June Baby

The bar's name references 12 June, the Philippines' Independence Day, while its location at 197 Second Avenue carries its own cultural significance. The address was once home to Jade Mountain, a family-run Chinese restaurant that opened in 1931, and later Black Emperor, the cocktail bar operated by Ben Rojo between 2018 and 2020.

June Baby's cocktail menu takes familiar classics and gives them a distinctly Filipino-American character, incorporating ingredients and flavours associated with the founders' childhoods.

The Ube Colada cocktail offers a Filipino take on the Piña Colada, drawing on ube, the purple yam popular in Filipino desserts, while the Turon-Tado reimagines the Daiquiri with caramelised banana and jackfruit, inspired by turon, the much-loved Filipino sweet snack.

Food is an equally important part of the experience, with a menu based around pulutan, the Filipino tradition of enjoying small dishes and snacks alongside drinks.

Highlights include Lumpiang Shanghai, crispy Filipino spring rolls; Salt & Pepper Kanto Fried Chicken Wings, inspired by the founders' family gatherings; and the June Baby Burger, a California-inspired creation complete with secret sauce.

June Baby has been designed as a lively, informal gathering place rather than a formal cocktail destination. Bar seating, banquettes and standing tables encourage guests to move around and mingle, while a walk-in-only policy keeps things spontaneous.

Filipino identity runs throughout the interiors, from artwork by Filipino artists exploring themes of migration and belonging to a backbar inspired by the rice terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras.