Opium Cocktail Bar
Opium hides behind a jade-green door on Gerrard Street, Chinatown's main pedestrian strip. Ring the doorbell and you're admitted to a three-story venue with a different theme on each floor: a dim sum parlor on the ground floor, a cocktail bar inspired by Chinese apothecary on the first floor, and a third-floor lounge for larger groups. The cocktails draw heavily on Asian ingredients, including Sichuan pepper, lemongrass, yuzu, and jasmine. Prices run GBP 13-17 per cocktail. The dim sum menu offers small plates at GBP 6-12. Walk-ins are accepted but the venue fills quickly after 8 PM on weekends, and the no-standing policy means you need a seat to stay.
What to Expect
A hidden, multi-floor cocktail bar with moody lighting, ornate Asian-inspired decor, and creative drinks served in unusual vessels. Each floor has a different atmosphere. The ground floor is louder and more social; the upper floors are more intimate.
Mysterious and atmospheric. The hidden entrance, the dim lighting, and the ornate decor create a feeling of discovery. The pace is slow and deliberate, designed for sipping rather than gulping.
Background music only. Ambient, downtempo, and Asian-influenced beats. This is a cocktail bar, not a club.
Smart casual. The venue has an upscale feel that matches the pricing. No trainers or flip-flops.
Couples, small groups looking for creative cocktails, anyone who wants a different experience from the standard Soho bar.
Cards accepted. Contactless payments available.
Price Range
Cocktails GBP 13-17, dim sum GBP 6-12, no cover charge
GBP 13-17 ≈ USD 16-21 / EUR 15-20
Hours
Mon-Wed 5 PM to midnight, Thu 5 PM to 1 AM, Fri-Sat 5 PM to 2 AM, Sun 5 PM to midnight.
Insider Tip
Book ahead for Friday and Saturday evenings. The first floor apothecary bar has the most interesting cocktails. Try the dim sum alongside drinks rather than eating separately beforehand.
Full Review
Finding Opium is part of the experience. Gerrard Street is Chinatown's busiest pedestrian street, lined with restaurants and lanterns. The jade door is marked but not loudly, and you ring a bell to enter. A host greets you, checks if you have a reservation, and seats you on one of three floors.
The ground floor dim sum bar works well as a starting point. The dumplings, bao buns, and small plates are genuinely good, not an afterthought attached to a drinks menu. Ordering a few dishes to share alongside cocktails makes for a complete evening.
The first floor is the main cocktail bar, designed to resemble a Chinese apothecary with dried herbs in glass jars, dark wood, and low lighting. The menu changes seasonally but consistently uses Asian flavors in ways that work. A Sichuan Negroni variation using numbing pepper is a standout. Presentation is theatrical without being gimmicky, with drinks served in teapots, medicine bottles, and custom glassware.
The third floor functions as a reservable lounge for groups of six or more. The space is more open and slightly less atmospheric than the first floor but works well for larger parties.
Service is polished. Bartenders can talk through the menu and make recommendations based on preferences. The pace is unhurried. This isn't a venue for rapid-fire rounds; it's built for extended sessions where you try different things over two or three hours.
Pricing is premium but not unreasonable for the quality and location. At GBP 13-17 per cocktail, you're paying Soho rates for drinks that are genuinely crafted rather than poured.
The Neighborhood
Gerrard Street is the heart of London's Chinatown, running between Shaftesbury Avenue and Leicester Square. The venue sits among Chinese restaurants, bakeries, and shops. Leicester Square, Soho's bars, and the West End theaters are all within a five-minute walk.
Getting There
Leicester Square station (Northern, Piccadilly lines) is a 2-minute walk. Piccadilly Circus is 4 minutes. The venue is accessible from every major West End transport link.
Address
15-16 Gerrard Street, Soho, London W1D 6JE
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