Right off the JMZ, there’s a new eatery that’s bringing inventive cocktails, live music, and sultry island feels to the area.
Bodeguita– which means little corner store in Spanish– was recently opened by Karla Munoz, the owner of La Lupe, a much loved local Mexican restaurant and One Leaf, a make it yourself salad restaurant.
The new spot is also by the JMZ Myrtle Avenue-Broadway Avenue stop and is a collaboration between the owner, her sister Giomar Munoz and her nephew Israel.
It’s a blend of classic meeds modern with moody lighting, a bar with stools, a vintage looking booth and a piano for musical performances. It’s intimate without being too small.
“We want it to have a very prohibition vibe, but inviting,” she said. “We’re open to everyone… we don’t price our cocktails like in Manhattan.”
Unlike other nearby restaurants with bars, some of the cocktails will be infused with CBD oils– an oil that comes from cannabis and is known to help people relax. The menu will include Cuban staples like platano maduros– yellow plantains, rice and beans, arroz con pollo and ropa vieja.
“We want to make the best Cuban sandwich you can find,” Munoz said.
There’s live music from 9 to 11 p.m. and happy hour from 5 to 8 p.m. Munoz, who is from Ecuador, used to travel to Cuba all the time with her sisters. The restaurant represents the nostalgia she has for the Caribbean island, the classic music she used to listen to and the fun she had travelling there with her sisters. She wants to recreate some of those memories and then share them with patrons in hopes that they’ll turn Bodeguita into their own special spot.
The music played during open mics will be classic Cuban salsa, bugalú (or boogaloo), soul, flamenco and boleros in order to stir up nostalgia for patrons, and also for herself.
“It makes you stay there and drink and remember…you remember your mother, things like that– those memories,” Munoz said.
The second floor is an open terrace where patrons can sit, relax and enjoy what’s left of warm weather. Munoz wants future customers to know that they can write on the walls of the second floor and leave a mark of the fun they had at Bodeguita.
“It’s Bushwick so we want to keep the creativity flowing. It’s more than welcome and appreciated,” she said.
The bar will close at 1 a.m. but will have extended hours soon. Bodeguita will host a flamenco performance on August 25 from 9p.m. to 11p.m. And they will be serving Cuban brunch, Saturday and Sundays from 11a.m. to 2p.m.
Grab an tropical themed cocktail, listen to live tunes and relax at Bodeguita this weekend… and every other weekend after that.
Cover photo courtesy of Karla Munoz
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Bodeguita
A Cuban/prohibition inspired bar and restaurant with unique cocktails, food and life musical performances.
6 Suydam Street (near the Myrtle-Broadway JMZ stop)
Mon-Sun: 5:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Follow Bodeguita on Instagram.