Loca Luna
Loca Luna is a tapas restaurant and bar in Midtown Atlanta that features live music and salsa, samba and merengue dancing. The menu includes tapas from Spain, South America and the Caribbean. Some of the tapas are nachos, hummus, lula frita (fried calamari), vodka penne, Caesar salad, grilled asparagus and empanada de carne (braised beef brisket empanadita).
Other menu items include chicken, beef or grouper tacos and paella. Loca Luna boasts a large dance floor, outdoor patio and a full-service bar. Mojitos and margaritas are among the most popular drinks. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual, though some dress up for dancing, especially late night on weekends. Prices are moderate and range from $10 to $20 per meal.
550 Amsterdam Ave. N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 875-4494
loca-luna.com
Noche
Noches is a trendy, Spanish tapas bar with one location in the Virginia Highlands intown neighborhood and one in suburban Vinings. The atmosphere is colorful and fun, with bright walls, exposed brick, wooden tables and Spanish-style artwork. Noche offers a full bar with many types of tequila, and the margaritas are always a hit.
Noche is open daily for dinner and on weekends for lunch as well. Menu items include mix and match tapas options, ranging from queso fundido with chips and salsa to barbecued chicken pizza, fried plantains, fish tacos, friend lobster tail and shrimp and jalapeno cheese grits with chorizo sausage. Prices are moderate, with meals ranging from $10 to $20.
Noche Highlands
1000 Virginia Ave N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30306-3669
(404) 815-9155
h2sr.com/noche-highlands
Noche Vinings
2850 Paces Ferry Road N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30339
(770) 432-3277
h2sr.com/noche-vinings
Pura Vida Tapas & Bar
Pura Vida Tapas & Bar in Atlanta's popular Poncey Highlands neighborhood serves tapas inspired by the tastes of Spain and Latin America. Menu items include calamari, tilapia tica ceviche, pizzas Latinas, chicken empanadas, boneless short rib, mushrooms in chipotle garlic butter and fried green plantains. Pura Vida offers a variety of wines, available by the glass or bottle. The atmosphere is romantic, with rich colors and restored brick. Prices are moderate, ranging from $15 to $30 per meal.
656 N. Highland Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 870-9797
puravidatapas.com
About The Author
Marnie Kunz has been an award-winning writer covering fitness, pets, lifestyle, entertainment and health since 2003. Her articles have been published in "The Atlanta Journal-Constitution," "Alive," "The Marietta Daily Journal," "The Hillsborough Beacon," and "The Paper." Kunz holds a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing from Knox College.
