Apotheke Chinatown — Restaurant in New York

Even though I love cocktails, I don’t really go to bars for drink. I occasionally have a cocktail or two at dinner, but that’s about it. But, a place I do enjoy visiting is a speakeasy. Thankfully, New York City has many speakeasy bars that you can visit. This one is located on a street that is narrow, off-the-beaten path, back-alley type area in Chinatown.

We got there early in the evening, but it was already crowded in the inside. Through the curtain, you are transported into this mystical speakeasy. It was not easy to get to the bar, with so many people around it, we decided to take a seat at ottomans. Shortly after, a waitress came by and greeted us with a smile.

Their theme is "Chemist" so the bar is not just a bar, and bartender are not just bartenders here. It is a chemists’ lab, with lab technicians, whipping up some fancy cocktail “prescriptions”. The bartenders all have the white lab coat, which makes them extra cool.

We ordered Devil’s Playground and Siren’s Call. Beautiful colors, and well crafted. I saw another patron nearby who had a drink with a large flower in (or on top of) the drink, which was really pretty too. I don’t know what that drink was, but it looked good…

We had such a nice time here, relaxing and rewinding from the busy week with fantastic drinks. If we were not so full, we would have ordered more drinks. Our server, Julia was really nice, sweet, and helpful. She made us feel welcome and took a nice care of us even thought it was really packed. I would love to go back again to try more of their prescriptions in a near future!!! Read my full review of this bar and drinks on my food blog,...

🍸🥢🌟 Apotheke Chinatown: Where Cocktails Become Potions and Bartenders Turn into Pharmacists! 🌟🍹🏮

Step into a world where mixology meets magic, where every sip of a cocktail is like a sip from the elixir of life itself – welcome to Apotheke Chinatown! Tucked away on Doyers Street, this hidden gem is the stuff of cocktail dreams and nocturnal adventures.

Picture this: a line snaking down the street, eager patrons eagerly awaiting their turn to experience the magic within. And oh, what magic it is! As you step through the doors, you're transported to a realm where bartenders don white coats and cocktail shakers become vessels of alchemy.

The gin martini reigns supreme here, a timeless classic that's as smooth as silk and as sharp as a Ginsu knife. But don't stop there, for Apotheke has concoctions that'll titillate even the most discerning of palates. Enter the Paid Vacation – a tantalizing blend of exotic flavors that'll whisk you away to a tropical paradise with every sip. It's like a mini getaway in a martini glass!

But what truly sets Apotheke Chinatown apart is its staff – not mere bartenders, but alchemists of the highest order. Watch in awe as they deftly mix, stir, and shake, transforming ordinary ingredients into liquid gold. It's like witnessing a potion master at work, and you can't help but feel like you're part of something truly magical.

So, next time you find yourself in Chinatown and craving a cocktail adventure, make a pilgrimage to Apotheke. Join the queue, sip on perfection, and let the magic unfold before your very eyes.

Cheers to cocktails, camaraderie, and the enchantment of Apotheke...

I was excited to finally go here but now that I've gone, I don't really get it.

The menu is cute and quirky but you know what they say about places that don't list the price on the menu... And it was true here. My friends' cocktails were $21 each and mine was $25. They said theirs were good. Mine was good too, but given that the price was about 25-30% more than the typical nice cocktail elsewhere in the city, it should have been 25-30% better than other nice cocktails I'd had, and I didn't think so. Perhaps I ordered the wrong thing, but I couldn't afford to try more of the menu, so we'll never know.

The speakeasy thing is cute but only convincing if you've already had a few before you come and you squint at the entrance really hard. Most pharmacies don't have bouncers at the door.

In some spots the decor was lovely. Yet there were also some walls that seemed bare. There was space to move around and breathe but there weren't enough seats for everyone for a Friday night, which does happen at other bars, too, but still... Twenty-five dollars. Twenty-five! Per drink! And now you have to stand!

They don't have a sparkling water line so you have to pay for the bottled stuff. Service was otherwise fine, a bit distracted, probably given that it was busy.

If you get it, good... Explain it to me. Because I...