Born and raised in Montauk, Leo Daunt grew up watching his grandfather and parents run Daunt’s Albatross, a 23-room hotel in the heart of Montauk village. It’s one of Montauk’s oldest family-run hotels, opened in 1977. Steps from the beach, it’s also just a short walk to the area’s restaurants and bars, shops, and cafes.
As the third-generation proprietor, Leo took over in 2020 as general manager. Today, the hotel reopens following a year-long redesign by Brooklyn-based design firm Home Studios.
Leo wanted the new iteration of the property to convey its past while reflecting the surroundings, and sharing the area’s natural beauty with visitors and locals alike. The redesign captures the essence and history of Montauk, with a nod to the nearby Shadmoor State Park.
One of the few year-round hotels in the village, the new Daunt’s aims to stay true to its down-to-earth and inclusive DNA while adding an updated and lasting design. Leo is passionate about paying homage to Montauk’s history and the redesign taps into a simpler time when Montauk was less in the spotlight and more of an off-the-beaten path vacation destination.
“Going back to the late ’70s when my grandfather purchased it, our goal with the Albatross has been to spread the beauty of Montauk and welcome everyone — from newcomers to those who have been coming with their families for decades,” said Leo, who is also co-president of the Montauk Chamber of Commerce. “In this new chapter, we’re excited to build on this legacy and continue to make guests feel a part of the family.”
Inspired by the colors and textures of the Shadmoor’s cliffs, you’ll find shades of white, warm grays, browns, faded yellows, and ocean blues used to create the palette for each guest room. Rooms are accented with raw materials such as knotty, heart pines. You’ll find select vintage pieces that accent each of the spaces, so no two rooms alike. Home Studios — which is also currently designing hotels in Nantucket, San Diego, and Marin County — sourced all the vintage furniture and decor for the hotel. As a former fiction editor, Oliver Haslegrave founded the studio to tell the stories of inspired outsiders through architecture and interior design.
Original artwork and handmade textiles further accent the rooms, as well as locally-sourced vintage lighting and decor to create the feeling of a home that includes heirlooms collected by generations, all while leaving the rooms spacious and in tune with the minimalist design.
The goal was to blend the Daunt family history while creating a modern sanctuary, where antiques and custom furniture coexist with the beautiful surroundings. Rooms range from standard doubles and queens up to the expansive Koda Suite (named after Leo’s golden retriever). Many rooms feature kitchenettes and balconies.
Outdoors you’ll find a revamped, landscaped courtyard complete with potted beach grass, fire pits, neutral Adirondack chairs, and globe lighting from above. A pool renovation will follow later this year, with guests able to enjoy the existing one for the summer. Also to come during the next stage of the renovation will be an expanded lobby with a wood-burning fireplace and communal dining area, as well as a yoga pavilion.
Leo has also acquired the neighboring Bird On The Roof restaurant. This summer, Chef Marcos Martinez Perez will revamp the menu, with the restaurant undergoing a redesign in 2023, according to Daunt. Chef Perez has worked in local favorites such as 668 The Gig Shack, Rosie’s, and Carissa’s. The Bird on the Roof will be serving an elevated brunch menu seven days a week with a full bar and live music.