With SoFla’s famous Art Basel Miami starting soon (Dec. 5-8), you should start working up a meal and cocktail plan now. Restaurants and bars have special menus and special cocktails, all done with an artistic flair. Here are some of the more creative cocktails.
- Mr. Chow, W Hotel, 2201 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305/695-1695; https://www.mrchow.com/restaurant-miami-menu-map Offered during the week of Art Basel Miami is the Bourgeois Brawler cocktail (pictured above) made with 10-year single malt Irish whiskey, mixed with St. Germain and topped with pink grapefruit juice, then garnished with grapefruit peel, thyme sprig and cherry. Tropical, yet edgy.
- Toscano Divino, 900 S. Miami Ave., Miami; 305/371-2767; https://www.toscanadivino.com/ This Italian restaurant took artist Damien Hirst’s work, “Saint Sebastian” and created a Suspension cocktail. The drink is made with Tanqueray N. 10, Italicus, Contreau, maraschino, Blue Curacao and lemon essence. It may be too pretty to drink!
- Villa Azur, 309 23rd St., Miami Beach; 305/763-8688; http://villaazurmiami.com Here’s a swinging drink (literally!) called Vintage Blanc. Created with Perrier Jouet Blanc de Blancs, with a strawberry and framed within a French country-style portrait frame, this is delivered to the table in the hanging frame. As the restaurant says, you can have your art and drink it, too. Best of both worlds.
- International Smoke Aventura, 19565 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura; 786/254-0422; https://www.michaelmina.net/restaurants/miami-st-pete/international-smoke-aventura/ The Perriwinke Blossom cocktail here is vodka-based, shaken with crème de Viollete, lime, lavender simple syrup and a little egg white. Plus edible flowers. A fantasy garden in a glass.
