One of Austin's most popular coffee shops has opened its highly anticipated third location. Radio Rosewood — called Radio Coffee & Beer at its original location and Radio/East at its second — opened February 12 at 1115 E. 11th St. The space formerly housed Try Hard Coffee Roasters, another spot with strong local loyalty.
The interior design on 11th Street is a minor departure from the ultra-casual and nearly identical style of the existing two locations. This time, the eye is immediately drawn to leather bench seats and modern pendant lights, in opposition to the more rustic and industrial choices on Menchaca Road and Montopolis Drive. Still, outdoor seating and wall art tie all three locations together.
Perhaps the biggest change — at least for people who go for a meal — is an expansion of Radio's in-house concept, Shortwave Diner. As reflected in the concept's Instagram bio, this is its first time operating out of a full kitchen rather than a food truck. The menu at Rosewood includes four hotdog variations, a breakfast sandwich, breakfast bowls, avocado toast, and more.
Each Radio location is a little different, mostly in how the same elements are combined. Whereas this location seems more poised to be a cocktail destination, the second location leaned hard into music with space for two stages. The original location keeps up its reputation as a community hub with plenty of outdoor space and weekly bluegrass nights on the patio. The new location does not appear to prioritize events, since it doesn't appear on the shared events calendar.
The new location is on a stretch of road that is becoming increasingly trendy while hanging onto its laid-back image. It's on the same block as Vintage Bookstore and Wine Bar (opened in 2022), reigning CultureMap Tastemaker Awards champion for Best New Restaurant Poeta (opened in 2023), and Nickel City (relatively ancient, having opened in 2017).
It's also only about 500 feet away from the similarly laid-back brunch restaurant Paperboy, which might trigger some nostalgia for fans who remember its stint at the original Radio. At the time, it was still relatively new and very buzzy; it's since graduated into its own hub for coffee, markets, and a recently established pastry residency.
The original Radio Coffee & Beer recently completed a decade in business, having opened in 2014. It was only in 2023 that it opened its first outpost, which has since become popular for its capacity for events and mini-festivals.
Radio Rosewood is open daily from 7 am to midnight.