Apotheke

After snaking through the streets of Chinatown, it's a miracle I found Apothoke! Forget about a hidden entrance or misleading sign, being located in Chinatown in itself makes this gem a speakeasy! The place was easy to find (oh hey, big bouncer dude!). Be warned, you need to know a password in order to get in (can be found on their FB or Twitter page). The place was decorated with chemistry flasks, bartenders were in labcoats, it was romantically dimly lit. Seating is limited but that's ok, scoot over and share your spot with a new friend. I went on a Wednesday (Prohibition Wednesday) so there was a live performance going on, which makes the whole experience so much sweeter. For my drink, I had the moonshine silver fizz because hey, I've never had moonshine before! It was perfection-smooth and strong! Definitely my new favorite place!

Cute speakeasy in an alleyway in Chinatown that's known for it's "apothecary" themed menu and absinthe. Make sure you dress semi-nice, since the first time my friends and I went, we got turned away for someone wearing sneakers and sweat shorts.

The ambiance inside is classic bar - dimly lit and mildly loud music. The drinks were good! I ordered a Siren's Call - gin, cucumber, ginger, lime, seaweed. It was pretty refreshing and really aesthetic looking. We also split some absinthe which was my first time trying it and I'm not super sure I'm a fan. It's very licorice-y and bitter.

There isn't that much seating so I'd recommend getting there early-ish (9:30 maybe?) to ensure you can get a table.

Came here recently for post dinner drinks. I've been here before a few years back. Really cute spot. The place looks exactly the same from the last time I was here. Vibe is nice, dimly lit, and cozy. They play live music here as well. The bartenders were nice and made great drinks. We got the Sitting Buddha- I'd definitely recommend!

This place is super! You will never find it if you don't know what you are looking for.
We just happened to wander in feeding our curiosity ... very happy we did!
After opening the door and walking through the curtains you are in another world.
As if transported back in time ... it's part speak easy part apothecary lab.
Cocktails are handcrafted concoctions by skilled mixologists wearing lab coats.
There is an extensive menu but they can also craft anything you desire.
The place is dimly lit and the seating is scattered about small tables with comfy pillows. It's smells heavenly and the music is smooth. Seriously chill vibe and super interesting looking people. The drinks are fantastic and the experience makes it all worth the price. It's a must... especially if you have time to kill while you wait for a table at nom wah! Lol

Apotheke is an apothecary themed speak-easy hidden away in China town. I came here on a Wednesday, which is prohibition themed. The medically/speakeasy themed drinks are exotic, presentation is well crafted, and there is a bit of a wow factor, which of course means things are on pricier (~18$) side. I wouldn't mind come back here for some classy medicine, I just wish it didn't get so loud (~10pm).

The venue is dimly lit and elegantly decorated in an old speakeasy theme. There are several couches and modest area to chill at. The night I came here, there was live entertainment - what I think was a belly dancer did her thing for 20m. My party came early and was able to get seated. Other parties had to stand.

Our waitress was hilarious. She censured one of my friends for being too basic (some people would be turned off I suppose) and trying to order a mojito. We got something much better :)

I ordered:
High plains drifter - an interesting and complex drink with absinthe, rye, and subtle hints of bitters and sarsaparilla
Ace of spades - a blueberry gin drink with a sweet and frothy finish.

On a Friday night in NYC, I wore my slinky black dress and high heels, I could've gone to a swanky place like 230 5th, but guess what?

We headed to Chinatown.

The thought of going into a deserted alley named Doyers st. where the chances of you getting mugged/raped/killed are pretty high sounded kinda appealing to me.

But I was with two strapping young men so I knew I wouldn't end up face down on the ground with chalk lines tracing my silhoutte and my information on the cold case files.

Apotheke is a speakeasy with a "Gold Flower Restaurant" as a storefront. the bouncer was all business, but I pulled out the "I'm from out of town" card and smiled at him as I handed him my California I.D. NYC local Dave H. got a stern "you're from here, you should've known better" lecture.

After some cajoling (i.e. begging) we were inside. Every velvet sofa and ottoman were occupied. Plenty of folks were also hovering around the bar as well. I like the flowy draped ceiling, old apothecary bottles and bartenders in white lab coats. The place is dimly lit and sexy, with equally attractive patrons.

The elixirs consists of 25 cocktails divided into 8 categories. With ingredients varying from fresh fruit, herbs like lavender and cilantro, veggies like pepeprs and tomato, homemade bitters and eggwhites. It took me a full 10 minutes to make a decision.

The KENTUCKY JULEP tasted like a regular mint julep but the bay leaf and sugar cane reduction was a unique sweetener. Their BOURBON SOUR was similar to a Pisco Sour but orange bitters are used instead.

The SMOKING JACKET is a serious drink, definitely meant for sipping. It has single malt scotch, all-spice bitters and agave honey.

My fave of the night was the SAFFRON SAZERAC -- it was lit on fire! I usually don't like absinthe in my drink, but it only acted as a rinse.

Expect to shell out between $14-$18 for these amazing drinks. Science nerds, don't forget to check out the chemical diagrams on the wall and everyone shouldn't miss the funky wash basin.

It's places like Apotheke that justifies risking my life for a cocktail. That, and the adventure that goes with it.

A gem of a find in Chinatown. There are no markings on the outside so we weren't even sure if the place was open until we opened the door. Dimly lit, the bar is spacious with sofas for groups and a large bar space.

The drinks are - WOW. I wish I could have stayed and tried everything on the menu! I was so impressed by the uniqueness in their drinks. Just to give you an idea - they have one with squid ink, another with lemongrass and cilantro, and one with burnt cloves. And that's just the tip of the iceberg! Our waiter couldn't even recommend just one drink that was the most popular. On asking for a recommendation I appreciated how she took the time to ask me questions to determine my preferences. She seemed passionate about making sure I found the right drink for me. In the end I got the Dead Poet - a very spirit forward, spiceful and smoky drink. It comes out with the drink mug upside down and filled with smoke before she turned right side up and filled it with my drink. My oh my we're my taste buds and scent filled.

This is pretty pricey even for NYC ( ~$19/drink) but it's worth coming to if you want to try truly unique mixology drinks!

This place is a great speakeasy; as many other people have mentioned, the only crappy part about this place is the bouncer. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to why they make it difficult for you to get in. Sometimes it's not even crowded inside, but oh well...that's kind of to be expected from a speakeasy I guess.

Located on pell st, it's pretty hard to spot. Just have to look for a small little chemist sign :). Once you go in, you're kind of transported to another era/place - dimly lit, classy, and you see lots of chemist making up people's prescriptions/potions!

Definitely a good date spot, but drinks don't come cheap here!!! They are made very well though, so I personally think it's very worth it. Since they have so many cool sounding cocktails on their menu, I always try to order something new each time. They also have seasonal menus I believe!

Oh, and whaddayaknow, the speakeasy's name is not pronounced "a-PAW-the-kay"...I used to think that since apothecary is a pretty close word. But it's actually a-po-tek!

Yes, it's on a shady street in Chinatown. Okay, now that we got that part out of the way--you should come here anyway! For a speakeasy, it's luckily not terribly hard to find this place, as long as you know it's supposed to be an apothecary theme--the large sign with "Chemist" on it is a dead giveaway. It was the perfect atmosphere for a date spot, or just a place to have conversation, really (at least, on a Monday night)--dimly lit, sensual atmosphere with just the right amount of noise. Loved the lounge sofas as well as the cool multi-colored chandelier resembling potion bottles.

I ordered the Siren's Call, a cocktail with seaweed and squid ink notes, and my friends ordered the Kale in Comparison and Devil's Playground. I didn't particularly enjoy the Siren's Call. It tasted like an alcoholic fruit and veggie juice smoothie, and I really hope that never becomes a thing. Thankfully, the waitress was gracious enough to switch it out for a Kale in Comparison, which was by far the superior drink. It was sweet and aromatic, tasting of passionfruit and guava, though it had neither of those ingredients. The Devil's Playground was sweet and fruity as well! Will be back for sure.

This place is super trendy! I remember hearing about it almost 10 years ago and it still has an "insiders" vibe.The bouncer was direct but the dude next to him (manager/owner/wannabe bouncer???) was rude. The place is dimly lit and the cocktails are FANTASTIC!! We all tried something different (mine was the kale in comparison) and only my cousin was unhappy with he drink. It was SUPER spicy- like too hot to drink without needing another drink to wash away the spicy pepper taste. For a summer evening his place and was so warm! You would can think they make enough money for to turn on the AC!! Unfortunately we left after the first drink.

So cool! Unassuming cocktail bar in a random spot in Chinatown. You probably wouldn't notice this place except for the line outside.

Then in you go and there's a DJ blasting the latest hits in a dimly lit room with weird lights and decor that is reflective of an apothecary/pharmacy. It's quite dimly lit, so hard to read the extensive drinks menu, but read it you must! Didn't see prices but your average cocktail is $15.

Highly recommend the Buddha drink if you like cilantro and pineapple; vodka base. I also tried the Matador, a habanero pepper and tequila drink. I'm a sucker for a spicy drink so this is the one to pick if you're like me.

Bathroom sink is kind of cool. This funnel with tubing releases water so you're entertained even when hand washing.