June 2026’s new openings and spots to watch in the Capital Region: Copa Cruzan Creole, Café Verdino and more

It’s the last day of June, so you know what that means: It’s time to look back at what opened in the Capital Region this past month.

From a new coffee shop to a long-awaited restaurant in Gonzales, here’s your monthly recap of all the new concepts we said hello to in June, plus some other spots that have made their way onto our radar.

Did we miss a business or restaurant that opened during June? Tell us by emailing [email protected].

Copa Cruzan Creole

427 S. Burnside Ave., Gonzales 

Three years in the making, Copa Cruzan Creole restaurant opened in early June, giving Gonzales a taste of Caribbean, Latin American, Creole and American dishes. Father-son team José and Jake Boriel are behind the eatery, drawing from their experience in the catering business and their previous concepts, Highland Café in Port Allen and Caribbean Joe’s, a popular deli and coffee shop in Baton Rouge.

Café Verdino

6626 Jones Creek Rd., Ste. H

Baton Rouge’s coffee shop boom continues with the opening of Café Verdino. The shop’s menu features espresso drinks, brewed coffee, hot and cold teas, scratch-made lemonades and a modestly priced breakfast and lunch menu. Owner Ege Oral says he noticed a coffee house void in the immediate area and wanted to open a spot that featured hot and cold espresso drinks and teas, along with breakfast and lunch.

Rougaroux Capitol Bodega

701 Spanish Town Rd. 

With pop-ups and food truck experience under his belt, Rougaroux owner Johnathan Reynolds is now selling his Cajun fusion bites inside a stall at Spanish Town Market and Cofe. Expect a menu of tacos, smashburgers, po-boys, Trash Fries and Boudin Pastor Bombs.

Also on our radar

• New cheesecake trailer Creamy Dips is open at 13436 Jefferson Hwy., serving up personal-size treats in a variety of flavors.
• Burden’s sunflower fields are now open for the season for all who want to frolic or snap pics next to the towering blooms.
• Roul’s Deli debuted its food truck this month. It is available for event bookings now.