From a small rundown cellar to Hemingway's favorite spot, to a world-renowned award-winning cocktail bar. El Floridita is one of Havana's most beloved treasures, and once you hear its story... It's easy to see why!
Some of its origins
Now that Cuba's coolest bar turns 205, we're delving into its heritage and squeezing out the secrets that make El Floridita so special.
Originally opened in 1817 and called La Piña de Plata, what we now know as the world's most famous bar was nothing more than a Spanish-style cellar (an unlicensed shop) in a city filled with these types of cheap and cheerful commercial establishments.
That's not to say the place wasn't popular, because the location of the cellar just inside the city walls of Havana (still standing at that time), meant there was a constant flow of customers, from business owners, soldiers, artists... and of course, writers.
When the Cuban Revolution took place in the early 60s, followed by the nationalization of private establishments, it could have spelled the end for El Floridita.
But as the locals say, there's 'something stronger inside these walls,' which meant the bar could withstand politics and continue mixing a couple thousand delicious Daiquiris... Day after day.
And 205 years later, few bars in the world can compete with its ambiance. Sitting on a stool with your right elbow on the bar, listening to salsa or jazz while your Daiquiri is expertly mixed, is one of the best cocktail experiences, and most importantly...
