Take a former Chinatown gambling den, add an all-star bar cast and some legendary dim sum, et voila, you have Opium Cocktail and Dim Sum Parlour.
There are two floors of fun to be had, with countless rooms, each with a different personality. Relax with a book in the (tea) cupping area, jump your date Orient Express style or check out the bar where spirits have been decanted into apothecary style bottles only labelled with Chinese numeric characters (tough boss – those bartenders had to learn Chinese).
We’ll mostly be found on a stool at the chef’s table style academy bar where you can watch the barmen create some wildly theatrical cocktails. The cocktails are all inspired by the orient and they are served with flare. Sip on an “East India Fizz” made with Beefeater Gin, Averno Amaro Sicliano, home-made falernum, cloudy apple juice, fresh lime and topped with soda, or the “Chai-nese Clogs” made with Bols Genever, fresh lime, homemade chai tea syrup and drops of schizandra tincture served with a “kopstootje” of beer on the side!
Don’t leave without getting your dim sum on, they are made by the pros downstairs. Yes lobster dumplings, yes crab and samphire dumplings and yes BBQ pork buns. Oh, and it opens till 3am most nights too. The stuff of legends.
Here are some recommended venues within walking distance of Opium