Sag Harbor and Hampton Bays got a big huzzah this fall from the venerable Michelin Guide, awarding both East End properties a Michelin Key in the 2026 hotel section of the renowned travel guide.
Faraway Sag Harbor (31 West Water Street, Sag Harbor) and Canoe Place Inn & Cottages (239. E. Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays) both earned their first One Key Award for meeting the following necessary criteria: excellence in architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, overall personality and character, value for the price, and significant contribution to the neighborhood or setting.
For Faraway, which took over the long-standing Baron’s Cove property, it’s a particular feather in their cap, as the hotel and restaurants only opened this past summer after a full revamp from new owners Blue Flag Capital. The historic Canoe Place Inn underwent a major renovation after its new owners Main Street Hospitality took over in 2022, with not even the tiniest detail left untouched on the stunning property. They also upped the ante this year by adding executive chef Mathew Woolf to head up the kitchen of onsite restaurant Good Ground Tavern. For his part, Woolf is not stranger to Michelin: as part of the team at Restaurant Sixteen in Chicago, he helped to earn a Michelin star for there, and went on to be the executive chef for the re-boot of the Rainbow Room in New York City, among other career accomplishments.
Faraway Sag Harbor (left, photo credit Matt Kisiday) and Canoe Place Inn & Cottages (photo courtesy of Canoe Place Inn) are 2026 Michelin Key winners.
Similar the coveted restaurant award, the Michelin Star, the Michelin Key is a distinction awarded annually to hotels around the world that stand out for their service, amenities, design and architecture. There are three levels of the award, according to Michelin’s website:
- One Key: A very special stay — A true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.
- Two Keys: An exceptional stay — A hotel that’s unique in every way, where a memorable experience is always a guarantee. A hotel of character and charm, run with obvious pride and considerable care.
- Three Keys: An extraordinary stay — The ultimate in comfort and service, style and elegance. It is one of the world’s most remarkable and extraordinary stays and a destination for the trip of a lifetime.
Announced on Sept. 18, this year’s crop of winners spanned 79 countries and territories globally, with 350 U.S. hotels earning first-time Keys or upgrades to their current Key status. Faraway Sag Harbor and Canoe Place Inn & Cottages were the only two from the region to earn the distinction.
