Tex-Mex and margaritas · $$ · since 1999
Rio on Wazee (Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant)
The Rio's famous margaritas, moved three blocks to the old Morton's space and renamed.
Note: this place moved. Left 1525 Blake Street in June 2022; now at 1745 Wazee, renamed Rio on Wazee in June 2025.
The Rio Grande ran at 1525 Blake Street from 1999 until 2022, then moved three blocks to the former Morton's steakhouse space at 1745 Wazee, which the owners bought for $3.8 million. In June 2025 they renamed the downtown location Rio on Wazee and added a broader Mexican menu beside the Tex-Mex standards. The draw has not changed: the strong, sweet Rio margarita, still limited per customer, and a big room that handles pre-game crowds. The Fort Collins original dates to 1986. The Blake Street building was still empty as of mid-2025.
Why go. A pre-Rockies margarita ritual that has survived a move and a rebrand.
Weekend brunch 11am–3pm is the calm window; on game nights it runs a Colorado Game Day promotion and gets loud fast.
A short walk from Rio on Wazee (Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant)
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