Hamptons nightclubs and bars
Photo credit: Photo by Gina Tomitz | Playing with beach balls in the pool at Day and Night Restaurant Beach Club.
While massive East End estates and summer shares might not be selling as well this year, the Hamptons are still the Hamptons. As the South Fork readies for the 2009 high season, here's a look at how the nightlife scene is shaping up - whether you're hoping for a celebrity sighting or just looking for some more-affordable fun.
HAMPTONS CLUBS SCENE
AXE Lounge at Dune : 1181 North Sea Rd., Southampton, 631-283-0808. You remember Dune, the ultra-small but uber-trendy Hamptons hot spot the past two summers in Southampton, right? Well, for the 2009 Hamptons summer, Dune will be known as AXE Lounge. Expect DJs spinning classics on Fridays, the standard hip-hop/dance/pop club music on Saturdays and the same level of celebrity clientele, which in the past two seasons has included Jay-Z, Kevin Connolly, Kid Rock, Leonardo DiCaprio, Diddy and Paris Hilton.
Beach Bar : 58 Foster Ave., Hampton Bays, 631-723-3100, beachbar.net . With wild parties on Friday and Saturday nights, seafood and drink specials on weekend afternoons, as well as a busy Tuesday night party - Beach Bar is a destination in its own right.
Boardy Barn : 270 W. Montauk Hwy., Hampton Bays, 631-728-9733, boardybarn.com . Entering its 39th season of boozy debauchery, this landmark of sunny, summertime Sundays still gets party people of all ages excited. Little more than a big-top tent situated over a corral, it's a place to wear bummy clothes and take part in barroom sing-alongs.
The Harbor Club : 964 Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Tpke., Bridgehampton, 631-537-6060. Buzz is already building for The Harbor Club, set to open Memorial Day weekend for Friday and Sunday late-night parties at Ziggy's ( ziggysbridgehampton.com ). While nights here already are quite dressy, punched-up decor, an outdoor patio and a full schedule of DJs and live bands are promised.
La Playa : 125 Tuckahoe Lane, Southampton, 631-251-6292, laplayanightclub.com . A slightly easier time is to be had at this less-expensive Southampton spot, formerly known as Tavern. It's more open to walk-up visits than its high-class cousin clubs.
Lily Pond : 44 Three Mile Harbor Rd., East Hampton, 631-324-3332. Last season's most talked-about celebrity hot spot will return to East Hampton for Saturday night affairs set amid bed-style lounges and private cabanas fit for the likes of Paris Hilton, Lauren Conrad and Lindsay Lohan - all spotted last year. The surest way in is to reserve a table - and those start at $2,000.
Neptune Beach Club : 70 Dune Rd., East Quogue, 631-653-8737, neptunebeachclub.net . Celebrity DJ Victor Calderone is scheduled to open the 2009 season with a Memorial Day deck party sure to draw a loud but beautiful mob of muscle-bound fellas and bikini-clad ladies. Warning: Parking will be even worse this year, as the Town of Southampton has ruled clubgoers can no longer park in neighboring Tiana Beach lot.
The Surf Lodge : 183 Edgemere St., Montauk, 631-668-3284, thesurflodge.com . The surprise hit of last summer. The laid-back, beachy spot situated on the shores of Fort Pond once again will host "Outdoor Surf Cinema" film screenings plus a concert and art series.
Whitehouse : 239 E. Montauk Hwy., Hampton Bays, 631-728-4121, whitehousenightclub.com . Older summer-lovers still lament the transformation of the former CPI - but the refurbished classic now offers an excellent showcase for many dance and hip-hop artists, as well as a large stage for Latino performers who tend to appeal to the younger crowd.
THE SUMMER PARTIES
Day & Night Restaurant Beach Club : 281 County Rd. 39A, Southampton, 631-731-3309. Nighttime clubgoers head to the Pink Elephant , located at The Capri in Southampton, but during the day each Saturday, the hotel hosts a brunch and booze party called Day & Night. Expect poolside dancing, lounging in cabanas and the massive consumption of bloody marys and mimosas.
THE BAR SCENE
Buckley's Inn : 139 W Montauk Hwy., Hampton Bays, 631-728-7197, buckleysirishpub.com . With a blaring jukebox, a steady crowd thru the spring and beer pong battles springing up seemingly out of nowhere, it's a good bet the Buckley's staff is warmed up for a boisterous and bountiful summer.
Indian Wells Tavern : 177 Main St., Amagansett, 631-267-0400. Although its reasonably-priced menu ($15-$24) has been a real draw, now also provides a nice year-round bar that gives the neighborhood a barhopping ability (in tandem with Stephen's Talkhouse). Although it's been in business for over a year, a lot of seasonal residents still think this location is host to the defunct Estia Cantina - but now it's a good bet the pub section of this American restaurant will make a name for itself.
MJ Dowling Steakhouse : 3360 Noyac Road, Sag Harbor, 631-725-4444. Only in business since October, it's in the home of the former Giordano's-and although the ownership hasn't changed, the vibe has gotten more nightlife-friendly. Open after 5 p.m. Wednesday to Monday (with a noon opening for Sunday brunch), it's menu tops out at a $32 filet mignon. You'll find video games, three large TVs and a jukebox inside and a large fenced-in courtyard wrapped in lights out front (plus another patio in back), you might want to take a break from the Main St. sights and try the daily happy hour at this backroad-hidden gem.
Regulars Cafe : 1271 N Sea Road, Southampton, 631-287-2900, regularsmusiccafe.com . This small, former house-turned bar has continued to thrive where its predecessors in this location (Tugboat's, Mardi Gras) weren't so lucky. The Southampton crowd kept things busy all winter and now the place is primed to once again share its solid menu and calendar of live music with the returning seasonal set.
Southampton Publick House : 52 N Sea Road, Southampton, 631-283-2800, publick.com . Catering to a crowd that takes their beer seriously, this brewhouse is probably the busiest bar this side of the Shinnecock Canal year-round. With DJs and live performances playing, it's always entertaining-but be sure and sample some of the ales and lagers produced in this very building. Then again, if suds are not your thing, they do fine with wine, mixed drinks and martinis too.
Stephen Talkhouse : 161 Main Street, Amagansett, 631-267-311, stephentalkhouse.com . Although it's hard to classify this live music venue as a "bar," in the summer you'll get as many people heading here for a beer as you will for the blues, hip-hop, rock, folk and reggae performances that take place constantly. What also makes this place a hot spot is that while the crowd is basically jeans and sneakers, you can easily mingle here with the wealthy and even a few celebrities. Just keep in mind: There's no cover but shows range from $10-$80.
Tide Runner's : 7 North Road, Hampton Bays, 631-728-7373, tiderunners.com . Ever drive over the Shinnecock Canal and wonder what that festive-looking party was? Well wonder no longer-it's this restaurant that has become a seasonal hit. Already doing business Friday thru Sunday, come the summer it'll be open seven days-featuring a seafood-heavy menu with surf-and-turf dishes that can run for as high as $40. However, if it's a day in the sun you crave, the bar menu is less taxing at $9-$15 and can be enjoyed with occasional live music-as well as the margaritas, cocktails and wine that guests get to sip on the sunny bayside deck.
World Pie : 402 Montauk Hwy., Bridgehampton, 631-537-7999. While it's basically known for its brunch, small plate menu and artsy pizzas, the younger, well-dressed bar set has already starting spending extra time here past the last call for dinner at midnight. Same goes for Bobby Van's across the street (2393 Montauk Hwy., Bridgehampton, 631-537-0590, bobbyvans.com ), where a few of the locals have realized that the bar at times will stay open past dining hours.
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