Junebug opens in New Orleans
A ‘music-filled’ cocktail bar named Junebug has opened in New Orleans, in the building that was once the Jazz City Studio.
Located on Camp Street in downtown New Orleans, the second floor of the building was once a recording studio where the likes of Cosimo Matassa and Allen Toussaint fine-tuned their sounds, which pioneered the golden age of funk in the 1970s.
The bar’s playlist – comprising nearly 500 funk and soul records from the early to mid-1970s – was hand-curated by the team via ‘countless hours sifting’ the selections of local record shops.
Junebug pays tribute to the city’s musical legacy, backed by two turntables, a pair of JBL 4312c control monitors and three JBL Aquarius IV omnidirectional floor speakers.
The venue’s beverage programme was designed by bar manager Sophie Burton and is centred around brandy and eaux de vie. Both can be enjoyed in flights from producers such as Etter and Clear.
The menu is split between three sections: house cocktails (with ‘A-Side’ and ‘B-Side’ riffs that the bar says represents two drinks with similar flavours but different expressions), Play the Samples (single-shot cocktails), and classics (from New Orleans and elsewhere).
Move the Crowd is a savoury Whiskey Highball alternative, made with Etter Pear Brandy, Iwai Mars Whiskey and house-preserved Meyer Lemon Soda. Dry Spell is the bar’s take on a Negroni, with Yebiga Bela Plum Brandy, Picon Vasco, Dolin Blanc vermouth, lemon and orange oil.
Another highlight is the Kiss Me Now!, which the bar describes as a ‘Cosmo with a bit of body’, made with St George All Purpose Vodka, Pisco Oro Quebrantra, Etter Kirsch Brandy, lemon, Cocchi Rosa and honey.
Meanwhile, from the classic cocktails list, guests can engage in New Orleans staples like a Frozen Ramos Gin Fizz, Sazerac or French 75.
The bar’s design is said to blend garden-inspired elements with rich textures and materials.
The bar’s brandies and eaux de vie are displayed on custom shelving and lit from below. The bar, framed by four arches, is adorned with 128 hand-painted rosettes, while bespoke lights are repurposed from vintage milk glass chandeliers, cymbals and victrola trumpets.
Headlining the main space is a dramatic wallpaper print by Olga Mulica, while for when the weather turns, a patio invites outdoor lounging.
Additionally, Junebug has partnered with New Orleans-based florist Tey Stiteler’s flower studio and gift shop, The Secret Spot, which adjoins the space. From here, guests can also pick up fresh, sustainably sourced flowers, heirloom-quality gifts, art and handcrafted goods from fellow New Orleans-based makers and independent artists.
Junebug is open Tuesday-Thursday from 4-11pm and Friday and Saturday from 4pm-12am.
For more openings, see our roundup from this winter.
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