{"id":209516,"date":"2026-04-25T14:35:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T14:35:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/209516\/"},"modified":"2026-04-25T14:35:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T14:35:29","slug":"northport-day-trip-explore-restaurants-shops-and-events","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/209516\/","title":{"rendered":"Northport day trip: Explore restaurants, shops and events"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Northport, old-world charm lingers along\u00a0Main Street\u00a0in this postcard-perfect Long Island maritime village.\u00a0Century-old trolley tracks from its horse-drawn days are still embedded in the road.\u00a0A\u00a0sweet shop still serves countertop classics like root beer floats the way it has since 1929. A bar once frequented by Beat novelist Jack Kerouac still houses a cigarette vending machine. And\u00a0a gazebo in the park, tucked between the harbor and a playground, has welcomed generations of visitors who come to sit, stroll\u00a0and savor the waterfront. Spend a day here, and it\u2019s easy to feel like you\u2019ve stepped into a Norman Rockwell painting. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Northport has evolved, too. Main Street features new restaurants, shops\u00a0and a boutique hotel that make it easy to turn a day trip into a staycation. Yet the town\u2019s charm endures, drawing Long Islanders back again and again\u00a0for an afternoon by the water or a full weekend getaway. Here\u2019s how to explore, eat\u00a0and unwind in this quintessential Long Island town.<\/p>\n

Explore: Theater, harbor, live music,\u00a0events<\/p>\n

Northport\u2019s Main Street serves as the village\u2019s central artery, a stretch of red-brick storefronts and time-honored\u00a0buildings that slopes down to the harbor, where Northport\u00a0Village Park connects the green to the docks and much of the town\u2019s activity unfolds.<\/p>\n

Northport Village Park overlooks the harbor. Credit: Randee Daddona<\/p>\n

On Saturdays from June through November, the Northport Farmers Market\u00a0(northportfarmersmarket.org<\/a>) sets up along the park, while summer brings weekly rhythm with the Summerfest Concert Series on Wednesday nights, when locals gather on the lawn for live music by the water.<\/p>\n

The village\u2019s original name, The Great Cow Harbor,\u00a0lives on in Cow Harbor Day, which takes place each third week of September. Northport\u2019s signature event, which draws thousands for a weekend anchored by the Great Cow Harbor 10K, also includes a Main Street parade and\u00a0waterfront festival filled with music, food and vendors.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The 400-seat John W. Engeman Theater hosts Broadway-caliber productions. Credit: Randee Daddona<\/p>\n

Built in 1912 as the Northport Theater, the community’s first movie house,\u00a0and reopened in 2007, the\u00a0John W. Engeman Theater (250 Main St., 631-261-2900, engemantheater.com<\/a>) brings year-round, Broadway-caliber productions to a 400-seat space in the heart of the village. Casting directly from the Broadway talent pool, it delivers the same level of performance found in Manhattan, without the commute or price point. Tickets can be purchased online<\/a>\u00a0for its current\u00a0production of “The Bodyguard,” a musical thriller based on the 1992 film featuring hit songs by Whitney Houston, showing through May 3.<\/p>\n

Erica Burkett as Rachel Marron with the ensemble in “The Bodyguard,” a musical thriller based on the 1992 film featuring hit songs by Whitney Houston, which plays at the John W. Engeman Theater through May 3. Credit: John W. Engeman Theater\/Katie Mollison <\/p>\n

The Northport Hotel<\/p>\n

Opened in 2023, The Northport Hotel (225 Main St., 631-628-7000, thenorthporthotel.com<\/a>) sits at the corner of Main Street\u00a0across from the Engeman Theater, anchoring the village\u2019s shift from day-trip destination to weekend escape. Its 26 modern rooms, lively bar and polished restaurant make it easy to settle in and stay awhile, whether you\u2019re in town for a show or simply looking to slow down by the water.<\/p>\n

\"visualization\"\/<\/p>\n

That convenience was intentional. Theater co-owner Kevin O\u2019Neill said the idea for a hotel grew out of demand from visitors traveling\u00a0for performances. With audiences regularly coming from Westchester, New Jersey and Connecticut, “we heard it enough” that there was nowhere nearby to stay, he said, prompting the effort to bring lodging to the heart of the village.<\/p>\n

“We didn\u2019t want to change the history that defines Northport,” O\u2019Neill said. “The hotel was built to match the village\u2019s character, with a modern twist.”<\/p>\n

The 26 rooms at The Northport Hotel have a bright, coastal feel. Credit: Randee Daddona<\/p>\n

Inside, that balance is evident. Each room is thoughtfully designed with bright, coastal touches \u2014 soft blues, crisp whites and subtle nautical details that nod to the harbor just down the street.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The lobby and bar at The Northport Hotel. Credit: Randee Daddona<\/p>\n

Downstairs, the restaurant<\/a> and bar draw both overnight guests and locals, adding to the steady rhythm of Main Street. Rooms start at $429 per night in May and June, with rates varying by season.<\/p>\n

For breakfast and brunch<\/p>\n

Northport’s dining landscape offers a mix of longtime favorites and newer spots that keep Main Street and the harbor well-fed.<\/p>\n

\"Dine<\/p>\n

Dine on family-style American breakfast, brunch\u00a0and lunch classics at the landmark Shipwreck Diner. Credit: Randee Daddona<\/p>\n

A vintage railroad-car diner and Northport landmark, the\u00a0Northport Shipwreck Diner (46 Main St., 631-754-1797, nptshipwreck.com<\/a>)\u00a0began as a dining car from an old trolley, rolled to\u00a0Main Street in 1924, and has been serving classic comfort food ever since. Inside, wood-planked walls and a low, warm-lit ceiling frame blue vinyl booths and a long counter serving family-style American breakfast, brunch\u00a0and lunch classics, while a patio extends the space.<\/p>\n

\"Pop<\/p>\n

Pop into Copenhagen Bakery + Cafe for pastries and coffee. Credit: Randee Daddona<\/p>\n

Just off Main Street, Copenhagen Bakery\u00a0(75 Woodbine Ave.,\u00a0631-754-325,\u00a0copenhagenbakery.net<\/a>) faces the harbor and serves pastries, coffee and breakfast to go or to stay\u00a0in a Scandinavian-style bakery.<\/p>\n

For lunch and dinner \"Novelist<\/p>\n

Novelist Jack Kerouac was a frequent guest at Gunther’s Tap Room in the late 1950s. Credit: Randee Daddona<\/p>\n

Gunther\u2019s Tap Room (33 Main St., 631-261-6840,\u00a0guntherstaproom.com<\/a>) stands as one of Northport\u2019s most enduring Main Street institutions, a no-frills neighborhood tavern that has defined the village\u2019s bar scene for decades. Its stripped-down interior still carries traces of another era, including a cigarette vending machine, and it has long drawn fishermen and generations of regulars to its stools. American novelist and poet Kerouac\u00a0frequented the bar while living in Northport in the late 1950s. Today it remains unchanged in spirit, serving pub fare and a wide beer selection in an unpolished setting.<\/p>\n

@carissa.travels<\/a> My favorite waterfront town on Long Island: Northport \ud83e\udd0d \u2022 #northport<\/a> #longisland<\/a> #longislandtravel<\/a> \u266c original sound – F\u00c8LIN\u00c8<\/a> <\/p>\n

Another longtime favorite, Main Street Cafe\u00a0(47 Main S.t, 631-754-5533, mainstreetcafenorthport.com<\/a>), serves classic fare, popular\u00a0for its burgers and familial\u00a0atmosphere. La Porta (61 Main St., 631-239-6062, laportanorthport.com<\/a>) is known for its wood-fired pizzas and classic Italian dishes,\u00a0and Harbor House (78 Main St., 631-651-9093, harborhouserestaurant.com<\/a>) offers fresh seafood, both served in a casual setting.<\/p>\n

Braised octopus, dark chocolate cake, pan-roasted wild salmon, blueberry-white chocolate bread pudding, pan-roasted halibut and Caesar salad at the restaurant at The Northport Hotel. Credit: Randee Daddona<\/p>\n

For upscale dining, The Northport Hotel\u2019s restaurant offers a seasonal menu\u00a0built around local ingredients, with dishes like pan-roasted wild salmon with coconut cilantro rice, mango salsa and passionfruit puree. A pan-roasted halibut with lobster glaze has become a signature staple, which executive chef Michael Ross says would cause “a riot if we took it off the menu.” He described\u00a0the approach as “fresh flavors with a touch of the familiar …\u00a0dishes that make people come back,” and the bar and dining room draw both hotel guests and locals throughout the day and night.<\/p>\n

\"Skippers<\/p>\n

Skippers offers seafood and coastal flavors with a view of the harbor. Credit: Randee Daddona<\/p>\n

Along the harbor, Skippers (34 Main St., 631-261-3589, skippersnpt.com<\/a>) and Salted. On the Harbor (14 Woodbine Ave., 631-651-2600, saltedontheharbor.com<\/a>) focus on seafood, coastal flavors and waterfront views.<\/p>\n

For a sweet treat <\/p>\n

Northport Sweet Shop has been a Main Street staple since 1929. Credit: Randee Daddona<\/p>\n

At the Northport Sweet Shop (55 Main St.,\u00a0631-261-3748,\u00a0northportsweetshop.com<\/a>), the pace, like the facade, hasn\u2019t changed much in nearly a century. Classic counter service includes root beer floats, sundaes and ice cream sodas, while glass cases are filled with homemade chocolates and treats. Everything is made in-house and served at the counter or in booths along the wall, still run by owner Pete Panarites. It\u2019s a classic luncheonette, part of Main Street since 1929.<\/p>\n

For drinks and a good time \"Travel<\/p>\n

Travel writer Carissa Kellman tries a flight of brews at Sand City Brewing, tucked down an alleyway off Main Street. Credit: Randee Daddona<\/p>\n

Tucked down a brick alleyway, Sand City Brewery (60 Main St., 631-592-4512,\u00a0sandcitybeer.com<\/a>) has become one of the village\u2019s most popular gathering spots<\/a>, known for East Coast-style IPAs including its flagship, Oops! I Hopped my Pants, alongside cocktails and wine. Guests can bring in outside food and enjoy live music on weekends in its open-air, beer garden-style setting.<\/p>\n

Where to shop<\/p>\n

Northport\u2019s shops are creative and distinctly different. There’s something for everyone, from lifestyle boutiques selling soaps, jewelry and\u00a0artwork to a children’s toy store and pet supply shop.<\/p>\n

\"Browse<\/p>\n

Browse handmade dried floral designs,\u00a0jewelry, artwork and more at Hydrangea Home. Credit: Randee Daddona<\/p>\n

Hydrangea Home\u00a0(67 Main St., 631-239-6688, hydrangeahome.com<\/a>) specializes in handmade dried floral designs,\u00a0offers jewelry, artwork,\u00a0art tools and\u00a0a men’s\u00a0section. It now also carries prepared items from Cutchogue\u2019s Fyr & Salt (4735 Cox Lane, 631-494-6155,\u00a0fyrandsalt.com<\/a>), a farm, market, butcher shop, cafe and bakery where everything is made by the team using organic, locally sourced produce and no seed oils. The Northport outpost is a small grab-and-go fridge stocked with ready-to-cook meals from 8 Hands Farm designed to go straight into the oven, including dishes like beef bourguignon and house-made stocks.<\/p>\n

\"Children's<\/p>\n

Children’s store Einstein’s Attic carries both classic toys and trending items. Credit: Morgan Campbell<\/p>\n

Einstein\u2019s Attic (79 Main St.,\u00a0631-261-7564,\u00a0shopeinsteinsattic.com<\/a>), a children\u2019s shop that opened in 1997, mixes nostalgia with modern trends<\/a>, carrying both classic toys and collectibles alongside newer, popular items.<\/p>\n

\"visualization\"\/Other shops to exploreNorthport Books<\/a> (127 Main St.)\u00a0\u2014\u00a0cozy independent bookstore with a curated selection of new releases, bestsellers and local interest titles.The Soothery<\/a>\u00a0(106 Main St.)\u00a0\u2014\u00a0wellness-focused shop offering apothecary goods, self-care essentials and holistic lifestyle items.Artisan House Gifts<\/a> (80 Main St.)\u00a0\u2014\u00a0gift shop specializing in handcrafted items, locally made goods and unique home accents.Nest on Main<\/a>\u00a0(135 Main St.) \u2014\u00a0home goods boutique filled with thoughtfully selected d\u00e9cor, gifts and everyday design pieces.Heartichoke\u00a0(145 Main St.) \u2014 novelty shop selling crystals, incense, candles, home goods,\u00a0jewelry\u00a0and accessories.Veronica Rayne Boutique<\/a>\u00a0(66 Main St.) \u2014\u00a0women\u2019s fashion shop featuring chic, seasonal styles and elevated everyday wear.Also nearbyDel Vino Vineyards<\/a> (29 Norwood Rd.)\u00a0\u2014 sprawling vineyard and event space known for its wines, live music and scenic outdoor seating; a short drive from Main Street.Robke\u2019s<\/a> (427 Fort Salonga Rd.) \u2014\u00a0longtime favorite for classic Italian dishes in a lively, old-school setting.<\/p>\n

Newsday travel reporter Carissa Kellman uncovers adventures, bites and hidden spots on Long Island and beyond, with the same drive that once kept her courtside at high school sports games.<\/p>\n