On Wednesday, October 15, the Michelin Key-recognized Betsy Hotel will relaunch The Alley, its beloved trattoria-style pizzeria helmed by award-winning celebrity Chef Laurent Tourondel. The neighborhood favorite returns with a refreshed menu highlighting 16-inch New York-style pizza with a signature soft, bubbly crust, along with flavorful salads, artisanal cheeses and salumi, and Chef Tourondel’s signature creations.
A respite from the bustle of Ocean Drive, The Alley retains its warm, welcoming atmosphere with floor-to-ceiling windows, eccentric pendant light fixtures, organic materials like bamboo and raffia, and eclectic art pieces, like the critically acclaimed “Neon Gandhi” by artist Val Kilmer, a glowing LED neon portrait of global peace activist Mahatma Gandhi. The 1,327-square-foot indoor dining room, with seating for 66, is anchored by a rustic stone pizza oven where the pies are made fresh daily. The outdoor dining area, with seating for 24, continues to offer an unobstructed view of the ever-changing art projections on “The Betsy Orb,” the renowned egg-shaped sculpture by architect Allan Shulman that serves as both a unique canvas and a bridge connecting the hotel’s two historic buildings.
“The Betsy has always been more than a hotel; it’s a cultural destination,” said Chef Laurent Tourondel, who has been shaping The Betsy’s culinary legacy for over 15 years. “Reintroducing The Alley is an exciting step in our evolving food and beverage spaces. We invite guests to rediscover The Alley through fresh flavors and familiar favorites, all served with soul.”
The Alley’s New York-style pizzas were developed from a new dough recipe Chef Tourondel created himself. Each 16-inch pie features a soft, airy crust with the perfect texture and char. Guests can build their own pizza by choosing a White or Red base ($26) and selecting from more than a dozen curated toppings, including Prosciutto ($8), Pesto ($3), Soppressata Piccante ($6) and more. Delicious on its own, every bite can be elevated with Crust Dippers ($3)—a selection of indulgent sauces including truffle aioli, hot honey, classic pesto and ranch.
Staying true to The Alley’s ethos of ingredient-driven simplicity, the menu also offers fresh starters and salads. Highlights include the Arthur Ave. Chopped ($16), made with salami, provolone, pepperoncini, gem lettuce and filone croutons, and crisp Calamari Fritti ($18), served with zucchini, lemon aioli and zippy marinara.
The Formaggi & Salumi boards continue to celebrate the finest Italian meats and cheeses, allowing guests to build their own boards with three ($20) or five ($26) selections. Choices range from cured meats like Prosciutto San Daniele and Mortadella with Pistachio to cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano and Buffalo Mozzarella. Each board is served alongside quince marmalade, truffle honey-roasted hazelnuts and filone bread.
For a classic Italian finale, the dessert menu includes a creamy, coffee-soaked Tiramisu ($12); decadent Gelato flavors like Chocolate and Hazelnut ($8); and house-made soft-serve ice cream with inventive twists like Chocolate-Vanilla Swirl with Amaretti Crumble.
The Alley’s beverage program offers a thoughtful selection of wines, draft and bottled beers, and signature cocktails. Guests can enjoy Betsy Rosa, The Betsy Hotel’s exclusive, draft house beer. Cocktails celebrate the spirit of Italy with refreshing spritzes such as the classic Aperol Spritz, Hugo Spritz and Limoncello Spritz. The hotel’s best-selling Espresso Martini also makes an appearance at The Alley, joined by the Italian Mojito—a herbaceous twist made with fresh basil—and additional signature creations.
Later this year, The Alley will introduce pizza-making classes inspired by Chef Tourondel’s own dough-making journey, giving guests a chance to shape, top and taste their own creations.
Located at 1433 Collins Ave., The Alley is accessible from both Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue via 14th Place. The restaurant will reopen to the public on Wednesday, October 15, and operate Wednesday through Sunday from 5-11 p.m. For menus, reservations or more information, visit thebetsyhotel.com/dine/the-
About The Alley
Perched in the breezeway of 14th Place between Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue, The Alley is a trattoria-style pizzeria led by award-winning Chef Laurent Tourondel. This hidden gem celebrates traditional Italian flavors with a contemporary flair, featuring artisanal pizzas, flavorful salads, fresh cheeses and meats, and creamy soft-serve ice cream all within a warm and welcoming space. The Alley’s menu is complemented by an expansive selection of beer, wine and spirits, ensuring a perfect pairing for every dish. Guests can enjoy their experience in the dining room or on the charming 24-seat patio. They can also take their favorites to-go by ordering from the Ventanita, a walk-up window serving freshly brewed coffee and soft serve underneath the hotel’s distinct poetry rail.
About The Betsy
Recognized as a Michelin Key hotel, The Betsy is a 130-room, family owned and operated, independent luxury oceanfront boutique resort located within South Beach’s Art Deco Historic District. The celebrated resort opened in March 2009 following a complete restoration of the historic Betsy Ross hotel and later underwent a groundbreaking expansion in December 2016, merging with the former Art Deco Carlton Hotel. The Betsy is home to LT Steak & Seafood, helmed by award-winning Chef Laurent Tourondel, as well as The Piano Bar which is widely regarded for live jazz. The hotel also boasts a 3,200 square foot rooftop complex with swimming pool, property library and nearly 25,000 square feet of special event space. Known widely as a world-leading literary hotel, The Betsy offers jazz nine times a week, classical music pop-ups, major art exhibitions, poetry readings, and a renowned artist residency program that has welcomed more than 1,500 writers and creatives since its inception in 2009. Public art includes “The Betsy Orb,” an egg-shaped architectural masterpiece that also serves as a functional bridge connecting the hotel’s two buildings and “The Betsy Poetry Rail,” an installation of poetry etched into metal by water jets, celebrating 12 poets that shaped Miami history and culture. The Betsy’s hospitality motto is Expect no more. This is Happiness. – words penned by poet Hyam Plutzik (1911-62), a three-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, and the father of owner Jonathan Plutzik whose literary legacy inspires Betsy hospitality.
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