Restaurant in Buenos Aires Province, Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
La Bodeguita del Medio
A colorful, music-filled restaurant and bar in Mar del Plata's city center inspired by the Havana original, serving Cuban-Argentine fusion food alongside live salsa music on weekends. The ropa vieja and mojitos are the stars.
La Bodeguita del Medio on Rivadavia 2700 in Mar del Plata draws its name and initial inspiration from the famous Havana bar associated with Hemingway and the golden age of Cuban cocktail culture, but has evolved into something distinctly its own over the years of operation in Buenos Aires Province's major Atlantic resort city. The venue functions simultaneously as a restaurant, a bar, and a live music venue, with the proportions of each shifting across the evening as service progresses toward the late-night hours central to Argentine social life.
The kitchen produces a Cuban-Argentine fusion menu that reflects genuinely dual influences: Cuban preparations reworked with Argentine ingredients and augmented by dishes that belong entirely to the Buenos Aires Province restaurant tradition. Ropa vieja criolla is the defining main course — the Cuban slow-cooked shredded beef has been adapted with Argentine chimichurri herbs and served alongside fried plantain and white rice, producing a plate that reads simultaneously as Caribbean and Rioplatense. The mojito clasico is prepared with fresh mint and Argentine sugar cane spirit, a necessary substitution that results in a slightly different but equally well-made cocktail. Daiquiris, Cubalibre variations, and Argentine fernet cocktails round out the drinks menu alongside a serviceable wine list.
Live salsa music on Friday and Saturday nights transforms the space from restaurant to dance venue as the evening progresses. Argentine bands play a repertoire blending salsa, cumbia, and Argentine folklore, and the floor between tables is used freely for dancing from approximately 11PM onward. The interior is deliberately vivid — tiled walls covered with handwritten signatures in the tradition of the Havana original, strings of coloured lights, wooden bar stools, and an atmosphere that is festive rather than refined. The noise level during live sets is high. Dinner service begins at 8PM and the kitchen stays open until at least midnight, though most diners arriving after 10PM are primarily there for the drinks and music rather than a full meal.
Signature dishes
- Ropa vieja criolla — $16
- Mojito clasico — $8
Known for: Live salsa music and Cuban-Argentine fusion
Hours: 8PM-4AM
Location
Rivadavia 2700, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province
-38.0070, -57.5450 — View on map
Highlights
- Cuban-Argentine fusion restaurant and live music venue in central Mar del Plata
- Ropa vieja criolla — slow-cooked shredded beef with chimichurri herbs, fried plantain, and rice
- Live salsa, cumbia, and folklore music on Friday and Saturday nights from approximately 11PM
- Mojito clasico and fernet cocktails among the most popular drinks alongside a Cuban-inspired cocktail list
- Vivid interior styled after the Havana original with signature-covered tiled walls
Tips
- Arrive for dinner before 10PM to eat in relative calm; the venue transitions to a dance atmosphere after 11PM on weekends
- Friday and Saturday nights are far louder than weeknights — Thursday visits offer the food without the full party atmosphere
- The ropa vieja criolla pairs naturally with a mojito; the combination was intentional in the menu design
- Tables near the bar are better for observing the dance floor; tables toward the rear are quieter for conversation
FAQ
Is La Bodeguita del Medio in Mar del Plata related to the famous Havana bar?
The Mar del Plata venue takes its name and aesthetic inspiration from the Havana original but operates as an entirely independent establishment with no formal affiliation.
When does live music start?
Live salsa and cumbia bands typically begin around 10PM to 11PM on Friday and Saturday nights, with dancing continuing until the early hours of the morning.
Is the restaurant suitable for a quiet dinner?
On weeknights, particularly Sunday through Thursday, the venue operates as a conventional restaurant with normal noise levels. Friday and Saturday evenings become increasingly loud as the night progresses toward the live music sets.
What is ropa vieja?
Ropa vieja (literally 'old clothes') is a traditional Cuban preparation of slow-braised beef shredded into long strands with tomatoes, peppers, and aromatics. The Mar del Plata version adds Argentine chimichurri herbs and serves alongside fried plantain and white rice.
Accessibility
The entrance on Rivadavia has a low step at the door. The interior is on a single ground floor with standard table heights. On live music nights, the density of people on the dance floor makes wheelchair navigation through the main space very difficult; the bar area and perimeter tables remain more accessible.