When does June Baby open?

June Baby opens on Wednesday, October 28, in New York's East Village.

Where is June Baby located?

June Baby is located at 197 Second Avenue, between East 12th and 13th Streets, in the East Village neighborhood of New York City.

Who are the owners of June Baby?

June Baby is co-owned by Roxanne Diaz Bangalan and Darwin Pornel, who are a couple, along with partner Ben Rojo. They first launched June Baby as a pop-up in 2025 to build spaces for Filipinos and Filipino Americans.

What kind of drinks and food does June Baby serve?

June Baby serves Filipino-inflected cocktails including an ube colada ($15), a calamansi highball, a buko pandan-inspired Negroni ($17), a Turon-Tado daiquiri, and a corn and cream cheese foam margarita. The food menu focuses on pulutan — small snack plates designed for easy eating while sitting or standing.

What is the concept behind June Baby?

June Baby is inspired by the idea of a Filipino house party, aiming to recreate the warmth of a home gathering. The name references Philippine Independence Day, and the bar is rooted in the concept of reclaiming Filipino identity and history, welcoming guests regardless of their specific cultural backgrounds.

What is the signature cocktail at June Baby?

The signature cocktail is the ube colada, priced at $15. It was invented by co-owner Ben Rojo, and Darwin Pornel calls it 'the most perfect rendition of the ube colada I've ever had.'

June Baby Brings Filipino House Party Vibes To East Village

Written By:

Published on October 30, 2026 • 7:00 AM MDT

New York’s newest cocktail bar just opened in the East Village. Welcome June Baby, a spot filled with Filipino comfort, ube-laced cocktails, and small plates.

Created by Roxanne Diaz Bangalan, Darwin Pornel, and Ben Rojo the team started June Baby as a pop-up in 2025. The idea, they said, was to build welcoming spaces for those with Filipino heritage in all walks of life to eat, drink, and be merry.

June Baby serves a bright Ube Colada. | Photo by Justin Sisson

The name June Baby refers to the Philippines official independence day, which kicked off in 1962 when President Diosdado Macapagal officiated the holiday. The cocktails also pay homage to the culture by using Filipino flavors in the drinks. For example, the Ube Colada and Calamansi Hi-Ball. There’s also the Turon-Tado, a caramelized banana and jackfruit daiquiri.

The food side focuses on small dishes called pulutan, all crafted by chef consultants Kevin Cardenas, Adrian Capellan, and Lem Soriano. Highlights include Lumpiang Shanghai, Salt & Pepper Kanto Fried Chicken Wings, and the June Baby Burger, which will make fans of In-N-Out very happy. Bonus, the kitchen will be open late, and guests can expect special off-menu surprises.

Visit June Baby Tuesday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. 197 Second Ave., East Village, no website

Linnea Covington Managing Editor Denver

Linnea Covington is a regional managing editor of DiningOut, covering Denver, New York City, and Phoenix. She comes to us with a long background in food, restaurant and drinks journalism. Over the last two decades she's written for tons of national publications including Denver Post, Washington Post, Forbes Travel Guide, 5280 Magazine, New York Magazine, New York Times, Time Out New York and more. Follow on Instagram: @linneacovington https://muckrack.com/linnea-covington

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