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About La Bodeguita del Medio
La Bodeguita del Medio is a Cuban-inspired restaurant and rum bar at 463 South California Avenue. Its own tagline sums it up: "A little Cuba. A lot of Palo Alto. Since 1997." The restaurant notes that it has been open for nearly 30 years. It is independently operated.
The name comes from the original La Bodeguita del Medio in Havana, which the restaurant translates as "the little bar in the middle of the block." The Palo Alto restaurant quotes a line attributed to Ernest Hemingway: "My mojito in La Bodeguita, my daiquiri in El Floridita." The Palo Alto version describes itself as a neighborhood gathering spot for locals and visitors, with Cuban food, cocktails, an extensive selection of rums and outdoor seating on California Avenue.
What is on the menu
Starters include pork empanadas, platanos maduros, camarones con mojo, crispy yuca, shrimp ceviche, crab cakes, potato croquetas and mariquitas plantain chips. A Cuban black bean soup is on the list too. Salads include the Palmitos and a plantain-crusted goat cheese salad. The Cubano leads the sandwiches.
Main courses lean on Cuban classics such as arroz con pollo, pork masitas and ropa vieja, plus a surf and turf called Tierra y Mar and a full pound of BBQ ribs. Family-style dishes for two or three include a paella Cubana and a seafood ajiaco. Desserts include Havana bananas, Cuban flan, a chocolate rum cake and a key lime tart.
The menu marks vegetarian and vegan dishes. Vegan choices include crispy yuca, the black bean soup, the Palmitos salad and an Impossible picadillo hash. The Caribbean curry and pasta verde are labeled vegetarian.
Rum, cocktails and wine
Rum is the house specialty. The cocktail list starts with the mojito and runs through Cuban standards such as the Cuba Libre, El Presidente, the Nacional No. 1 and a Hemingway cocktail, along with a Dark 'n Stormy and an old fashioned. The restaurant keeps a large rum collection and has a lounge called the Divan for sipping aged rum. The wine list includes Spanish and Italian selections and Champagne. Beer runs to Belgian bottles such as Chimay Blue, Orval and Westmalle Dubbel, along with drafts such as Estrella Galicia.
The restaurant posts monthly specials. In October 2026 they included a rum Negroni and a Neighbor Night family-style dinner. Cigars are also part of the identity. The website describes the patio as a place to enjoy a cigar.
Hours, happy hour and booking
La Bodeguita opens at noon Tuesday through Saturday and serves straight through the afternoon without closing. The kitchen closes at 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and at 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. It does not list Sunday or Monday hours. Cuban Social Hours, the restaurant's happy hour, run from noon to 5 p.m. with a separate small-plates menu that includes a shrimp po' boy and a black bean burger, plus drink specials such as a Havana Mule.
You can reserve online or call during open hours. Walk-ins are welcome. The website also offers online ordering and gift cards.
Who it suits
La Bodeguita fits an after-work drink, a relaxed dinner with friends or a group celebration with family-style platters. Rum fans have a long list to explore, with aged bottles meant for slow sipping in the Divan. The labeled vegan and vegetarian dishes make it workable for mixed groups. Because the kitchen serves all afternoon, it also works for a late lunch in the middle of a weekday afternoon. It is less suited to Sunday or Monday plans, since the restaurant lists no hours on those days.
Tips for visiting
For a group, the restaurant offers several private spaces: the Cuban Corral, the Divan with the back patio and a full dining room buyout. An afternoon visit during Social Hours is the easiest way to try a few plates and a mojito without committing to a full dinner. Our California Avenue guide covers the rest of the street. Our bars, wine and beer guide lists other places for a drink in town. For more Latin American food, see our Mexican and Latin American food guide.
Location and getting there
La Bodeguita Del Medio is at 463 South California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA, in the California Avenue area of Palo Alto. Our California Avenue guide covers what else is around.
The nearest train stop is the California Avenue Caltrain station, about 0.3 miles away. That is roughly a 7 minute walk.
Parking: street spaces and city garages with posted limits (see parking in Palo Alto).
Hours
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday to Thursday | Noon to 9 p.m. |
| Friday and Saturday | Noon to 9:30 p.m. |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours from the business's own website, checked October 29, 2026.
What is nearby
- Palo Alto Eyeworks, practice, under 0.1 mi
- Christian Science Reading Room, shop, under 0.1 mi
- Kali Greek Kitchen, quick-service spot, under 0.1 mi
- Citibank El Camino Real, service business, under 0.1 mi
- Lee Aldinger Insurance, firm, under 0.1 mi
- College Terrace Library, 0.2 mi
- Bowden Park, 0.4 mi
- Peers Park, 0.4 mi
Other restaurants nearby: Izzy's Brooklyn Bagels (under 0.1 mi); Namaste (under 0.1 mi); Ramen Kowa (under 0.1 mi); Jin Sho (under 0.1 mi). Browse the full restaurants list.
Before you go
- Popular dinner spots in Palo Alto fill up on Friday and Saturday nights, so book ahead where the restaurant takes reservations.
- Many kitchens close earlier than in big cities. Plan to order by about 9 p.m. on weeknights unless the posted hours say otherwise.
- If you have allergies or dietary needs, call ahead or check the current menu on the restaurant's website.
About this listing
Checked October 29, 2026 against La Bodeguita del Medio official website; About La Bodeguita; Menus; Location and hours. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Frequently asked questions
Where is La Bodeguita Del Medio in Palo Alto?
La Bodeguita Del Medio is at 463 South California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA, in the California Avenue area. The nearest Caltrain stop is the California Avenue Caltrain station, about 0.3 miles away.
What are Cuban Social Hours at La Bodeguita del Medio?
Cuban Social Hours are the restaurant's afternoon happy hour, from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. A separate menu of small plates and drink specials runs during that window. The full menu is also served all afternoon.
Can La Bodeguita del Medio host a private event?
Yes. The restaurant lists the Cuban Corral, the Divan and back patio and a full dining room buyout for private events. Inquiries go through the private events page on its website.
Does La Bodeguita del Medio have vegan dishes?
Yes. The menu labels several dishes as vegan, including crispy yuca, Cuban black bean soup, the Palmitos salad and an Impossible picadillo hash. Others, such as the Caribbean curry and potato croquetas, are labeled vegetarian.
What are La Bodeguita Del Medio's hours?
Monday: Closed; Tuesday to Thursday: Noon to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: Noon to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday: Closed.