Imagine stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and endless events with breathtaking sunsets—it might sound like Ibiza. However, this place is just a train ride away from New York City.
Every summer, chatter in New York often centers on the affluent heading to their Hamptons retreats. Here, they indulge in fitness classes, exclusive gatherings, and mingle with the elite.
But neighboring Long Island hamlet, Montauk, is where the real party has been this summer.
With the rise of music festivals and DJ events on the picturesque beaches and trendy spots around the area, influencers and party-goers are gathering here more than ever. This has led the quaint area with a population of 4,000 to sometimes be dubbed ‘America’s Ibiza.’
Over Memorial Day and July Fourth weekends, party after party filled with hot young people dancing the night away to up-and-coming DJs like Beau Cruz.
Plenty of huge parties take place at Surf Lodge, one of Montauk’s go-to places for influencers to let lose against the gorgeous summer sunsets and fall into their expensive hotel rooms on the premises, that start at around $795 a night.
Radio host and music curator Bobby Hendrickson, who has 129,000 followers, called Montauk the new Ibiza in a TikTok that has quickly gone viral.
He said the New York hotspot resembled the Spanish archipelago due to its rising tourism in the summer, vibey nightlife and day parties, and the wealth of its visitors.
The talk of the town every summer is the wealthy flocking to their Hamptons homes to enjoy a good workout class and rub elbows with the world’s top one percent. But neighboring Long Island hamlet, Montauk, is where the real party has been this summer. A party at the Surf Lodge on July 5 is seen above
As more music festivals and DJ parties continue to pop up along the idyllic beaches and hotspots around town, causing influencers and ravers alike to flock there, the town of 4,000 is starting to be referred to by some as America’s Ibiza (pictured: a party at Surf Lodge in Montauk on July 5)
Guest party at the NYLON Residency at The Surf Lodge over July Fourth weekend
Large summer homes along the Montauk shoreline are seen above
‘Let’s go, Montauk!’ the 29-year-old Miami resident told Daily Mail in a phone interview. ‘It’s got similar vibes to Ibiza.’
Both have become well-known places that are filled with celebrities, the wealthy, gorgeous beaches, crazy parties, and lots of money.
‘And it’s an island,’ he said of both places.
Hendrickson, who was in Ibiza this week, said nothing will truly compare to the Spanish vacation spot, but he does believe Montauk could develop into a rival.
‘Nothing is like Ibiza,’ the SiriusXM host said. ‘That’s its own animal.’
Before the Ibiza-esque takeover, the hamlet – located on the farthest eastern point of Long Island – was a sleepy surfer town known for its quaint charm.
Now, it’s anything but.
‘It’s people with money,’ Hendrickson told Daily Mail. And people who want to party.
Bobby Hendrickson (pictured) said the New York hotspot resembled the Spanish archipelago due to its rising tourism in the summer, vibey nightlife and day parties, and the wealth of its visitors
Brunch at Bounce Beach in Montauk on July 19 is seen above. People tuck into food and drink as the music plays
Nightclub consultant, Jonas Young-Borra, 40, of Manhattan, said Montauk’s new popularity is due to social media trends and he doesn’t know how long it will last. ‘People are chasing the trend of the moment and they’ll chase the next,’ Young-Borra told Daily Mail
It has well-known DJs coming out, like Cheat Codes – who have a song with Demi Lovato – who will be taking over the Surf Lodge.
Other beach places like Gurney’s Montauk and Duryea’s – which has a $97 Cobb salad on its menu – are other popular places.
The Montauk Beach House is hosting a Palma Day Club, which features a party at the clubhouse every Saturday with two pools, DJs, and food and drinks.
And if influencers are lucky, they’ll score tickets to private parties or get to attend brand parties. Last summer, Dolce and Gabbana held a beach pop at the clubhouse and had items for sale.
Hendrickson thinks social media has played a huge role in putting Montauk on the map.
‘Social media has that effect,’ he said. ‘It created a hype culture [around Montauk].’
Nightclub consultant, Jonas Young-Borra, 40, of Manhattan, said the only comparison is the wealth of those enjoying it as the New York destination is much, much smaller than the Spanish island.
He also said that Ibiza, unlike Montauk, was ‘built as a party community’.
The Surf Lodge (pictured) is a popular place for partiers to go in the summer
Other beach places like Gurney’s Montauk (pictured) and Duryea’s – which has a $97 Cobb salad on its menu – are other popular places
‘Ibiza has monster huge clubs,’ he told Daily Mail while driving out to Long Island.
‘I’d never call it the Ibiza of New York… As a party destination, you can call it boutique Ibiza.’
But he agrees with Hendrickson that it is more of a ‘destination now than ever before’.
Although Hendrickson and Young-Borra don’t know how long the hype will last.
‘People are chasing the trend of the moment and they’ll chase the next,’ Young-Borra told Daily Mail.
‘It’s a seasonal place,’ Hendrickson, who tries to visit Montauk at least once a year, said. ‘In the summertime, it’s a lot of fun.’
A former emergency medicine and pediatrics doctor who has been going out to Montauk for 10 years agreed that the town has seen a ‘complete change in culture’ more recently.
Dr. Fidel Garcia, 47, of Brooklyn, works with Beautique Concierge and Ring My Belle offering partygoers in Montauk at-home IV hydration.
Dr. Fidel Garcia, 47, of Brooklyn, who works with Beautique Concierge and Ring My Belle, said IV hydration is a huge hit in Montauk for partiers and the elite and some even get it before their big weekends out. ‘There’s lots of pregaming,’ he told Daily Mail
A mother and son look at the stores in the quaint downtown area of Montauk
‘Clients are treating it like an ultimate weekend destination,’ Garcia said. ‘It’s the next big party center’ (pictured: Montauk)
He said their services have been a huge hit especially amongst revelers preparing for a big weekend.
Like their counterparts in the Hamptons, they too are ordering IV drips to their doors to ward off dreaded hangovers.
‘Clients are treating it like an ultimate weekend destination,’ he said. ‘It’s the next big party center.
‘There’s lots of pregaming,’ he told Daily Mail.
Clients will often pregame on Thursday and Friday before partying the weekend away. On Saturday and Sunday, recovery efforts begin, he explained.
Nearly a third of his clientele are New Yorkers in their 20s and 30s enjoying a summer away from the hot concrete jungle, while others come from different states and countries.
The hangover drip, which retails for $350 and is delivered to one’s door, is in ‘high demand’ during the summer months, Garcia said.
The NAD+ drip, which retails for $850, is also ‘having its moment,’ the former emergency medicine and pediatrics doctor told Daily Mail.
The majority of those looking for party bender recovery are young adults, while the wealthy elite between the ages of 30 and 50 are more focused on health-related aspects, he added.
