What's hot in the Hamptons, Montauk this summer
A trio of masked guests at Etiquette Montauk pose by one of the many signs posted to remind guests that masks are required. Credit: Ian J. Stark
You won’t see people waiting on long lines to cross the velvet rope, and dancefloors are shut down, but the Hamptons still offers some fresh opportunities to get out and about in unique ways this summer season.
MUSIC AND DINING
Etiquette Montauk at Ruschmeyer's
Popping up at the trendy Ruschmeyer's hotel, this event bills itself as an “immersive dining experience.” Guests are seated outside at tables spaced apart across the spot’s large lawn, where the menu includes a variety of pastas, Neapolitan pizza, apps, entrees and homemade gelato. A DJ plays while guests eat on Fridays and Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and duirng 3-5 p.m. late brunch Saturdays and Sundays. A wine, spirits and champagne menu ranging from a $400 1.5L magnum of Macari Vineyards rosé to $3,000 parades of Dom Perignon and Veuve Cliquot is also available—and should you buy the big bottles, a parade of surgical mask-wearing servers dressed in wigs and costumes will bring that to your table with sparklers crackling as they approach; keep an eye out for the Etiquette “dog” (a full-costume mascot with flashing lights on his helmet) who will happily pose for your camera. Dinner specials are otherwise offered Tuesday through Thursday and again Sundays.
INFO 161 2nd House Rd., Montauk; 631-528-2701, etiquettemtk.com. Reservations required.
Stephen Talkhouse
Singer/songwriter Nancy Atlas (pictured) and her band "The Nancy Atlas Project" is slated to perform at Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett on July 31, 2020, as part of a schedule of socially distanced performances. Credit: Gordon M. Grant
The venue is hosting shows inside while seating patrons outside on the patio deck. Guests can hear the performances while watching it all unfold via video screens. Check website for upcoming shows and events.
INFO 61 Main St., Amagansett; 631-267-3117. Doors open at 6 p.m.; performances run between 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations are required for tables of 4-8 people; performances are for seated audiences. Pre-pay and purchase at stephentalkhouse.com.
Beach Bar Goes ‘Bar Rock’
Best-known for its dance parties, resident DJ Doug O’Mara is in the booth at this Hampton hot spot this summer. Patrons are seated outside on the deck, and can enjoy music and dinner at its “Rocky's Lobster Bar.” Guests can also come party after 9 p.m. and hear O’Mara’s mix of bar-friendly rock.
INFO 58 Foster Ave, Hampton Bays; 631-723-3100, beachbarhamptons.com. Dinner starts at 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday nights; a cover charge of $10-$20 depending on the night, goes into effect at 9 p.m. DJ spins Friday and Saturday; Musicial entertainment is also featured on Sundays.
Silent Dining Disco at Southampton Social Club
(L-R:) Christopher Bryant, age 25 of Patchogue, Alyssa Burton, 23 from Riverhead Katy Christodora, 24 of Centereach and Patchogue resident Robert Unger, 25, dance for the camera by their table during a silent disco event at Southampton Social Club. Credit: Ian J. Stark
Guests who come to eat at this spot starting at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights can also dance around their tables while wearing headphones that supply three channels of music—one spun by a DJ, the other two from recorded mixes. Tables are spaced across the venue’s large rear courtyard, and the dinner menu sports a selection of upscale American food—but should you like to buy from the bottle selection, several types of beverages are available; champagne ranges in price from a pair of $375 750ml bottles to $5,000 3L Dom Perignon Luminous Label.
INFO 256 Elm St.; 631-287-1400, southamptonsocialclub.com. Reservations required; some nights may require a minimum purchase fee to attend, prices yet to be announced.
Montauk Beach House
Poolside patrons at The Montauk Beach House. Credit: SocietyAllure.com/Rob Rich
Celebrity Chef Salvatore Olivella, cooks up his top pizzas and other delicious dishes at this funky Montauk hotel, which also has a roster of DJs playing eclectic, offbeat and chilled-out tunes Friday and Saturday nights from 6 to 9 p.m.
INFO 55 S Elmwood Ave.; 631-668-2112, thembh.com. Reservations required.
Navy Beach
Navy Beach in Montauk has picnic tables on the lakeside beach. Credit: Navy Beach/Noah Fecks
Perched along the shore of Fort Pond Bay, this restaurant has been a stable for outdoor beach dining and sunset watching for a decade. Open for lunch and dinner by reservation only; the menu offers upscale takes on seafood among other options and several signature cocktails like “Gardiner's Grog” (rum, dry vermouth, mint, pineapple, lime juice) and the “Montauk Mule” (vodka, lime, bitters, ginger beer).
INFO 16 Navy Rd., Montauk; 631-668-6868, navybeach.com
The Crow’s Nest
A variety of dishes including burrata, fresh whipped ricotta with toasted bread, lobster fettucini, tuna and fluke crudo, sea bass and baby carrots, served at The Crow's Nest in Montauk. Credit: Daniel Brennan
With a pondside beach considered one of the best on the East End for catching amazing sunsets, this hotel is open for guests, as are its cottages. The restaurant is currently open daily at 5 p.m. for self-seating and contact-free service, with all health recommendations to be observed; order food and drink (including cocktails) in advance through the hotel’s website.
INFO 4 Old West Lake Dr., Montauk; 631-668-2077, crowsnestmtk.com
Montauk Brewing Co.
The Montauk Brewing Company in Montauk is the easternmost brewery in New York. Credit: Vaughan Cutillo | Montauk Brewing Co.
The patio is not currently open for hanging, but the tasting room at Long Island’s eastern-most brewery is operating daily noon to 6 p.m. for curbside pick-up, if there’s a Montauk brew or seltzer you crave. The brewery just canned a new batch of its popular (and limited) East End IPA if you're looking to try something new this summer.
INFO 62 S Erie Ave., Montauk; 631-668-8471, montaukbrewingco.com
POP-UP EAT, SHOP, WORK OUT
Sweet Az Montauk
A selection of dishes available at Sweet Az Montauk. Credit: Vanessa Price
Michelin-starred chef Matt Lambert is a New Zealand native but has signed on to handle the kitchen at this brand-new sandwich spot with an outdoor deck located along sparkling Fort Pond. Come for “sandos” such as the $15 “Shrimply Irresistible” (shrimp patty, pickled onion, iceberg lettuce, spicy mayo) and $16 “The Montauk Monster” (sliced pork belly, chicharron, purple cabbage, chipotle), or try the very-Hamptonesque $120 “Lavish Larry” (two ounces of caviar, sour cream, chives on a plain potato bun with gold leaf topping). Food available for takeout as well; cocktails, wine and beer from Montauk Brewing Company is also on the menu.
INFO 51 South Edgemere St.; 631-668-8535, sweetazsandos.com
Goat Yoga at Corwith Farmstand
Corwith Farmstand in Water Mill is currently holding outdoor yoga classes that also incorporate the presence of young goats. Credit: Rachelle Lutz
If you’re looking to do some yoga this summer, Corwith Farmstand is offering hour-long goat yoga sessions outdoors. Don’t be surprised if a baby goat jumps your way while you breathe, move and stretch during class. If you want a photo op, the goats will be available for pictures, feeding and cuddling after the session. Space is limited; book in advance online and watch for goat yoga classes for kids under the age of ten. Classes are currently slated for every other Wednesday through August; check schedule on the website.
INFO 851 Head of Pond Rd., Water Mill; corwithsfarmstand.com, $35
Drive-thru at Wölffer Estates
The roadside drive-thru wine stand located at Wolffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack. Credit: Wolffer Estate Vineyard
This vineyard makes picking up rosé and other adult beverages easy with its roadside drive-thru wine stand. Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, all Wölffer ciders, wines and spirits are available (prices vary), as are merch items such as Corkcicle Wölffer wine tumblers and Kassatex Wölffer blankets.
INFO 139 Sagg Rd., Sagaponack; 631-537-5106, wolffer.com
Sundae Donuts Montauk
The neon sign advertising Sundae Donuts Montauk. Credit: Ian J. Stark
Serving from a to-go window and an outdoor coffee bar, this little nook located in Montauk’s two-story downtown shopping center catches your eye with a neon sign with a halo and angel wings. The spot is selling donuts made by North Fork Doughnut Company (nofodoco.com) as well as Sail Away brand coffee (sailawaycoffee.com) and other treats like ice cream and sorbets.
INFO 716 Montauk Hwy.; sundaedonuts.com
A Wild Dove
A rack of clothing available for purchase at the A Wild Dove pop-up boutique, located at the Sole East resort in Montauk. Credit: A Wild Dove
Head over to Sole East to find this boutique nestled into the corner next to the resort’s restaurant. Open to the general public, once inside expect a smart selection of curated accessories, clothing and other items, with new upscale pieces set to arrive weekly, ranging from swimwear, robes and kimonos to hats, sunglasses and necklaces. Additionally, the people behind this pop-up also say to expect such events as trunk shows, dinners with some of the designers involved and other happenings as the summer progresses.
INFO 90 Second House Rd., Montauk; awilddove.com
Carbone Hamptons
"Spicy Rigatoni" (pictured) is one of the signature dishes featured at both the Manhattan and Southampton outlets of Carbone restaurant. Credit: Major Food Group
An outpost of the Manhattan restaurant Carbone, those hungry to dine on the same signature dishes served in the city, with additional selection of specials should check this spot out. Open for dinner starting at 4 p.m. daily, the eatery is also serving lunch 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Reservations to dine on the venue’s outdoor patio are highly recommended and will feature tents to accomodate the current weather conditions; family-style dinners are available for $125 per person and food is also obtainable for takeout.
INFO 230 Elm St., Southampton; carbonehamptons.com
il Buco at Mostrador Marram
A lobster roll as reimagined by chef Justin Smillie at Marram in Montauk. Smillie, along with Donna Lennard—chef and owner, respectively, of Il Buco In New York City—have decamped to the tip of Long Island for a summer popup at the oceanfront retreat. Credit: Justin Smillie
The critically-acclaimed Manhattan eateries il Buco (47 Bond St.) and il Buco Alimentari & Vineria (53 Great Jones St.) now have a pop-up in Montauk at the Mostrador restaurant in the Marram boutique resort (21 Ocean View Ter.; 631-668-2050, marrammontauk.com). Chef Justin Smillie will be working in the kitchen and his dishes will feature locally-sourced foods and baked goods. The menu (changes daily) includes items like flavor-packed sandwiches, cast-iron pizzas, small plates, seafood, summer cocktails and salads.
INFO il Buco at Mostrador Marram, 21 Oceanview Terrace, Montauk. 631-668-2050, marramontauk.com. Open daily 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. for the summer season.
Work out at Fhitting Room Pop-Up
Farouk Houssein (center), an instructor with the NYC High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) boutique studio FhittingRoom, works with a client doing some kettlebell squats. The studio is holding a pop-up residency at The Clubhouse Hamptons in East Hampton this summer. Credit: Fhitting Room
It’s not just fashion houses, restaurants and nightclubs that pop up in the Hamptons; boutique fitness outlets are also known to set up shop on the South Fork come the summer like the Fhitting Room, which specializes in high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Starting Saturday, July 18, the company will be holding its signature classes at The Clubhouse in East Hampton; all required safety protocols will be enforced, including pre-class body temperature checks. Water and beverages will be available for purchase; no equipment required but bring your own towels and mats if desired.
INFO 174 Daniels Hole Rd.; 646-850-0469, fhittingroom.com. Single classes are $50 until Sept. 7; packages are available.
ON THE WATER & THINGS TO DO OUTDOORS
’Southampton in the Streets’
People are free to walk in the road when Southampton Village closes down its Main Street and Job Lane to vehicular traffic on Saturday nights in the summer as part of its "Southampton in the Streets" program. Credit: Ian J. Stark
Southampton Village has been holding this traffic-free event on some Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., where portions of Main Street and Jobs Lane close to cars, allowing patrons to walk around, check out the stores and eat outdoors. Some of the businesses and institutions located along the stretch have been helping to create an entertaining atmosphere, including the DJ spinning relaxed beats in front of 75 Main (75 Main St.; 631-283-7575, 75main.com) and live jazz playing on the steps of Southampton Arts Center (25 Jobs Ln.; 631-283-0967, southamptonartscenter.org).
INFO Free to attend; visit instagram.com/visitsouthamptonvillage for more information.
Ryde Montauk
Ryde Montauk is a bike-sharing program based in the Hamptons' most eastern hamlet; this is one of the cycles available to try. Credit: AJ Orellana/ Isobel Media, Inc.
Montauk is a beautiful and scenic destination (it doesn’t have a single traffic light), making it very tempting to explore by bike—and this cycle sharing program can get you pedaling. Bikes are located in front of Montauk Surf & Sports (716 Montauk Hwy.; 631-668-9300, plazasurfandsports.com), who also operate Ryde Montauk; download the app, rent a bike and return it when finished.
INFO rydemontauk.com. Rates are $13 for an hour, $30 for three hours, $45 for six hours, $95 for 24 hours, $150 for 48 hours.
American Beauty Cruises and Charters
American Beauty Cruises and Charters runs sunset and nature cruises out of Sag Harbor aboard the American Beauty II (pictured). Credit: Jane Pineda
If you're in Sag Harbor this summer and you see someone on the Long Wharf with a sign advertising sunset cruises by this company, chances are you’re looking at Don Heckman, captain of the American Beauty II. Climb aboard (or book in advance) to do a two-hour sunset cruise (starting at $45) around one of the area bays or try a 90-minute nature cruise (starting at $30) that also focuses on local historic points from the water.
INFO 631-725-0397; americanbeautycruises.com. All ages.
'Full Moon' Paddle
A group of stand up paddlers perform yoga on their boards at sunset as part of the "Full Moon" paddle class offered by JBYoga Studio in East Hampton. Credit: Jessica Bellofatto
Led by owner and director of JBYoga Jessica Bellofatto, these stand up paddling yoga sessions are held as the sun sets, starting along the beach. Following a brief lesson on the shore, the group paddles for around 30 to 45 minutes before stopping, tethering and then doing another 30 to 45 minutes of yoga on the boards before returning to dry land for a bonfire powered by snacks, rosé and other edible treats. Open to all levels of expertise, including beginners; check website for dates and to reserve in advance.
INFO JBYoga Studio: 15 Lumber Ln., East Hampton; 917-301-6919, jbyoga.com. $135, BYOB sessions: $90
‘Shark Dive Montauk’ with Sea Turtle Dive Charters
Long Islanders grow up hearing stories about the sharks that swim the local waters—but have you gotten close to one? This company will take you about 15-30 miles south out to where warmer waters bring in several large sea creatures, including blue and mako sharks. Once there, anyone (no diving certifications are required) will be submerged about 3-4 feet inside a metal cage to see what swims by from under the ship’s stern. Dive gear and wetsuits are provided; trips are 8-9 hours in duration. Open to ages 12 and older; $280 per person.
INFO 631-335-6323, seaturtlecharters.com
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