User's Guide

Hamptons Primer: What’s New, What’s Back, What’s Gone

Every summer, the big names in bottle service play a game of musical chairs, scrambling to put their stamp on the few available club and restaurant spaces in the Hamptons. This year, there were rumors that Pink Elephant would lose its lease (or at least its outdoor patio) at the Capri Hotel; the future of the Star Room was uncertain; and one of Southampton’s bump-and-grind destinations, Stereo, closed their Manhattan location. But breathe easy! Our research indicates that everything turned out mostly fine. Here’s where to pop some very overpriced bubbly by way of celebration.

NEW THIS YEAR


Kobe Beach Club

Formerly: Resort, Flirt.

Players: Jeffrey Chodorow (natch).

Outside: The 3,000-square-foot landscaped lawn is shared with Lily Pad.

Inside: These shots indicate the low-ceilinged space is a bit brighter than Kobe Club (of course), with far fewer swords on the pitched ceiling, white tiles on the walls, and some dark-wood steakhouse accents.

Crowd: The real housewives of New York City. Sessa von Richthofen, Richard Johnson, and Niki Beale hit the opening party.

Food and booze: Kobe-beef-cheek ravioli, a summer salad with steak, a salmon soft-herb salad, and the Kobe Club’s patented Wagyu flight. In addition to the dinner menu, a late-night menu will be offered on the weekends after 11:30 p.m.

Further Reading: Gridskipper, East Hampton Star

44 Three Mile Island Road, East Hampton, 631-604-2610




Lily Pond

Formerly: Flirt, Resort.

Players: Unik Ernest of PM and Michael Satsky of Stereo.

Outside: The 3,000-square-foot landscaped lawn (shared with Kobe Beach Club) boasts cabanas and a helicopter landing pad.

Inside: Over 4,000 square feet of gold-foil walls, French crystal chandeliers, and antique banquettes.

Crowd: Friends of PR guy Jonathan Cheban, such as Stella Keitel and Anna Anisimova, are expected, as well as Star Room refugees.

Food and booze: A Lily Mojito made with pear vodka and Kobe Beach Club sliders.

Further Reading: Thrillist, Hamptons.com, Down by the Hipster, NYP

44 Three Mile Harbor Road, East Hampton, 646-619-1217




Photo: Gridskipper
Surf Lodge

Formerly: The dive-y Lakeside Inn.

Players: Jamie Mullholland, Robert McKinley, and Jayma Cardosa of Cain and GoldBar partner with Steven Kamali.

Outside: A 3,000-square-foot deck with a bar and a stage that will host concerts by the likes of Julian Marley and G. Love.

Inside: The restaurant’s sixteen first-come-first-served tables have movie-director seats and, according to an employee, are surrounded by “cool portraits and paintings” (of the owners, like at GoldBar?).

Crowd: The types who buy GoldBar T-shirts, as well as Southampton refugees who aren’t alpha party animals.

Food and booze: The menu from Top Chef alum Sam Talbot includes $22 fish sticks, Thai-style mussels, coffee-rubbed filet mignon with cappuccino butter, and a $19 “lobster-salad sandwich.” The Dumbala cocktail is made with fire-roasted tomatoes, honey, olive juice, horseradish, jalapeño, and cilantro.

Further Reading: Gridskipper, Thrillist, UrbanDaddy, NYP

183 Edgemere Street, Montauk, 631-238-5190, thesurflodge.com




Opening festivities.Photo: Gridskipper
La Playa

Formerly: Stereo on the Shore, the Tavern.

Players: David Sarner and Bobby Montwaid of Pink Elephant.

Outside: A press release promises the obligatory cabanas.

Inside: Two dance floors, one surrounded by semi-private booths in the main room and a smaller one in the VIP area.

Crowd: Owner Sarner predicts Europeans taking advantage of the weak dollar. Eugene Remm and Mark Birnbaum of Tenjune will send VIPs over from their private-party space, the Estate.

Further Reading: Jet Set Report, Gridskipper, Official site

125 Tuckahoe Ln., Southampton, 631-251-6292, laplayanightclub.com





BACK FOR MORE


Photo: Courtesy of Dune
Dune

Players: Noah Tepperberg, Jason Strauss, and Rich Thomas of Marquee team up this year with Randy Scott of Kiss & Fly.

Outside: None.

Inside: Steve Lewis tweaked the 6,000-square-foot bi-level space’s nautical theme to have a Brigitte Bardot–inspired look of white banquets, white tables, and black-and-white prints.

Crowd: High rollers who can pay the $2,000 minimum for a table. Leonardo DiCaprio has already been spotted, and last year’s guests included Tommy Lee, Jay-Z, Kid Rock, and Diddy.

Further Reading: Guest of a Guest

1181 North Sea Road, Southampton, 631-283-0808, dunesouthampton.com




Pink Elephant at Capri Hotel

Players: The Pink Elephant guys team up with Tenjune.

Outside: Contrary to rumors, the club says the 6,000-square-foot outdoor cabana deck is open again this year.

Inside: The crown jewel of the 2,000-square-foot room is the Pink Elephant’s patented liquid-nitrogen machine, which generates cold air and snow.

Crowd: A press release says there will be a tighter door policy this year, but will Pink Elephant’s VIPs opt to check out the team’s other spot, La Playa?

Further Reading: Gridskipper, Good Night Mr. Lewis

281 Country Road 39A, Southampton, 631-287-9888





OUTTA HERE

Star Room — After half a decade, this relative old-timer has run its course (perhaps owner Charles Ferri got a bit distracted with his new vodka?). Pour one out at its sister boîte, Star Lounge, in Manhattan.

Pacific East — Looks like Diddy didn’t buy this spot, though he was rumored to be considering it. The chef is now at Aspen, and the restaurant is kaput.

Hamptons Primer: What’s New, What’s Back, What’s Gone