By this point, I should just update the first, second, or third time I wrote about their recognition. But applause is always given when applause is earned: Baby Gee, 4th Street’s loving cocktail haven, has been recognized by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation as one of the best bars in the Western U.S. region via the Spirited Awards.
Largely considered the most prestigious of awards among the bar industry, for owners Gianna Johns and Daniel Flores—who also took on the mighty task of opening their own restaurant, Due Fiori, last year—it is a happy reflection of the day-in, day-out operations that keep Baby Gee such a gem.
“Recognition is the very cherry on top of what we do,” Gianna said. “The meat and potatoes, or the ice cream and nuts, rather… The day-to-day hospitality. The training and education. The constant pumping of creativity to keep our menu and space fresh. The community building. The pressure we put on ourselves to be the best version of ourselves that we can be, the hand-drawn art. The amazing collabs. The happy hour we host seven days a week. The ups and downs, and on and on…”
In an industry that is currently plagued with uphill battles nationwide—a decline in drinking that has led to mass layoffs, distribution nightmares, grapes being left to rot across California…—the recognition feels all the more smooth.
“Being recognized by the Spirited Awards makes you just take a step back from all of that and say, ‘Wow, we feel seen by our peers.’ It forces a moment of reflection and celebration, and that is a very special gift to be given.”
The prestige of the Spirited Award goes beyond the industry; it should bring a sense of self-pride for Baby Gee.
If there is one specific thing to point out that makes this recognition all the more impressive, it is that Baby Gee has long been operated solely by Gianna and Daniel. They have no PR team. No financial backing.
For those who remember, their takeover of the well-known dive that was The Red Room was met with classic Long Beach skepticism: Who are these people, and are they going to ruin the neighborhood with overpriced drinks and a lack of welcoming? The answer to that question could not be further from the basis of its asking: Warm, insanely hard-working, and willing to talk to anyone that passed by, Baby Gee has become engrained in the local culture.
Since opening in 2023, Gianna has created hundreds of cocktails. From summer and winter menus to holiday menus and happy hours, Baby Gee has consistently pushed the envelope of what makes a Long Beach bar excel and how to weave it seamlessly into the neighborhood around it.
Long Beach’s cocktail culture has never been better—but it also needs our support.
Long Beach cocktails and spirit choices—and its mocktail counterpart—have never been stronger, with bar managers and tenders creating a new era of hospitality and drinkability. And it isn’t just Gianna at Baby Gee.
Our talent is glowing: David Saenz at Marlena. Kevin Lee at Tokyo Noir. Priscilla In at The Stache. Nathaniel Ochoa at The Attic. Bryce Kaesman at Panxa Cocina. Mike Bukowski at Selva. Kody Hill at Port City Tavern. Christy Caldwell and Chris Serrano at The Ordinarie…
But we’ve also lost spaces with their attached talents: Jocelyn Jolly at Michael’s on Naples (who will soon be heading The Hare’s program). Gabriel Ducharme at Wood & Salt (who can now be found at The Attic). Emilee Comeau at Roe…
So go support your local bartender, Long Beach. After all, we’re home to a bar that’s nationally recognized four years in a row now.
Baby Gee Bar is located at 1227 E. 4th St.
