Opium Cocktail & Dim Sum Parlour in City of London, Westminster

Nice place in the heart of China town, a short walk from Leicester Sq, The Dim sum was excellent and the cocktails were very nice, well worth a visit, but best to book in advance otherwise you might not get in.

Very expensive for fairly small portions and slightly outdated venue. Could do with a slight revamp. The service was amazing though!

Great atmosphere, wasn’t that difficult to get in during weekdays without a reservation. Pretty chill space to kill some time before or after dinner.

Great cocktails, calm atmosphere.

Family (adult children) went to this bar after a theatre visit. Not sure why all the negative reviews. Cocktails were good and not stupid money. Food was v expensive for what it was but was nicely cooked and perfectly acceptable. Service was friendly. It was fine.

Just had a really lovely hour in Opium and our cocktail mixologist “Adam” was most engaging and we thoroughly enjoyed the drinks and the service was exceptional but not overbearing, thanks

Ciro was a fantastic bartender, brilliant cocktails & food

While I was fortunate to gain admission on a Saturday night without a reservation, I had a distressing experience on the 1st Floor while sitting on a stool at the bar. It was my first time there. The Romanian staff member who mixed my cocktail unfortunately called me Ma'am. I am not female. I am non binary since I am Intersexed by birth. I mentioned this and was asked how I would prefer to be addressed. I don't want to be called either Sir, Madam or Ma'am. None are necessary in a bar. Please give all staff members Diversity and Inclusion training in keeping with the Equality Act 2010.

Oh. El portero que creo que pensó que estaba siendo diplomático, nos entregó un mensaje diciendo que no éramos aptos para entrar. No por la razón perfectamente válida que podría haberme dicho, sino que anunció públicamente una mentira a través de su manager. Fue patético en su traducción. Y si hubiera un gerente habría dicho Dios mío que estamos en 2025. ¿Dónde crees que estás? No estamos en los 90. ¡Sé valiente! Nos rechazaron (con una reserva) porque no llevaba pantalones apropiados. Perfectamente bien. Y en la letra pequeña. ¡Aceptable! Entonces di eso. No digas que es porque estamos demasiado borrachos. No podría haber estado más sobrio. Y optó por hacerlo públicamente mientras avergonzaba. ¿Dónde más en Chinatown hay un montón de gente blanca triste dispuesta a ser insultada y parada en una manada desesperada por darles dinero? Aprendí la lección.

Amazing experience with ciro, what a barman

Amazing food, cocktails, and ambiance

A great place for drinks and dim sum. Our waiter, Mike, ensured a fantastic experience and guided us through several different drinks, all of which were of high quality.

Our server Fabio was amazing !!! Highly recommend, absolutely lovely experience for my birthday !

Los cócteles interesantes y el personal del bar eran eficientes, pero no particularmente amables. Portero era extremadamente hosco cuando llegamos (habíamos reservado una mesa) y nos ignoró como le agradecemos a la salida. Fue bastante tranquilo para un sábado por la noche y mirando algunas de las otras críticas que puedo ver por qué. El interior es ecléctico pero desastroso.

We went there here for Chinese New Year, the speciality cocktails were amazing! .. we had to try them all. Staff were attentive and atmosphere created made for a great night - loved the fortune cookie x nice touch x

Rarely go to cocktail place and have a bad experience with a drink but this one was worse than any I’ve been to. Usually when you go to an upscale place and get a drink, say you don’t like the drink, they replace it. Not the story here. Got attitude from the waiter who recommended the drinks and the manager. Please avoid this place or ask for a specific drink .

Pretentious and the place wasn’t even that cool

Lo único bueno eran los cócteles. Probé dim sum con cerdo pero fue como comer un terrón de azúcar así que gasté 10 libras por 1 bocado. El camarero no sonrió ni una vez. Personal muy frío y no muy acogedor. Parecía que les molestaba tener que trabajar allí. También es muy caro y estrecho en el interior. No volverá.

Absolute joke of an establishment. Doorman was clearly stoned and didn’t care. And then the bartender recommended a drink and we ordered 5 of them. It was possibly the worst drink I’ve ever ordered. It was very smoky negroni and when we tried to see if we could replaced the poor drink with one that would we would enjoy. The server who recommended the drinks left and one min later came back and told us that we can get a new drink but would have to pay for it.The final bill was £180 with service charge for 5 people having two drinks . We decided that the poor attitude from manger and bartender with quite possible the worst drink I’ve ever consumed, we asked for the service to be taken off the bill. Would highly recommend going and exploring one of Londons bars that are 1000x better. Bartender with the dreadlocks avoid like the plague

Honestly had the worst recommendation of my life. Bar tender refused to replace the cocktails and then had the cheek to charge service charge. Avoid the place at all cost.

As two managers in the hospitality industry, my boyfriend and I love visiting places that are renowned for great drinks and/ or food and an all around great experience. I hadn’t been to Opium for a couple of years and suggested we attend last night, as I remember it being a good little spot. Unfortunately, as soon as we arrived the service was dismissive and poor. The doorman was dismissive and seemed quite frankly stoned. When we walked up to the bar, we were seated in a crammed little space in the corner. I asked if we could sit nearer the bar, and were told there wasn’t any space right now. As the bar was not extremely busy, I decided to pop my head around and look, to find a row of six tables near the bar completely empty. I then asked again after my observation and we were told that the member of staff would have to ask his manager, he then came back and reluctantly seated us near the bar. Upon arriving at our table then told us ‘the table isn’t dirty it’s just sticky’ to which we didn’t know what to say. We both know that the table just isn’t clean, and is covered in some kind of sugar. It’s nothing some soapy water after closing or wiping the table in between customers won’t fix. We ordered our drinks and our server was not very engaging at all, and seemed bored by the entire experience. We ordered a ru de La mode and an opium no 10. I must say, these were quite underwhelming. The ru de La mode was a nicely balanced cocktail with a delicious caramelised banana garnish, however, the opium no 10 was very sweet and didn’t let the flavours of the spirits shine through, so was overpoweringly sickly. It seemed to be all style, no substance. We tried to engage with our server and were playfully asking for another banana garnish as we said how delicious it was and he looked bored and said ‘it’s just caramelised banana’ (yes, we know that, but due to our poor experience so far, that was your opportunity to engage with the customers and be passionate about the cocktails: a test you failed). He then said he would ask management to see if we could have another garnish (!) and we watched as he spent a minute floating around the bar and spoke to no one, then came back and said it was too busy (it was not). As I said, we both work in service management and we know this is not a big ask. We asked for the bill and it came to just under £35.00. When you are charging these kinds of prices for cocktails, London or not - it’s not just the skill of the mixologist you are paying for, it’s the service, atmosphere and all over holistic experience. We were willing to spend quite a bit of money, but Opium just fell short of the mark with poor service and atmosphere. We ended up in Cahoots after until closing where I must say in comparison the quality of the service, the craftsmanship of the cocktails and the overall atmosphere was infinitely better. We won’t be returning any time soon unfortunately, which is a shame because this used to be a great bar. It’s become a victim of the snake eating its own head. When some bars get a reputation for being good, they get wrapped up in their own pretentiousness and the service quality drops, forgetting to put the customer first and caring only about ego. This is sadly one of those cases.

The decor is beautiful but unfortunately I found the manager to be rude to both his staff and customers. Give it a miss.

Great cocktails, courteous and friendly staff, fun vibe. Would go again!

Dawid is a top man fully recommended coming

Dawid was such a legend he had fantastic service hottie xxx

Really nice cocktails and surroundings, I would 100% recommend a visit. I must say I was slightly disappointed when we were asked to move - 3 of our party of 9 could not attend, due to illness. The tables were not joined so it was easy to seat others in the remaining spaces but they attempted to move the whole table, post ordering and receiving drinks, to one of those tables with the high stools which I find very uncomfortable. We refused and they did not force us to move, but the request has slightly dampened my service rating. Also this venue has lots of stairs and is not accessible.

We're regulars at Opium. This place is just amazing! This the place you come back not only for drinks but for people. Thanks Dawid for a great hospitality!

Had an amazing time!! Great atmosphere. Our waiter Hector was amazing! suggested great cocktails, so friendly and funny, we had 7 there and my family and friends thought he was great! Best time for my 21st!!

Great service, Rafael was really friendly.

An enjoyable evening and the best service received from Rafael. Highly recommended.

Hector was the best. Highly recommend this place

Great atmosphere and great service by Hector ! The cocktails are great!

Great service and delicious drinks served by Dawid. Unique ambience too!!!

Dawid was an amazing bartender - drinks were fantastic and he made sure that we had a good time. 10/10!

David was the best bartender! He was so personable and knowledgeable about every cocktail. He made the experience at opium and it made all the difference. 10/10 will be back, recommending it to all of my friends!

David was very attentive, would highly recommend opium for cocktails

Had really good time here and will come back. Thanks to Dawid for delicious coctails and hospitality!

Great bar with great drinks! It was our bar hopping night but we decided to stop it at Opium. Big shout out to Dawid for taking care of us and making this night the best night of our lives! We loved Fortunella Sour and DUAANG!

Hector was amazing. Honestly unsure what we would have done without him

Had a wonderful time - very chill for chatting and had great cocktails. Hector served us and was phenomenal. Will definitely come again!

Hector was the best. Cocktails were amazing. Vibes were chill. 10/10

Hector made us feel so welcome and made my friends birthday very memorable

Our server Hector was amazing , attentive and brillant. Was spot on with his recommendations and made our experience fantastic. The food and drinks where also amazing

Hector was amazing and gave us great service!

Christmas special cocktail was perfect and Hector was so nice and friendly !

Chill spot in chinatown with really unique and delicious cocktails!! Hector was super friendly and helpful with recommendations, making sure we had a good time - shout out!! :)

Shout out to Hector! Best bartender in London! 🚀

Opium Cocktail Bar offers a stunning atmosphere and expertly crafted cocktails that elevate the evening. Hector’s outstanding service and helpful recommendations made the experience truly memorable.

Had a great time! We had wonderful service from Hector who made sure we got amazing drinks

Hector was awesome! Great cocktails too.

Hector gave incredible service and great drinks and food!

Very busy and felt rushed, the food was ok, dumplings a bit bland. Service was nice but not worth the price

Trick you into paying £5 for water

Just a little too dark to see around you and didn’t like the way we was rushed to eat and drink when we had 40 mins left of the booking

El servicio era realmente malo. Muy antipático e incluso hostil. Definitivamente no recomiendo este bar. Muchos lugares mejores. El personal necesita un curso de servicio al cliente seguro.

Nice atmosphere. Good food and drinks

We recently visited this place, and while we were aware of their minimum spend policy, the way it was enforced left a lot to be desired. Rules like that are understandable, but the attitude and approach of the staff completely ruined the experience. From the moment we sat down, the waiters made it very clear—almost aggressively—that we had to meet the minimum spend. Instead of explaining it in a welcoming or professional manner, they put so much pressure on us that it felt like we were being rushed through the whole experience. We had hoped for a relaxed evening, but instead, we felt hurried and watched the entire time, as though we weren’t welcome unless we ordered quickly and spent enough. It was uncomfortable and definitely not the kind of environment where you could unwind and enjoy your drink. What made matters worse was that they brought the bill to our table before we even finished our final drink. That came across as incredibly rude and dismissive, as though they were eager to get us out as soon as possible. It’s not the kind of service you’d expect from a place that markets itself as upscale. Speaking of marketing, the website portrays this place as a luxurious, refined venue, but it’s all smoke and mirrors. Don’t be fooled by the pretentious imagery and descriptions—they want you to think it’s something special, but in reality, it’s just a money-grab. They seem far more interested in turning tables and maximizing revenue than in providing a good experience for their customers. To top it all off, the drinks were mediocre at best. For the prices they charge and the vibe they try to sell, I expected far better. Unfortunately, it was all style and no substance. If you’re looking for a genuinely enjoyable, relaxed, or high-quality experience, I’d suggest looking elsewhere.

Went back to the opium bar and had a great time. Asked to sit and the bar and served by David who was excellent. Gave us great service, spoke to us freely while still serving up all the tickets and others also on bar stools along with his colleague. David made some great recommendations front menu The opium no 10 is good! But after persistent asking agreed to make some alternative suggestions the polish vodka martini and the baijiu cocktail were amazing... Would visit again just for his service. Also his colleague Luke who's head is on some of the bottles was up for a giggle as well made us welcome.

Cool hidden bar in the centre of Chinatown. Drinks are over priced though and watch out that staff don’t double charge you for a tip like we had!

Great security called Niko. He was very welcoming and had our group of 7 people laughing the whole time whilst waiting in the cold. He is an example on how to be an excellent security officer.

Had a small party in the Peony Bar for around 25-30 pax. It was intimate, vibey and spacious. The server Hector was extremely helpful with everything - thank you! The bartendar Daniel made great drinks. Dim-sums are a must try!

Very good secret bar! Prices a little expensive but the place is really nice!!

We are a group of 5 and booked a table from 6.30pm on a Saturday. The place was nice enough and had a retro ambience. But it lacked a bit of atmosphere for us- maybe it was too early I dont know. It wasn't very busy and felt a bit dingy and not very warm/welcoming. We were in the Peony bar. The real issue for us though was the overall service. It was all way too clinical and cold. As soon as we arrived, it felt like they were waiting for us to leave the whole time and clear the table. We kept being given a countdown of how much time we had left to when they needed the table! We were not planning to overstay our time slot and were just having cocktails (no food) so not sure why they felt the need to tell us they needed the table in 40mins/30mins/20mins etc. It was ridiculous! I understand the need to turn tables around for other bookings but this was just excessive and ruined our enjoyment. The cocktails themselves were nice though. Overall adequate enough but I would have been pretty annoyed if this was a special occasion. There are also a load of amazing cocktail bars in London and this one just fell down on ambience and service. I wouldn't go back or recommend to others as a result.

Dawid is the best special cocktail and shot provider. Highly recommend his specials, he knows what you wants

Great fun worth a trip. Don't forget to book.

I have not actually made it inside the Opium Bar as security at the door was quite ridiculous. I wanted to meet in the bar with a friend for drinks and was a bit early. The security guy did not want to let me in and said I should wait outside for my friend. That was before 6pm and the place still looked fairly empty from the outside. He then checked further and said it might be ok if I go inside, but he needs to check my bag. I had a water bottle with me. He questioned whether it was really water inside (it was), and said I should empty it if I want to go in. At that point I had already decided to take my money elsewhere - there are plenty of friendlier places around... In case the business owner wants to investigate - this was around 5:35pm on Thursday 14th November - maybe have a word with your doorman who is putting off customers. I've seen other comments similar to mine below.

I didn’t realize this spot was here in Chinatown and walked passed it a couple of times! It has a really fun vibe and wasn’t too busy for a Saturday night, though there was a bit of a queue. The dumplings were good—I especially loved the mushroom truffle and the cod and fennel, which are a must-try! My friend mentioned there’s an even better dumpling place nearby, but I was happy with these. The drinks, however, were a bit of a letdown, tasting mostly like sugar, which was disappointing given the price. Still, we had a great time, and it’s worth a visit if you’re in the area. The staff were efficient but not the friendliest, though they were likely just busy!

What an amazing cocktail bar. This is one of the best in London and you must try. The Cocktail menu is curated exquisitely and served with ultimate attention to perfection by highly skilled mixologists. The ambiance is just perfect for couples and small groups with great decor and lighting. Super helpful and informative staff.

24 de septiembre. No dejes que las imágenes de colores brillantes te engañen, el lugar no se ve así. Es viejo y sucio. No es atmosférico en absoluto. El bar Peony es para grupos más grandes, así que no pudimos conseguir esa habitación al hacer la reserva, así que estábamos en la zona principal del bar. Hay un montón de hombres de pie alrededor. Parece un club de chicos. No recibimos la bienvenida más cálida, pero elegimos un asiento en la barra en lugar de las mesas, fuimos a sentarnos y nos dijeron que nos mudáramos a otro asiento al final de la barra. ¿Por qué no nos sentamos donde queremos? Nunca antes me habían dicho dónde sentarme en un bar. Pedimos 2 cócteles y eran desagradables. Cuestan una fortuna, así que intentamos beberlos, pero no podíamos ser tan malos. Dejamos 2 vasos prácticamente llenos y nos fuimos. Nadie nos preguntó qué pasaba ni nada. Muy decepcionante. ¡Por favor evite este lugar! Hay otros bares de cócteles para ir.

Una joya escondida en Chinatown. Vinimos aquí para lo que se suponía que sería un par de cócteles rápidos después de un almuerzo encantador en el distrito de teatro. Solo había espacio en el bar, pero dos cócteles se convirtieron en 6 o 7! Los cócteles no solo eran increíblemente sabrosos, sino que el personal que los preparaba era inmensamente atractivo, bien informado y muy agradable para hablar a pesar de lo ocupados que estaban. Probamos todos los cócteles que queríamos del menú y dejamos que el dúo dinámico detrás de la barra se pusiera creativo y nos hiciera un par de cócteles de su imaginación. Este es un lugar muy agradable, pero el personal detrás de la barra eran los que marcan la diferencia. No recuerdo el nombre del tipo, pero era medio polaco y vietnamita. Era un verdadero profesional. Él nos dio mucha idea de los cócteles y tuvo una buena charla general con mi pareja y yo. La señora detrás de la barra con él era igualmente excepcional, su nombre era Lilu. Quiero dar las gracias a los dos por hacer la noche divertida y especial. Sin duda volveremos.

We missed our reservation by two minutes (as was pointed out by the doorman in a rather cheery way - “you are two minutes late!”). They did not let us enter, even though people without reservations were let in. They charged us 15 quid for the experience.

The doorman was unprofessional and creepy! Although we had a reservation, we decided to not get in and go to Experimental Cocktail Club nearby. The staff is better trained and more friendly.

This bar was a great time! we actually mixed up our booking by a day and they still managed to sit us at the bar! The drinks were phenomenal and not too expensive!

I would really have like to rate the bar much higher but the experience I had on Saturday 19th October evening was almost completely ruined by the rude/ignorant and "aggressive"(not physically)/"confrontational" attitude and behaviour of the doorman. Once past the hurdle of entrance( he was expecting, I assume, for me to have "walked away" in disgust) we had the utmost courtesy and attention from the inside and bar staff but the sadly the evening was flat and ruined. I wonder why the doorman had this attitude towards me and would really hate to think it was because I was British Indian and he was Afro-Carribbean and there was a racial element and hope it wasn't and just a one-off bad day at the office for him. I have been previously and had a great evening

Excellent music and service was amazing. Hector was extremely kind and he has really good recommendations of cocktails for us according to our own tastes 🤩. I’m definitely coming back!!

We went there a few times already and it was always a good experience but yesterday we were really disappointed : poor presentation of the cocktails in comparison to the price. We had a dim sum platter and they were just horrible. It felt more like a tourist trap. Never again.

Cool concept, but the execution leaves a little to be desired. The cocktails are only ok. Probably fine for most people but if you're more discerning, there are probably better options. Especially since the service is fine but not particularly hospitable.

Found this hidden gem and I was glad we did. Great service and ambience. The cocktails we had were very well made with the right amount of alcohol and mixers. The food we had was also brilliant with lots of flavour. The texture on the dumplings was spot on. Highly recommend coming here for good food, great cocktails and good service.

Got turned away, apparently had to be with someone and couldn’t go in alone. What.

The waiter asked me if I drink water. I said yes still please. They opened a bottle of one of the most expensive waters in the world - Voss. Whereas I thought I would get a tap water. No warning. Not nice for a customer

Been here before and had a great time, this week I had visitors from outside the city visiting and decided to book a table there. For my surprise we we were received by a doorman who was probably having a bad day and didn't let one of us in because of the "dress code". He was abusing of his power and being very rude with us for no reason. Well, If you have a dress code you should let people know in the booking confirmation. We then walked to Soma, a cocktail bar 5 minutes away where they know how to treat clients with a great service. Opium, never again.

Hector Benitez deserve a raise. Incredible waiter who would be the reason I return to this bar. Incredibly friendly, welcoming, and hospitable. Gracias muchisimo Hector. Hopefully te veo pronto !!

A great hidden gem tucked away in Soho. The staff took excellent care of us, showing genuine friendliness and flexibility in accommodating our specific preferences for both food and cocktails. The only area for improvement is the place itself, as the building could benefit from a bit of attention and a slight refurbishment.

Was served by a very rude person, who made us want to back our drinks and leave. We went on a Sunday, wasn't busy, yet the staff member mentioned was harassing us to order drinks, when we asked to give us a moment, he told us if we don't order drinks we can leave. Horrible service, as I used to come to opium all the time I suggested it to my friends on that Sunday, sadly was not the service I remember.

The aesthetic was more college dive bar than upscale speakeasy. The drinks were tasty but I wouldn’t pay that premium given the disappointing environment.

One of the most disappointing bars I ever been to, I had such high expectations. The waiter that served me was very rude, no hospitality, he was there just to do his job. Drinks tasted like someone who had no experience in making cocktails. Please stay away from this place.

Innovative cocktails and good dumplings with good service

First came here as part of a Gin Journey and I was super impressed. Returned this year but found the cocktails were very over priced and the bar itself looked shabby and run down. Our bar man was v friendly though!

Loved it! Me and my boyfriend really enjoyed the atmosphere, the food and drinks, and specially the service. Fabio gave us excellent service, he even recommended us great drinks which we loved along with apéritifs on top of everything we ordered. We want to thank you Fabio!!! 100% recommend this place for a casual drink and a good time.

We went for a drink after dinner in the area and we loved the place. Both the decoration and the atmosphere and the staff, all very special and good atmosphere. Fabio attended us and was very friendly! Thank you very much, it is not a cheap place but the experience and the place are worth it to spend a special night. We will return on our next visit to the city for sure!

This place is such a vibe! 10/10 cocktails, the dim sum is perfection!

Great night out such a chilled atmosphere reminded me of once upon a time in America, definitely worth a visit 👍

Such a fun bar with a great atmosphere and very friendly staff. Yummy inventive cocktails and good beer too! Thank you, Hector!!

No lo había sido por un tiempo, pero solía ser genial. Ahora está un poco sucio. Anfitrión / gerente grosero que obviamente sintió que sonreír y ser educado estaban en contra de su mandato. El camarero era lo suficientemente amable y el único cóctel que tuvimos era decente. Pero, es un lugar un poco sombrío hoy en día y cuando te saludan y te alojan como nosotros, no vale la pena subir las escaleras para llegar allí.

Very nice hidden cocktail bar!! Thanks to Fabio for all the great service and good recomedations.

Fui con unos amigos a tomar una copa después del trabajo y fueron atendidos por Fabio. él era super atento, acogedor y me hizo grandes recomendaciones de bebidas - casi me olvido de que había estado en el trabajo durante la mayor parte del día ! gracias por un encantador desconectar , sin duda volveré !

Amazing place great vibes great cocktails great service. Need to try the food next time as only had cocktails!

One of the best place to visit in central London area. Fabio’s service is excellent and amazing. All the cocktails we ordered are absolutely spot on. Will definitely visit again.

the food and drinks were literally 10/10. please order the lobster, duck and mushroom & truffle dim sum. service by hector was excellent and we will definitely be back!!

Good atmosphere, delicious food and Favio's cocktail recommendations and service were excellent.