Just two hours before, he was inducted into a bartender hall of fame, but instead of simply celebrating and mingling among his peers, he's busy making sure two freshly crafted daiquiris have the perfect amount of lime juice, that a man at the bar is happy with his "Presidente" cocktail, and he's making sure a round of piña coladas look perfect for table number four — all with his signature cantinero attire (a perfectly crisp burgundy suit) and a gleaming smile on his face. It's this dedication to his craft and his bar that has made Cafe La Trova one of the most legendary bars in the world.
And it's about time the man behind the magic received an honor for himself.
From left: co-founder and master cantinero Julio Cabrera and Dale DeGroff at the Hall of Fame event at Cafe La Trova on June 19.
Photo by Nicole Lopez-Alvar
The Spirits Were High
On Thursday, June 19, Café La Trova's energy was nothing short of electric as Cabrera was officially inducted into the Bartender Hall of Fame by Bartender Magazine, a legendary honor reserved for the industry's best. In front of friends, family, and fellow cocktail legends, Cabrera received his Hall of Fame ring from Dale DeGroff, the 1993 inductee and godfather of the modern cocktail revival. It was a full-circle, teary-eyed moment that celebrated not just one man's legacy, but the power of consistency, passion, and culture.
Cabrera, known for his masterful mojitos, dapper presence, and unwavering dedication to the craft, has long been a symbol of hospitality done right. On Thursday, his longtime customers, family members, and industry peers raised a glass to him.
In Cuba, cantineros are known for their signature cocktail "throws" (a dramatic technique that tosses liquid between tins)
Cafe La Trova photo
La Trova Celebrates His Family's Legacy
At Cafe La Trova, Cabrera doesn't just serve drinks — he keeps a tradition alive. A proud Cuban-born cantinero (Cuban bartender), Cabrera is one of just over 100 classically trained cantineros working in the U.S., and part of a fading global community of around 1,200. In Cuba, cantineros are known not only for their signature cocktail "throws" (a dramatic technique that tosses liquid between tins) but also for memorizing hundreds of classic recipes and treating bartending not as a job but as a lifelong calling."My family is my inspiration, Cabrera tells New Times at the event. It's a family business. My family and my dad used to have a bar in Cuba before Fidel Castro. They lost the bar when Castro came, when I was four years old, so I never thought of being a bartender. My dad was always telling me stories about the bar and the night and the people, and it was amazing. So, when I grew up, I became an engineer, but I was not happy with my profession. So, I decided to keep the legacy, and I decided to move into hospitality to keep going as a bartender, as my father did."
Now, Cabrera can pass down his legacy to his son Andy, who also works at Cafe La Trova.
A True Taste of Havana for Generations to Come
Between the live music played nightly behind the bar and on stage to his own cantinero bartending school, the bar is a living, shaking, stirring tribute to the golden age of Cuban cocktails and bars, and is home to some of the best daiquiris in the country (and no, they're not the "Strawberry Daquiris" you order at a beach resort). "My favorite is the daiquiri," explains Cabrera. "A daiquiri is very simple, but it's the cocktail that I love the most because it's from Cuba, a classic from Cuba. And wherever I go, people identify me with the daiquiri."Now with Michelin recognition and ranking no. 13 on North America's Best Bars, the bar is only getting started — but Cabrera remains as humble as ever. "I never could've imagined this," he tells New Times. "I just wanted to honor my father's legacy. So, for me, it's amazing. And still, we enjoy every award. We keep our Cuban roots. And you can see it here."
The event was more than a ceremony; it was a cultural milestone for Miami's Cuban bar scene and a proud moment for everyone who still believes in the American dream.
Cafe La Trova. 971 SW Eighth St., Miami; 786-615-4379; cafelatrova.com.
