The Edificio Bacardí (Bacardí Building, Monserrate #261, esq. San Juan de Dios), former headquarters of the Bacardí rum empire, is a stunning exemplar of art deco design. Designed by Cuban architect Esteban Rodríguez and finished in December 1929, it is clad in Swedish granite and local limestone.
Terra-cotta of varying hues accents the building, with motifs showing Grecian nymphs and floral patterns. It’s crowned by a Lego-like pyramidal bell tower topped with a brass-winged bat—the famous Bacardí motif.
The building now houses various offices. Access is restricted to the Café Barrita bar (daily 9 a.m.–6 p.m.)——a true gem of art deco design—to the right of the lobby, up the stairs.