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

We made the mistake of coming here for dinner, but this is definitely more of a bar/snacks type of place. The drinks were definitely geared towards instagram pictures, and the food was just ok. The restaurant itself was a little hard to find, as the door is pretty hidden, but the atmosphere inside is very cool! The prices were pretty high for what we got. I would maybe recommend going just for the experience, but I wouldn't go back a second time.

I'm utterly disappointed with my recent experience at Opium. It was meant to be a special evening as we were celebrating my wife's birthday, but it turned out to be nothing short of a disaster. Firstly, I made sure to mention in the 'special requests' section while booking that it was my wife's birthday, hoping they would do something to make it memorable. However, to our dismay, this request was blatantly ignored. There was not even a passing mention of it during our time at the restaurant. Things only went downhill from there. We made the mistake of trying to change our food order within two minutes of placing it, only to be told it was impossible. The lack of flexibility was astounding. To add insult to injury, we were informed shortly after ordering that we had a mere 15 minutes to vacate our table as there was another reservation waiting. Three times we were reminded of this impending eviction, while the food we didn't even want had yet to arrive. The climax of our frustration came when we were abruptly handed the bill and pressured into paying immediately. We were rushed off the table, leaving my friend with half a beer left in her bottle. Rather than allowing her to enjoy her drink, she was stopped at the door and made to consume it there before leaving the premises. The entire experience left a bitter taste in our mouths, figuratively and literally. It's disheartening when a supposedly celebratory occasion turns into a series of disappointments. Needless to say, I will not be recommending Opium to anyone seeking a pleasant dining experience.

The dim-sums were over cooked & really not worth the money spent. The cocktails were good, strong & tasty. Place seemed okay but would not eat here again.

Make a reservation! It gets very busy on the weekend. The food and drinks were great!

Was a bit upset with the service . I specifically booked the Peony bar for my birthday party of 8 , but when we got there despite having that space booked they decided to give to a larger group without telling us and squeezed us on a much smaller table. Was very disappointed with that and their dismissive attitude about it. Also was disappointed that my vegetarian box was a lot smaller portion than the other boxes despite being in the same menu category. The food and drinks were still delicious but small for what you’re paying. Generally the service wasn’t great especially as they knew it was my birthday and I was excited to have that special peony bar space booked for us.

Was a upset with the service . I specifically booked the Peony bar for my birthday party of 8 , but when we got there despite having that space booked they decided to give to a larger group without telling us and squeezed us on a much smaller table. Was very disappointed with that and their dismissive attitude about it. Also was disappointed that my vegetarian box was a lot smaller portion than the other boxes despite being in the same menu category. The food and drinks were still delicious but small for what you’re paying. Generally the service wasn’t great especially as they knew it was my birthday and I was excited to have that special peony bar space booked for us.

Our bartender was abrupt and unhelpful when I asked about the taste of the cocktail I ordered. The bartender then tried to get us to leave before we had even finished our drinks. Mediocre cocktails and unhelpful bartender. He then implied I wouldn't be able to pay for my drink when the contactless payment didn't work the first time I tried to pay. I've been to countless cocktail bars in London and the bartenders are always happy to help when I enquire about my order. I felt uneasy the whole time I was there. I'll stick to my faves Bar Americain and L.SQ Rooftop from now on.

Great spot with speakeasy vibes. The entrance is easy to miss, green door with security out front. Amazing cocktails (I recommend Opium #10) and tasty food.

Fun speakeasy style bar with delicious dim sum and great drinks!

Not what it used to be. The place needs a renovation desperately and the gangster like doorman doesn't give the place a good vibe. Sat for one cocktail and left. It used to be such a great place.

Loved this quirky place. Best cocktails I've had for absolutely ages! Great service too.

Really lovely hidden speakeasy within Chinatown with nice low lite authentic Chinese decor Drinks are expensive around £15 per cocktail but they are full of flavour, unique and well crafted all presented as an experience. We went to the top floor academy bar. Will definitely be coming back to try the food, more drinks and the other bars

Rude staff, bad drinks, disappointing experience. “Have you had old fashioned before!Do you know what does Old Fashioned taste like?” challenged by their rude nightshift waitress. Returned with watered down drinks. 👎🏼 I ordered Old Fashioned on a Thursday night, it was too strong that I was feeling the headache. I shared my feedback to their waitress, and I was being challenged immediately more than once as if I never had Old Fashioned in my life. I was super disappointed as my friend recommended this bar and I had the worst bar experience on my first night in London.

Good spot to gather - though initially slightly hard to find (look for the jade door next to dumpling's legend). Bartenders are accommodating and make great drinks (I recommend the Opium No10). Dim sum's are good and tasty as well.

Have to say the doorman was an absolute gent! Immediately felt welcomed and our server was lovely and really chatty! Good food, good cocktails, good music with immaculate vibes equals a great night

my partner booked us in here for my birthday and it was lovely! amazing cocktails and some of the best dim sum i’ve ever had!

We had a great time at Opium, the cocktails were lovely and the veggie dim sum platter was delicious. Thank you to Fabio who was a perfect gentleman and made our visit that much better!

Hands down London’s best cocktail bar, this little gem offers niche cocktails, tasty dim sum, and an atmospheric retreat from the entire world. Remember to book, because it’s tiny. I love this place. No visit to London is complete without popping in for a couple of hours.

Try the truffle mushroom dumplings and the lychee boba coctail. They are divine !

One of my favourite hideaway bars. Well worth every penny.

There was an interesting white east European lady, looks like age above 30, serves like she works in Karen’s dinner, she’s the reason why the bar deserve one star:))

It’s gone downhill. Dim sum was alright but service wasn’t great. Was looking forward to a good drink and snack, but was disappointed. Was better pre covid.

Impressive cocktails and truly chic atmosphere! Knowledgeable and friendly staff. Highly recommended a visit.

Il locale veramente carino e friendly, la musica ad un volume giusto che permette di fare una conversazione. Pulito. I cocktail veramente buoni, i prezzi sono abbastanza alti specie in proporzione alla quantità di bevanda che viene servita. Ci tornerei comunque

Booked ahead for seat at the bar. Look out for the stairs :) Great cocktails and knowledgable staff. Would come again for sure

Cocktail strepitosi e atmosfera molto china.

Location 10/10, kann sein dass man ohne Reservierung keinen Platz bekommt, aber es lohnt sich sehr für das Ambiente und die ausgefallenen und kreativen Cocktails

Overrated. The cocktails were run of the mill - nothing memorable. Service was meh - server told us we didn't have enough time left on our booking to order food, he didn't care to mention this until we tried to order.

I’ve been a frequent visitor to this cocktail bar, but my latest experience has left me deeply disappointed. The service, which used to be commendable, took a disheartening turn this time. We were served by a bald waiter with a beard, who showed an unsettling attitude towards my friends and me. Not only did we feel discriminated against throughout our visit, but we were also rushed to leave in a rather rude manner. This occurred after we chose not to leave a tip, which was a decision based on the level of service we received. Tipping, in my understanding, is a reward for good service, and unfortunately, the service on this occasion was far from satisfactory.

Very bad discrimination. Rushed us away without prior notice, dropped the bill rudely without any explanation. The waiter is the bald guy with bread, will never come again.

First time here. Great Dim Sum.

I had a disappointing experience at this bar. The bartender was incredibly rude, pressuring us to give high tips and rushing us out even though there was no one waiting for our seats

Amazing intimate atmosphere, almost like an illicit drinking den, with cocktails and food to match. Perfect for a small group of friends who want to avoid the crush and the noise in London.

I'm writing this review because a staff member treated us very rudely even when there was a miscalculation on their part about availability of seats. Opium is one of my favourite places in London and I bring all my friends here. This incident happened yesterday when I brought a friend who was having a rough day to cheer her up and got this rude treatment instead which made us very disappointed. As a frequent customer, I wish to have a better experience in the future.

Went for a few cocktails late o. Atmosphere was brilliant. Great music very chill vin but high class look Service was brilliant. Efficient and friendly. Cocktails were really great. We were tempted by the dim sum platter which was dead yummy. Overall reasonable price and very great quality food and drink.

Opiums has a lot of character and intrigue, in part because it is concealed off the street. They have great cocktails and dim sum, and the odd bao bun option.

Incredible cocktails, fun and friendly staff

Very nice place, amazing cocktails and tasty dimsum. Staff are top notch and friendly. Looking forward to going back!

We experienced the worst discrimination here.! Racists in China town!!! Very horrible place!!!! The beard guy asked us to order the second turn rudely and came to our table to push for a couple of times. And he asked us to promise to order the second turn. After I said no more alcohol bedded, he asked us to pay and leave within two minutes, while there’re other empty seats and tables. And our neighbour told us they ordered one turn and the guy didn’t ask them leave after payment. And we complained and requested an apologize but they made it worse. They only said sorry coldly and did nothing else which made us less respected. And they even asked someone waiting for us nearby the door. We had to call the police and kept talking with police to ensure we can go downstairs safely.

We arrived early doors (as they opened in fact) because we didn't have a reservation and headed up to the attic - be prepared for a few flights of stairs! We were seated at the bar which was such a treat to see the team mix the cocktails and get their expert advice. The guys are really passionate about their craft and it shows in the drinks - they're outstanding. We had some dim sum too - it came out piping hot and was absolutely delicious. It was such a great experience and highly recommend if you're in Chinatown.

The Sparkling Pearls cocktail was delicious 😋

Very disappointed experience. The manager was extremely rude to us and yelled to us now to have re birthday cake for our friend. We said sorry as we didn’t know cake is not allowed but he was threatening to kick us out an asked out searched our bag. He obviously didn’t find anything but his attitude was not acceptable. When we asked to remove the service charge because of his behaviour he tried to forced us to pay and became really violent. He is a huge guy while we were all girls, we had ti compromise and said sorry even it was him being couldn’t and strengthening. I would not recommend this place and will make sure every single of my friend not going there due to their disrespect I’ve attitude to their customer and rude behaviour of their stuff!!!!!!

Completely inept bouncer acting like a thug, thus ruining quite a good bar. Avoid.

Very good and interesting cocktails, they have a lot of variety. Would definitely come back to try more. Be absolutely sure to make a reservation for a time slot, they will check your name at the entry against a list of reservations. There’s a very mild smell of smoke permeating the place, in my opinion it enhances the atmosphere and makes the place worthy of its name, but it’s something to be aware of in case you have respiratory issues.

Incredible place to feel lost in China Town with an amazing cocktail offering that stacks up against some of the best I've visited! Leonid and Ambra hosted everyone in the room beauuutifully

This was wrong on so many levels... The staff was so bad that not only got wrong my order but also tried to make us leave after realising that our second drink was over and we weren't having anymore of it, by pointing at his watch like saying "you need to leave now", after we had paid 70 pounds for 2 drinks each, it looked like he was the classic annoying boss at work pointing out that you are late. I smelt the rat immediately, when I straight away understood that the staff would breathe on your neck constantly. We stayed only because we were dining at the restaurant across the street. Super rude, so unprofessional and characterised by an unnecessary, embarrassing, display. If I could give zero stars I would!

Great speakeasy vibe, our drinks were amazing and our food was too (the king prawn was awesome). Our waiter was Romanian and we had the best conversation with him. 10/10 I really recommend it for a good chat.

Opium is tucked away upstairs, if you don’t look carefully you’ll miss the door. The atmosphere is great. Our barman Fabien was amazing, created a cocktail for us after chatting for a while. The dim sum is delicious.

What an amazing night!!! Incredible food and incredible service by Archie, recommended drinks we didn’t know existed and enjoyed SO much!!

The most perfect evening of creative cocktails with the group for a night out in London. One of London's most renowned bars and it didn't disappoint! We ordered a selection of their Signature cocktails, alongside their famous Opium no.9, with a selection of Dim Sum for the table which altogether made for an authentic night out in Chinatown, Soho. Friendly bartenders, we loved it!

Amazing venue. Celebrating its 10 year anniversary tomorrow night!!! Can’t wait…..

Had a great evening with my fiancé. Had the best server his name was Archie and he made us feel super welcome and had a great laugh everytime he came to grab us some more drinks! Thankyou Archie

5 start for food quality. Also really nice atmosphere for dinner, the lights and music is very pleasant.

great, atmospheric place with very tasty food. I definitely recommend it, all the dim sum is very tasty, and there were also very tasty cocktails. the place you want to return to.

Excellent food. I would definitely come back again when I feel like dim sum. This was great experience.

Service and atmosphere where very nice. Cocktails were fun but on the whole too sweet and definitely watered down alcohol. Me and my partner had 3 each and weren’t even tipsy afterwards, normally 3 cocktails would be a lot and you would definitely feel it. They are very drinkable but cover up lack of alcohol with sugar syrups… so all in all £15 each is not a good price for something that’s not far off a mock tail.

Amazing drinks and a great atmosphere

Hovering, interrupting waiter (counted approx 10 x during 1 hour visit) made our time here insufferable. Your incessant need to make revenue in such a pushy manner should not take precedence over a customer's right to enjoy peaceful, booked time here (with a drink). We would have stayed longer and ordered more drinks but were so put off the rude approach we left at the time our offical table booking "expired". Also leaving a bill on a table and asking it to be paid, without the customer actually ordering the bill and also being carried out 15 to 20 mins before our appointed booking time had ended, was shocking and the height of bad manners. Service here has gone right downhill

Un soi-disant speakasy vantant sur son site les mérites de sa déco façon fumerie d opium. Le décor est a minima alors que le potentiel est grand ... Les cocktails ne sont pas mauvais mais servis dans des verres chapeau Malgré notre réservation le serveur nous a demandé de partir au bout de 45 mn De fumerie on ne retiendra que la fumisterie de l endroit

Rude service and overpriced drinks! We didn't have a booking but the doorman sent us upstairs without any problems. When we got up, the waiter literally kicked us out saying they have no table, and was not even willing to listen when we tried to explain that it was the doorman who sent us up. We moved to the second floor and managed to order a drink, however, the service was too rude and grumpy again, we literally downed our drinks and left. Never again...

Great place for a few late night doubles.

Good cocktails and tasty food, but the place is difficult to find. There is a dress code, by the way.

We had a table booked and I came to Opium a couple times before but tonight we decided not to go in because the bouncer (the same as mentioned in the previous review below) was so unbelievably rude to us! His behaviour and tone were appalling so we went to Experimental cocktail club next door where we received great service and cocktails. A place to avoid if you don’t want to ruin your mood!

We decided to go to Opium since it was rated among the top 25 in the UK. The bouncer was really professional and friendly hosting us, but the entire experience quickly went downhill from then on. The drinks were flat with no distinct layers of flavours, and the recommendation of signature drinks on the menu was poorly presented by our waiter who appeared disinterested and wasn’t committed in listening to our preferences. In addition, the dimsum platter was overpriced and inauthentic. (They didn’t even have chilli!) The place boasts to be a 1920s Shanghai-style bar - while the decor fits, the music was modern EDM and vibes just completely mismatched the description of what the place should be. To top it off, our waiter ended the night seeming upset that we chose not to stay for another drink, and when we asked to split the bill, he pointed the POS machine at us and said “you can do it yourself” - and we had to navigate on the machine to sort the split. It’s crazy to think that this is such a highly raved bar, so I highly recommend saving your calories for a dim sum and drinks anywhere else in Chinatown. Would not recommend - sadly overhyped and ruined by poor service.

Had a very poor experience here, with very sweet cocktails that tasted very amateur, and inauthentic dimsum despite being in Chinatown. Service was also very rude, aside from the doorman who was lovely. Would never return.

After 30 minutes of queuing, with the first security guard saying our table would be ready in one minute. We faced a situation of a change of the security guard. Humorously, he accused one of our girls not dressing properly as the dress code, which is none existent on the Opium Cocktail Bar website, saying her trousers, as a part of her hip-hop styling, are not allowed. We politely asked him to show us any evidence saying these are not allowed, however, instead of making any kind of effort providing us with a valid explanation, as we would expect from a popular and civilized bar. He straight up ignored our request. After another Caucasian lady entering with a pair of trousers, we can’t help but wondering, “are you being racist?” After asking the question, he very politely says: You guys are disgusting. Thanks for reading my wonderful experience at the Opium. Hope everyone has great night here.

Really cool atmosphere The London cocktail week special was amazing Dim Sum was soso

Amazing ambiance not expected entering the narrow staircase, then a burst of secret rooms with bar tenders and fun. Amazing cocktails recommend Opium No.9

Came for cocktails. There were doubtedly any alcohol in them. The waiter was rude and didn't stop picking at us, and making us all very uncomfortable. One of the worst places in london. Stay away!

Just a bit basic.Tourist experience masquerading as a 'speakeasy'. Also SUPER expensive.

Over the 3 hours we stayed, we had a mix of staff serve, some of whom I would guess we're new to the job. The overall experience was good, I felt hurried out the door once we'd settled up so would suggest being in no rush to pay. Drinks and food were good. Long climb up 5 flights. Think I've been fair in this review. X

I always have a fantastic time in Opium, one of my absolute favourite bars in London. The staff are always super friendly and attentive and the cocktail menu never disappoints

That was literally perfect, from the start till the end. Big thank you to Vlad, Miro and Saif, for their respective kindness, for the service. Honestly one of the best bars I’ve been to so far in London. I can’t wait to go back there. Continue guys :)

Service - non existent Food - stuck to the bamboo, fell apart, probably over cooked but the duck dumpling was good. The main point of this review is to question why upon making a reservation your email says the 12% service charge is optional, however upon paying the bill and questioning it we were told it’s mandatory after having to flag floor staff down to order our drinks and food and our table being unattended otherwise…. Thanks team

Hidden in the Heart of London ChinaTown

Says it's open until 1am and then they they kick you out at 12.15 whether you've finished your drinks or not. Over £50 for three cocktails.

Guy at the door was EXTREMELY rude. Don’t recommend. They will make you feel inferior coming here. Would never recommend

While their food is nice they don’t honour their promotions for theatre goers. Their website clearly states you get 20% off if you show your theatre tickets from the day. However I was refused this by the waiters saying I hadn’t booked a table. Your website clearly says on the theatre offer page: “We always recommend making a booking in advance to secure a space however walk-ins are warmly welcomed.” I also emailed Opium a week ago but have not received any reply hence this review.

This review was difficult for me to write. This place is so fantastic that I don't want anyone to know about it! I want it all for myself. It's a fantastic cocktail bar in the heart of Central London, but it's hidden and you can reserve a table. The ideal mix! Our cocktails were delicious and very appealing! Ambra, our barman, was fantastic! Clearly knowledgeable, I liked my "Luna Rossa", which was very good!! They also serve dumplings, that's right, dumplings! What a brilliant idea, carbohydrates + alcohol = drink more! Please do not go! I want to keep this spot to myself! It's too good not to share!

What a great hidden London gem! Best passionfruit martini cocktail we've tried - called Boba Star, absolutely delicious and unique! The cocktail selection was very impressive, the dim-sum was great, service was fantastic, and the place itself is very unique - highly recommend and will be surely coming back!

What a great hidden London gem! Best passionfruit martini cocktail we've tried - called Boba Star, absolutely delicious! The cocktail selection was very impressive, the dim-sum was great, service was fantastic, and the place itself is very unique - highly recommend and will be surely coming back!

Racist experience at the door. We got checked ID just because we are East Asian, while we are WAYYYYY beyond 25 years old. Ironically this bar is in China Town and this is a Chinese themed bar. STOP ROBBING OUR CULTURE AND DRIVE US AWAY - get the staff to take some “how East Asian look 101” . Looks like this is not the first comment! Ironically 6 years ago I visited this bar with a group of white people and I was not asked for my ID. Either I grew younger than 6 years ago, or this is just because my friends unfortunately are not white this time.

I have been to Opium quite a few times. The cocktails are pretty great and the menu keeps changing. I usually have their Old Fashioned based cocktails. This time I had their Scotch based Old Fashioned and it was it really strong. The used a speyside smoky whisky which was great. We also had their veggie platter and rice cakes. Both were great. It’s a good date spot with really well crafted cocktails and finger food in the form of dim sums.

Racism. The doorman saw that we were Chinese and forced us to show our physical IDs. Even photos were not allowed. Other non-Asians did not need to show them. What does it mean to look under 25? Just because of the doorman’s subjective opinion? Super bad bar.

Extremely terrible bar that I have ever been, especially to the door staff. As a shop front, it is really basic to be polite and equal to the customer. I am an Asian, but it doesn’t mean that you can be rude to us. Rudeness, racism and irrationality is the only reflection that I feel from this bar.

DO NOT GO HERE! The service is AWFUL. The waiter that served us, who mentioned his name was Alex was terrible. He messed up our order and then started shouting at us telling us to stop complaining because we were under CCTV. When I told him that he ruined my birthday, he just said "Ok". Disgusting! I am appalled that something like this even takes place in London. When we asked to speak to the manager, he just pointed us to his friend, who, as we got to know, was just another waiter because the actual manager was on holiday. As if that was not enough, as we were stepping out, we noticed a massive rat running down the stairs. Honestly, save your money and go elsewhere!

Lovely little speakeasy in china town. Not too long of a wait even at midnight, bouncers and staff were all friendly and professional, and the cocktails are to die for. Can't recommend enough.

Loved this cocktail bar. Drinks and dimsums were really good. Tried the green platter. Went for an hour before a show and they offer 20% off if you have theatre tickets for that day. Good service, and very prompt.

Very good no nonsense cocktails.

Opium is my favourite after hours bar. Tonight, Mateeb and Alex were amazing. They made us feel so welcome. Thanks so much.

Best crew ever especially the doorman Muteeb ❤️❤️

Fuimos recomendado por nuestro hijo y cumplió todas las expectativas. El lugar, los cócteles, el servicio y el precio. Cenamos abajo y luego subimos a tomarnos unos cócteles. Nos atendió Fabio y aceptamos todas sus recomendaciones, todas excelentes. También nos atendió una chica Italiana muy simpática. Cuando volvamos a Londres será un lugar de parada obligada. Nos comentan que es preferible llamar y reservar por si está lleno. Gracias por todo!!!

Mid-30s city lawyer here. Sorry to say that the service at this place is no longer worth your time. The bouncer and waiters there are plain rude. The last time I went there with friends after dinner (all polite professionals), they’d told us on the phone that they could have us, but the security guard outright lied about the space available and acted very out of line. He eventually had to let us in as we’d been told that they did have space. The place was almost empty, unsurprisingly, as the waiters were also rude for an unknown reason. Wouldn’t have left a review but a friend went back a few days later and told them we’d been there. The staff made up some story about us being drunk and turned away - then attempting to come back another day, drunk also. I have worked in the service industry as a student back in the days, and would have never engaged in this type of conversation with customers. Simply will never go back and am not recommending this place anymore.

Extremely disappointed with the customer care. Muteeb The bouncer was the only person that treated us with respect but Chris one of the waiters was very rude and I really felt like I was treated like a peasant. The fact that the bar says on the website and on google it closes at 3am and at 2am Chris was telling us to get out of the club was a bit rude instead of saying it in a polite way.He mentioned in this country things are different that to me sounded very discriminatory to me and he couldn’t even get a sentence of English himself. Very appalling!

Not sure how I feel about the seating but the cocktails were divine ✨️

We came too late for food so ignore that rating! Saif provided absolutely fantastic cocktail recommendations and really looked after our table. Muteeb on the door was efficient and polite- Appreciated his honesty and made us feel listened to. Will come again!

Bit of a disappointing experience. The decor throughout is really tired and the tables are way too close together (you are almost touching elbows with the people either side of you). The music was way too loud and was then turned up again whilst we were there - it’s a cocktail bar where all guests are seated, not a night club. The drinks were fine but didn’t do enough to justify the £15 price - I had a Mind the Gap which just tasted like fruit squash, very uninspiring. Wouldn’t go back.

I loved everything about this place and the food was very very good. I will be back!

My wife and I popped in to Opium after seeing a show in London, and I'm so glad we booked , having read some other reviews I must say I don't understand the bad ones there is soft drinks available and non alcoholic drinks also available. The staff were so welcoming and well informed about the cocktails especially Artur who gave us lots of advice and recommendations nothing was to much trouble for him and he has a great sense of humour. We will definitely be returning.

On website it says they are open untill 3am on Saturday night. We came at 1.58am and security told us they did last order….