La Bodeguita Del Medio — Attraction in Catedral

As per usual in Cuba, drinks for the win, food for the ...

On an all serious note, the food wasn't terrible. I was given a limited choice of around 5 dishes on a menu of 10 plus. I'm finding this a common happening in Havana. I went with the pork steak. It came with cold vegetables and the classic rice and beans which were just fine. The pork was slightly dry but was helped by a garnish of spring onions - definitely not terrible. Where things go tremendously downhill is the side dish of roast potatoes - just not edible. Sweet, sweet sweet. I can't stand overly sweet potatoes. I'm yet to have a good potato in Havana and I'm convinced that if they can't get it right here - there's very little to no hope elsewhere.

(UPDATE: I have now been to Vinales and Playa Larga and I can happily report that good potatoes can be found!)

On a plus, the service and atmosphere are pretty much perfect - although for the second half of my meal the live music which had welcomed me in a such a classically Bondesque fashion had stopped which was a shame. All the waitors (other than one old guy who was possibly the owner) were jolly and served with grace. Another high will forever be with me - of course the Mojito. As expected it was amazing.

IMPORTANT - If you're paying by card, the rates will be alot higher than expected as it's the official rate for CUP - USD. I was expecting $13 but was charged $36....

It is a somehow painful knowing I am unlikely to ever visit again after the opening of this now "remodel" restaurant. It's wall strip of what made it special. Regular, average people's signatures and phrases, along for what some might consider "Bulk graffiti" and mundane, is as much a part of the history and valued heritage of what made that place a historic location worth of preservation as the "few" notable signatures of famous people that visited were. Is a shame that the Cuban government and the people responsible for the restoration couldn't see it's value. Is also ignorance to assume that a building could not be repaired and would have needed to crumble down in order for it's history to be maintained. Restorations of buildings in higher state of damaged have been made times over without the need to abolish it's history and heritage. It was the fact that an average person could walk in one day looking to find their grandparent's signature, or to discover that that mundane graffiti was maybe done by an artist that is years in the future recognized as one of the greatest. I feel sorry for the lost of all of that, and a small thanks that Eusebio Leal was dead when that atrocity was made, as it would have surely killed him. He would have never allowed such an atrocity of history. All that was preserved was the building, because "La Bodeguita del Medio" was most...

The place is quite famous with Hemingway. I can assure you that you will find Hemingway in every corner of Havana. There is nothing special about this place and you can easily avoid with no regrets.

First of all, it is full of tourists and expect a sort of rush which does not feel very relaxing. We were directed to sit on the second floor but no one asked us if we wanted to sit right next to musicians. I can listen to some music but I prefer this choice to be mine, not to be directed. On top of that, you have to tip them after each music and I can tell you that they are expecting 10-20 USD/EUR bills. They were definitely unhappy when we tipped with 1000 Cuban pesos.

About the food and the so-called famous mojito. I have asked for chicken from the menu but we were limited only to lobster and beef, which are some of the most expensive meals on the menu. Lobster was the only good thing and that's why I am giving two stars. The mojitos are actually not made when you are there but they are prepared in advance and served to you on your order. There are definitely far better places when it comes to...