The Rio Rita Café y Cantina is a friendly-looking neighborhood bar with a retro vibe situated on the up-and-coming area of 6th Street east of I-35. By day it's your average funky coffee shop turned freelance hipster "office" space, but at night it's something else. Something fantastic.
If your only experience with flavored liquors is some ill-advised Peach Schnapps or Smirnoff "Raspberry Twist" vodka in college, then hop in a cab right now and head to the Rio Rita. The bar manager there is a mad scientist of cocktails, hand-infusing liquors like bourbon and Tito's vodka with flavors guaranteed to surprise and delight.
On a shelf above the bar stands a row of large, glass jars like the kind your mom uses to make iced tea. They are labeled with masking tape and Sharpie: strawberry tequila, clove bourbon, jalapeño garlic vodka. This stuff is the real deal -- beautiful fruits, veggies, and herbs floating inside the jars like a science project gone very, very right.
The drink menu provides a list of outstanding specialty cocktails, but feel free to go choose-your-own-adventure style on it. Just ask the lovely ladies behind the bar to mix the infused liquor of your choice with pretty much whatever your heart desires. Remember going to that candy store The Sweet Factory when you were a kid? This is like that for grown-ups, only with way less artificial food coloring.
Here are some highlights:
- Pineapple Serrano cachaca. Impress the bartender (or at least avoid some mild ridicule) by correctly pronouncing the name of this Brazilian liquor made from fermented sugarcane -- "kah-shah-sah." It's the star of their specialty cocktail the "Caip-tini," where it's accompanied by fresh-squeezed lime juice, honey syrup, and soda. It's also delicious on its own with a bit of ginger ale -- kind of like a melted popsicle with the tiniest hint of chile.
- Jalapeño garlic vodka. This is the perfect ingredient for the "Infused Specialty Bloody Mary," but if you really want to appreciate the lasting burn of this bad boy, order it on its own with fresh lime juice. It smells a little like a taco, but it tastes like a piñata full of POW.
- Hibiscus mint vodka. The "Hibiscus Mint Gimlet" with fresh lime juice and "bar syrup" is a festive, fuschia-hued drink that's refreshing and sweet, but not too sweet.
- Clove bourbon. When you want to let people know that you're incredibly manly but bringing your Hemi into the bar isn't practical. The clove bourbon reveals its softer side when it's joined by honey, soda, and lemon in the "Summer Toddy."
- Lavender vodka. This is what you would drink if the med spa allowed booze. Pair the lavender vodka with lemon and soda for a clean, almost healthy-tasting libation.
Drink prices range from $5 to $10. There are also plenty of tasty snacks to choose from.
Rio Rita Café y Cantina, 1308 East 6th Street, Austin, TX 78702. Map.
Comments
Great place, definitely recommend anyone visiting Austin give it a try.
Love trying new cocktails that are different then the usual... sound delish!
Jalapeno Garlic Vodka...Texas I love you. Does it come with a bacon garnish?
Delicious stuff! I cant taste them all ready! Keep them coming my dear
Correction: CAN taste them, my bad
Great article. Can't wait to sample the toddies on my next visit to Austin. The clove bourbon sounds like a sleeper that will come back to get you after a sip or two. Look forward to more reviews........
Woo hoo! Thanks for the tips! Sounds like a super fun place!
This is awesome! I'm going this weekend for sure:) Thanks for the info:)
wow! sounds awesome! I want to try all of them!
Well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...speaking of apples, how about an appletini???
Actually, Becca, this is great! I'm proud of you!
The way you describe those cocktails makes me want to head to Austin stat!
I know how my friday will be complete..with a lavender vodka drink!Thanks for the awesome tips.
Oooo! Never knew Rio Rita existed, your article makes me wanna go there now!
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