Opium Cocktail Bar

Opium Cocktail Bar in Soho's Chinatown

Opium Cocktail Bar is a hidden cocktail bar and dim sum parlour on Gerrard Street, in Soho's Chinatown. It sits behind a jade door beside Lotus Garden, marked by an orb light, and opens from 5pm until late. A visitor would go for expertly mixed cocktails served alongside handcrafted dim sum, in a venue that takes its design cues from 1920s Shanghai. The Opium Cocktail Bar Chinatown concept spreads across two floors and three separate bars, each with its own menu, secret rooms and quiet nooks.

The venue is for guests aged 18 and over. It is set just off the main run of Cantonese restaurants on Gerrard Street, and its concealed entrance is part of the appeal. You can reach the bar on 020 7734 7276 to book a table.

Three Bars and What They Serve

Opium is arranged as three distinct rooms. The Apothecary Bar leans towards experimental cocktails and rare spirits, the Peony Bar pairs late-night cocktails with dim sum, and the Academy Bar hosts cocktail experiences and private events. Each bar serves its own signature drinks, with dim sum favourites and table snacks such as Cantonese pork buns available throughout.

Alongside the cocktail list, the bar runs pre-theatre dining packages, cocktail masterclasses and aperitivo specials. This makes it a practical stop for West End visitors who want a drink and a bite in one place rather than moving between a restaurant and a bar. Serving dim sum next to a full cocktail programme sets it apart from most bars in the area.

Visiting Opium in Chinatown

The bar is a short walk from Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus stations, in the pedestrianised core of Chinatown. Because the entrance is deliberately discreet, look for the jade door and orb light next to Lotus Garden rather than a conventional bar frontage. Opening hours run from 5pm into the early hours, with later closing times towards the weekend, so it suits both pre-dinner drinks and a late finish after a meal nearby. Booking ahead is sensible at busy times, given the venue is divided into smaller rooms rather than one large space.