Pura Vida — Restaurant Review | Condé Nast Traveler
"What were your first impressions when you arrived? A bright and breezy all-day cafe with rattan furniture, whitewashed interiors, blond wood tables and an outdoor patio with turquoise tassled umbrellas giving shade to bistro tables. Started by husband-and-wife team Omer and Jennifer Horev, the brand has rapidly expanded with 12 locations throughout the city. This Design District outpost presents a supremely comfortable spot to do everything from grab a post-yoga smoothie to a coffee date with friends to a semi-casual business lunch. What’s the crowd like? It's a bustling crowd with plenty regulars passing through for their daily matcha latte (remembering to snap it for the 'gram) and everyone from parents with thousand-dollar strollers to tourists taking a break from luxury shopping in the Design District refueling with salads, sandwiches and bowls. It can on occasion feel too loud for laptop luggers to get work done, but that's not really the vibe here - it's more of a lively spot for a quick bite or caffeine fix. What should we be drinking? The list of beverages here skews to fresh juices and smoothies - "Omer’s Post-Workout Smoothie," made with blueberry, banana, spinach, almond butter, almond mylk, and vegan vanilla protein is a fan favorite - to the usual hot-to-iced coffee and tea choices, with ample alternative milk selections available. Main event: the food. Give us the lowdown—especially what not to miss. Creative salads, sandwiches, wraps and bowls for the health-conscious set. The menu draws inspiration from co-founder, Omer Horev’s Mediterranean roots and many of the dishes can be customized to cater to dietary needs with gluten-free and dairy-free options. Bowls can be made with cilantro rice, quinoa or mixed greens and get topped with free-range chicken, ahi tuna or salmon. And while it's not a vegan spot there's plenty for the plant-based crowd including avocado toasts and overnight oats, an array of acai bowls, and their signature vegan chocolate chip cookie. Plenty of decadent dishes also abound like the egg salad sandwich on a croissant (made fresh daily at the brand's headquarters) and a variety of baked goods enticingly displayed in glass cases at the front counter. And how did the front-of-house folks treat you? A super perky team ready to bring you more green tahini dressing if needed and pack dainty baby blue to-go bags for a steady stream of app orders. What’s the real-real on why we’re coming here? The all-day menu fills a niche in the Design District for a casual spot to meet up with friends or a quick lunch break that doesn't require too much effort but still feels stylish and satisfying." - Sara Liss
