August 2025 City Notes

CITY NOTES

CURATED BY PATRICIA GREENE ISEN

August Summer Travel Guide 
2025

Happy August!

My friend Laurence suggested that I do a CityNotes based on other destinations I love to experience. I tend to always write about Manhattan and its surrounding areas. As we enter the height of  summer in August I thought it may be fun to share with you some of my favorite summer destinations over the years . Simply put, a great summer destination to me must have two important qualities...... a great beach and a bohemian and relaxed feel. In this months CITYNOTES I have shared my favorite summer travel experiences  as well as a few specific go to spots not to miss at each location. I hope you enjoy this.

I have included the following destinations:

CAP FERRET, FRANCE

ILE DE RE, FRANCE

FORMENTERA, SPAIN

MENORCA, SPAIN

COMPORTA, PORTUGAL

Each destination has its own personality and I find each spot to be incredibly special. ENJOY!

I always love feedback. Please let me know your thoughts.

The best compliment is to add a friend or family member to my email list.Just email me and Im happy to add them to the list. 

Please don't forget ALL of my CITYNOTES from February 2019 are on my website and easily accessible at all times at  CITYNOTES.

Also, don't forget to go to the end of this email and look at all of the Douglas Elliman Reports for Q2  as well as my incredible exclusive listings.

I'm always available and love finding my clients the perfect new home, pied a terre or rental as well as representing you fully to sell your existing home so you can move on to the next chapter of your journey.

I hope you have an awesome August!

Cap Ferret , France

Maison du Bassin

5 rue des pionniers

We took our family here 26 years ago! Since then I have ALWAYS thought about when can I return! This area and hotel are pure perfection.Cap Ferret  is truly like Fire Island  40 years ago. Im completely OBSESSED with its relaxed feel! The ultimate in relaxed beach.

Located in Cap-Ferret, in the heart of the fishing area, this hôtel de charme offers low key chic guest rooms and a bar and restaurant. The beach is just 250 metres away.

Chez Hortense

26 Av. du Sémaphore, 33970,
Lege-Cap-Ferret France
+33 5 56 60 62 56

One of the best parts of this area is it is situated within Napoleon's oyster beds. This too is one of those spots I constantly ream about.

Chez Hortense's in Cap Ferret has an incredible setting, on the water overlooking the oyster beds in the Arcachon Bay . Needless to say the specialize in seafood and fresh fish.

Great Beaches & Dune du Pilat

Dune du Pilat
Plage de l'océan

Cap Ferret is a peninsula therefore the expansive beaches are all around situated on the atlantic. The topography is made of pines trees, sandy roads and meandering paths. The Dune of Pilat, ( acrodss the Arcachon Bay ) also called Grande Dune du Pilat, is the tallest sand dune in all of Europe. A gorgeous site to visit or simply behold.

La Cabane du Phare

19 Rue des Pêcheurs Quartier Ostreicole du Phare, 33970 Cap-Ferret, Lege-Cap-Ferret
+33 7 71 68 81 75

Oysters, Oysters, Oysters! a bottle of wine and a dozen or two oysters.... casual. relaxed and so idyllic.

Ile de Re, France

Fantastic Beaches

Ile de Re is the Nantucket of France. A free standing island  surrounded by beaches, now connected by a bridge.  The vibe is french seaside with a relaxed chic feel. I love it here!

Hotel Toiras

Set directly on the harbor in Saint-Martin-de-Ré, a photogenic port town surrounded by centuries-old stone ramparts . Hotel de Toiras runs through several historic buildings that have been spliced together, including a 17th-century shipbuilder’s house and an 11th-century tower.The interiors are a country french to nautical, decked with antique oil portraits, brass chandeliers, and white wainscotting. Eighteen bedrooms are traditional, many with crown canopies and chintz, and some with spectacular harbor views over the tidal quay. An interior courtyard blooms with chin-high hydrangeas and Chinese plumbago, and there are cases of Chateau Clarisse, a winery in Bordeaux run by the owners of the hotel, stacked in the creamy Italian marble bar.

Le Serghi

Le Serghi
15 Quai Georges Clemenceau,

A stylish bistro set alongside the Clemenceau quay, Le Serghi has a sophisticated, menu focused on provenance. The chef-owner, Philippe Tredgeu, had a lauded career in Paris before opening the restaurant in 2021 alongside his wife, Marie Tredgeu-Foulon. The terrace out front has an expansive view of the harbor; it’s a great perch for watching the sun go down.

Antiquite Barbotine

With its beautiful blue façade, one can instantly recognise Barbotine which stands out among the other buildings in the harbour of Saint-Martin-de-Ré. This antique shop offers myriad furniture, decorative accessories and sculptures. We bought a large armoire there years ago which still resides in our living room in Bryn Mawr.

Endless Bike Riding

 

Île de Ré is a fantastic destination for cycling, offering over 100 kilometers of dedicated, largely flat bike paths. Routes wind through diverse landscapes like salt marshes, pine forests, and along the coast.
There are many spots to rent bicycles as this is the favored activity other then relaxing at the beach.Much of the island is not accessible by car, and a bicycle is the best means of getting around and exploring. 

 

Formentera, Spain

Dunas de Formentera

The island of Formentera is incredible......literally a spit of narrow land surrounded by water and exquisite beaches. Dunas only opened last year and has only just started to create roots which will no doubt last for years to come.

Juan Y Andrea

Juan & Andrea
Coordinates: 38.7535762, 1.4330123 (VHF channel 74) BOAT SERVICE

A little bit of St Tropez on the quite island of Formentera. A fun must visit! Filled with large yacht lunch visitors , ibiza day trippers and the bohemian Europeans. This special spot is situated directly on the beach within the sand.

Es Codol Foradat

Es Còdol Foradat is located in front of Migjorn beach on Formentera with an incredible view.  Great food and fantastic atmosphere. A must visit.  

Incredible Beaches

The island of Formentera, fourth largest of the Balearics, hangs off the southern edge of Ibiza.

Often called Ibiza's 'sister island', Formentera is low key chic and the ulitimate IYKYK.  For centuries it was adrift from the rest of the world, unknown and unvisited, a desert island made almost uninhabitable by pirate raids from the coast of Africa. Ever since Pink Floyd and Bob Dylan pitched up here in the 1970s. When Jules Verne was looking for an end-of-the-world destination for his wandering hero Hector Servadac, he chose the lighthouse at the far end of La Mola, where the cliffs stare out into an expanse of glittering sea.

Days are spent at the beach, biking and shopping what I feel is the best bohemian shopping I have eve4r experienced!

Menorca, Spain

Torralbenc Hotel

Torralbenc
Torralbenc Menorca

Last summer we were lucky enough to stay at Torralbenc. We loved it!

Torralbenc is a traditional Menorcan farm that has been renovated into luxury accommodation and cellar, respecting the rich heritage and archaeology of the area. It is made up of a set of white-washed farm buildings dating from the 19th and early 20th century, that were used in the past for farming and that have been carefully restored to recover the essence of the architecture and the natural environment that surrounds it. 

Hauser & Wirth

Hauser & Wirth Menorca
23 June – 6 September: Monday – Sunday, 11 am – 10 pm

Cantina

All I want is to have a dinner for 50 friends here! I cant stop dreaming about it! To have lunch here is beyond special!

The Cantina is owned by Hauser & Wirth and on the island with the gallery.This outdoor restaurant and bar offers a menu which pays homage to Menorcan cuisine, to be enjoyed under the shade of an olive-tree forest. 

Cafe Balear

Cafe Balaer
Passeig des Moll, 15 Port de Menorca 971 38 00 05

This simple but yummy spot is what exemplifies the understated natire of this fantastic island.

Fish and seafood, always fresh, in the port of Ciutadella . 

All the dishes on the Cafè Balear menu are made with freshly caught fish and seafood from its own boat, the Rosa Santa Primera, and other small boats.

Comporta, Portugal

Quinta da Comporta

Rua Alto do Pina, 2

Miguel Câncio Martins designed Quinta da Comporta to be a place where authenticity and simplicity is considered a luxury that remains timeless.

Incredible Beaches

Carvahal and Pego

The beaches in Comporta are what drew me to the area year after year.

The area of Herdade da Comporta is a swoop of coast between the Sado Estuary and the sea, 12,500 hectares comprising seven hamlets: Pego, Carvalhal, Brejos, Torre, Possanco, Carrasqueira and Comporta.

Sals

Sals
Alameda da Praia do Carvalhal, Carvalhal 7570-782 

Sal restaurant was born from the passion of its founders for Comporta and the desire to welcome everyone who visits and that is eveident form the moment you arrive! When we are in Comporta we usually eat here daily for lunch.To me, this is one of the most special qualities which Comporta offers. We eat the quid rice and simply grilled fish daily. 

Dona Bia

N261, 7580-681 Comporta
+351 265 497 557

Situated on the highway in Comporta......We eat here at least two if not three times every visit!

JNcQUOI Deli

JNcQUOI Deli
Av. 18 de Dezembro 15 7570-779 Carvalhal
+351 269 099 990

This exemplifies the NEW Comporta  as spear headed by the private club of Lisbon..JNcQUOI.

Its fun and the design is fabulous!

Discover JNcQUOI Deli Comporta, the newest JNcQUOI gem. Located in the heart of Comporta, this space, designed by AD100 designer JPDemeyer&Co, blends the spirit of Alentejo with innovative design and world-class cuisine.

Yoga Shala

Yoga Shala
Estrada Nacional nº 261 Km 6, 7580-681 Comporta

On the breathtaking rice paddies of Comporta!

Vida Dura

Vida Dura
Melides

Vida Dura is in the town of Melides. The new Comporta which is farther south and the home to Christian Louboutin and Carolina Irving. I always take a journey here to shop at this wonderful store.

Vida Dura was created by three friends with a passion for home and garden. The selection aims to promote a lifestyle founded on excellent craftsmanship and design.

EXCLUSIVES

No matter what your needs or neighborhood preferences are, we will work tirelessly to find what you want and make it happen for you.

My mother, Betsy S. Green and I are partners at Douglas Elliman. Together we represent clients in NYC, the Hamptons and Palm Beach. So when looking for real estate—whether you are expanding a family, downsizing, changing residences or relocating from another city—we would be thrilled to be involved in your journey and work with you.

MARKET REPORT

While housing demand appears to be cooling across the U.S., Manhattan’s second quarter metrics remained relatively firm. Sales rose to their highest level in nearly two years, as listing inventory reached its highest level in almost five years. The median sales price increased annually for the third consecutive quarter after four quarters of declines. Cash sales surged to a record-high share as financing contingencies reached the second highest level in a decade. Co-op sales increased year over year for the second time, while condos rose annually for the third time. New development sales surged annually while their listing inventory declined. The median sales price of new developments rose annually for the seventh consecutive month, driven by an increase in the average sales size. Luxury price trend indicators continued to rise year over year as listing inventory for both resales and new development fell sharply. Luxury sales above $5 million surged year over year.

The number of sales over $5 million in the Hamptons was the sec-ond-highest on record as sales continued to expand. The medi-an sales price was the third-highest on record and re-mained essentially unchanged from the same period last year. Sales rose annually for the seventh time as days on market fell to their lowest level in six quarters. Listing inventory continued to rise but remained below the decade average for the second quar-ter. Sales above the $5 million threshold were the second-highest in history.

Florida housing markets monitored by Douglas Elliman are experiencing an increase in listing inventory, up from historically low levels but still well below previous highs. Most markets experienced a seasonal decline in listing inventory from the prior quarter, absorbed during the spring sales market, as supply typically peaks. The pattern of supply suggests that listing inventory remains within normalized seasonal trends. Elevated mortgage rates continue to restrain non-luxury sales more than luxury sales as the market share of cash buyers remains elevated. Prices showed a stable to rising trend, with many markets approaching or reaching record highs.

CONTACT

I hope you have enjoyed the first quarterly City Notes!

Patricia Isen

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Office: (000) 000-0000 | Mobile: