09/09/2026
A NEW ERA OF NIGHTLIFE: SPEAKEASIES ARE BRINGING A LITTLE MYSTERY TO RONKONKOMA
By My Ronkonkoma – Photos by Artemis and Lighthouse 161
There was a time when the words speakeasy and Ronkonkoma probably wouldn’t have appeared in the same sentence.
That is changing.
A new generation of nightlife destinations is beginning to emerge in Ronkonkoma and Lake Ronkonkoma, bringing something a little different to the local dining and entertainment scene — intimate settings, handcrafted cocktails, live music, sophisticated atmospheres and, of course, a little mystery.
Two destinations in particular are helping put the area on the map for this growing trend: Artemis at Station Yards and the new Lighthouse 161 & Speakeasy at Beach Club Estate on the shores of Lake Ronkonkoma.
ARTEMIS: A SECRET HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT
Tucked inside Station Yards, Artemis has taken the traditional idea of a speakeasy and given it a modern Long Island twist.
The intimate cocktail lounge draws its inspiration from the 1920s and Prohibition era, when hidden establishments, elaborate cocktails and secret entrances were part of the nightlife culture. Artemis takes that concept seriously, even building its identity around the story of the Artemis, a notorious rum-running boat that reportedly operated on Long Island during Prohibition.
The experience begins with finding the place.
Once inside, the atmosphere shifts dramatically from the modern Station Yards development outside to a darker, more intimate setting designed around cocktails, conversation and atmosphere. Artemis describes itself as an escape into a world of “luxury and mystery,” and the concept is clearly intended to be more than simply another place to grab a drink.
It is a destination.
The lounge is 21+, offers reservations and also features membership opportunities, private and semi-private events and members-only experiences.
And that’s part of what makes Artemis interesting: it represents the evolution of Station Yards from a residential and commercial development into a destination where people can live, work, dine and now enjoy a more sophisticated nightlife experience.
THEN THERE’S LIGHTHOUSE 161
On the opposite side of the community — literally and atmospherically — another speakeasy concept is emerging on the waterfront.
Located at Beach Club Estate on Rose Drive in Lake Ronkonkoma, Lighthouse 161 & Speakeasy is taking the concept in a completely different direction.
Instead of hiding underground in an urban-style lounge, Lighthouse 161 combines the romance of a Prohibition-era supper club with the natural backdrop of Lake Ronkonkoma.
The concept centers around an intimate, vintage-inspired atmosphere with jazz, live entertainment, cocktails and waterfront ambiance. The result is intended to feel less like a traditional neighborhood bar and more like an evening destination.
Think candlelight. Think live jazz. Think cocktails. Think sitting near the lake and spending an evening somewhere that feels a world away from the ordinary.
That waterfront setting may ultimately be Lighthouse 161’s biggest differentiator.
TWO SPEAKEASIES. TWO VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES.
What’s particularly interesting is that Artemis and Lighthouse 161 aren’t really competing to be the same thing.
They’re creating two very different experiences.
Artemis is urban, hidden, intimate and contemporary — a cocktail-driven experience tucked into the rapidly developing Station Yards district.
Lighthouse 161 is waterfront, nostalgic and entertainment-driven — a destination built around the character and atmosphere of Lake Ronkonkoma.
One asks you to find the hidden door.
The other invites you to follow the light to the lake.
Both, however, are tapping into something that’s becoming increasingly popular across Long Island: people aren’t just looking for somewhere to eat or have a drink. They’re looking for an experience.
RONKONKOMA’S NIGHTLIFE IS EVOLVING
For years, Ronkonkoma was largely known for its train station, airport, lake and convenient location in the center of Long Island.
Today, that picture is changing.
The continued development of Station Yards is creating a new live-work-play environment around the Ronkonkoma transportation hub, while new restaurants, entertainment venues and destinations are giving people more reasons to stay local.
And now, the emergence of speakeasy-style destinations adds another layer to that transformation.
It’s a sign that Ronkonkoma isn’t simply growing — it’s developing its own identity.
The next time someone says there’s nothing to do in Ronkonkoma after dark, you might want to tell them to look a little closer.
Because behind a hidden door at Station Yards — or somewhere along the shoreline of Lake Ronkonkoma — a very different kind of evening may be waiting.
The secret is getting out.
Follow My Ronkonkoma for more stories about the businesses, people, restaurants, entertainment and destinations helping shape the future of our community.
