Q&A: BÂOLI Miami Reopens

Photography by Alejandro Chavarria on March 23rd, 2023 in Editorials, Lifestyle

Gregory Galy & Michael Ridard

Miami Beach, FL – March 23, 2023 – BÂOLI Miami, the iconic restaurant and nightlife venue located on Collins Avenue in South Beach, reopened to the public on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Under the direction of Riviera Dining Group (RDG), BÂOLI Miami will launch with a new menu exploring Indonesian, Thai, Indian, Balinese and Nepalese flavors, colorful ingredients and cooking techniques. The updated aesthetic will transport guests with lush tropical foliage, a curated mural from artist Mateo Humano, two back-lit walls ideal for perfect photo moments, gold finishings, and exotic wood. RDG is known for operating some of Florida’s most exciting experiential hospitality concepts including Miami hotspots MILA, MILA Omakase, MILA Lounge and MM Club, as well as AVA MediterrAegean and MM Club in Winter Park, FL.

In this Q&A, World Red Eye went behind the scenes with Fabien Guardiola, Michael Ridard & Marine Giron Galy to get an exclusive look at BÂOLI Miami. Read the full Q&A below!

WRE: Tell us about the BÂOLI brand…

Michael Ridard & Marine Giron Galy: A Miami icon, BÂOLI Miami is relaunched under the operations of Riviera Dining Group. Inspired by Southeast Asia, BÂOLI introduces elevated colorful cuisine inspired by Balinese, Thai, and Indian flavors, ingredients, and cooking techniques. The Miami venue takes inspiration from the brand’s flagship location, BÂOLI Cannes — an instant hit amongst A-list clientele and the movers-and-shakers of the French Riviera since its debut in 1999. Mirroring the Cannes location’s transformative nature that allows guests to smoothly transition from dining to nightlife, BÂOLI Miami seamlessly merges France’s trademark sophistication with Miami’s unique vibrancy.

WRE: What went in to the renovation, what was your inspiration?

MR & MGG: With décor and ambience that pays homage to the original concept and brand with elevated offerings and touchpoints signature to Riviera Dining Group’s portfolio of brands, BÂOLI’s updated aesthetic transports guests with lush tropical foliage, a curated mural from artist Mateo Humano, two back-lit walls ideal for perfect photo moments, gold finishings, and exotic wood.

Fabien Guardiola, Marine Giron Galy, Gregory Galy, Michael Ridard, & Chef Michael Michaelidis

BÂOLI’s updated aesthetic transports guests with lush tropical foliage

Michael Ridard & Marine Giron Galy

Fabien Guardiola, Marine Giron Galy, Gregory Galy, Michael Ridard, & Chef Michael Michaelidis

WRE: What should guests expect with the new BÂOLI?

MR & MGG: BÂOLI Miami will have curated programming including live entertainment, and a rotating lineup of the world’s top and up-and-coming DJ talent, setting the stage for elevated bottle service, vibrant nights, and an unforgettable upbeat atmosphere.

WRE: Will you still be doing the special theme nights?

MR & MGG: Yes- BÂOLI Miami will usher in new and exciting theme nights to celebrate the night away as well as bring back ‘My Boyfriend is out of town’.

WRE: This is the next concept for RDG, what are the plans for the future?

Fabien Guardiola, MR & MGG: Riviera Dining Group (RDG) is the innovative hospitality company behind Miami hotspots MILA, MILA Omakase, MILA Lounge and MM Club, as well as AVA MediterrAegean and MM Club in Winter Park, FL. RDG transforms how people experience dining and creates moments with high-end, luxurious, and transportative cuisine. The luxury hospitality group has an impressive team of partners, chefs and managers who have worked extensively to elevate the brand to what it is today including 26-Michelin Starred Chef Michaël Michaelidis, partner & head of culinary. RDG empowers all of its outlets to elevate culinary standards and achieve a new level of gastronomic excellence across the group’s entire portfolio. Future projects for RDG include CASA NEOS, an ambitious project encompassing 4 different settings on the Miami River, AVA MediterrAegean in Coconut Grove.

WRE: What are some of the specialty food and drink items?

MR & MGG: Under RDG’s culinary direction, BÂOLI Miami’s extensive new menu will offer South East Asian fusion cuisine, exploring unique and diverse Asian flavors featuring only the freshest ingredients. Small plates include toro & caviar, made with fatty tuna and Osetra caviar and pork belly served between steamed buns and garnished with pickled cucumbers. Tributing its roots, the menu offers maki rolls including the negitoro served with smokey shoyu and shiso along with crudos such as the crispy rice, made with either tuna tartare and dried pineapple or salmon tartare and yuzu kosho, and the tuna watermelon marinated with citrus and drizzled with truffle sauce. For the main course, guests can relish in BÂOLI’s salmon served with Panang curry and garnished with Thai basil or the pineapple Nasi Goreng, Balinese fried rice served with chicken & shrimp. Ending the night on a sweeter note, guests can choose from a variety of delicacies such as the pistachio warm cake, served with hazelnut ice cream and white chocolate or the crème brulée infused with lemongrass and topped with wild berries.

Guests can luxuriate in BÂOLI’s new cocktails such as the rainforest — a refreshing herbal cocktail made with lime juice, basil syrup, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto, Citadelle Gin, and Fever Tree Sparkling Lime and Yuzu soda — or the Thaï break — a vibrant, tropical cocktail made with lime juice, pineapple juice, passion fruit syrup, Belvedere Pear and Ginger Vodka, and Fever Tree Ginger Beer.