Pura Vida Tapas & Bar

Atlanta's best true tapas shine in VaHi.

by Jonathan Baker

This cozy Virginia-Highland spot ranks high on the romantic-o-meter with its restored brick, rich colors and large picture windows facing the trendy North Highland Avenue. Atlanta’s most sophisticated take on Latin flavors, the tapas are some of the best in the city, though prices have risen in recent years and authentic bites like roasted goat have been replaced with slightly more Americanized choices like pizza Latinas. While chef Hector Santiago does everything fantastically well, you didn’t come here to get a burrito. Traditional staples like ceviche or pinchos--delicate slices of hanger steak marinated in a chimichurri sauce--give reason to cheer, though los riburgers (sliders) seem like a desperate attempt to be something Pura Vida isn’t. Thankfully, nothing has changed with the sangria and mojitos--still wonderfully presented and delightfully loaded.

03/10/09

Flavor, fun and fabulous!

by qutegirl

I loved this place. I was seeing people of all kinds here. Out of town, family, friends, first dates....good people watching. Great place to meet up. Easy to find. You can tell that they care. The staff has fun but the real WOW factor is in the freshness of the ingrediants. You can just tell that everything is hand picked and super fresh from the beans and produce to the meet. Really authentic and the best part is you can afford it!

• Pros: service!!!
• Cons: parking

03/02/09

RE: ABSOLUTE RIPOFF.OVERHYPED

by MRSKIPPY

Dear Mr. buckheadman,

Might I suggest, next time you go to a restaurant you're not familiar with, read the menu as soon as you walk in the door. Also, if it was such a bad experience, why did you stay and go through with the dining experience?? My guess is that you couldn't afford it and you didn't want to embarrass yourself in front of your date?! Or, maybe your date was terrible and you just needed to vent your frustrations.

Mr. Buckheadman, you need to find something to do with your time! There's way to many restaurateurs that will always venture and frequent Pura Vida. The buck doesn't stop with you!!

• Pros: Awesome food, eclectic art work, amazing drinks

03/01/09

Hands down best tapas in Atlanta

by hutchcleveland

I have been a devoted fan of Hector Santiago for years. I have never had a bad experience at Pura Vida. This restaurant has something that is so important yet lacking in so many restaurants and that is consistency. Also, chef Hector deserves the utmost respect for using fresh local ingredients and supporting our local farmers and small businesses. I went in today to try their acclaimed brunch menu which was what I expected, nothing less than spectacular. I originally wanted to write about all of the great items we tried but am choosing instead to use my words to respond to the incredibly rude and INACCURATE review written by jerkoffman, excuse me, I mean buckheadman. Sir, you sure sound like an awfully miserable person. I pity you for that. I'm sorry that your life is so lousy and dull that you have nothing better to do with your time than try and trash a local business and it's hard working chef. Hector Santiago is extremely talented and your hateful ranting is completely fallacious and ridiculous. If you've ever eaten tapas, like you claim you have, you would know the portions and prices there are average. There is a reason Pura Vida has won NUMEROUS awards and the chef is one of only 3 Atlanta chefs who are semi finalists for a James Beard award. Since you obviously don't appreciate creative and innovative cuisine, I'm sure you'd be a much happier person if you stuck to the boring cookie cutter restaurants in Buckhead, or maybe try a Happy Meal at McDonalds. Better yet, why don't you just cook for yourself? And what exactly should Pura Vida be ashamed of? Receiving the first honored AJC Restaurant of the Year? Star Chef award? Or maybe making the best of tapas list year after year in Creative Loafing and Atlanta magazine? You sir, are the one who should be ashamed for wishing failure on an established restaurant and it's dedicated employees. I am appalled that during these difficult financial times someone would say something so malicious.

• Pros: tapas, drinks, service
• Cons: Can be a wait, go during "off" times

02/28/09

ABSOLUTE RIPOFF. OVERHYPED.

by buckheadman

I'm completely baffled as to how people can give excellent reviews for this place. In addition, to whomever wrote the citysearch review saying that the tapas plates are a steal, WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING??? Give me whatever you're smoking because this place is a complete rip off. It is SEVERELY overpriced and SEVERELY underportioned for even TAPAS CUISINE. Yes. Duh. I know this is not a place to gorge or pig out at and that is why I capitalized tapas cuisine. For that specific standard, it is still outrageously subpar.

I will never recommend this place to anybody. I will exert all effort to persuade people to steer absolutely clear of this place. Pura Vida should be ashamed of themselves, and they have earned themselves a customer who will try with all his power to negatively affect this restaurant. STAY AWAY and I hope they go out of business.

• Pros: None.
• Cons: Price/Ambience/Value

02/11/09

Great Brunch, Great Tapas

by Vinoloca

I've been to Pura Vida a few times, and they are always doing something new and exciting. Their brunch menu is unique and delicious... especially the pineapple french toast. It is equisite. The deconstructed spanish omelet is one of my favorites as well! Pura Vida now has $3 tapas specials on the weekdays that are a great deal. They usually have about 8 or so, and we typically wind up ordering almost all of them. It's one of the best deals in Atlanta. The staff is very knowledgeable, and helpful. I went to a birthday party with a large group this week, in one of their private dining rooms. The food was delicious... the mussels are some of the best in the City and the mofongo (fried mashed plantains with slow cooked goat) is one of my favorites. Chef Santiago is amazing!

• Pros: Great Food, Great Prices
• Cons: may have to wait

02/10/09

Best Tapas in Atlanta!

by dianein30319

I have been to many of the tapas restaurants in Atlanta. Pura Vida is serving up some unique items. Had no idea that they did so many weekly events. I am looking forward to Mojito Monday when the weather gets better!!! This was my first time there. I love Virginia Highlands and there are a few places to choose from, but this seems to have a much more social atmosphere. Try the Shrimp CEVICHE. Haven't had any this good in Atlanta yet!! I looked at the Brunch menu and will have to check it out!

• Pros: Easy Parking during the week.
• Cons: Busy, short wait but worth it

01/17/09

Fit for foodies!

by KaitlynW

I don't understand the complaints about portions being too small. I mean they're tapas, they're meant to be small. I spent some time in Spain, where tapas originated, and they're even smaller over there. And some of the tapas we ordered were huge, like the pizza. The empanadas were quite big and filling too. And mmm, the plate of mussels were big too and SO DELICIOUS! I recommend getting extra bread for the yummy leftover sauce. Our server was great at helping us with the menu and recommending things for us.

• Pros: food, drinks, service
• Cons: ?

01/12/09

Portion sizes that keep you slim (and hungry!)

by hanajon

The food tastes good. No argument there. But I would be embarrassed to serve such tiny portions for $7 to $10. The marginal cost of putting another dollop on the plate is negligible. It just sends a message that making money is more important than centuries-old traditions of hospitality and graciousness. Even our server was surprised that, thanks to a heavy hand on the ice, the pitcher of sangria meant to fill six glasses was empty after filling four. Why so parsimonious with the portions? I guess I'll never find out---I've been there six or seven times and I'm done with it.

• Pros: Good food, artfully presented in most cases
• Cons: Eensy weensy portions that can't be shared easily (which is the point with tapas, no?)

05/29/08

Love at first bite

by panophobic

Love this place. The food and service here have always been great. The ambiance is very romantic in a casual way -- great place for a date! I love getting a pitcher of sangria. Instead of putting ice in the pitcher, they serve it with glasses of ice so you can drink it as fast or as slow as you want and you don't have to worry about it getting watered down. One of my favorite dishes is the ceviche de hongitos. It's a subtle yet delicious melange of delicately flavored ingredients that play off of each other so well - mushrooms, celery hearts, salty aged cheese, and spicy yet fruity peppers. Mmm.

• Pros: Great for a date, awesome food
• Cons: Narrowing down what you want to eat :)