Opium (鴉片)
BEST FOR COCKTAILS
Behind a small green door next to Dumpling’s Legend is Opium, a many-roomed speakeasy known for classic Western cocktails with an oriental spin. The lantern-adorned watering hole has three separate bars over two storeys – the Apothecary, the Peony and the Academy – each with a distinct character and menu. The bar is dotted with antiques sourced from Asia by its Hong Kong owner Eric Yu, such as the portly smiling Buddha statues and the exquisite traditional Chinese medicine cabinet. Must-orders include Mango Penicillin, a whisky-based cocktail that stirs in ginger and mango, and Wild Lady, a gin-based tipple with refreshing Chinese pear purée. Or go off-menu and order Parsley and Grapefruit Collins – a house speciality made by Italian bartender Nicolo Gozzo. For horoscope addicts, Opium has a series of 12 cocktails inspired by Chinese animal signs and served in special animal-inspired beakers until October 2018.
Address: Opium, 15-16 Gerrard Street, Chinatown, London, W1D 6JE
Telephone: +44 20 7734 7276
Website: opiumchinatown.com
