Prague's La Bodeguita del Medio is a continuation of the famous Havana establishment, where intellectuals and artists once gathered, and brings its atmosphere right to the heart of the Old Town. Guests will find authentic Creole cuisine, vibrant Latin American music and a bustling bar with live music.
The menu offers Caribbean specialties - from crawfish bisque to pulled beef with Creole salsa to the Plata Cubano, a tasting plate ideal for two.
The menu features king crawfish, which the establishment imports directly from Cuba and thus has the widest selection of them in Prague.
The restaurant's generous spaces are complemented by a basement music club, separate lounges for private events, the La Langostería bar on the ground floor and the Cohiba Atmosphere restaurant on the first floor with a more relaxed atmosphere for romantic dinners and business meetings. There is also a Cigar Club and a shop with Cuban cigars and rums.
In the summer, there is a garden on Kaprova Street. The interior is decorated with artifacts from Cuba and signatures of famous guests. Of course, there is a rich selection of cocktails, rums and wines.
Chef William Yafrel Martinez grew up in Cuba, where he learned to appreciate food and approach it with respect. His greatest inspiration was his grandmother, with whom he spent hours in the kitchen and learned to process ingredients from the family farm. “In Cuba, everything was always rare and limited – you had to learn to improvise,” William recalls.
After studying gastronomy, he became one of the best chefs in his country and gained valuable experience. When the offer came to become the chef of Prague’s La Bodeguita del Medio, he did not hesitate. “It was my big dream – to run one of the best Cuban restaurants in Europe,” he says.
Today, he runs a kitchen that honors the concept of the original Havana Bodeguita, but at the same time dares to go a step further in many ways. William's signature is evident in every dish - an emphasis on authentic taste, passion and the joy of cooking.