A Taste of the Caribbean at Bar Kabawa in the East Village

Photos: Bar Kabawa

Bar Kabawa, the new bar celebrating Caribbean culture from Chef Paul Carmichael and Momofuku, is now open at 8 Extra Place in the East Village. Housed in the former Momofuku Ko bar space, Bar Kabawa captures the spirit of the Caribbean with a focus on daiquiris, raw bar and West Indies patties.

Born and raised in Barbados, Chef Paul Carmichael spent years working with industry-defining chefs like Wylie Dufresne, Marcus Samuelsson and David Chang. He joined Momofuku at Má Pêche, and later became Executive Chef of Momofuku Seiobo in Sydney, Australia. After a few years of travelling and cooking, Chef Paul joins Momofuku to play a key role in overseeing restaurant operations companywide, starting with the opening of Bar Kabawa, and Kabawa later this winter.

Designed by Creative Bartender Kathryn “Pepper” Stashek (Attaboy, Grand Army Bar) the cocktail list is designed to showcase Caribbean rum and cocktails. The Daiquiri menu includes Daiquiri Kabawa with a choice of rum, key lime juice and organic cane sugar served on snow ice; Bay Leaf Daiquiri with Chairman’s Reserve White Rum and nitro-muddled bay leaf; and Piña Cola Daiquiri with Probitas Rum, pineapple and coconut water.

The bar also offers large format cocktails, including Planter’s Punch with Worthy Park 109 Jamaica Rum, grapefruit juice and clove; and Rum & The Coconut, a choice of rum served alongside coconut water in a whole coconut, for two.

Complementing the beverages, Chef Paul’s menu features raw bar bites and a diverse selection of West Indies patties (Paul’s personal version of a patty, which is a combination of Haitian and Jamaican patties). There are baked Patties like Geera Goat, Creole Chicken and Mushroom, and Curry Crab and Squash, and fried Patties filed withShort Rib, Conch & Bone Marrow, Pepperpot Duck and Foie; Lobster and Red Herring; and Kale and Oats. Caramelized Ducana and Nutmeg Ice Cream is for dessert, and rotating specials are also offered nightly.

Designed in partnership with Joseph Alayón Ormaza of SUITE, Bar Kabawa reflects the vibrant spirit and welcoming essence of the Caribbean family home. The intimate, 24-seat bar features rich wooden details and upholstery motif accents, complemented by tropical art references. Centering the space are two custom artworks from Raelis Vasquez, which depict vibrant scenes from everyday life and culture.

Bar Kabawa is open Tuesday to Saturday from 5:30pm to midnight. Select reservations are available on OpenTable, and the bar is held for walk-ins. For more information, follow along on Instagram @kabawa.