& Will Thompson is known for his skills with spirits. During happy hour, he’ll make you an eight-dollar Manhattan so perfect it’s called the “Perfect Manhattan.” Other standards include a martini and a Tom Collins (also $8). If you don’t like cocktails, there are spe- cial prices for beer and wine. The noshes are sophisticated and inexpensive: dollar oys- ters, three-dollar chilled crab claws, country ham, and a cheese and almond plate. Every- thing is of the highest quality and nothing costs more than ten dollars. BES T COCK TAILS Tipsy Flamingo 40 NE FIRST AVENUE MIAMI, 33132 305-646-9967 TIPSYFLAMINGOMIAMI.COM When a purely Miami cocktail bar comes along — one without any lame gimmicks — we take note. That’s what happened with Tipsy Flamingo, which recently landed downtown. The space combines the fun at- mosphere of a bar with the trendy and inti- mate feel of a lounge. Dripping in tropical ambiance and illuminated by a rainbow of pastel-hued neon, it’s the intimate venue that co-owner Juan Marcos Rancano says was missing in the city’s cocktail scene. Here, the drinks stand as a liquid ode to Miami, each designed to showcase its many sides, from the “Downtown Mentirita” (the TF’s version of the classic Cuba Libre) to the popular “My English Is Not Very Good Looking” (the most Miami of drinks created to taste like a pas- telito de guayaba in a glass). Go during the daily happy hour from 5 till 9 p.m. or the monthly “No Flocks Given” party, when you can sip specially priced cocktails and dance to funk, hip-hop, and reggaeton. BES T MAR TINI Cote 3900 NE SECOND AVENUE MIAMI, 33137 305-434-4668 COTEMIAMI.COM 110 110 Never mind that he’s a fictional character in- vented by novelist Ian Fleming. James Bond is the coolest person who ever lived. The Brit- ish 007 agent is famously known for his abil- ity to neutralize supervillains, drive gorgeous cars, win at casino tables, and bed beautiful women (many of whom also seek to kill him) — all while not wrinkling his tuxedo. Bond is also known for his love of martinis — you’ll never to see this most interesting man in the world cradling a Dos Equis in his flawlessly manicured hand. Not just any martini, how- ever. In the first Bond novel, Casino Royale, Fleming has Bond ordering a “Vesper,” named after femme fatale Vesper Lynd (for whom — spoiler alert — things end badly). While most martini drinkers are either Team Gin or Team Vodka, the “Vesper” is a blend of Drink Eat both, with a hint of Lillet and a twist of lemon as a garnish. The real-lfie combination of the alcohol with the touch of sweetness and a cit- rus kiss makes for a perfectly nuanced cock- tail. Find a proper version at Cote in the Design District — a place 007 would surely dine if his hazardous work transported him to 2022 Miami. BES T BLOODY MARY Greenstreet Cafe 3468 MAIN HIGHWAY MIAMI, 33133 GREENSTREETCAFE.NET Few drinks are as classic, quirky, and recog- nizable as the bloody mary. In fact, half the fun is in the bloody presentation. At Green- street Cafe in Coconut Grove, you’re guaran- teed not only a deliciously crafted drink but a fierce presentation fit for the ’Gram. The bloody mary is served in one of Greenstreet’s trademark soup cans, spice-rimmed, tower- ing out of which is a full stalk of celery and a bamboo toothpick skewering a chunk of cheese, a cherry tomato, and an olive. Whether you’re in search of the perfect hang- over cure or a cocktail to precede your om- elet, Greenstreet is sure to deliver. Restaurant and Tequila Bar 1884 BAY ROAD BES T MARGARITA Tequiztlan Mexican MIAMI BEACH, 33139 305-397-8442 TEQUIZTLAN.COM Who doesn’t love a well-made margarita? If you want the best one, though, head to Te- quiztlan Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar, the restaurant from Miami Beach’s venerable Ortiz family (El Rancho Grande), which serves a variety of unique signature margari- tas you won’t find anywhere else, such as the “Flaca From Oaxaca,” made with mezcal verde, and the “Hija de la Guayaba,” with Herradura silver tequila, guava, and jalape- ños. If straight-up tequilas and mezcals are your thing but margs aren’t, try one of Te- quiztlan’s flights. (Pro tip: They don’t stint on the food menu, either.) Sign up for their mail- ing list to keep abreast of private tastings, which are bound to return in force when we finally crawl out from under this pandemic. BES T MOJIT O R House Wynwood 2727 NW SECOND AVENUE MIAMI, 33127 305-576-0201 RHOUSEWYNWOOD.COM The famed rum-and-fresh-mint cocktail known as the mojito is served at many loca- tions in and around Miami, and many a bar- tender muddles up a dandy one. But this year we’re giving the nod to R House Wynwood, whose “Mojito Coqueto” offers a tropically tweaked take on the Cuban classic with the addition of coconut water and coconut flakes. Throughout the week, R House is a lovely spot for brunch. Weekends bring the stun- ning and uber-popular Drag Brunch — if you’re aming for that slot, be sure to reserve a table ahead of time. BES T BREAKFA S T Café Creme 750 NE 125TH STREET NORTH MIAMI, 33161 786-409-3961 CAFECREMEMIAMI.COM If you want to spend a leisurely morning at a Parisian café, you can book a flight to France — or drive to North Miami. Café Creme is a quaint bistro next door to the Museum of Contemporary Art, Miami. The large cov- ered patio is a friendly hive of activity around the breakfast table, a gathering spot where you might find everyone from local politi- cians to parents with strollers to randos pop- ping in for a caffeine fix. The café offers housemade quiches, benedicts, fluffy om- elets, and delicious pastries. Don’t sleep on the croissants — especially the ones filled with almond custard. BES T BR UNCH Honey Uninhibited 1777 SW THIRD AVENUE MIAMI, 33129 786-391-1090 HONEYUNINHIBITED.COM For Miamians, brunch has become the most important meal of the weekend — and, if done right, the most fun. While there are plenty of low-key spots to snag a decent meal on a re- laxing late morning or early afternoon, noth- ing says “Magic City by day” better than a good boozy brunch. At Honey Uninhibited, founder Carlos Dunlap offers precisely that from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week. Dun- lap’s establishment delivers a menu of South- ern staples that speak to the owner’s travels and roots. Signature dishes like the “Gullah Shrimp ’n Grits” hail from the famed foodie city of Charleston, South Carolina, while the “Sweet Chick Benny,” a breaded chicken thigh-topped waffle, is inspired by an entrée that left a lasting impression during a visit to Atlanta. If you’re living your life meat-free, a number of vegan dishes are regionally in- spired, from the egg-free scramble and ba- nana bread toast to a vegan burger. Quench your thirst with an “uninhibited” mimosa kit, which pairs sparkling wine (Moët if you’re splurging) with a choice of two juices, plus strawberries. BES T LUNCH Peacock Garden Resto Bar + Grill 2889 MCFARLANE ROAD MIAMI, 33133 305-774-3332 PEACOCKGARDENRESTOBAR.COM There’s nothing better than an alfresco lunch, and the outdoor patio at Peacock Garden Resto + Bar is a lush, secret oasis that feels like you’ve stepped into an exotic fantasy. The greenery serves as a natural cooling system, making the patio seem like a chill respite. To start, order some oysters (grilled or on the half-shell) and a glass of rosé, then follow up with a salad, a burger, or a seafood risotto. Be- cause every lunch is better when enjoyed with your furry friend, Peacock Garden offers a Tail Wagger menu, from which your pup can choose between salmon crudo or beef tartare as an entrée, and a blueberry puppyc- cino for dessert, along with free-flowing Evian water to ensure Fido stays well hy- drated. BES T DIM SUM Kon Chau Restaurant 8376 SW 40TH STREET (IN 84 SHOPPING PLAZA) MIAMI, 33155 305-553-7799 KONCHAUCHINESE.COM Strip-mall eating isn’t for everyone. But Kon Chau is the exception that proves the ADOGSLIFEPHOTO / GETT Y IMAGES JUNE 23-29, 2022 JUNE 23-29, 2022 NEW TIMES NEW TIMES BEST OF MIAMI® 2022 BEST OF MIAMI® 2022 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com
