The Houston dining scene is a fickle one. Restaurants come and go and rarely leave a lasting impression, but Mi Luna Tapas Restaurant & Bar isn’t one of those places. Formerly located in Rice Village (the space is now Frnds Restaurant & Lounge, which opened in 2023) during its heyday as a prime area for Houston nightlife, its regulars mourned its closing in 2018. It was, after all, the original “vibe dining” — a fun, communal dining experience. But Mi Luna is back and now located at the latest entertainment hub, the Montrose Collective, at 888 Westheimer. Houston Food Finder reported on the owners plans for a comeback in August, and the beloved Spanish tapas eatery debuted to the public on October 7.

Before its official opening, Houston Food Finder was invited to a sneak preview party. The nostalgia washed over me as I walked into the resurrected Mi Luna. Just like that, it was 2004, and I was in capri pants and a tube top having sangrias with girlfriends on a Thursday night before we hit up Gatsby across the way or Bronx Bar down the street. 

Invoking nostalgia seems to be the goal of owner and Bella Restaurants Group CEO Youssef Nafaa, “I want to keep the new Mi Luna as close to the old Mi Luna as possible,” he said. “The idea is to be able to experience different dishes that create great conversations  and a social atmosphere that people are losing these days. Everybody is stuck on their phones. Eating is a lot more than just eating. Eating out needs to be an experience — meeting people and trying things that you cannot make at home.”

The reminiscing starts with a familiar sign that greets guests — the iconic red awning is now painted on the wall of the hostess area. The new space is smaller but feels more spacious, and the large windows provide a bright contrast to the former more cavernous space. The bar is open and looks out onto the patio and the breezeway. The outdoor space was a big draw for the Rice Village location and won’t be any different here. The décor is sprinkled with nods to Spain with portraits of bull fighters and flamenco dancers. The large lighting fixtures have a romantic glow in the evening, and eyes are drawn to the raised platform stage when there is live entertainment, which will include flamenco dancing by Solero Flamenco, a Houston-based national touring company, on Fridays and Saturdays. Acoustic guitar performances will set the stage for weekend brunching.

The menu features many of the fan favorites such as the paella Valenciana, a mix of fresh seafood, rabbit and chicken baked in saffron rice, gambas al ajillo, shrimp sautéed in lemon garlic olive oil with red chili peppers, chicken and beef empanadas and patatas bravas, crispy potatoes with spicy brava sauce. My personal favorite was always the pinchos de carne, grilled, skewered beef tenderloin with saffron rice, caramelized onions and harissa aioli. It is just as I remembered it. New additions to the menu include Jarrete de Credo Estodao, braised pork shank served with white bean and chorizo ragu, rape con miel, monkfish with toasted almonds in a honey saffron cream sauce and rabo de toro a la Sevillana, braised oxtail with chickpeas.  

The beverage menu will feature an extensive selection of more than 100 Spanish wines, specialty cocktails – such as the Meet Me at Mi Luna, a blend of gin, Campari, egg white, lemon juice and agave garnished with a strawberry; the Mango Ahumado, crafted with mezcal, mango, lime juice and agave and Inviero en Calamocha, St. Germain and prosecco with cucumber, mint and lime juice. But it wouldn’t be Mi Luna without the housemade Sangria which is available by the glass or pitcher. The tasty mixture of red wine, brandy, dark rum, apple and orange brings back a lot of memories.

Mi Luna has chosen an ideal area, space and time to reopen — the Montrose neighborhood and particularly the Montrose Collective is as vibrant as ever and Houstonians are always looking for a gathering place for food and drink — nostalgia sells and so does a glass of sangria and tapas to share. Mi Luna is open Monday through Wednesday from 3 to 11 p.m., Thursday from 3 p.m. to 12 a.m., Friday from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m, Saturday from 10 to 2 a.m and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Plans for an extensive happy hour are also forthcoming. Reservations are recommended and can be made on the website.

Minh Truong

Minh Truong is an avid lover of the Houston food scene and has written about it since 2011, starting as a freelance contributor for the Houston Press. She never stops exploring all that Houston has to offer.