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Buena Vida - Arlington, Arlington, VA

Buena Vida - Arlington

4.1 (809)
$30 and under
Mexican
2900 Wilson Blvd, Suite 1, Arlington, VA 22201

Make a reservation

2 people
8:30 PM
Booked 11 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for groups
  • Good for special occasions
  • Lively
Buena Vida promises more than great food; it provides a space to make memories. We pride ourselves in guiding customers through a curated menu, going beyond the expectations of hospitality, and leaving them to enjoy the company they are with.

Our tables are a gathering place for good conversation and community so people feel energized by the creativity of the food and drinks, excellent service, and time with loved ones.

Each table has 2h time limit. 2h time limit does not apply for reservations made after 1:00pm on Saturday and Sunday due to service closure at 3:00pm.
Rooftop seating cannot be reserved and it is only available on first come-first served basis. Unlimited dining is not available on our rooftop - a la carte menu will be offered instead. Rooftop will not be open for brunch service.
To best meet our standard, we highly recommend against the Buena Vida Experience service 1h prior to kitchen closing.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Traditional Mexican, Latin American
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 12:00 pm–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Ismael Lopez
  • Neighborhood
    Arlington
  • Cross street
    Filmore Street
  • Parking details
    Street parking or Public lot
  • Public transit
    Buena Vida is located at 2900 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, Virginia 22201, just two blocks from theClarendon metro accessible on the orange and silver lines. Parking is available in the ColonialParking Garage at 1303 North Filmore Street.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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What 809 people are saying

Buena Vida - Arlington reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.1
4.1 based on recent ratings
  • 4.0Food
  • 3.9Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 3.9Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Buena Vida - Arlington offers a lively rooftop experience, highlighted by a "fun and lively atmosphere" and tasty food. While some guests found service inconsistent, others praised the staff for being "phenomenal" and accommodating during special occasions. The brunch menu is particularly celebrated for being "amazing and a great deal."
809 Reviews
  1. Nicole

    Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill1 review

    3.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The service was good, the atmosphere was beautiful, the drinks were ok, the food was subpar at best.

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  2. Abby

    Greater Boston2 reviews

    1.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    Food is great, but the service is incredibly slow and inattentive. For the price point (average of about $50/head), I expected WAY better service. Cocktails took about 15 minutes to arrive after we ordered our first round (the ice in mine was completely melted, almost like it had been sitting out for awhile). Appetizers and entrees came out at the same time even though we had asked to have our appetizers first because that's the point of an appetizer...? (this happened to us the first time we came as well, which is frustrating). Our server appeared once to take our order and then we never saw them again. We had to get up from our table to flag down a manager to get another round of drinks, and we also had to flag down several other people for water numerous times. Restaurant is way too loud - hard to have a conversation with the person sitting next to you, you basically have to yell. There are plenty of other great restaurants in the area where one can have a better experience. We won't be returning, and we wouldn't recommend.

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  3. Desmond

    Washington, D.C. Area17 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Celebrated my son’s graduation. We had a good time he’s begging to do back.

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  4. Marian

    Unspecified1 review

    3.0

    Dined on June 15, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    The food was OK nothing exceptional. It was very confusing as how to order and how much food would come out. In the beginning, we had so much food coming out at us.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Diane VIP

    Portland / Oregon66 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 10, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Nice rooftop experience with good food. Good drinks

    Is this helpful?

  6. Melissa VIP

    London4 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on June 8, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    The quality of the food in the unlimited brunch menu was questionable. Nothing impressed us. The server was kind but did not appear to have extensive knowledge of the dishes' preparation.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Raquel

    San Diego3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on June 8, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    The brunch unlimited tapas menu was amazing and a great deal! Very fun and lively atmosphere.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Cornell

    Washington, D.C. Area2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The general manager and her staff was phenomenal. Loved the way we was taken care of and even went above and beyond. Will def be going back.

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  9. James VIP

    Central Kentucky10 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on June 5, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    We had a large group that was seated in an area with no lighting. We had to use our phones for lights. 10 people should be served by at least 2 servers, but we only had 1 (whenever he would show up). Drink orders were slow and incorrect. Food was also slow and incorrect. I’ve been here with small groups and for happy hours which has been fine, but if you’re going with a large group plan to go elsewhere unless you are okay with overpaying and waiting forever.

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  10. Amanda VIP

    Washington, D.C. Area6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The waitress was great, very attentive, food was wonderful! A good time had by all! They even brought out a nice dessert to help in celebrating my daughters birthday!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Buena Vida - Arlington offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (703) 888-1259.

Buena Vida - Arlington is rated 4.1 stars by 809 OpenTable diners.

Buena Vida - Arlington does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Washington, D.C. Area
  4. Virginia - DC Suburbs
  5. Arlington

Make a reservation

2 people
8:30 PM
Booked 11 times today
Google Map for Buena Vida - Arlington

2900 Wilson Blvd, Suite 1, Arlington, VA 22201

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Filmore Street
  • Neighborhood
    Arlington
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 12:00 pm–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Traditional Mexican, Latin American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street parking or Public lot
  • Public transit
    Buena Vida is located at 2900 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, Virginia 22201, just two blocks from theClarendon metro accessible on the orange and silver lines. Parking is available in the ColonialParking Garage at 1303 North Filmore Street.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Ismael Lopez
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Gift card

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card
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