Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant (Fort Collins)

Set in a historic building in the heart of Old Town, Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant is the original Rio Grande location, serving Tex-Mex in Fort Collins since 1986, and it still works as a natural meeting point for a night out. The draw is the atmosphere as much as the food: a spacious, fountain-centered patio and a lively patio bar make it an easy pick for birthdays, reunions, graduations, and large group celebrations, and the upstairs Agave Room is set up for private events. The menu leans into classic Tex-Mex comfort — sizzling fajitas, margaritas, chips and salsa, and hearty burritos — with dine-in, takeout, and delivery options, plus weekday happy hour Monday through Friday from 3 to 5pm. Wednesday nights add a college-night energy that runs later than the rest of the week. Family friendly, group friendly, and within walking distance of downtown events and nightlife, this is the kind of place visitors plan around: arrive hungry, grab a patio table if the weather allows, and settle in. It is a dependable Old Town anchor, familiar to locals and welcoming to first-timers.