Botica

"Botica, a Spanish-Mexican restaurant with a lively, family-friendly atmosphere, embodies the same charm as your life-of-the-party cousin who’s adamant about bringing everyone together. The popular stop has the “come-as-you-are” energy of classic Atlanta restaurants like R. Thomas, which is just down the road. Start with the tangy halibut ceviche. Then pair their notoriously strong mango or watermelon margaritas with solid tacos even picky eaters will dig. Think carne asada, lamb birria, and chicken shawarma. Grab a seat on the always-packed, colorful patio, which is a great place to chill and people-watch. Or, hang out at the large central bar where you can watch bartenders bop to Bad Bunny, Biggie, and classic salsa tunes." - demarco williams, nina reeder, juli horsford, jacinta howard

"Nothing screams summertime like pastels, huge umbrellas, and a watermelon margarita. Check all three boxes at Botica in Buckhead, a Spanish-Mexican restaurant with a lively, family-friendly atmosphere. The outdoor patio, surrounded by lush greenery, is well-suited for huddling with friends or getting in some solo people-watching. Start with tangy halibut ceviche, and make sure you order the carne asada tacos—one of our consistent favorites." - nina reeder, demarco williams, juli horsford, jacinta howard

"Owned by chef Mimmo Alboumeh (former owner of Red Pepper Taqueria), Botica fuses Mexican, Spanish, and Lebanese flavors and ingredients into the dishes served here. This includes during brunch with a breakfast burrito stuffed with chorizo, chilaquiles, and shakshuka. Order a mimosa flight for $40, which comes with a bottle of sparkling wine, a mixer, and choice of juice." - Beth McKibben, Sarra Sedghi

"Botica, a Buckhead Spanish-Mexican restaurant with a lively, kid-friendly atmosphere, has the same irresistible charm as your life-of-the-party cousin who’s adamant about bringing the family together. We love eating on the spacious patio, which is accented in bright pastels and cuddled by greenery. Chilly nights are no deterrent here. Staff will pull down the patio’s retractable wall, keeping the warmth from the heaters enclosed as you savor your strong watermelon margarita and munch on nachos loaded with corn, black beans, and queso.  " - juli horsford, jacinta howard, nina reeder

"Botica, a Buckhead Spanish-Mexican restaurant with a lively, kid-friendly atmosphere, embodies the same charm as your life-of-the-party cousin who’s adamant about bringing everyone together. Vibrant neon signs stop just short of doing too much, one of which features the chef reflecting the Nirvana-esque “come-as-you-are” energy of classic Atlanta restaurants like R. Thomas, which is just down the road. Start with the tangy halibut ceviche. Then pair their notoriously strong mango or watermelon margaritas with solid (carne asada, lamb birria, and chicken shawarma) tacos that even picky eaters will dig. Grab a seat at the large central bar where you can watch bartenders bop to Bad Bunny, Biggie, and classic salsa tunes, or as we sometimes do, you can casually watch sports on overhead screens, and ear hustle conversations taking place on the brightly colored, always-packed adjacent patio. photo credit: PR" - Jacinta Howard