The Alley is the perfect first stop for a cozy night out
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The appetizer, pizza and dessert at The Alley. Photo: Sommer Brugal/Axios
Amid the chaos and flash that is Ocean Drive, The Betsy Hotel is a gimmick-free destination — and a perfect anchor for date night.
The big picture: There's The Alley, the aptly named trattoria-style pizzeria on the hotel's backside, plus the Piano Bar, the city's longest-running live music series in Miami Beach.
Why it matters: I was invited to experience both a few weeks ago and I took my friend Ella (date nights are for besties, too!).
- The experience confirmed what makes a night out worth replicating: a welcoming ambiance, excellent service and simple yet delicious ingredients.
The vibe: The restaurant is elegant yet approachable, complete with some booth seating and an impressive bar. (Fun fact: The Betsy Rosa lager is brewed just for the restaurant.)
- The piano bar, located in the hotel's lobby, feels perfectly "Old Florida," with wicker furniture, palm-tree-patterned cushions and palms.
- The drinks, served with a bowl of popcorn, were a perfect night cap.
State of za: The Alley offers Roman-style pies.
- Start by choosing a red (classic tomato, mozz, basil) or white (mozz, ricotta, comte, parm, garlic) pie and then select your toppings.
- Veggies range from black olives to 'shrooms to anchovies and artichoke hearts, while meats include prosciutto, pepperoni and mortadella.
We ordered one of each, adding prosciutto cotto (ham) to the red and onions to the white. Both were fresh and flavorful, though I could've used a bit more red sauce.
- The crust is incredibly thin and crispy. I admit I favor a Neapolitan-style, but I loved the resto's "dipping sauces" (pesto, hot honey, ranch, truffle) for that leftover charred crust.
Yes, but: Don't sleep on the apps.
- Get the arugula, fennel and avocado salad (bright, tangy, perfectly dressed) and a charcuterie board, if for no other reason than to experience the roasted hazelnuts in truffle honey.
I was skeptical, but we ended with the Banana-Misu, the restaurant's take on tiramisu, and I'm glad we did.
- Not overly sweet, despite the condensed milk, mascarpone cream and a generous layer of chocolate shavings.
The bottom line: For those craving a cozy night of pizza and live music, look no further than The Betsy Hotel.