Just one sentence from the 1954 Nobel Prize in Literature: “My daiquirí, at El Floridita; my mojito, at La Bodeguita” was enough to immortalize the quality and good taste of Cuban cocktails in this corner of Old Havana, especially the mix of Carta Blanca rum, sugar, lemon juice, mint and sparkling water.
Legendary are the visits of the man of letters together with writers and artists of the time, who liked to meet in bohème to talk about utopias and setbacks that worried the intelligentsia.
The story also speaks of the spice of Doña Argelia, wife of the owner of the place, mentioning Nicolás Guillén, Pablo Neruda, Brigitte Bardot, Julio Cortázar, Mario Benedetti and Geraldine Chaplin among those who came to confirm the rumors that the best black is beans and pork in town.
And apparently the myth is reality. La Bodeguita was nominated as one of the top 50 restaurants in the world by the United States Academy of Restaurant Industry Awards.
Memories of internationally renowned poets, musicians, athletes, politicians and scientists live in its small room. Personal items, photos and signatures on the walls testified to their presence and revealed an ancient and charming tone that even made them think they were laughing and talking.
A repair to the property required these rubrics to be erased, but somehow the legend is perpetuated and the legacy stands up to the test of time. Foreigners and city dwellers alike insist on including La Bodeguita in their itinerary, and when they leave they try to keep the unique flavors of their native fare and legitimate mojito on their palate.
But demand made the magic cross borders to bring Cuban culture to other countries. What was then Casa de Martínez, built in the 1940s, is now a registered trademark with offices in cities in Mexico, Australia, Macedonia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Lebanon.
The initiative to build similar ones in the world builds a bridge of friendship and exchanges between nations and helps promote Cuban history and customs, which the aforementioned American writer has enjoyed and extolled in his work for more than 20 years.
At just 80 years of age – completed in April 2022 – these verses by Guillén, our national poet, serve well to pay tribute to the center that has seen so many declarations of love, confessions of friendship, outbursts and drunkenness, a source of inspiration and collusion , where the mojito and creole food taste the best.
La Bodeguita is already La Bodegona
That waves its banner in triumph
More like Bodegona or Bodeguita
The Havana of her with reason is emblazoned
If you pay well, you become good
Silver, guano, parné, shepherdess, twine
But if he doesn’t have a kilo and he screams with hunger
There will be no lack of personal care
Raised the glass while Puebla sings
His song and Martínez fails
Marejadas de añejo, from another area.
To history repeating itself
And because it’s already La Bodegona,
Never stop being La Bodeguita.
(Taken from Prism)