This Italian restaurant at a Miami Beach hotel closed in 2020. Now it’s reopening

Connie Ogle
·2 min read

After closing in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, The Alley is ready to reopen.

The Italian trattoria at The Betsy Hotel on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach is returning with pizzas, salads, charcuterie boards, special cheese and Italian cold cuts — and a few new twists.

And yes — if you sit outside, you’ll still have a good view of the art projections on The Orb, the egg-shaped sculpture by architect Allan Shulman, which acts as a bridge connecting The Betsy’s two historic buildings.

Chef Laurent Tourondel, who is in his 15th year of handling the culinary concepts at the hotel, will lead the restaurant, which will be adding new items to the menu.

The interior of The Alley restaurant, which is reopening after three years on Miami Beach at The Betsy Hotel.
The interior of The Alley restaurant, which is reopening after three years on Miami Beach at The Betsy Hotel.

Though he has more than 40 years of experience across the globe, Tourondel calls pizza “my passion project” and hopes that The Alley will revive its appeal.

“The Alley, much like any other restaurant at the hotel, is more than just a place to enjoy quality food,” he said in a statement. “It’s a welcoming space where everyone in the community can gather over delicious dishes to create long-lasting memories.”

While there are plenty of other choices on the menu, Tourondel’s brick oven pizzas are the biggest draw, among them the Quatro Formaggi E Peppe (fontina, robiola, taleggio and mozzarella topped with black pepper) and the Shrimp Scampi (rock shrimp, pesto and wild arugula). One of the new additions is the Francese (tomatoes, mushrooms, prosciutto, Comte, Gruyere and Pili Pili oil);

Also new to The Alley is the addition of soft serve ice cream and a walk-up window at which to order it. You can try in classic flavors (chocolate vanilla swirl) or more adventurous ones (vanilla and mushroom popcorn with a caramel drizzle). The ventanita will also serve Panther Coffee.

Another menu item is zucchine e rucola, with lemon-garlic olive oil, Parmesan and almonds.
Another menu item is zucchine e rucola, with lemon-garlic olive oil, Parmesan and almonds.

The Alley

Where: 1433 Collins Ave., Miami Beach (also accessible from Ocean Drive at 14th Place)

Opening: March 27

Hours: Noon-10 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday

More information: www.thebetsyhotel.com/dine/the-alley

One of the brick-oven pizzas at The Alley, which is reopening in South Beach.
One of the brick-oven pizzas at The Alley, which is reopening in South Beach.