Long Island bars hosting 'Love Island USA' finale watch parties
From left, Michelle Grant, Tiara Crudupt and Katira Jemmott enjoy a "Love Island" watch party at Street to Table in Merrick. Credit: Linda Rosier
When Nicole White, of Miller Place, posted a TikTok requesting that Long Island bars host "Love Island USA" watch parties last month, she didn’t expect it to go viral.
"I never really had a video go viral before," she said. "Knowing that your idea can come to life and inspire this and start a chain reaction, it’s so cool to watch unfold."
The villa is calling, and Long Island is answering! Several local bars and eateries began hosting events to watch the American iteration of the British dating reality show, which first aired in 2015 and went on to spawn several international versions. The idea of the watch parties is to replicate the electric and rowdy energy that game nights create for sports fans, for reality TV fans.
Season 7 has been trending on social-media platforms, so it will be that much more exciting when fans vote for their favorite couple who will then decide if the coveted $100,000 prize is shared or not. The season finale airs on Peacock at 9 p.m. on July 13.
Here are bars hosting finale watch parties:
Rust & Gold
70 Gerard St., Huntington
The timing for planning the "Love Island USA" watch party coincided with the day that White posted her TikTok, Frank Antonetti said, co-owner at Rust & Gold.
"The timing was so crazy," he said. "I immediately commented on it and said, ‘Well, what do you know we’re actually doing one starting this Monday,’ and the comment went viral, so it got over 3,000 likes and a ton of replies and that kind of kicked it off, so the hype started building from there."
He began co-promoting the watch parties on Mondays at 9 p.m. with Spotlight in Huntington, which hosts it Thursday at the same time. The bar will host a finale watch party on Sunday.
"That’s kind of, I feel like, how most towns are going to have to grow it almost because everyone’s obviously going to want to do it, so the more bars work together, the more everyone benefits from the general idea," he said.
MORE INFO 631-629-4431, therustandgold.com
Birdies
17 N. Ocean Ave., Patchogue
After Birdies, a cocktail/golf simulation bar, was tagged by White in her TikTok post they joined in the fun. Katherine McClellan, a manager, said the bar had its fourth event at the space that seats 90 guests. Birdies has hosted it on Mondays at 9 p.m. and will host a finale party Sunday.
McClellan created a "Love Island"-specific cocktail menu named after some of this season’s prominent characters, like the Hurricane Huda ($10), made with white rum, crème de cacao, blue Curaçao and pineapple juice. The drink is garnished with a cherry and lemon or lime wedge.
MORE INFO 631-654-4653, birdiesli.com
Street to Table
350 Walt Whitman Rd., Huntington Station; 2205 Merrick Rd., Merrick
From left, Ella Cohenkashi, 20, and Ariella Golbin, 19, react to an episode of "Love Island" at Street to Table. Credit: Linda Rosier
The bar and restaurant that pays homage to international snacks and street foods added a twist to its watch parties hosted Thursdays and Sundays at 9 p.m. when the show streams at both locations. Games such as bingo or trivia are put on hold during the show, manager Daniel Rubino said.
"It’s been really positive, everyone seems to have a really good time," he said.
In Merrick, the smaller of the two locations with 40 seats for fans, has three TVs streaming the show. In Huntington, which seats nearly 100 guests, there are 15 TVs playing the show.
"Couples are coming in, families are coming in," Rubino said. "The demographic is kind of big on this show."
MORE INFO 934-227-1717, 516-608-8185, streettotableny.com
The Nutty Irishman
323 Main St., Farmingdale
While this eatery hasn’t hosted weekly watch parties, it will celebrate the season finale in a big way. Guests will be able to watch the show on a 10-foot video wall on Sunday. They will start airing prior episodes at 6 p.m. and will have specialty cocktails based on the show. While seating will be first come, first-served, fans can RSVP at this link.
MORE INFO 516-293-9700, thenuttyirishman.com
Babylon Social
100 Deer Park Ave., Babylon
Babylon Social opened June 13 and immediately began hosting these watch parties on Mondays and Thursdaysat 9 p.m.
The idea came from co-owner Brittani Cappiello, who was on the MTV reality show "Double Shot at Love" with DJ Pauly D and Vinny Guadagnino from "Jersey Shore."
"Why not make a safe space for people to come watch reality TV the same way we would a sporting event," she said.
Guests can watch the show on the eight-screen video wall or on any of the many TVs. Adding to the experience, Babylon Social started offering a promotion on its "girl dinner," which is a Caesar salad with truffle fries and an espresso martini ($25). Cappiello said the venue prepared for close to 300 guests on its first night. Reservations are encouraged and it will stream the season finale on Sunday.
MORE INFO babylonsocial.com, 631-314-6100
Visitors take part in a watch party for Love Island at Street to Table restaurant in Merrick. Credit: Linda Rosier
Great South Bay Brewery
1 Hawkins Ave., Ronkonkoma
The idea came to Brian Davis, whose family owns the popular tasting room/bar, to join in on the watch parties about a month ago.
There are at least 20 TVs in each location where fans can enjoy the show. They had 30 to 40 fans at each of the three locations in Ronkonkoma, Lindenhurst and Bay Shore.
Fan can munch on $10 Caesar pizzas and $5 truffle fries while enjoying the show.
The venue will be hosting a finale watch party at the 355-seat capacity facility at Ronkonkoma.
MORE INFO 631-392-8472, gsbronkonkoma.com
Melissa Azofeifa is a restaurants reporter with Newsday's FeedMe team. Having grown up on Long Island, she loves talking about food and its impact on culture. A graduate of Stony Brook University, she joined Newsday in the fall of 2024.
