Alicia Wagner Calzada | 210SA Contributor Orquesta Tropicante helps get people onto the intimate dance floor on Fridays and Saturdays.

WHAT: Azúca Nuevo Latino

WHERE: 713 S. Alamo St.

THE DIGITS: (210) 225-5550

ON THE WEB: azuca.net

GET YOUR DRINK ON: 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday; closed Sunday

HOTTIES QUOTIENT: Good. Trendy singles flock to this Southtown hotspot to try exotic Latino drinks and food, check out the First Friday crowd or pack the tiny dance floor when Orquesta Tropicante plays salsa and merengue Friday and Saturday. The bar is part of Azúca Nuevo Latino restaurant next door.

WALLET HANGOVER: You can rack up quite a tab if you're not careful, but it's easy to find something that fits your budget from the long menu of beer, wine and liquor. Mojitos are the specialty here — there are 14 varieties (including original, vanilla, cranberry and “suicide”), which cost $6-$7.25. The other tempting specialty cocktails cost $4.75-$9.75. Take advantage of the excellent happy hour, from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday, offering $2.50 mojitos, caipirinhas, pisco sours and other drinks as well as $2.50 appetizers (ceviche, fried plantains, chips and guacamole).

THE 210 TAKE: The small, comfortable Azúca offers an alternative to the usual sports bars and smoky taverns, and its drink menu offers many alternatives to the usual margarita. With its colorful Latino contemporary décor and roomy back patio, Azúca should be on your list of places to bring a date, your co-workers or an out-of-town guest.

Jessica Belasco | 210SA Contributor