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Kush Hospitality Group loves a good bar theme. They’ve given us Hialeah speakeasy La Cocina Cocteleria, Wynwood’s backdoor beer market La Botanica and, most recently, Brickell’s Babylon Club—a throwback to Scarface-era Miami. Next week, Kush introduces us to the strange and wonderful world of local greats named Don with Don’s 5 Star Dive Bar, tucked just under Café Kush at the Selina Gold Dust Motel in MiMo.
It’s the group’s first proper lounge so owner Matt Kuscher is laying the nostalgia on thick with a special nod to Miami’s most famous Dons at every turn. There’s the intro to Miami Vice, which starred Don Johnson, streaming on loop in the 1,000-square-foot space. An authentic Don Bailey Carpeting sign gifted by the man himself anchors the dimly lit space while the bathrooms really take the whole Don theme to the next level—think a life-size, Miami-fied Don Johnson plastered on each stall, a recreation of the Don Shula Expressway sign (honoring the former Dolphins football coach) and a portrait of Donna Shalala (former University of Miami president).
The drink menu follows suit with a cocktail inspired by and named for a different Don, including the Sabado Gigante (Don Francisco) with gin, St. Germaine and hibiscus; and Donnie Hates Yoohoo (Don Struck) with vodka, rum, coffee liqueur and espresso served in a Nesquik container. With so many options—and ingredients!—Don’s is keeping food simple with your choice of a lunchbox combo (PB&J, a bag of chips and a mini candy bar served in a vintage lunch box) and house-made French onion dip and kelly chips.
Is your name Don? You’ll want to be first on opening day, and every day thereafter. Don’s 5 Star Dive Bar is treating its namesakes (including Dawns and Donnas) to a free shot from its neoprene bong. Talk about paying it forward.
Don’s 5 Star Dive Bar opens on July 9 and is located inside the Selina Gold Dust Motel at 7700 Biscayne Boulevard (305-985-4764, kushhospitality.com).
