East Austin

About Rio Rita

Rio Rita describes their establishment as “a mild mannered coffee shop by day, swanky lounge by night.” They host a number of art shows and live music events. But it’s also just a cool place to hang out. They serve sandwiches, vegetarian wraps, pizza from East Side Pies. They serve a blend of Ethiopian, Sumatran, Guatemalan, Peruvian and Nicaraguan Certified Organic Fair Trade Coffee. They sell it by the cup and the pound. They also sell beer, wine, and champagne.

Photos of Austin street art.

One word: sandwiches! Their turkey sandwich — slathered with cream cheese and jalapeño jelly — is one of Austin’s best.

Director Carlos Trevino and The Rubber Repertory are bringing Wallace Shawn’s controversial play A Thought In Three Parts to The Vortex this month.

If you’re in the mood for home cookin’, Gene has plenty to choose from.

Authentic Mexican food with a bias towards breakfast.

The bread may be extra flat, but the flavor ain’t.

Sometimes Lola is out of a certain ingredient, but don’t you worry – she’ll take care of you and cook you up something incredibly delicious and hearty.

Let them eat cake in Hyde Park, too.

If you’ve lived in Austin for more than five seconds someone has already tried to shove Juan in a Million’s signature taco (the Don Juan) down your throat. The Don Juan somehow makes potatoes, eggs, bacon, cheese thrown into a tortilla taste different than any other tortilla with potatoes, eggs, bacon, and cheese thrown into it. Oh well. Everybody loves it.

Austin’s East Side gets cooler every day because of places like this.

The Peacock is East Side swank. The whole atmosphere is like someone ripped off Versailles, painted it turquoise, and then threw in some white chairs.