Bar Review - The good life at Pura Vida

Genre: South of the border spirits and tapas

Where to: Located in the same boxy building as Soul Vegetarian, Pura Vida's windows twinkle against the slightly darker and pleasantly less-crowded Poncey-Highlands portion of North Highland Avenue.

The Scene: Named after the Spanish phrase for "the good life," the stage is set with clay-colored stucco-style walls, offset by bright paintings, warm lighting and soft chenille-draped booths.

The clientele: Just like any good Spanish restaurant, people of all varieties flock here for a casual celebratory evening. Keep your eyes peeled, however, for the occasional slumming yuppie in khakis or jeans trying to impress a girl with this great place he "found."

Drinks: The good life is found in Pura Vida's large selection of beverages, including a number of non-alcoholic favorites like jarritos and malta. Name a cocktail found south of the border and they'll have it. Standout favorites include tart caipirinhas, sweet mojitos and both red and white sangria.

Specialty cocktails like the Sex in Santiago or the Pisco Sour will satisfy those in the mood for something new. The former is a Latin-style cosmopolitan featuring Pura Vida's specialty aphrodisiac juice — a sweet and slightly spicy cranberry juice — and pisco, a grapey liquor similar to grappa. The latter uses the same alcohol only mixed with fresh lime juice for a pleasant combination of sweet and sour.

Munchies: A wide selection of unique tapas helps dull the effects of one too many caipirinhas. Served with mushroom dip or avocado aioli, malanga chips satisfy drinking-related starch cravings, while tuna ceviche, chicken empanadas and hanger steak pinchos offer a more savory oral fix.

Wallet impact: While drinks center in the affordable $4-$7 range, at $5.50 a pop the tapas could leave you feeling quite poor.

Peligro!: Given that more drinks just make you crave more food, it's advisable to come armed with a Platinum Visa.

For those who want to drink like they're in Buckhead while dining like they're in Va-Hi, another drink of note is the Rum Bomb. The highly intoxicating blend of Bacardi 151, Black and Limon hides its power behind a super-sweet blend of the aforementioned aphrodisiac juice and fresh OJ.

One final note of caution: Begin, rather than end, the evening on the Rum Bomb, or risk a man-sized hangover.

Pura Vida. Sun.-Thurs. 5:30 p.m.- 10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 5:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. 656 N. Highland Ave. 404-870-9797.