Sign up for our Newsletter

A bird’s eye view of Mattituck. (Credit: David Benthal)

If we were to pick one word to describe Mattituck, it would have to be “central.”

Located on the western edge of Southold Town, it’s positioned at the center of the North Fork.

But liked a baked apple pie you might pick up at a local farm stand, the hamlet itself is elevated by all the good stuff in the middle.

Located right in the heart of Mattituck is Love Lane, a go-to destination for residents of the hamlet and visitors alike. A microcosm of the entire North Fork retail scene, it features everything from clothing boutique Mint, to the Roanoke Vineyards tasting room, the Village Cheese Shop and Love Lane Sweet Shoppe.

But your primary reason for stopping on Love Lane is generally to fill your belly at one of several great lunch spots, including Love Lane Kitchen and Lombardi’s Love Lane Market. (Quick walks around the block also lead you to tasty choices like goodfood. and North Fork Donut Co.)

There’s also much beauty in the center of the hamlet, particularly in the way Mattituck Inlet cuts through the north side of the community, creating scenic waterfront vistas.

That’s not to say all of Mattituck’s glory is in what lies between the crust. Its shorelines are havens for boaters and offer some of the best waterfront living opportunities on the North Fork. Breakwater Beach on the Long Island Sound and Veteran’s Beach on the Peconic Bay are two of the North Fork’s finest public parks, and Bailie Beach offers a less crowded swimming oasis. 

Restaurants like a Mano and Pace’s Dockside further cement Mattituck’s claim as a dining destination and the Bridge Lane and Macari Vineyards tasting rooms are two spots worthy of a stop on your next visit to the North Fork, which should center around a stay at Cedar House on Sound Bed and Breakfast.

Mattituck is also a great place to get lost off the beaten path, where you’ll find great farm stands like MarGene and Cooper’s, and an Instagram-worthy drive up Oregon Road in to Cutchogue.

Of course many people know Mattituck for its series of annual seasonal events, which kicks off with the Mattituck Lions Club Strawberry Festival in June, continues throughout summer with the Chamber of Commerce’s First Fridays on Love Lane, and concludes with autumn weekends spent at Harbes Family Farm.

Mattituck isn’t just in the middle of everything it is a little bit of everything that makes the North Fork such a special place.

NAMES & NUMBERS

Name meaning: Algonquin for “Great Creek”

Settled: Mid-17th century

Area: Nine miles

Population: 4,219

Zip Code: 11952

School Nickname: Tuckers

X
X