sarah (left) and Andrew Wetenhall are updating East Hampton's Hedges Inn with stylish renovations, design refreshes and luxe brand partnerships. Capehart Advertisement 'We can offer a bespoke, customized experience, and we are really excited about reimagining hospitality on the East End,' Sarah says. Guests can indulge in intimate bonfire gatherings (complete with s'mores) as well as Wednesday evening conversations with guest lecturers. The Wetenhalls are known for bringing in designers, beauty brands and famed fitness instructors (including Tracy Anderson and Isaac Boots) for collaborations. 'We do love our partnerships; they round out the guest experience,'' she notes. At the Hedges, those collabs will include Naturopathica spa services, Volvo electric EX 90 cars for tooling around the village and a house car for local rides in the form of a vintage pink Land Rover Defender. 3 Cuisine from Robert Caravaggi's latest Swifty's outpost at the hotel. Glen Alsop Advertisement But the most pivotal partnership remains with Swifty's (originally a New York eatery before being resurrected under founder Robert Caravaggi at The Colony). The restaurant has taken over the 100-seat indoor-outdoor dining space that housed Sartiano's last summer, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, including its signature meatloaf and crab cakes, along with farm-to-table local fare. Trivia will reappear as well, but sadly, those uberpopular bingo nights won't make the journey north. 'The New York State gambling laws will not allow it,'' Sarah sighs. Rooms from $599 in May and from $1,499 from Memorial Day weekend on at The Hedges East Hampton
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-header-exterior-the-hedges-inn-east-hampton-HEDGESINN0525-2321f48660cc44038de1e145558983b3.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
16-05-2025
- Business
- Travel + Leisure
The Team Behind Palm Beach, Florida's Iconic Pink Hotel Open a Hotel in New York's Hamptons Today
The Hedges Inn, a boutique hotel with 13 rooms and a three-bedroom residence in East Hampton, will reopen on May 16 under new ownership. Andrew and Sarah Wetenhall of The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach purchased the inn in March and have since made minor updates to the historic hotel. The inn will host an outpost of Swifty's restaurant, offering refined American cuisine. Beach butlers, bicycles, and a fully stocked provisions bar are among the hotel's standout offerings. Andrew and Sarah Wetenhall, the couple behind the buzzed-about reinvention of The Colony Hotel, have expanded their hospitality portfolio with the March 2025 purchase of The Hedges Inn, a boutique 13-room hotel in East Hampton set to reopen for the season on May 16. Originally founded in 1873, the hotel was built as a gift from John D. Hedges to his wife, Caroline Isabella Homan. The hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and occupies a prized position between East Hampton's Main Street and Main Beach. 'Our goal is to create a warm and welcoming environment where guests can immerse themselves in the quintessential East Hampton experience—where tradition meets luxury and community and connection thrive," Sarah Wetenhall said in a press release shared with Travel + Leisure. The Wetenhalls made minor changes to the hotel since purchasing it and are planning more extensive updates after the summer season. In addition to its 13 guest rooms, The Hedges Inn has a three-bedroom private residence for extended stays. This larger option offers additional privacy while still providing guests with a full-service Hedges Inn experience, plus a dedicated Volvo. At the heart of the hotel is a second outpost of Swifty's, the beloved New York City restaurant, which closed in 2016 but was revived at The Colony in 2019. Swifty's at The Hedges Inn will be a full-service 100-seat indoor/outdoor restaurant open to the public seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Under executive chef Tom Whitaker, the menu of elevated American fare will feature Swifty's signature dishes, prepared with local ingredients sourced from regional purveyors like Montauk Shellfish, Braun Seafood, Balsam Farms, Catapano Dairy Farm, and wines from Wölffer Estate. Some of the desserts and cocktails that will be available at Swiftys. Glen Allsop/The Hedges Inn Overnight guests of The Hedges Inn will have access to beach butlers, branded bicycles, electric Volvo EX90s for popping around town, and a texting concierge named Ahab (a nod to East Hampton artist Jackson Pollock's dog). Community-minded programming rounds out the experience, including trivia nights, beach bonfires, and "Conversations at The Hedges," a speaker series inspired by East Hampton's literary roots. The hotel will be open through Labor Day. Nightly rates at The Hedges Inn start from $1,499, and you can book your stay at
