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Miami has no shortage of amazing bars. You’ll find everything here, from local dives with a head-spinning selection of beer, to swanky lounges where mixologists sling complex cocktails as beautiful as they are delicious. But only the savviest locals know how to get their drink on without breaking the bank in a city that’s notoriously expensive. If you’re not yet in-the-know about Miami happy hour deals, don’t worry. We’ve put together a guide to some of the best happy hours in town, so you can sip easy.

Villa Azur

Looking for a happy hour that’s as bougie as it is budget-friendly? From 6:30-8:30 p.m. every day except Thursday, Villa Azur serves drinks at a 30% discount. You’ll need a dinner reservation to take advantage of the deal, but who wouldn’t want to follow up a round of drinks with some delectable French-Mediterranean cuisine?

309 23rd Street, Miami Beach

Minnow Bar

Crazy Cocktails of Seawell

Minnow Bar’s happy hour is arguably one of the best on the Beach. It takes place every night from 5-8 p.m. and features $5 beer and $6 cocktails (not well drinks, either — think simple favorites like Palomas, caipirinhas, daiquiris, and a mint-and-cucumber-infused vodka creation called the Miami Maid).

660 Washington Ave, Miami Beach

BLT Doral

Bourbon Steak-2

You don’t need to live in the heart of Miami to enjoy a killer happy hour — Doral’s BLT Prime hosts a great one Monday through Friday from 4-7 p.m. Beer and bites are just $5, and spirits and cocktails are $10. Visiting with a friend? You can share small plates and combos — like a chef’s board heaped with charcuterie and cheese paired with a glass of wine — for $15.

4400 NW 87th Avenue, Miami

R House Wynwood

R House Wynwood
R House Wynwood

This beloved restaurant in Miami’s Arts District is always buzzing, but never more so than during happy hour. Wednesday through Friday from 3-7 p.m., R House Wynwood hosts a “beat the clock” happy hour, with beer, house, cocktails, and wine starting at just $3. You’ll find all of the restaurant’s most popular bites served at a discount, too.

2727 NW 2nd Ave, Miami

Isabelle’s Grill Room & Garden

Isabelle’s Garden

Enjoy small plates and post-work cocktails al fresco at Isabelle’s Grill Room & Garden, located at the beautiful Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove. Pop in any weekday between 4 and 7 p.m. and you’ll enjoy 50% off all beverages by the glass and everything on the restaurant’s Secret Garden menu, which includes tasty shareable treats like Mediterranean mezze, gambas al ajillo, lollipop chicken wings and more.

3300 SW 27th Avenue

3300 SW 27th Avenue, Miami

Call Me Gaby

Call Me Gaby

Miami Beach’s laid-back, locally-loved South of Fifth neighborhood is the perfect area to unwind after a day at work, and Call Me Gaby serves up happy hour deals that are worth leaving the office early for. Weekdays from 4-6 p.m., enjoy a selection of $5 imported beer, $7 wine by the glass, $9 cocktails, and $9 Italian bites (including a charcuterie platter that’s to die for).

22 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach

Toscana Divino

Sporting a 2,000-square-foot outdoor piazza after a year-long renovation, Toscana Divino is back and better than ever before. The new al fresco patio will Brickell’s new “it-spot” after work, offering $3-$5 beers, $6-$9 wines, and $8 craft cocktails every day during happy hour from 3-6 p.m.

900 South Miami Avenue, Miami

dōma

If you’re craving a taste of traditional Italy after work, head to dōma in Wynwood. On weekdays from 6-8 p.m., the restaurant serves wine by the glass for $6.50, aperitifs for $7.50, craft cocktails for $7.50, and bar bites starting at $6 — don’t miss the mini burrata, bruschetta, and meatball dōma.

35 NE 26th Street, Miami

These timeless classics stay true to tradition and keeping it real

Keeping Up with Chef Chan of MR CHOW

Located at the W Hotel South Beach, MR CHOW has been a dining staple among celebrities and local foodies alike since 2009, taking authentic Chinese cuisine to gourmet heights. Since the restaurant’s opening, the kitchen has been spearheaded by Executive Chef Hing Fung Matt Chan, who every day conquers the almost impossible challenge of staying “on trend” with Miami culture while maintaining the authenticity of Beijing’s cuisine. DiningOut spoke with Chef Chan to learn more about his time in the kitchen and his culinary creations Miamians have come to crave.

DiningOut: You were part of the opening team at MR CHOW 10 years ago, what brought you to Miami?
Chef Hing Fung Matt Chan: I wanted to see the world and travel, so when I learned about the opportunity at MR CHOW through a well-known chef in Hong Kong, I thought it would be a great experience and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

You began your cooking career in 1992 in your hometown of Hong Kong; did you always want to be a chef?
Yes, even at a young age I pictured myself becoming a chef. My chef mentor not only taught me how to cook but also taught me about life.

What is your essential cooking tool in the kitchen?
A frying pan and kitchen knives!

Can you drop a hint on any new dishes you’re cooking up this season at MR CHOW?
I have made a few new dishes this season that will incorporate shredded chicken in Beijing sauce and sweet-and-sour pork.

What is your guilty pleasure on the MR CHOW menu?
I would say the Chashu (Cantonese roasted pork) on the MR CHOW Miami menu is one of my favorites. Although the MR CHOW menu is mostly based on Beijing cuisine, this is one of our best dishes, in my opinion. It’s a complex dish to make and every step of the cooking process is very important. Every dish is made to order here.

How do you stay up to date with the Miami food trends while still paying tribute to old authentic Beijing cuisine?
My idea is to keep the plating and garnishing trendy, but the cooking method has to follow the traditional way.

MR CHOW is famous for the best prepared Beijing Duck in the world—what sets this dish apart from everything else on the menu?
Beijing roast duck is much different compared to other dishes. Not only does it have a long history, it also has a complicated cooking process. The chef who is responsible for making the Beijing duck has to be highly skilled and have proper training. The taste of the duck skin is the most flavorful part and the key to this is to make it crispy but not greasy! Ideally, each piece should come with skin, sliced, wrapped with slices of scallion, and served with cucumber and a special duck sauce.

Legendary Tapas at Casa Juancho

Escape to Spain in this traditional Spanish restaurant offering tapas that will whisk you straight to the Iberian Peninsula. Just one of many fan favorites on the menu is the Jamón de Bellota—Iberian ham considered the finest in the world served with Manchego cheese and chistorra a la plancha (grilled Spanish sausage links). Seafood-lovers will find sanctuary among dishes like Sepia a la Plancha (grilled cuttlefish), Boquerones Fritos (fried fresh anchovies), and grilled octopus with potatoes. Save room for the Paella, crowned the best in town by many, and, in true Spanish fashion, explore the expansive collection of extraordinary wines.

Boulud Sud’s Chicken Tagine

Chef Daniel Boulud’s passion for Mediterranean flavors is evident in this downtown eatery. The menu’s Chicken Tagine—a Moroccan dish traditionally prepared in a clay vessel by the same name—has been a bestseller from day one. The secret lies in the cooking style, which lends itself to a moist and flavorful end result, as well as the combination of spices used. Boulud collaborated with spice guru Lior Lev Sercarz of La Boîte in New York to create a unique blend that includes rose petals, cumin, cardamom, and coriander. Presentation of the dish varies by season. In the summer, it is served with zucchini, yellow squash, and tomatoes while the winter months feature a garnish of cauliflower, turnips, and onions. Preserved lemons, Sicilian olives, and cilantro leaves complete the dish year round.

Powerful Pies at Call Me Gaby

Think back to the last time you had pizza. Did it leave you feeling uncomfortably full? Well, at Call Me Gaby, a cozy and romantic eatery located in the South of Fifth neighborhood, you will only feel comfortable bliss after eating the shop’s Pinsa Romana-style pizza. Why? It’s all about the dough, which undergoes an intense process of 72 hours of leavening. In turn, guests can enjoy an extra hydrated, light, airy, highly digestible, and delicious pizza. Named after beautiful and strong women—like Gabrielle “CoCo” Chanel (allegedly the restaurant’s namesake)—some of the favorite gourmet pies include bold creations like the Carla, made with Mortadella, basil pesto, and pistachio crumble, or the Andrea, made with fig jam, fresh stracciatella, speck Alto Adige, and fresh rosemary. The Pinsa possibilities are endless at Call Me Gaby. Between the dose of girl-power mixed with fierce pizza and an atmosphere resembling the French Riviera, it makes for a perfect dining experience you won’t stop talking about.

By DiningOut Staff

Call Me Gaby {22 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.531.4800}

Who is Gaby? It’s not just one woman, but all women who are elegant, strong, stylish, talented, and of course, show no mercy in the kitchen—especially when it comes to Pinsa Romana-style pizza! At Call Me Gaby, located in the South of Fifth neighborhood, owners Cathy and Anthony take you on a journey where a taste of Italy meets the South of France. The cozy and romantic décor with light wood, rustic furniture, and striped umbrellas truly capture the essence of the French Riviera. And, the charm doesn’t stop with the ambience, but rather is carried over to their signature dishes where the ingredients are mostly imported from Italy.

At Call Me Gaby, it’s all about the dough—incredibly fulfilling and delicious, yet won’t leave you feeling overly stuffed! How is that possible? Well, the dough undergoes a 72 hour leavening process as part of a centuries old tradition. The end result of this process is an incredibly light, airy, easy to digest, and mouthwatering dough that’s not only used for their Pinsa, but even their homemade focaccia and decadent dessert pizzas!

As you enjoy the crispy and fresh-out-of-the-oven focaccia, sip on your favorite Italian wine or pair it with a signature cocktail, such as the Gaby Margarita, a lychee martini, or the Black Forest Manhattan made with Rye whiskey infused with berries, sweet vermouth, and chocolate bitters.

Fresh out of the oven Focaccia

When it comes to the menu at Call Me Gaby, leave your passport behind, but fasten your seatbelt for a tastebud trip to Italy! Start your meal with the kitchen’s take on an antipasti served in a mason jar or with the refreshing watermelon salad served in the rind topped with goat cheese, mint, lemon zest, and pistachio crumble. Authentic is the word that comes to mind when describing the fare at Call Me Gaby and that rings true for one Italian favorite—the meatballs. As the Pot of Meatballs is placed on the table the fragrant smell of the homemade dish with whipped ricotta and chives follows, and you won’t be able to refrain from saying, “mmm!”

And, the “mmm” moments continue with Call Me Gaby’s homemade pastas and acclaimed pizzas. The girl-powered pizza shop, names all its pies after strong women. Find pizzas like the Andrea, made with Fig jam, fresh stracciatella, speck Alto Adige, and fresh rosemary; The Carla, made with mortadella, basil pesto, and pistachio crumble; or the Barbara, made with pumpkin cream, pancetta, smoked mozzarella, and shaved Pecorino-Romano. These are just a few of the adventurous and creative Pinsa pies on offer.

And of course, there are classic pizzas on the menu like the Romana with San Marzano tomatoes, anchovies, capers, black olives, and imported extra virgin olive oil; and the Diavola with San Marzano tomatoes, Fior di Latte, calabrese salami, and extra virgin olive oil.

After dinner, head to the lounge area for dessert and a nightcap. Whether you’re looking for a classic dessert like the tiramisù, the chocolate lava cake, or a dessert pizza, it’s sure to be nothing short of deliciously elegant. In the words of CoCo Chanel, “A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” This is what Call Me Gaby is all about. Is it a coincidence that the French fashion designer’s first name was Gaby? We think not!

By Loren Gutentag, contributing writer