If you’re looking for a place to experience the unique beauty of Long Island’s Great South Bay, you can’t do much better than the Village of Patchogue. But there’s much more to this South Shore destination than breathtaking waterfront views: It’s also home to one of the fastest-growing and most diverse downtown areas on the entire island. There you’ll find an eclectic array of eateries, a thriving nightlife scene, some of Long Island’s best spots for live entertainment, and much more.
Patchogue didn’t become incorporated until 1893, making it a lot younger than many other can’t-miss destinations on the island, and yet it’s still teeming with history. The area is home to not one but three churches listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as the storied Patchogue Theatre, which celebrated its 100th anniversary this past May.
If you haven’t visited the Village of Patchogue in a while, you’ll likely be surprised by how much the area has blossomed since you’ve been gone. Should you decide to stop by in the near future, be sure to check out some of these fantastic destinations:
An Eclectic Selection of Food and Drink
The list of top-flight eateries in Patchogue Village is an impressive one, and amazingly enough it only seems to keep growing. There’s a perfect spot for any kind of appetite at any time of the day. Some of the best among them include the following:
If you’re the type who looks for the hip local coffee shop whenever you check out a new town then CoHo Coffee House (62 W. Main St., 631-569-4900, www.cohohospitality.com) should be your first stop. They’ve got stellar drinks, soups, baked goods, and more. Be sure to check out the monthly special drinks.
It may share its name with the neighboring hamlet, but Blue Point Brewing Company (225 W. Main St., 631-627-8292, www.bluepointbrewing.com) is actually headquartered in Patchogue. Stop by their brewpub and enjoy some classic, seasonal, and exclusive beers from one of the biggest craft breweries in the country. On top of that, they’ve got food, merch, live music, and they’re even dog-friendly.
If you’re looking to check another Long Island pizzeria off your list while you’re in town, Donatina Neapolitan Pizza Café (18 West Ave., 631-730-7002, www.donatinapizza.com) is a fantastic option. Their standard stuff is great, but the specialties are where they shine, particularly with their Detroit-style pies.
For an easygoing yet elevated dining experience, check out South Ocean Grill (567 S. Ocean Ave., 631-307-9999, www.southoceangrill.com). They offer fine casual lunch and dinner menus full of creative takes on popular items. Enhance the experience even further with some of their excellent handcrafted cocktails or something on their dangerously good dessert menu.
Most of the restaurants you’ll find in Patchogue Village are right on Main Street, which means there’s not a ton of opportunities for waterfront dining. However, if that’s what you’re after, then all hope is not lost: Lombardi’s on the Bay (600 S. Ocean Ave., 631-654-8970, www.lombardisonthebay.com) is located just before Mascot Dock, and it offers some incredible views of the Great South Bay to go with an incredible lunch and dinner menu.
Great South Shore Shopping in Patchogue
As Patchogue’s downtown area continues to become more eclectic, colorful, and diverse, so too does the shopping experience it offers. You can get lost digging through the rare and unusual offerings of their boutiques, vintage shops, gift stores, and more. Here are just a few options to consider.
Reimagine your wardrobe with the unique selection of retro clothing, gifts, and accessories you’ll find at Paper Doll Curiosity Shoppe (33 E. Main St., 631-730-8383, www.shoppaperdoll.com). If you’re in the market for something funky and offbeat, you won’t leave disappointed.
If your vibe is more modern, you should pay a visit to Thred (7 Village Green Way, 631-730-5755, www.thredny.com). On top of an eclectic area of styles from all over the map, this contemporary women’s boutique offers one-of-a-kind items created by local designers.
“We have a made locally section that’s mainly Long Island-branded things,” owner Merav Shiloni tells us. “I have everything from hats to T-shirts to candles, keychains, bookmarks, and jewelry—all made locally.”
And if you happen to see something in this beautiful boutique that you love, but it just doesn’t fit right, that doesn’t have to remain the case forever: Shiloni says that one of the biggest things that separates Thred from other boutiques is the free alterations they offer on all their clothing.
Many of the unique shopping experiences on Long Island center around women’s clothing, but in Patchogue that’s not always the case. City Swag (2 W. Main St., 631-319-6847, www.cityswagusa.com) offers streetwear, urban wear, menswear, and more, from a variety of popular brands.
If you’re looking to broaden your kitchen’s culinary possibilities, then the Amazing Olive (35 E. Main St., 631-307-9092, www.amazingolive.com) can help you do it. They have a huge selection of infused olive oils, balsamic vinegars, salts, rubs, herbs and spices, hot sauces, and much more. It’s a great spot for finding a gourmet gift for yourself or someone you love.
Enjoy the Outdoors in Patchogue
There are a few different ways for enjoying the beauty of the Great South Bay while you’re in Patchogue. If you stop by on a sunny day, be sure to check out one or more of the following spots.
Before you hit the bay, you can stop by Rider Avenue Park (10 Gale Ct.) where there are some beautiful basketball courts, soccer and softball fields, and plenty of room for a relaxing walk with the family. Dogs are allowed.
Shorefront Park (49 Smith St., 631-475-4302, https://www.patchoguevillage.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Shorefront-Park-1) is one of the finest outdoor spots on all of Long Island’s South Shore. On top of its amazing views of the Great South Bay, the park also offers a baseball field, a basketball court, a bike trail and a walking track, and its crown jewel: the bandshell, where you can see live performances at various times throughout the year.
If you’d like to get more closely acquainted with the Great South Bay, you can stroll down the dock at Mascot Dock and Marina (S. Ocean Ave., 631-475-4300). Locals like to use the dock as a peaceful fishing spot, and it’s got a lovely gazebo for relaxing beneath and enjoying a gorgeous South Shore sunset.
A Haven for Live Music and the Arts
Perhaps the greatest feature of Patchogue Village is the amount of live music you can enjoy there on any given night. The area is home to three of the best venues on the island, and each of them has something unique to offer.
For energetic live shows in an intimate setting, there probably aren’t any better spots on Long Island than 89 North (89 N. Ocean Ave., 631-730-8992, www.89northmusic.com) or Stereo Garden (9 Railroad Ave., 631-699-8151, www.stereogardenli.com). Both venues offer national touring acts, popular cover bands, themed nights, and more—all at affordable prices.
Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts (71 E. Main St., 631-207-1313, www.patchoguetheatre.org) has been a part of Patchogue for a century now, and it holds enough history in it to have a earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is a wonder to behold all on its own, and the shows it offers only serve to elevate it. The theatre hosts comedians, music icons, orchestras, tribute acts, live conversations, and much more.
If you’re interested in some upcoming shows, then December is one of the best months of the year to come to this historic venue.
“We’re doing a couple of different events in December,” Executive Director Michele Rizzo-Berg tells us. “We have everything from a Holiday on Ice Show to John Tesh performing his hits to a group called Scott Bradlee’s Post-Modern Jukebox and more.”
Rizzo-Berg knows firsthand that the Village of Patchogue has long been a place for the arts thanks to the amazing theatre she helps run, but she also acknowledges that the area has continued to blossom in that regard in recent years.
“It has grown,” she says of Patchogue’s rising status as a destination for arts and entertainment. “People from the Patchogue area and the greater Long Island area are very fortunate to have so many places to see live entertainment here.”
If you’d like to learn more about everything the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts has to offer be sure to check their website for a full schedule of upcoming shows.
Art lovers shouldn’t miss the Patchogue Arts Council Museum of Contemporary Art L.I. (20 Terry St. Suite 116, 631-627-8686, www.patchoguearts.org). There you’ll find exhibitions, pop-ups, and special events showcasing some of the most amazing artistic talent Long Island has to offer.
Where to Stay in Patchogue
Hampton Inn Long Island (2000 N. Ocean Ave., Farmingville, 631-732-7300)
Residence Inn by Marriott (25 Middle Ave., Holtsville, 631-475-9500)
Homewood Suites by Hilton (65 Union Ave., Ronkonkoma, 631-585-0080)
Where to Eat in Patchogue
CoHo Coffee House (62 W Main St., 631-569-4900, www.cohohospitality.com)
Donatina Neapolitan Pizza Café (18 West Ave., 631-730-7002, www.donatinapizza.com)
South Ocean Grill (567 S. Ocean Ave., 631-307-9999, www.southoceangrill.com)Lombardi’s on the Bay (600 S. Ocean Ave., 631-654-8970, www.lombardisonthebay.com)
