Filipino-American cocktail bar June Baby opens in New York's East Village with ube and calamansi drinks

June Baby, a Filipino-American cocktail bar founded by Roxanne Diaz Bangalan, Darwin Pornel and Ben Rojo, opened on 28 October at 197 Second Avenue in New York's East Village. Its name honours Philippine Independence Day on 12 June, and its menu includes an Ube Colada, a Calamansi Hi-Ball and lumpiang Shanghai.

June Baby, a Filipino-American cocktail bar, officially opened in New York's East Village on 28 October, The Spirits Business reported. The bar is at 197 Second Avenue and was founded by Roxanne Diaz Bangalan, Darwin Pornel and Ben Rojo.

The Spirits Business said June Baby is described as a "first of its kind" and as a reflection of the founders' Filipino heritage. WhatNow New York reported that the bar combines Filipino-inspired cocktails and food with artwork by Filipino artists, and that its name refers to the Philippines' Independence Day, celebrated on 12 June by Filipino communities worldwide.

The founders

According to The Spirits Business, Diaz Bangalan's background includes work at Faith & Flower and the Nomad Hotel in Los Angeles and at Union Square Cafe in New York. Pornel was most recently director of operations at Paradise Projects, whose sites include Mister Paradise, Pretty Ricky's and Elvis. Rojo runs No Smoking in Los Angeles and owned Black Emperor in New York, which was housed in the same space as June Baby.

WhatNow New York said the East Village location was selected for its history as a neighbourhood shaped by immigrant communities.

Drinks and food

The cocktail menu brings in ingredients and traditions from the Philippines. Dishes and drinks named in the coverage include:

• Ube Colada, the bar's take on a piña colada, made with ube, the purple yam
• Turon-Tado, a caramelised banana and jackfruit daiquiri inspired by the Filipino snack turon
• Calamansi Hi-Ball, a vodka soda with calamansi, also available as a non-alcoholic option
• Lumpiang Shanghai and salt and pepper kanto fried chicken wings
• The June Baby Burger, created as a nod to In-N-Out and the team's time in California

The food menu was developed by chef consultants Kevin Cardenas, Adrian Capellan and Lem Soriano, The Spirits Business reported.

Space and opening hours

WhatNow New York reported that the interior features work by Filipino artists from the United States and abroad, and that the back bar takes inspiration from the rice terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras. The founders worked with Camille Esquivel de la Fé and Adela Locsin of SQVL on the design. The bar does not accept reservations.

The Spirits Business said June Baby will be open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 4pm to 12am.

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