Regulars know the Hamptons is more than a place to hit the beach and unwind for hours by the pool. Every summer, the eastern tip of Long Island transforms into a social hot spot, a place for the world’s elite to gather, let loose and have one too many drinks somewhere fabulous. There are, of course, spots Hamptonites return to year after year: East Hampton Point in the Springs for wild brunches, Surf Lodge in Montauk for world-class live music and Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett for a killer cover band. But each season, newcomers bring fresh surprise ad delight to the social scene. Here’s our list of the most scintillating new spots to see and be seen in the Hamptons this summer. See you there!
If you think Crazy Pizza, owned by Heidi Klum and her ex-partner, Flavio Briatore, is just another pepperoni chain, think again. The restaurants offer a full-on dance party, complete with a DJ spinning sing-along hits, servers swinging pizza dough in the air and diners dancing on their chairs between courses. The concept launched in 2019 in Europe, with outposts popping up in exclusive summer donations like Porto Cervo, Italy; Ibiza, Spain; and St-Tropez. Following its US debut in NYC last year, the chain has now landed in the Hamptons. The space, tucked in the former O by Kissaki space, is sophisticated. Think: high-gloss custom millwork walls and retro-glam furnishings — but beachy. On the patio, guests can dine underneath string lights and among evergreens. East Hampton exclusives include white pizza with Volzhenka caviar. A DJ will spin Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with surprise pop-up performances all summer. Crazy Pizza, 47 Montauk Hwy., East Hampton
Montauk Project opened halfway through last summer as a party oasis for locals and the summer crowd alike. It’s a place where you can dance to a fabulous DJ all night without being mobbed by crowds or snag a well-crafted cocktail without a never-ending line. Even the aesthetics — the 6,200-square-foot space is decked out in wood, wicker, stone and plants — evoke a private island. For its full season this summer, Montauk Project, which quickly became known for its artisan pizzas and fresh salads made only of local ingredients, has added a full raw bar complete with oysters, and has also doubled its cocktail offerings. Expect live music almost every night from soulful acoustic performances to wild, high-energy DJs. Montauk Project, 240 Fort Pond Road, Montauk
Sage & Madison, a coffee shop and lifestyle boutique tucked in a barn in Sag Harbor, has long been the place to see and be seen. The shop sells local snacks, French teas and coffee, gifts and exclusive lines of designer clothes. Julianne Moore, Martha Stewart, Beyoncé, Jerry Seinfeld, Harrison Ford and even Ralph Lauren have all been spotted shopping there. This summer, the store is debuting a new garden space that will host dinners and soireés (Martha Stewart and Rachel Zoe separately entertained there before it was officially open. Joey Wölffer and Libertine, the LA-based fashion brand, are next). The vibe is secret-garden party and full upscale fun. There will be invite-only sip-and-shops, charity events and even sound baths, reserved for Hamptons’ most fashionable. Wölffer Estate winery will be providing all the booze, and trust us, it will be flowing. Sage and Madison, 31 Madison St., Sag Harbor
When Gosman’s — a family-friendly, waterside restaurant and retail center in Montauk that’s been in business since 1951 — went up for sale a couple of years ago, no one knew what would happen to the historic property. But the mystery is finally over: Bagatelle, a French group of posh restaurants and beach clubs around the globe, will be launching its first Hamptons outpost there in June. The signature restaurant will be serving its famed meals-that-turn-into-crazy-parties. Think: light Mediterranean fare (including fresh fish caught that morning) and plenty of flowing drinks. There will also be a fisherman’s bar made of reclaimed wood (for plenty of cozy cabin vibes) and a new dock where diners can sit right on the water and watch the sunset. Gosman’s Dock, 500 W. Lake Drive, Montauk
Many Hamptons visitors think of The Bird, a restaurant in Montauk, as the ultimate brunch destination: a place to indulge in a stack of pancakes topped by bacon jam, or a soft scrambled egg sandwich, or even a round of espresso martini Jell-O shots. But true insiders know that on Saturday nights, the joint turns into The Bird House — a roaring speakeasy. The revelries began late last summer when Leo Daunt, the restaurant’s owner, handed out business cards to friends and family with QR codes that revealed a password. “We always made it some rogue bird name,” he explains. One week it was a blue-footed booby. Another week, the peregrine falcon. This summer, the speakeasy will sneak open every Saturday night from May through October. Guests with the birth-themed password will be led down a dark alleyway into a space lit only by candles and purple lighting. Bobby Murray, a rising country music star, will be on the mike. And an entirely new cocktail menu, inspired by the Prohibition era, will debut. “Think French 75s, Sazeracs, Gin Rickeys,” says Daunt. “It’s a totally different vibe than the day.” The Bird House at The Bird, 47 S. Elmwood Ave., Montauk
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
