Bad Bunny’s halftime show during yesterday’s Super Bowl LX was full of symbolism and surprises, but something most viewers missed was an appearance by an iconic New Yorker.
Owner of the Caribbean Social Club in Brooklyn, Maria Antonia Cay, better known as Toñita, can be seen serving Bad Bunny a drink during the show.
Bad Bunny’s recreation of a Puerto Rican community brought a piece of New York City straight to California. The show recreated the interior of the Caribbean Social Club in “meticulous detail”, including the bar’s address, which was visible on screen with Tonita herself.
Toñita’s bar has become an important community gathering place for Puerto Ricans in New York for more than 50 years. Originally opened in the 1970s as a gathering place for the local baseball team and their families, the bar has become “a Puerto Rican corner that today is a refuge for all Latinos in New York”. The bar’s continued existence itself stands as a testament against gentrification.
Toñita’s Caribbean Social Club is located on the south side of Williamsburg, in an area known as “Los Sures”. This part of Brooklyn has been home to those from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic for decades. The Caribbean Social Club has become a symbol of resistance against the growing gentrification of the community.
After refusing an offer of nearly $9 million for her bar, Toñita said, “I’m staying here with my people as long as I can. This is not to make money or fortune. It’s to maintain a space where we can all be together”.
The relationship between Toñita and Bad Bunny began after he visited her club during a celebration for his album release in 2022. In 2025, Bad Bunny presented his album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” at the Caribbean Social Club, which includes the song “NUEVAYoL” that references Tonita.
Now 85, Toñita has won the hearts of both her community and popular celebrities. Her legacy and club are now celebrated through “Toñita Fest”, which is held annually on June 22 and often features musical performances and a domino tournament.
