Our Story

We’re Leighann and Katrina, partners in life, love, and now, our biggest project yet: Ligaw, a cocktail bar on Ludlow Street in NYC, where heritage meets hospitality, and every detail is rooted in intention.

Ligaw (which means "to court" in Tagalog) isn't just a bar, it's the story of us.

We first met on the Jersey Shore, working just blocks apart. Years later, we reconnected as friends in Paris, feeling something unspoken, a spark we weren't ready to name. It wasn't until New York that everything came into focus. Here, we built a life, a home, and now, a space for others to gather and feel that same sense of warmth and belonging.

Katrina is a nationally recognized mixologist, celebrated for her use of seasonal, Filipino-inspired ingredients and inclusive, wellness-forward cocktails. Leighann is an experienced event producer and community builder, with a deep background in storytelling, branding, and immersive hospitality.