The Shoals, the recently opened waterfront hotel in Southold, offers visitors a way to come by land or by sea to its hybrid “boatel.”
Situated dockside and overlooking the Peconic Bay and Shelter Island, the venue features 20 hotel suites and 20 boat slips. Renowned architect Thomas Juul-Hansen designed The Shoals to pay homage to the property’s nautical history by integrating custom marine design elements, and framing rooms to accentuate the stunning coastal views.
Owned and operated by the group behind North Fork Table & Inn and Southold General, the Shoals will be open year-round.
Guest rooms are each situated with views of the bay and marina. As a place for rest and recreation, each room offers private outdoor space. The guest suites at The Shoals are spacious apartment-style accommodations that are fashioned for an extended stay. Guests can choose from a variety of room layouts, including one and two-bedroom suites with sleeping space for up to four people.
Juul-Hansen designed custom furniture for each room including built in beds with privacy curtains, modular furniture in natural tones, and lighting for a relaxed, coastal aesthetic. Natural materials such as light woods and linens are used throughout. To accomodate entertaining and cooking, each suite is outfitted with a bespoke kitchenette, complete with a sink, coffee machine, fridge, kitchenware and breakfast nook, an open-concept living area featuring a marble coffee table, a large sofa and a decorative chair for additional seating, and either a private terrace or balcony.
The hotel also offers access to the bay via its own vintage Chris-Craft charter boat — which can be used as a shuttle to private beaches and nearby restaurants, or to explore the area by water.
To support the working waterfront, The Shoals has partnered with the female-owned family business, Little Ram Oyster Company, on a robust oyster program that is operated out of a renovated waterfront building on the property.
Little Ram owners Elizabeth Peeples and Stefanie Bassett have taken over the historical waterfront building, once referred to as the Scallop Shack. The building has gone through a renovation in an effort to maintain its historical significance.
“Aquaculture on the East End has seen rebirth over the past decade as increasingly more oyster farmers start farming our local waters,” said Peeples during The Shoal’s opening event. “As oyster farmers, we feel charged to encourage the viability of shellfish farming and reinvigoration of this historic industry. Oysters filter over 50 gallons of water a day.”
Parked on the lawn sits The Shoals Food Truck, serving an array of summer classics including Little Ram Oysters, lobster rolls, and soft serve ice cream, alongside a wide variety of grab and go meals like salads, bento boxes, and grain bowls. Picnic tables are positioned alongside the bay for those looking to grab a bite and wind down with friends and family. Every Wednesday evening throughout the summer months, Little Ram Oyster Company will turn the Food Truck into a “Shuck Truck,” offering an oyster happy hour.
With a goal to provide hotel guests with educational opportunities, Little Ram Oyster Company will also host offsite farm tours and private shucking workshops.
The Bait Shop on the property acts as a bayside retail outpost offering a selection of gift offerings. Situated across from the hotel’s check-in desk, in a sun-filled room, the shop serves as a nod to the property’s history as a former fish market. Connected to the Bait Shop is The Lounge, a spacious indoor gathering space offering stunning views of the bay.