Hamptons restaurants transform into late-night dance parties

Sleepy, exclusive enclaves in the Hamptons are increasingly turning into party places, and some longtime locals don’t find it funny.

“I hate to see my favorite quiet retreat turn into a revival of my disco years,” sighed Daniel Stock, a divorce lawyer who lives in Connecticut and has spent summers with his boyfriend in Bridgehampton for years. “I’ve always valued my time in the Hamptons to collect myself, reflect on my clients and cases, and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the courtroom.”

But when he visited a popular local hangout one recent evening, he found it anything but relaxing.

“The crowd and noise were so intense that they rivaled the Meatpacking District on a Friday night,” he told the Post.

Restaurants in Southampton, such as the Publick House, which used to become quiet around 10pm, are now being transformed into clubs and dance halls.

Others, like 75 Main, have become increasingly lively.

“We stay open until the last customer leaves, which can be 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 venue, Il Pelicano, is connected to Club Bijoux, allowing guests to seamlessly transition from dinner to party.

Some Southampton residents say it has become so loud that they are avoiding going out.

“People with $50 million homes would love to move to the city, but they have to push through hordes of people,” R. Couri Hay, a publicist who splits his time between the Upper West Side and Southampton, told the Post.

“It’s not the quaint village it once was,” he added. “Now the people who don’t have houses pile into the jitney and drive out all day long, and at 11 p.m. you see 100 people with duffel bags lined up at the stop. I literally saw a woman get a dress out of her truck and change on the street behind the door. Blame it on the influencers posting fancy cocktails from the Hamptons!”

Such complaints come as the town of East Hampton keeps a tight rein on restaurant owner Scott Sartiano and his branch of Sartiano’s at the Hedges Inn. But Southampton Police Chief Suzanne Hurteau denies that her town is becoming more of a party place.

“With the exception of a few holiday weekends, nightlife in our village largely stops at 2 a.m.,” she told the Post. “Nightlife in the village has declined over the years. For those establishments that have problems, the Southampton Village Police have done their due diligence and worked closely with the NYS Liquor Authority.”

Dr. Howard Sobel, a Park Avenue cosmetic dermatologist who has lived in Water Mill for 25 years, said he has seen significant changes in his area.

“Restaurants have become so social that it’s difficult to get a seat at the bar,” he complained.

Some, however, enjoy the livelier atmosphere and the fact that they no longer have to drive to Montauk – which is up to an hour away and known for its younger, wilder scene – for a great night out.

Talia Fraticelli, a 21-year-old veterinary technician who grew up in Manhattan and now lives in Sag Harbor, says she feels safer partying closer to home at places like Ketchy Beach. The club-like restaurant and lounge in Southampton opened last June and draws a wealthy crowd that thinks nothing of spending $5,000 for a table and after-dinner bottle service.

“It wasn’t like that last year and I hope it stays that way,” Fraticelli said. “With drunk driving being a common occurrence in Montauk, I feel like I’m less likely to have an accident if I can have more fun nearby.”

Chef Julian Medina, owner of El Verano in Southampton, also welcomes the change.

To increase his profits, at the end of July he had a DJ play in his restaurant every Thursday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

“The cost of living is outrageous, restaurants are harder to run and the amount of people coming in the off-season is not comparable,” he told the Post.

He is also happy that his 16-year-old daughter has opportunities to have a good time that are closer to his home in Quogue.

“The younger generations in these towns want something more fun to do without driving to Montauk, and everything used to close early,” he said.

Bradford Rand, who has a home in Bridgehampton and hosts the Hamptons Concours, a charity brunch and car show, has given up hope of finding his zen in the area.

“We’re getting to the point where it’s no longer a place of peace,” he told the Post. “Literally every place is trying to get people to stay, drink and socialize, and DJs add 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.”

Nowadays, when he wants peace and quiet, he retreats back to the city.

“In the summer, the Hamptons are packed,” he said, “but Manhattan is empty!”