Stretch Goals and Guest Lists: Lululemon and Zoe Club Make Summer a VIP Workout
Because nothing says “Hamptons summer” like sweating in $128 leggings, Lululemon is transforming a house out east into The Summer Club—and yes, you’re invited. From June 27 to July 6, expect poolside lounging, tennis that’s more social than competitive, and workouts intense enough to justify the green juice. It’s all to celebrate 10 years of the cult-loved Align™—aka the pants that launched a thousand yoga poses. Bonus: all class proceeds benefit local nonprofit i-tri, helping empower middle school girls through triathlon (talk about core strength). Space is limited, so sign up before your favorite slot is gone and you’re stuck doing downward dog in your driveway. More info and schedule at lululemonsummerclub.com.
Just when you thought dinner in the Hamptons couldn’t get any more exclusive, here comes Zoe—a new private dining club from celebrity chef Ralph Pagano (yes, that Ralph from Hell’s Kitchen and Pressure Cook). Housed in the former Robert’s restaurant in Water Mill, this century-old farmhouse has been reimagined as a Riviera-meets-Hamptons hideaway—complete with bocce, backyard tents, and a “curated casual” vibe. But don’t just show up hungry: access requires a $2,500 membership fee. Inside, expect globally inspired, family-style dishes served with a side of “I paid to be here.” It’s less scene-y than Surf Lodge, more social club for the foodie elite. Membership may have its privileges, but if you’re curious (or just nosy), peek the menu or apply here: zoehamptons.com.
From Tarts to Triage: A Swiss Bakery and ER Are the New Power Duo You Didn’t Know You Kneaded!
A long-awaited remedy has arrived in East Hampton—and no, it’s not a prix fixe at Nick & Toni’s. The new Stony Brook East Hampton Emergency Department on Pantigo Place is a sleek, 22,000-square-foot sanctuary where cutting-edge medicine meets Hamptons polish. When I first entered the facility, I was greeted by the enticing clear and sterile smell that just had me craving a refreshing IV. Picture sunlit halls, rooftop solar panels, and the kind of swift, attentive care in sleek and stylish scrubs that would make Naomi Campbell jealous. Gone are the days of ambulance rides through Route 27 gridlock—first responders can now deliver patients to top-tier treatment in record time. One EMT called it “unbelievable”—the kind of praise usually reserved for the filet mignon at The Palm.
Open 24/7, the facility offers a resuscitation room, cardiac monitors in every suite, and a full menu of diagnostic delights: MRI, CT, ultrasound, and X-ray. Backed by $42 million in funding and a 99-year lease, it’s emergency care with ambiance. You may not want to end up here—but if you do, you’ll feel like a VIP.
Overheard in the waiting room:
“The service was so fast, I barely had time to finish panicking.”
“They took my vitals and still made me feel like the most important table in the room.”
“Honestly? I’d come back just for the lighting and the cardiac monitoring.”
“It’s like Le Bernardin for medical care—minus the foie gras.”
So many hyped openings out east… so how did I miss this bread-y little secret? Alpina Swiss Bakery in Water Mill has apparently been quietly serving up pretzels, pastries, and proper Alpine carbs for over a year—and I just discovered it like I was Marco Polo stumbling into carbohydrate Shangri-La. Run by Swiss father/son duo Christoph and Robin Mueller (a.k.a. the Edelweiss Mafia), this cozy spot sits next to their Hampton Kitchen Deli and features an open kitchen where you can spy fresh sourdough, croissants and museli being whipped up by a baking dream team. I’ve shamefully been there three times since the discovery. My last indulgence? A turkey and cheese sandwich on a homemade beer pretzel—funky, chewy, a little salty (i think it was the cheese) and weirdly addictive. It’s like Switzerland crash-landed on Montauk Highway, and I’m not mad about it.
Sea’s the Moment: Moby’s Swims Into Sag & the Hamptons get Lucky
Just when you thought your summer dining spreadsheet was complete, the Hamptons restaurant scene went ahead and did what it always does—flipped the table, changed the seating chart, and added four more courses (plus a DJ). From steakhouse takeovers to disco seafood lounges, here’s your definitive, no-reservations-left guide to the new kids on the East End block. And yes, I broke the news on some of these. You’re welcome.
🍝 Moby’s (soon in Sag!?)
📍 TBA
RUMOR HAS IT… The team behind the OG East Hampton hotspot is doubling down and dropping anchor in Sag Harbor—. Moby’s 2.0 promises pizza, cacio e pepe, and just enough boat-shoe glam to keep your waterfront date night looking “effortless.” Expect a crowd that smells like sunscreen and Sauvignon Blanc.
🥩 Lucky’s Steakhouse
📍 85 Montauk Highway, East Hampton
Let us bow our heads. Cove Hollow Tavern—home to flattering lighting, low-key cocktails, and the best damn French fries in the Hamptons—has been taken over by Lucky’s, the Montecito and SoHo steak slinger. The East Hampton outpost is set to open in June, just in time to soak your summer in dry-aged decadence. Will the fries survive? One can only hope. Expect prime cuts, plush booths, and more Burgundy flowing than at a Sotheby’s afterparty.
🎉 Mary Lou’s
📍 474 West Lake Drive, Montauk
From Palm Beach to Montauk, Mary Lou’s brings a disco ball and a dream. The vibes are pure 70s/80s decadence—think caviar towers, wagyu sliders, and cocktails with names like “Studio Fifty-Sip.” It’s not so much a dinner as it is a throwback fever dream with seafood.
🌊 Gigi’s at Gurney’s
📍 290 Old Montauk Highway, Montauk
Scarpetta has sailed off into the sunset, and now Gigi’s is taking over the primo ocean-view perch at Gurney’s. Expect steak, seafood, and enough white wine to fill a plunge pool. Opens mid-June, just in time to “accidentally” order a second shellfish tower.
🧂 Sea Salt at Sole East
📍 90 Second House Road, Montauk
Melissa O’Donnell (formerly of Duryea’s fame) is helming this Mediterranean reboot, which includes bouillabaisse, crab spaghetti, and monkfish in red wine reduction. It’s like the Amalfi Coast… if the Amalfi Coast had mosquitos and TikTokers in cowboy hats.
🍽️ Swifty’s at Hedges Inn
📍 74 James Lane, East Hampton
Swifty’s has finally returned to the Northeast after cozying up in Palm Beach. Now at Hedges Inn, expect crab cakes, meatloaf, and a dining room filled with people who still own pagers “just in case.”
🍕 Camp Rubirosa
📍 31 Race Lane, East Hampton
The red-sauce royalty from Little Italy has moved in for the summer, bringing Staten Island-style pies, house-made pastas, and chicken parm that could probably double as a space heater. You will stain your shirt. You will not care.
🍽️ Crazy Pizza
📍 47 Montauk Highway, East Hampton
This is not your nonna’s pizzeria. Imported from Europe with a SoHo soft opening, Crazy Pizza features spinning dough, yeast-free crusts, and toppings so luxe they need a trust fund. Great spot if your Margherita order comes with a Cartier bracelet.
🍣 Namiro
📍 76C Jobs Lane, Southampton
Namiro mixes sushi with swagger—think raw fish, vegan rolls, Korean fried chicken, and enough mood lighting to cause a vitamin D deficiency. It’s chic, it’s sleek, and it’s probably already on your ex’s Instagram stories.
🌿 Fēniks
📍 75 Jobs Lane, Southampton
Chef Douglas Gulija and cousin Skip (yes, Skip) rise from the ashes of Plaza Café with this new Croatian-tinged culinary playground. Highlights include a $250 chef’s counter and surf-and-turf sliders upstairs. Because why not pair escargot risotto with bottle service?
🌟 Ruschmeyers Beach Grill
📍 161 Second House Road, Montauk
Ruschmeyers has ditched Placebo (both literally and metaphorically) for a new coastal menu: monkfish tail au poivre, lobster spaghetti, and a vibe that’s more barefoot-chic and less “bottle-service-in-Birkenstocks.”
🌊 Bagatelle Montauk
📍 500 West Lake Drive, Montauk
RIP Gosman’s. Bonjour, Bagatelle. The international brunch mecca has taken over Montauk’s most iconic dockside location and will soon be serving Saint-Tropez vibes, Champagne-fueled brunches, and possibly the highest heels you’ll see on a dock this side of Cannes.
🌅 Wayan & Ma-De at EHP Resort
📍 313 Three Mile Harbor Hog Creek Rd, East Hampton
French-Indonesian power couple Cedric and Ochi Vongerichten have moved their culinary empire to EHP, offering sambal-drenched sea bass, pork ribs, and crab fried rice—plus a sunset view you’ll pretend you’re not photographing.
That’s the summer scoop, folks. If you need me, I’ll be sobbing quietly into my old Cove Hollow Tavern napkins and praying Lucky’s doesn’t touch the fries.
Finally, The Hill has just published their list of the top beaches in the US according to coastal scientist Stephen Leatherman. Yes, that’s his real name and no Two Mile Hollow is not on the list but Main Beach in East Hampton and Coopers Beach in Southampton did. You can read all about it here.
Follow along at Hamptons Chatter—because I eat, drink, and gossip so you don’t have to.