Though he has long passed, a local legend known as "Bigote Gato" continues to enrich Cuban tourism with his stories and enduring legacy in the capital city of Havana.
Bigote Gato was a prominent figure in Cuba’s hospitality and nightlife scene. Full of flair, style, and sharp wit, he founded a famous Havana bar and an exclusive club for night owls.
Naturally, his nickname—meaning "Cat’s Mustache"—came from his striking, upturned handlebar mustache. He was also known for his signature red beret. Born in Asturias, Spain, this colorful character was someone I had the privilege of interviewing in 2001 when he was 91 years old, just two years before his passing.
While the name may mean little to younger generations—or even to tourists visiting Havana today—this eccentric figure was widely celebrated during the 1940s and 1950s. Today, a bar stands in Old Havana to honor his memory.
Though the venue currently faces challenges amid the country’s economic situation, locals remain hopeful that, like a phoenix, it will rise again.
Bigote Gato (never Bigote de Gato) was an Asturian native whom some in his day viewed as eccentric, while others saw him as a shrewd entrepreneur who cleverly leveraged his flamboyant personality and colorful network of acquaintances.
In January 2014, the Bigote Gato Bar made a comeback at the corner of Teniente Rey (Brasil) and Aguacate streets in Old Havana. Intended as an intimate spot holding just 30 patrons, it seeks to recapture the charm of the original establishment.
This revived bar occupies a restored 19th-century building just a block away from its original location at Teniente Rey No. 308 (between Aguacate and Compostela).
When I met him, he was a small man with a bushy white beard, a piercing gaze, and a fountain of memories—a character looking almost like a gnome straight out of a fantasy film.
His real name was Manuel Pérez Rodríguez. Records suggest he was born on December 13, 1910, in Santulano de Las Regueras, Asturias, though Bigote himself often claimed Candamo, in that same Spanish region, as his true birthplace.
He achieved immense fame, though many Cubans today may not know the origin of his celebrity. In part, he was immortalized by the legendary Puerto Rican singer Daniel Santos, who popularized the famous lyric: "Bigote Gato es un gran sujeto que vive allá por el Luyanó" ("Bigote Gato is a great guy who lives over in Luyanó").
The song was composed by Cuban songwriter Jesús Guerra, a native of Cienfuegos province.
On March 1, 1947, after 23 years of hard work in Cuba, Manuel finally opened the doors to his own establishment, proudly naming it Bigote Gato.
(Taken from Prensa Latina)
CubaPLUS Latinos
CubaPLUS Guyana
CubaPLUS Travel