Some of Long Island’s hottest clubs are actually in fancy hotels. You don’t have to check in to check them out, but be sure you check your backwards baseball cap at the door.
When Dansford Hotel and Marina re-opened AQUA Nightclub early last year above the Wave Restaurant and Lounge, it quickly became one of the hottest dance clubs in the Port Jefferson area. During the offseason, AQUA is open on Fridays only, but revelers come from all over to shake their groove things while enjoying a sweet view of the harbor.
The club, designed to encourage vertical movement back and forth between the Wave Lounge, tends to appeal to a more “grown-up” clientele, according to Wave waitress Griselda Baptista.
“There aren’t a lot of younger kids,” says Baptista, “It’s definitely a mature crowd in their 30s.”
In fact, while woman can be as young as 21 to get in, males must be at least 25 to enter. In general, hotel bars, lounges and clubs tend to attract patrons ready to graduate from the college scene. Hotel Indigo is in Riverhead, about 30 minutes east of Port Jefferson, but their Bistro 72 is worth the trek for those looking for a relaxed atmosphere, high-end dining and live jazz. They even have a fire pit outside for those bold enough to brave the off-season climates.
Oftentimes, a visit to a hotel bar is a great way to sample the ritzy atmosphere without committing to a night’s stay. Pub 1910 is your ticket into the Glen Cove Mansion, a 100-year-old remnant of the days when the Gold Coast was littered with over 600 manses.
The pub offers an old-time feel and a full kitchen. According to Ken Ellens, public relations rep for Glen Cove Mansion, you might also run into Glen Cove-native Ashanti, who is said to stop by on occasion.
