This New 'Boatel' Features Its Own On-Site Oyster Farm

Guests arriving by car at the Shoals hotel in Southold, Long Island—approximately 95 miles east of New York City—will immediately spot the many boats moored right in front of the hotel’s lush lawn. Dubbed a 'boatel,' the Shoals offers 20 boat slips and 20 guest rooms, catering to visitors arriving by land or sea. Besides accommodating boats and providing a charter-ready Chris-Craft speedboat, this new hotel, which opened in May 2022, subtly pays tribute to its maritime surroundings.

Designed by architect Thomas Juul-Hanson, the hotel reflects its nautical heritage without relying on clichéd decorations like ship wheels or rope art. Guests may appreciate the building’s cedar-shingle façade and the strategic layout of the two floors of rooms, which provide stunning views of Peconic Bay and the marina. Each apartment-style room features private outdoor areas, well-equipped kitchenettes, open-concept living spaces adorned with modern sofas and lounge chairs inspired by yacht seating, along with built-in beds and versatile furniture crafted from natural materials such as light wood, braided jute, and linen.

However, what truly captivates us is the outdoor experience: Beyond the boats, there’s a vast lawn dotted with cozy lounge chairs, fire pits, and a food truck serving up lobster rolls, chicken tenders, chilled rosé wine, and freshly shucked oysters. These oysters are sourced from the nearby squat building that houses the new onshore facility of Little Ram Oysters, a women-owned oyster company founded in 2018.

The Little Ram Oysters’ farm lies underwater, just off Little Ram Island—hence the name—across the Peconic Bay from the Shoals. Until recently, owners Elizabeth Peeples and Stefanie Bassett, who are partners in both business and life, operated their oyster business from their boat, pulling up cages and tumbling the oysters by hand before returning them to the water until they reached the right size for harvest and sale to restaurants and locals. (Tumbling enhances the oysters' shells, making them cleaner, rounder, and tougher while resulting in meatier oysters.)

Chef John Fraser, who assumed the role of head chef at the nearby North Fork Table & Inn last year, has become a champion of Little Ram oysters, exclusively featuring them on his menu. He became involved in the Shoals project a couple of years back and learned that one of the buildings on the site had been specially permitted by New York State for agricultural and aquacultural use. Previously, it functioned as a scallop shack where fishermen's wives would shell scallops, but it had remained vacant for many years.

“If the landlord ever wanted to change the use of this space, they would need to go through a lengthy process,” Bassett explains. “It was a wonderful moment where [the Shoals owners] aimed to support and celebrate the working waterfront, and we needed a place to operate, creating a beautiful partnership. We also love that this building has always had women involved in its work.”

Currently, the women have set up their electronic tumbler and sorting machine inside. They are offering tours of the facility where hotel guests and visitors can observe the machine in action, engage with their floating nursery outside, and discover how the hatchery operates. Visitors will also learn the art of shucking oysters and can enjoy a tasting session by the Shoals Food Truck. Alternatively, guests can skip the tour and focus solely on the shucking class.

Discovering the North Fork Beyond the Hotel

As you leave the hotel premises, you might feel tempted to turn right and head east toward Greenport, the most renowned town on the North Fork (Long Island’s quieter, more welcoming counterpart to the upscale Hamptons). However, if you choose to turn left, you’ll find yourself on the delightful downtown Main Road of Southold. First, you’ll pass Fraser’s North Fork Table & Inn, which saw some transformations when Fraser acquired it along with some of the Shoals’ investors in 2020. This chef boasts an impressive history of acclaimed Manhattan restaurants such as Iris, 701West, and the now-closed Dovetail and Nix. The emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and exquisitely prepared dishes remains steadfast, and while the design has adopted a more modern flair, it still retains its charming farmhouse allure.

Keep driving, and you’ll encounter the newly opened Southold Social by Payard, which had its soft launch on June 10. Managed by Adam Lovett (of local establishments a Lure and aMano) and chef Francois Payard, who began visiting Long Island after his Manhattan patisseries closed in 2018, Southold Social marks his first project under his name since then. The revamped venue boasts a stylish, minimalist design, featuring nature-inspired paintings by local artist Charles Wildbank and a spacious tented patio out back. While the menu leans towards French cuisine, it also includes a pasta section and plenty of seafood—this is the North Fork, after all.

Further down the road lies Maroni, a beloved spot from Northport that opened its second location here during the pandemic. Come hungry and indulge in the tasting menu, featuring nearly 20 inventive bites inspired by Italian and Asian American flavors, such as Korean-style spare ribs topped with gummy bears (yes, really), shrimp scampi, truffle grilled cheese, lobster chowder, and their Beat Bobby Flay–winning meatballs. Across the street is Southold General, another recent venture by Payard and the Shoals owners, where you can grab pastries, sandwiches, and salads, along with locally made grocery items. Enjoy your treats in Einstein Square, named for Albert Einstein's time spent there.

No trip to the North Fork would be complete without visiting a winery or two (or five, but who’s counting?). Continuing down Main Road, you’ll spot Duck Walk Vineyards, a family-run establishment since 1994. Just around the corner is Sparkling Pointe, a beautiful winery known for its méthode champenoise sparkling wines, and further down the road is One Woman, owned by Claudia Purita, who hails from Calabria and produces wines including merlot, petit verdot, sauvignon blanc, and grüner veltliner.

Conclude your excursion with a stroll along the beach or a refreshing dip in the sea at Southold Town beach. After all, out here, it always comes back to the water.