La Bodeguita Del Medio: How This Cuban Salsa Bar Conquered The World

Cuba’s most famous bar, La Bodeguita del Medio, was once the favorite haunt of iconic figures such as poet Pablo Neruda and jazz singer Nat King Cole. La Bodeguita also lays claim to being the birthplace of the mojito cocktail—that delicious blend of rum, sugar cane juice, lime juice, and mint. A must-see for visitors to Havana, the legendary bar has since expanded its franchise across the world, with branches in Mexico, Belgium, and even Shanghai.

Founded in 1942 in the heart of Havana’s Old Town, the bar was originally named Casa Martínez and was known for serving excellent mojitos. In 1949, Chef Silvia Torres joined the team, and the bar became the talk of the town—she served a Cuban menu of boiled rice, fried plantains, black beans, and pork.

La Bodeguita was especially popular among bohemian circles in Havana. Drawn by its unpretentious but atmospheric vibe, writers, musicians, and journalists flocked to the watering hole to meet up with friends and enjoy a mojito.

One of the most devoted regulars was Felito Ayon, a charismatic publisher who invented the name Bodeguita del Medio because the bar was situated half-way down Empedrado Street. The name was officially adopted in 1950, and business boomed.

Famous early regulars included the Cuban literary icons Nicolás Guillén and Alejo Carpentier. The bar established a reputation as a hub for debate and left-wing social causes. Latin American intellectuals such as the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda and Salvador Allende, the future president of Chile, also visited the bar.

Writing on the walls of La Bodeguita del Medio

As the tiny watering hole’s reputation grew, so did the status of its visitors. Hollywood stars such as Errol Flynn, Brigitte Bardot, and Sophia Loren stopped in for a drink.

The walls of La Bodeguita are still decorated with the signatures of these famous customers. The bar even boasts a framed message from Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway, who has long been linked with the bar (although some experts dispute the authenticity of this note).

Whether Hemingway was a regular at La Bodeguita or not, the bar was certainly known for serving one of his favorite cocktails, the mojito. As soon as you step inside La Bodeguita, you instantly recognize the intense scent of Cuban mint and sugar. The sweet cocktail has been prepared here since the 1940s.

Today, the bar’s storied history draws as many tourists as it does Latin American intellectuals, and it’s best to arrive early to avoid the crowds. Indeed, for the past two decades, the bar has become such as tourist hub that it was even targeted as part of a bombing campaign against tourist spots in 1997. While no one was killed by the explosive device, several were seriously injured. Ernesto Cruz Leon, a Salvadorian mercenary and former bodyguard, was later arrested for planting the bomb.

La Bodeguita has now expanded across the world. The franchise has six bars in Mexico, and individual establishments in Belgium, Hungary, and Australia, among other countries. The iconic bar is even making inroads into Asia, with a new venture just opened in Shanghai. So, wherever you are in the world, have a look to see if there’s a branch—you might be much closer to Old Havana than you think.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.