Posh Hamptons restaurants are turning into late night dance parties — some locals aren’t amused
Sleepy, exclusive Hamptons enclaves are increasingly turning into party spots, and some longtime locals aren’t amused.
“I hate to see my favorite low key escape turn into a revival of my disco years,’’ sighed Daniel Stock, a divorce lawyer who lives in Connecticut and has spent summers at his friend’s place in Bridgehampton for years. “I always valued my time in the Hamptons to regroup and reflect on my clients and cases, and take a break from the hustle of the courts.”
But, on a recent night, he went to a favorite local haunt and found it was less than relaxing.
“The crowd and noise were so intense, it rivaled the meatpacking district on a Friday night,” he told The Post.
Restaurants in Southampton, such as Publick House, that once started to die down around 10 p.m. now turn into clubby dance scenes.
Others, such as 75 Main, have gotten increasingly lively.
“We stay open until the last customer leaves, which can go until 2 a.m.,’’ said Zach Erdem, owner of 75 Main. “We don’t have a dance floor, but we don’t need one. They dance on the chairs and tables.’’
Rocco DiSpirito’s new spot, Il Pelicano, is attached to club Bijoux, allowing patrons to move seamlessly from dinner to party.
Some Southampton residents say it’s gotten so raucous that they avoid going out.
“People with $50 million houses would love to go to town, but they have to push through hordes of people,’’ R. Couri Hay, a publicist who divides his time between the Upper West Side and Southampton, told The Post.
“It’s not the quaint village it used to be,” he added. “Now people who don’t have houses are piling onto the Jitney and coming out for the day, and at 11 p.m., you can see 100 people lined up at the station with overnight bags. I literally saw a woman pull a dress out of her truck and change on the road behind the door. Blame the influencers that are posting fancy cocktails from the Hamptons!”
Such gripes come as the the town of East Hampton keeps a tight rein on restaurateur Scott Sartiano and his outpost of Sartiano’s at the Hedges Inn. But Southampton Village Police Chief Suzanne Hurteau denies that her town is becoming more of a party spot.
“Most of our nightlife is shutdown by 2 a.m., with the exception of the few holiday weekends,” she told The Post. “The nightlife in the village has declined over the years. For the establishments that do have issues, the Southampton Village Police Department has been doing our due diligence and working closely with the NYS Liquor Authority,”
Dr. Howard Sobel, a Park Avenue cosmetic dermatologist who has had a home in Water Mill for 25 years, said he has seen a marked change in his area.
“The restaurants have become so social that it’s hard to get a seat at the bar,” he griped.
But some are enjoying the livelier vibe and the fact that they no longer have to trek to Montauk — up to an hour away and known for having a younger, rowdier scene — to have a big night out.
Talia Fraticelli, a 21-year old vet tech, who grew up in Manhattan and now lives in Sag Harbor, says she feels safer partying close to home at spots such as Ketchy Beach. The clubby Southampton restaurant and lounge opened this past June, attracting a well-heeled crowd that thinks nothing of dropping $5,000 for a table and bottle service after dinner.
“It wasn’t like this last year, and I hope it stays this way,” said Fraticelli. “With the frequent drinking and driving in Montauk, it feels less likely an accident will happen if I can have fun more locally.’’
Chef Julian Medina, who has El Verano in Southampton, also welcomes the change.
In late July, he started featuring a DJ in the restaurant on Thursdays from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. to help his bottom line.
“The cost of living is outrageous, restaurants are harder to run and the amount of people you get off season doesn’t compare,” he told The Post.
He’s also glad his daughter has options for a good time that are closer to his home in Quogue.
“The younger generations in these towns are looking to do something more fun without going to Montauk, and before, everything was closed early,” he said.
Bradford Rand, who has a home in Bridgehampton, and hosts The Hamptons Concours, a charity brunch and car show benefit, has given up on finding his Zen in the area.
“We are getting to the point where it’s not a destination for peace,’’ he told The Post. “Literally every place is trying to get people to stay and drink and socialize, and DJs brings sex appeal. There are some places that haven’t gone rogue, but Sag Harbor used to be a quiet place and now you can’t even walk on the sidewalks.’’
These days, when he wants quiet, he heads back to the city.
“Over the summer, the Hamptons are jam packed,” he said, “but Manhattan is empty!’’
