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.
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.
If your idea of a Hamptons night out involves white pants, polite clapping, and someone named Muffy handing out crudités—keep driving. Tonight (yes, TONIGHT, May 16), Wainscott is getting a glitter bomb straight to the face, and we’re here for it.
Our Fabulous Variety Show (OFVS) and LTV Studios are trading in tea lights for twinkle lights with Drag Bingo, hosted by the absolutely divine RaffaShow and Julia Von Cartier. It’s campy, it’s chaotic, and it’s family-friendly—but not in the “we made organic sugar-free cupcakes” kind of way. Think pop-up drag numbers, prizes you actually want, and enough double entendres to make your WASPy dinner date blush.
Tickets start at just $25 and I think include a few bingo cards—because yes, you’ll want to play and win. Got friends? (Lucky you.) Grab a VIP cabaret table for around $200 which seats four, comes with a gift bag stuffed with fabulousness, and gives you twice the bingo cards. Because nothing says power move like extra bingo chances and front-row seats.
The games start at 6:00 p.m. at LTV Studios, 75 Industrial Road, Wainscott. Get tickets by clicking here or call 631.507.4603. Show up. Dress up. Don’t be boring
It’s a common problem here in the Hamptons. You think to yourself, “Self, where can I find someplace to shop that’s absurdly overpriced? No, not there. Or there. I want something different this time.” You are so in luck this summer, as the Sagaponack General Store is re-opening! The store closed in 2020 and has been renovated to look like it did in 1878. (If only the prices were the same…) That includes a chiller that looks like an old-timey icebox. The shop, at 542 Sagg Main Street, will be open 7am – 7pm, seven days a week.
Inside, there’s an old-fashioned penny candy shop, fresh fruit and flowers, an ice-cream station and coffee bar, fresh baked goods, and take-out meals. What we loved about it is they play Skynyrd all the time; who doesn’t like paying $15 for a donut (although its a really good one) while perusing a cleverly curated cafe and beautifully designed space.
Back down on Planet Earth, the hamlet of Montauk is waiting with bated breath for beloved local pharmacist Frank Calvo to open Montauk Chemists. With the closure of White’s, Montauk has been without a pharmacy. He had originally hoped to open earlier, but as he put it, opening a pharmacy is not like opening a T-shirt shop. Literally everything has to be inspected, from the mortar and pestle to the $6,000 scale. There are tiers and tiers of local, state, and federal laws that must be followed. The good news is that the New York State pharma board is supposed to give the shop a final inspection this week, and then Montauk Chemists will be ready to open by this weekend! All of Montauk will rejoice. Congratulations, Frank!
🌈 Pride & Paddleboards – LGBTQ+ Network Summer Kickoff
📍Bridgehampton Surf & Tennis Club | 🗓️ May 24, 2025 Support the first LGBTQ+ community center on the East End and sip seaside with the chicest crowd west of Fire Island. Auction highlights include spa days, designer swag, and maybe Andy Cohen if you bid hard enough. 🎟️ Tickets: $250+ 🔥 Best Reason to Go: Gorgeous cause, ocean view, open bar—need we say more? 🧣 Reason to Skip: Hoping for Speedos? Sorry. It’s more “coastal grandmother” than “Coachella glow-up.” 👉 More info here
🎣 Southampton Fresh Air Home – The Greatest Yard Sale on Earth
📍Barkers Island Road, Southampton | 🗓️ June 7, 2025 This mellow-meets-moneyed affair supports summer fun for kids with physical disabilities. Expect designer home goods, trips, beauty treatments, and a surprising amount of social clout for a yard sale. 🎟️ Tickets: $250+ 🔥 Best Reason to Go: That $4,000 coffee table you almost bought in SoHo? It’s here for $1,200. 🧢 Reason to Skip: If you think “casual attire” includes denim—don’t. Think Nantucket red, not Levi’s. 👉 Details here
❤️ Heart of the Hamptons Heart Ball – American Heart Association
📍Bridgehampton Surf and Tennis Club, Bridgehampton | 🗓️ June 27, 2025 Where glam meets goodwill. This legendary gala helps fund life-saving research and gives you a reason to buy that outfit you can’t expense. 🎟️ Tickets: $500+ 🔥 Best Reason to Go: You’ll glow, even if it’s just from the anti-aging serum in your gift bag. 🍤 Reason to Skip: Unless you’re auctioning off a Peloton, don’t expect to burn off the passed hors d’oeuvres. 👉 Get tickets here
🍽️ God’s Love We Deliver Midsummer Night Drinks Benefit
📍Private Estate, Water Mill | 🗓️ July 12, 2025 This one’s for the do-gooders who also love a good garden party. Supporting the NYC-based charity that delivers meals to people too sick to shop or cook, this event is equal parts glam and grounded. 🎟️ Tickets: $300+ 🔥 Best Reason to Go: Gorgeous estate of Neil Patrick Harris, heartfelt cause, and cocktails that actually justify the Uber surcharge. 🥱 Reason to Skip: If you’re looking for high drama, this one’s a little more hydrangeas and hugs than Bravo brawls. (Although I’ve seen a few bitch fights over the same xoxoxoxo outfit.) 👉 Learn more here
🐶 Unconditional Love Gala – Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation
📍Southampton Arts Center | 🗓️ July 19, 2025 This one’s personal—because it’s where I found Ralph, my screeching, stubborn, sandwich-stealing beagle who also happens to be the coolest dog in the Hamptons (Bella is sweet but she is not cool). The gala supports the lifesaving work of the no-kill shelter that matched us up, and it’s a favorite for animal lovers, local celebs, and anyone who knows a good rescue story when they see one. 🎟️ Tickets: $350+ 🔥 Best Reason to Go: You might just meet your own Ralph—hopefully minus the operatic bark. 👠 Reason to Skip: Only if you hate love, puppies, and open bars. 👉 Fetch details here
🌟 30th ANNIVERSARY Gala – The Ellen Hermanson Foundation
📍Bridgehampton Surf and Tennis Club | 🗓️ July 26, 2025 Dancing, drinks, and dedication to breast cancer support. This gala brings the glam and the good vibes with a high-energy crowd and an even higher heel count. 🎟️ Tickets: $400+ 🔥 Best Reason to Go: The dance floor is lit. Seriously, bring your flats. 🎻 Reason to Skip: Hoping for a sedate soirée? This is more Beyoncé than Brahms. 👉 Full event info here
🐾 Bow Wow Meow Ball – ARF Hamptons
📍William P. Rayner Training Center, East Hampton | 🗓️ August 16, 2025 This year’s Bow Wow Meow Ball celebrates 51 years of ARF’s tail-wagging heroism. Expect a star-studded evening with heartfelt tributes, gourmet eats, and the Parade of Animals that guarantees more “awws” than a baby goat video. 🎟️ Tickets: $500+ 🔥 Best Reason to Go: Glam, decor, cupcakes, cocktails, and adoptable animals. What more do you want—puppy kisses? (Actually, those too.) 🐕 Reason to Skip: If you don’t like dogs, cats, or compassion… maybe try Wall Street that night and seek help. 👉 Snag your ticket here
Mark those calendars, fluff your tulle, and let the benefit bingo begin. And remember—just because it’s for charity doesn’t mean you can’t be just a little competitive in the silent auction.
