Another BRAT-coded Hamptons Summer at Surf Lodge

Your BRAT Summer in the Hamptons wasn’t complete without a trip to the Surf Lodge. Okay, I’ll admit that I’m not sure that I know exactly what BRAT is, but my Official Gen-Z References team has assured me that, yes, Surf Lodge is totally BRAT. But just don’t wear chartreuse. We’re still white-on-white or off-white-on-off-white, or maybe a beige accent.

So, right off the b(r)at, what’s crazy is that if you’ve seen the Surf Lodge on social media (how have you not?), it really does look and feel like that. Bright, beachy, casual, and effortlessly chic, it is literally a movie. It’s like being on Instagram IRL. Yeah, I’ll say it: Friday at the Surf Lodge was a movie.

Everybody is friends on the deck, but nobody makes more friends than the ones who have VIP tables. Still, it’s so nice that the VIP tables are still part of the vibe, giving your own spot but not removing you from the party. Even as the sun set, we kept the turn-up, well, turned up. For a crowd that would likely be described as “very online,” the vibe was anything but. Conversations. Connections. Smiles. Dancing. Plenty of phones in sight and everybody just living in the moment. 

In the Hamptons, at the Surf Lodge: Don’t come fashionably late; daylight doesn’t last forever, and you won’t want to miss the sunsets. Plus, Surf Lodge doesn’t just have one act in a night – the openers are legit and set the mood.

As for the bar, I recommend that you stick with the classics: Tequila Soda. The bar stays busy, and you don’t want to spend your night waiting for a mixed drink. That said, they have some amazing mixology on display, and a bright-colored drink will look great in photos. If you have come to the Surf Lodge to dance and drink beer, they do have beer on tap. 

The new Casa Serena is a hit. Not just with me, but everybody I asked loved it. “Best meal of my trip in the Hamptons,” said more than one guest. The question of the hour: Is it better than the iconic #ChickenTenderTower? I won’t get political, so you can be the judge.

This Summer’s lineup was another classic, and just to give you a sense of the vibe, 50 Cent opened and closed the summer.

The young bucks are still out in force at the Surf Lodge. I made some new friends, who insisted on playing the “how old are you game.” It was brutal, but they did invite me over for some rosé at their table. Shoutout to Sam, Jude, and Drew for helping me stay young and feel old at the same time. It was their first time in the Hamptons, and I have to say I love seeing new visitors fall in love with the Hamptons for the first time.

Obviously, it’s not all first-timers, but what’s great about the Surf Lodge is it brings people together. Once you are on the deck, you’re all VIP. I’m always surprised by how freely people talk with me, even after I tell them I’m a writer. But no, I won’t spill the tea; you’ll have to go for yourself what’s overheard at the Surf Lodge.

All I’ll say is, don’t make fun of Jeff Bezos’ yacht at the Surf Lodge – somebody nearby may have been on it.

I went to a great show featuring Themba, who is really about the EDM life. His upcoming tour schedule is bananas. After the Surf Lodge, he’s playing in St. Tropez, Ibiza, Le Castellet, Mykonos, and Cannes—and that is just in August. Originally from South Africa, Themba spins primarily house music with a focus on melodic, tech, and afro house—perfect music for Montauk. Check THEMBA out SoundCloud (for real EDM heads) or Spotify for the rest of you.

Surf Lodge is certainly a scene, but the sound shouldn’t be overlooked (or, underheard?) The unsung hero of the night was the sound tech, who walked through the crowd to test sound levels at every possible location to make sure THEMBA sounded great everywhere on the deck.