Rio Rita - Austin

I leave near their new location and am excited to have them in the hood. Service is great. It has a cool vibe. There are lots of outlets to study while sipping a cocktail. The AC is horrible so you have to find the right spot to keep cool in the summer.

This was my first visit to the new location. The patio is huge and has an eclectic collection of seating options, which was cool. I took away a star because I came in craving a frozen Irish coffee, my go-to at the 6th street location, but they don't have it anymore. Also, the drinks are a bit pricy for the location. $9 for a Hendrick's and soda is steep for the Eastside.

The drinks are cheap, the atmosphere is funky and the east side is hip. Do you know what is not hip? Not having air conditioning. Especially in the summer of 2011 when I write this review and we are facing our fifty-something-th day of triple-digit heat. Tip your bartender well. It's a miracle they haven't passed out while making your cocktail. I recommend the house margarita: not too sweet.

A fun dive bar with original cocktails at reasonable prices. A large back area with picnic tables and misters makes up for the more crowded inside area. I will say that their infused whiskeys seem to have too much infuse, not enough whiskey, as they are tasty but have no bite left. So yeah, all the drinks are a bit on the fru-fru side, but they certainly are tasty.

I strongly recommend Rio Rita if you're in the mood for a expertly crafted cocktail. The ambiance is charming, featuring vintage chairs and couches, along with beautiful local artwork available for purchase on every wall. They also have a spacious patio that's perfect for enjoying your drinks.