Bodeguita del Medio Havana
Bodeguita del Medio
Bodeguita del Medio – Empedrado Street in Old Havana, next to the catedral.
La Bodeguita del Medio is a Cuban Restaurant bar in Havana (Cuba) and another one of the Popular Places for Americans in Cuba. It is extraordinarily famed and touristy due to the personalities that have patronized it: Salvador Allende, the poet Pablo Neruda, the writer Ernest Hemingway, the artist Josignacio and many others. La Bodeguita del Medio is also identified as the birthplace of the Mojito cocktail, prepared in the bar since its opening in 1942.
Bodeguita del Medio "like walking through history"
The rooms are full of curious objects; frames, photos, as well as the walls being covered by signatures of both famous and unknown customers narrate the island’s past. Along with the local food, cigars, music and mojitos, la Bodeguita del Medio offers a peek into Cuba’s typical ambiance.
These days the almost mythical name means the place is packed most of the time, with busloads of tourists either outside taking photos of the emblematic sign or inside looking at the signatures of past visitors. To get away from the crowds we suggest going upstairs to the seldom visited mezzanine for a few drinks and food.
Somewhere to stay near Bodeguita del Medio? Hotels nearby are:
Ambos Mundos (of Hemingway fame)
Hotel Nacional Cuba
Hotel Nacional Cuba
Hotel Nacional Cuba – Needs no further introduction as the pinnacle of Popular Places for Americans in Cuba, from every angle, inside and out we were in awe of the Hotel Nacional and you can feel the uncanny past presence of Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Weissmuller, Buster Keaton, Jorge Negrete, Agustin Lara, Rocky Marciano, Tyrone Power, Romulo Gallegos, Errol Flynn, John Wayne, Marlene Dietrich, Gary Cooper, Marlon Brando and Ernest Hemingway as you enter and stroll around the grounds. Not to mention patrons such as Winston Churchill, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, scientist Alexander Flemming who all spent time at the Hotel Nacional Cuba. However this incredible place has become synonymous to historians as a favorite mob hang out for the likes of Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky and attended by Santo Trafficante, Jr., Frank Costello, Albert Anastasia, Vito Genovese and many others. I felt like I was on the set of Godfather II with my shades on and a cold beer at the terrace bar.
Hotel Nacional Cuba "I felt like I was on the set of godfather II"
It also exemplifies everything Fidel Castro said he wanted Cuba rid of. But today, the hotel is once again one of the most Popular Places for Americans in Cuba, possibly due to historical ties such as those mentioned or possibly because it’s just so immensely COOL in so many ways. First off, you have the ground of the hotel which is towards the back of the building. You walk through the foyer, past reception then back out through enormous doors to a mezzanine covered area. The lobby bar is found out here to your left. Directly in front is an immense lawn area with small paths running through it, all bejeweled with the exquisite view of the Malecon, Seafront, Moro Castle and the imposing Cristo statue in the distance. Strutting around these grounds are peacocks, apparently unperturbed by human presence. It’s really a place to behold and a photographers dream. Back inside the lobby the walls are decorated with photos of the past visitors as a blast from the past. Our stay at the Hotel Nacional was a one night affair but was enough for us to check out the nice but dated rooms and the Copa Lounge, other bars in the hotel plus the excellent cigar store and adjacent smoking rooms for aficionados. The amount of Americans we met will boggle minds of those thinking that Cuba is still off limits and, while the Hotel Nacional left a lasting impression, there were more things for our group to do on this vacation.
Hotels Near the Hotel Nacional are: Hotel Habana Libre, Hotel La Colina, Hotel Presidente, Hotel Deauville, Hotel St Johns, Hotel Capri BTW None of these even remotely compare with the Hotel Nacional….
Hotel Nacional Cuba - A truly awesome experience
Day or night, staying there or not, an American cannot miss spending some quality time at the Hotel Nacional Cuba
La Maison Havana
La Maison
La Maison Havana Cuba – Street 7 on the corner of 16th in Miramar
Fashionable, Chic and very daring, the La Maison is one of the extremely Popular Places for Americans in Cuba. After this writer went there, it took a few hours to sink in just how cool this place had been. First off, there´s the building itself, an impressive colonial type building with elegant façade showing incredible detail in the design, once inside the massive doorway the interior is no less impressive. On the right there is one of the few jewelers stores in Havana called Coral Negro (Black Coral) which offers everything from Diamond rings to brand name (lower cost) watches and other jewelry.
La Maison - What a catwalk!
Upstairs there are several small stores selling the clothing paraded by the models during the show and, what models!! As a single male this was very unsettling, to say the least and, judging by the bull whistles coming from a table who sounded like Canadian women, they were equally impressed with the men… La Maison Havana is a fashion show but, like most things in Cuba, it come packed with the razzmatazz of Cuban flair. We took the all inclusive offer which included a table (near the catwalk), two bottles of rum, 6 coca cola (well Cuba´s sugary Tu Cola), and a three course meal. The show began with music from which was excellent and then a choreographed dance routine followed by the aforementioned fashion show. After the show there´s music but most guests migrate to the small discotheque which is with the grounds of the building on the right of the catwalk, where we met several fellow Americans and had a great time.
Tip: You should dress elegantly when visiting La Maison
Hotels close to La Maison are Hotel Panorama, Hotel Occidental Miramar, Aparthotel Monte Habana, Hotel Copacabana, Hotel Chateau Miramar, Hotel Melia Habana
El Malecon Havana
Malecon
Malecon Wall – There´s no other place in Havana that instills the true laid back and raunchy undertones of Cuban life. The Malecon wall has always been one of the most popular places for Americans in Cuba , even in the 40´s and 50´s. Walking along it fills any visitor with nostalgia but also the inherent joy with which Cubans go about general day to day life.
El Malecon - the epitome of Cuban Life!
Peppered along the long route are various small cafes, bars and hang outs that one can´t help visiting to get the days vibe. Kids throw themselves off the breakwaters, men fishing and both Cuban women and men “strut their stuff” like peacocks, enamoring all who pass by. Mid way down the Malecon, in front of the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital you´ll find a patio bar. This does not look like much in the day time but, wow, does this place come alive in the evenings. A very popular spot for those looking to mingle with Cubans in an open air environment with a less commercial or touristy feel.
Hotels on the Malecon are Hotel Deauville, Hotel Melia Cohiba, Hotel Presidente, Hotel Riviera Habana
Venture onto the Malecon at any time of day
Bar Cafe Del Oriente Havana
Bar Cafe Del Oriente
Bar Cafe Del Oriente - Chic Old Havana cafe bar tantalizingly located on one side of Plaza de San Francisco in the heart of colonial quarter in Old Havana. Bar Cafe Del Oriente is another one of the Popular Places for Americans in Cuba and, extremely popular with other nationalities from Canada, Europe and Mexico, this renovated Cuban Home has been turned into one of Havana´s most recognized drinking places.
Bar Cafe Del Oriente - a fun venue with a serious side.
Although the general décor of the Bar Cafe Del Oriente makes for a more formal venue, the Cafe Del Oriente can get quite exciting as the night progresses. Mainly on of the Popular Places for Americans in Cuba to start the evening, the bar offers a breathtaking variety of spirits, beers and wines for all tastes. Especially good for those wanting to lay off the Mojitos and Cuba Libres for a while, the choices available are truly astounding. Food is also available but in varying quality, so don´t make this your restaurant for the night. All the Old Havana Hotels are within a stone’s throw of Cafe Del Oriente so, if you are staying there this will be one of your primary venues.
