La Bodeguita del Medio

Address: Empedrado at San Ignacio and Mercaderes, Havana, Cuba, Havana, Cuba
Door: Open door
Style: Cocktail bar
Food: Tapas/plates & dishes

Review

If you're in any doubt as to which particular drink emanates from this tiny hole in the wall, you won't be for long. The home of the Mojito proudly displays a hand-written sign, purportedly by Hemingway himself, that reads: 'My Mojito in La Bodeguita, My Daiquiri in El Floridita'. There are other clues to Papa's presence too, including photos of him with Castro.

The space is decorated with graffiti that goes back years on all the walls of the bar and small restaurant out back. It's standing room only, save for a few stools, and hot and sweaty, but a four piece band still manages to squeeze in. The Mojitos are again lined up on the bar, but if you're expecting a treat, prepare yourself: wizened and blackened scrag-ends of mint, muddled to death with - yes, with - soda, the rum added last with a few paltry ice cubes, the result being a warmish, flat drink. Havana Club features incredibly strongly, making up 75 per cent of the back-bar display among a smattering of other bottles. So a disappointing drink but a real Mecca and even if we said it was crap you'd probably still visit. 3.5/5