Hot chocolate in the Hamptons isn't just a drink. It's a ritual. It's what you order after a beach walk when the wind has stripped all the warmth from your body. It's what you sip slowly in a corner booth while the snow piles up outside. It's permission to slow down, to stay a little longer, to let the day unfold without urgency.

Here's where to find the best versions this weekend, each with their own distinct approach.

There's a particular kind of magic that happens when a village decides to celebrate winter instead of simply enduring it. This Saturday, Sag Harbor does exactly that with HarborFrost, the beloved winter festival returning for its 15th anniversary.

If you've been out here long enough, you know that winter in the Hamptons asks something of you. It asks you to slow down, to notice the light differently, to find beauty in bare branches and icy harbors. HarborFrost is the village's answer to that ask—a day that transforms the cold into something worth gathering for.

There’s a very specific kind of quiet that settles over the Hamptons after a snowfall.

The roads empty. The beaches go still. And suddenly, winter doesn’t feel like something to get through—it feels like something to lean into.

When the forecast starts whispering snow, these are the places I’m already picturing. Not because they’re the only good spots—but because they’re the ones that feel cozier, warmer, and more special when you arrive with cold cheeks and snow on your boots.

When the Hamptons gets a big snowstorm, everything slows down in the best possible way. Roads go quiet, the beach turns white, and suddenly everyone’s asking the same question:

Where do we sled?

If you’ve got kids (or you’re a kid at heart), grab your sled, pack some hot chocolate or cider, and head to one of these local favorites. These are the hills people actually use.