ICONIC BARS

LA BODEGUITA DEL MEDIO

LA BODEGUITA DEL MEDIO IS A HISTORIC BAR LOCATED IN THE HEART OF OLD HAVANA, CUBA. FOUNDED IN 1942, IT HAS BECOME A POPULAR DESTINATION FOR TOURISTS AND LOCALS ALIKE, AND IS KNOWN FOR ITS LIVELY ATMOSPHERE, DELICIOUS DRINKS, AND RICH HISTORY. THE BAR HAS BEEN A SYMBOL OF CUBAN CULTURE AND HERITAGE AND IS A MUST-VISIT DESTINATION FOR ANYONE VISITING HAVANA.

ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS DRINKS AT LA BODEGUITA DEL MEDIO IS THE MOJITO, A TRADITIONAL CUBAN COCKTAIL MADE WITH WHITE RUM, LIME JUICE, SUGAR, MINT, AND SODA WATER. THE BAR CLAIMS TO HAVE ORIGINATED THE DRINK AND IT HAS BECOME A SIGNATURE DRINK AT THE BAR. PATRONS CAN ENJOY THE MOJITOS WHILE LISTENING TO LIVE CUBAN MUSIC AND SOAKING UP THE UNIQUE ATMOSPHERE OF OLD HAVANA. THE MOJITO HAS BECOME SYNONYMOUS WITH CUBAN CULTURE, AND IT’S A MUST-TRY FOR ANYONE VISITING THE COUNTRY.

THE HISTORY OF THE MOJITO IS ROOTED IN THE CARIBBEAN, AND IT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE ORIGINATED IN THE 16TH CENTURY. THE TRADITIONAL INGREDIENTS OF THE MOJITO WERE ORIGINALLY USED TO MASK THE HARSH TASTE OF THE RUM THAT WAS AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. IT WAS A POPULAR DRINK AMONG SAILORS AND LATER ON, IT BECAME A POPULAR DRINK AMONG THE WORKING CLASS IN CUBA. THE NAME “MOJITO” COMES FROM THE WORD “MOJAR”, WHICH MEANS “TO WET” OR “TO MOISTEN”, REFERRING TO THE LIME JUICE USED IN THE DRINK.

THE BAR’S OWNERS SAY THAT THE DRINK WAS FIRST CREATED BY A BARTENDER NAMED CONSTANTINO RIBALAIGUA, WHO WAS KNOWN FOR HIS CREATIVE USE OF LOCAL INGREDIENTS AND HIS ABILITY TO MIX UP DELICIOUS COCKTAILS.

THE BAR ITSELF IS SMALL AND COZY, WITH A RUSTIC CHARM THAT REFLECTS ITS HISTORY. THE WALLS ARE ADORNED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AND AUTOGRAPHS OF FAMOUS PATRONS, INCLUDING ERNEST HEMINGWAY, WHO WAS A FREQUENT VISITOR. THE BAR HAS BEEN VISITED BY FAMOUS PERSONALITIES LIKE NAT KING COLE, PABLO NERUDA, AND EVEN FIDEL CASTRO, MAKING IT A POPULAR SPOT FOR BOTH LOCALS AND TOURISTS ALIKE.

THE BAR’S WALLS ARE ADORNED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AND AUTOGRAPHS OF FAMOUS PATRONS, INCLUDING ERNEST HEMINGWAY, WHO WAS A FREQUENT VISITOR. HEMINGWAY EVEN WROTE IN THE GUESTBOOK THAT “MY MOJITO IN LA BODEGUITA, MY DAIQUIRI IN EL FLORIDITA”

LA BODEGUITA DEL MEDIO’S HISTORY IS CLOSELY TIED TO THE HISTORY OF CUBA ITSELF. THE BAR WAS FOUNDED IN THE 1940S, DURING A TIME OF GREAT CHANGE AND UPHEAVAL IN THE COUNTRY. IT QUICKLY BECAME A POPULAR DESTINATION FOR ARTISTS, INTELLECTUALS, AND POLITICIANS, AND WAS A KEY CULTURAL HUB DURING THE REVOLUTION LED BY FIDEL CASTRO. THE BAR HAS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN CUBA’S CULTURAL AND POLITICAL LANDSCAPE, AND IT CONTINUES TO BE A SYMBOL OF THE COUNTRY’S RICH HISTORY AND HERITAGE.

IN ADDITION TO THE MOJITOS, LA BODEGUITA DEL MEDIO ALSO SERVES A VARIETY OF OTHER TRADITIONAL CUBAN DRINKS, INCLUDING THE CUBA LIBRE (RUM AND COKE), AND THE DAIQUIRI. THE BAR ALSO SERVES TRADITIONAL CUBAN FOOD, SUCH AS ROPA VIEJA (SHREDDED BEEF) AND ARROZ CON POLLO (CHICKEN AND RICE). THE BAR’S MENU IS A REFLECTION OF THE COUNTRY’S RICH CULINARY HERITAGE AND IS A GREAT WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE LOCAL FLAVORS.

THE BAR IS OPEN DAILY AND CAN GET QUITE CROWDED, SO IT’S BEST TO VISIT EARLY OR MAKE A RESERVATION IN ADVANCE. DESPITE THE CROWDS, THE FRIENDLY STAFF AND FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE MAKE LA BODEGUITA DEL MEDIO A MUST-VISIT DESTINATION FOR ANYONE VISITING HAVANA. THE BAR IS NOT ONLY A GREAT PLACE FOR DRINKS AND A GOOD TIME, BUT ALSO A WINDOW INTO THE CULTURE AND HISTORY OF CUBA.

IN SHORT, LA BODEGUITA DEL MEDIO IS A HISTORIC BAR LOCATED IN THE HEART OF OLD HAVANA THAT IS KNOWN FOR ITS LIVELY ATMOSPHERE, DELICIOUS DRINKS, TRADITIONAL CUBAN CUISINE, AND RICH HISTORY. IT IS A MUST-VISIT DESTINATION FOR ANYONE VISITING HAVANA, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE LOOKING TO TRY A TRADITIONAL MOJITO AND SOAK UP THE UNIQUE ATMOSPHERE OF OLD HAVANA. WHETHER YOU’RE A HISTORY BUFF, A COCKTAIL ENTHUSIAST, OR JUST LOOKING FOR A GOOD TIME, LA BODEGUITA DEL MEDIO IS A DESTINATION NOT TO BE MISSED.

AS A BUSINESS THAT SPECIALIZES IN PROVIDING TOP-NOTCH BAR SERVICES, WE AT BAR LAB PLUS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION FROM THE WORLD’S MOST ICONIC BARS. LA BODEGUITA DEL MEDIO IS ONE SUCH ESTABLISHMENT THAT HAS LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON US. FROM ITS RICH HISTORY AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE TO ITS DELICIOUS DRINKS AND LIVELY ATMOSPHERE, IT SERVES AS A REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY INGREDIENTS AND EXPERT MIXOLOGY.

HERE AT BAR LAB PLUS, WE STRIVE TO BRING THAT SAME LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE TO EVERY EVENT WE SERVE. OUR TEAM OF EXPERIENCED BARTENDERS ARE TRAINED IN THE ART OF MIXOLOGY AND USE ONLY THE FRESHEST INGREDIENTS TO CRAFT DELICIOUS COCKTAILS THAT ARE SURE TO IMPRESS. SO WHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING TO HOST A SMALL GATHERING OR A LARGE EVENT, WE INVITE YOU TO CONSIDER BAR LAB PLUS FOR ALL YOUR BAR SERVICE NEEDS.

JUST LIKE LA BODEGUITA DEL MEDIO, WE BELIEVE THAT A GREAT BAR EXPERIENCE IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST THE DRINKS. IT’S ABOUT ATMOSPHERE, CULTURE, AND THE MEMORIES THAT ARE CREATED. SO LET US HELP YOU CREATE AN EXPERIENCE THAT YOUR GUESTS WILL NEVER FORGET.

CONTACT US HERE TO DISCUSS YOUR UPCOMING EVENT AND LET US HELP YOU ELEVATE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.