Spring is here and diners are once again flocking to restaurants, with new options popping up each day. Across the south, we’re seeing a diverse array of concepts, with some operators dialing into specific cuisines, while others embrace global flavors and influences. Design-centric spots are nothing new, but this recent spate of openings is characterized by intricate interiors awash in bold colors and patterns.

These are six restaurants we’re excited to try, including two in Nashville: The Pink Hermit and Boqueria. Dallas just got an ambitious new concept called The Mexican, while Atlanta welcomes Atrium into the Ponce City Market. There’s also Akira Back, the chef’s eponymous Japanese-Korean restaurant in Delray Beach, Fla., and Taco Nation, a bus turned brick-and-mortar taco joint in Oklahoma City.