Botica

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.