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Cool to check out for one drink only. After you get over the decor and lab coats it's time to move on to the next place. I suggest going early so you don't deal with door man. He was actually really cool with my boyfriend and I and let us in right away after asking us if we have kids. We said no but we will be practicing tonight ;)
Anyhow the concept is awesome but I couldn't give it more than 3 stars because our drinks were bleh. We each got a different martini and they were sooo sweet. I couldn't finish mine :( Worth a drive by drink but thatsa bout it!
Holy moly!
I don't know if there's truth to the claim that the smooth and criminally delicious "Deal Closer" has aphrodisiacs in it, but DAMN. I had a ~very~ good time last night.
I tasted the "Deal Closer" (cucumber, mint, agave honey, aphrodisiac-infused vodka, lime & vanilla essence), the "Mata Hari" (rye whiskey, absinthium essence, indian herbal bitters, egg white, fresh lime), and the "Heatherette" (Heatherette thyme and rosemary infused vodka, fresh honeydew, agave honey, green tea) and each was SO delicious, with so many complex flavors...I was in awe. I'm not one to go to fancy, expensive bars like this, but it has made the wheels start turning in my head. I was thinking, well, if I only go out ONCE a week, $15.00 a cocktail isn't THAT expensive...
Either way, I can't wait for my next visit! I don't care if the clientele are obnoxious, or if the drinks are pricey...that shit is DELICIOUS, especially when enjoying with old and new friends!
THE DRINKS ARE NOT AMAZING, but the setting/ambiance is AWESOME.
- lychee three ways
- saffron
- jasmine
- star fruit
- passion chipotle
I wrote this on my iPhone at the Bar... these stood out.
Service on the waiting/bouncer side can be a bit snarky for a place that has such cool bartenders. Oh, and when the lady says "you can sit at the table until the people who reserved it arrives", thats complete BS... if you are ordering multiple drinks, you have every right to sit at that table, because there is no bottle service.
Also, I mentioned the industry term "Molecular Mixology" to the bouncer for small talk while I smoked a cigarette, and he barely regarded my knowledge of what the bartenders in there are doing... which meant either he had no idea what I was talking about, or he was too 'British' (arrogant) to care.
Sure, I'll be back, because it's in China town, which is so totally cool... until more clubs move in, and make China town not cool.
Apotheke is GREAT!
I don't understand a lot of the bad reviews. It sounds like the people who wrote them probably waited in the long line, got angry while doing so, and then WANTED to hate Apotheke the minute they got in there.
Objections and why they shouldn't matter:
1. There is very little seating.
So what? This is how it is for "hot" bars in Manhattan.
2. The drinks are not that good.
Are we tasting the same drinks? Mine were all delicious. Also, the bartenders are wonderfully attentive if you tell them to make you something that is not on the menu but suits your tastes.
3. The line was long.
Yes, there are usually long lines for awesome bars in Manhattan.
4. It's hard to find and out of the way.
I like that it's hard to find. And in my opinion, it's really not that far out of the way. It's within 8 blocks of the N,R,Q,W,6,B,D,J,M and Z.
5. The inside is not that great.
I completely beg to differ. I loved the walls, the ceilings, the white lab coats on the bartenders, the props on the bar, etc. You can tell there was real care that went into the decoration, as well as a sense of history as you look around and recognize how old the place is.
Other pluses: GREAT DJ. Went on a Friday night and really loved the mix. I can see how if I had stayed later, dancing may have started. It never felt overly crowded, and that's precisely why the line is so long.
I loved it and I'll definitely be back.
We got there rather early (9ish) so we didn't have to deal with the line or door man (don't know if I would have endured). Ambience, music and decor is worth the visit. We tried three different drinks and they were all great - although pricey for the quantity...
A nice place - impressive- to go for a drink or two but not a mingling bar - go with your own group of friends!
"I Can't Remember Getting Home, But I Did"
Andre L. and Pat B. showed me the light
On one particular absinthe filled night.
The drinks were strong and the space was swell
And the mixologists did what they did very well.
The price is right and the people are too,
I'd head there soon if I were you.
Is the place annoying to get to? Yes.
Can I excuse this? Yes. They are almost all annoying to get to, price you pay to find a good drink and avoid buckets of hell.
Was the service downright rude? Yes
Can I excuse this? Yes. Upon being treated like I was from Jersey, and hearing my gf complain about it, I noted that I was wearing the same clothes I had taken a nap on the couch in, and they were cargo pants, and an Abercrombie shirt I bought when I was 17, that was a decade ago. Look like a d-bag, get treated like a d-bag, I support profiling, even when I am on the business end of the decision, and apologize for walking in like that.
Was the layout conducive to high priced cocktails? No
Can I excuse this? No. There was entirely too much standing room, and not nearly enough tables. The bar was really impressive looking, and appropriately lit, but when you are paying 15 dollars per drink, a suitable place to sit and enjoy it would be nice.
Were the drinks good? No.
Can I excuse this? No. We started by ordering off the sunday specials. A raspberry rouge and some strawberry concoction. Not my normal fair, but the raspberry was made with Leblon, and I love that stuff. Both drinks were REALLY sweet, like they replaced the liquor with simple syrup. So realizing that I had made an error, I moved onto a Sidecar, a drink I have on a fairly regular basis and have had in many places in different cities.
I can say with absolute certainty it was the worst Sidecar of my life. It literally tasted like sugar water. I wanted to like this place, I really did, and aesthetically it was quite pleasing, but when you screw up a sidecar and charge me $15 dollars for it, frankly I can't afford to give you a second chance.
I am more than a little surprised that my fellow yelpers complain about the attitude at Apotheke. I've been here twice, and I've got nothing short of super-friendly, warm, quick and efficient service. I do admit that I went on Sunday and Monday night, but still!
Great ambience, large space, comfortable seating, medical labels on bathroom doors and a cool copper wash-basin. The first time I went, our super-nice waitress Emily got us a couple of complimentary drink samples! All because we happened to mention that a couple of items on the menu looked interesting.
We tried the
Lavender Fields - Interesting but not too much lavender in there. They made it not taste remotely like soap though and that was enough for me.
Five Points - Yummi! Fresh fleshy grapes, both white and red, muddled in your drink. It's a tad sweet though.
Tomato basil - What I loved was the taste of freshly pureed cherry tomatoes oozing through every sip. Couldn't really grasp the hint of basil though.
At this point, I must stop to make the conclusion that while the drinks are nice, they're not all that generous with the herbs. Okay, moving right along.
Strawberry Fennel - This was really nice. Juicy strawberries and orange juice. Again, not much fennel in here.
Pineapple infused tequila drink - Loved the salt rim!
All the drinks were above average (tasty but not of the calibre of M&H, Angel's Share, Death & Co and the like), and the service was OUTSTANDING. Reading the other reviews, I'd probably avoid Apotheke on the weekends, but I would recommend it at the blink of an eye for a weeknight!
The drinks here are expensive, but I like the vibe of this place and I did find the drinks to be delish. Plus the bartenders are awesome and kept giving us free samples.
Anytime is a good time for Apothéke. It could be Monday night around 9pm when your good family friend is in town and craving a serious New York cocktail. It might be Thursday night at midnight and you feel like seeing a absinthe fueled fire show on the bar while sipping a delectable "Deal Closer" with some friends. Even on a Saturday night, swing by (but be sure to look good or know someone) for a post dinner nightcap that turns into a 4am Doyers alley stumble.
The spot is "hidden" behind a red door in an alley in Chinatown, though pretty obvious for the crowd waiting outside on a busy night. Inside you'll discover a plush, dimly lit lounge with a long bar spanning the back wall. Behind the bar "pharmacists" pour elaborate potions out of tinctures and beakers, mixing and heating until the perfect cocktail is served out. The menu is immense - 2 full pages of some of the best cocktails I've had in New York. Favorites include the aforementioned Deal Closer and the Femme Fatale when I'm feeling frisky. If they're slow do strike up a conversation with the talented bar-macists who will create special drinks catering to your particular tastes and desires. Do you like blueberry, citrus and bourbon? They'll figure out how to make it work.
The music can be hit or miss...sometimes the DJ slips up and changes songs to fast or too slow but that's me being picky. After a few drinks I could be shaking my tush to Mariah for all I care. The crowd can also be hit or miss...attracting a suspect crowd of assholes and cougars at the worst of times and reclusive eurotrash at the best. If you go with friends and make nice with the incredible staff though, you'll never want to leave!
You must be kidding me.
1-This place is hard to find. I'm a New Yorker and can find Doyers Street. But if you hide the bar behind and old sign of a shuttered restaurant it makes it a real challenge. What is this LA circa 1990 where bars don't have signs?
2- I'm cool paying $15-20 a drink...if it has some booze in it! Don't trick me with this business of taking 5 minutes to make my drink with your little jars and other smoke and mirror tricks.
This place is a huge pass.
Stumbled down an ally in Chinatown one night and found this place with my best friend who was visiting from Texas. We didn't realize it was not a "walk right on in and have a drink" sort of place, but thankfully, the bouncer liked our story. We were asked about 5 different silly questions, and my friend is a good talker so he caved and let us in the door. The place is really small and the music was loud (in a good way). I loved the bartenders with their serious faces and white lab coats and the bar itself is beautiful. We both had some sort of margarita on the menu and it was AWESOME! I was afraid we'd have to wait forever for service, but it was somewhat easy getting a drink at the bar. Only had 1 since the drinks are about $15 each, but it was well worth it.
List: NYC Speakeasies
http://www.yelp.com/li...
Out of all the speakeasies in the city, this one's probably my least favorite.
Granted the white lab coat pharmacist theme, stemming from the bar's name, German for pharmacy(?), is cleverly entertaining with drink names that sound almost revitalizing, but the drinks themselves were nothing spectacular.
I find that the drinks were nothing original when you break it down to the ingredients.
Apotheke takes it's theme very seriously. The place has been constructed with plan and care, just like the drinks behind the bar. Very dark and sensual decor, very well thought out menu, amazingly fresh and well executed drinks. Theme is only amplified being located in the former "Blood Alley" in Chinatown, which used to be a gang warfare zone historically.
Drinks were fantastic for the most part, though priced on the high side even compared to some of the cities other prohibition hot spots. Not that I'm complaining. If you go there, you know what you are getting into. I ordered one drink that I was not really feeling, and the waitress and bartender were lovely and replaced it with the Bourbon Sour on the house. It was fantastic. Nice touch.
Personally I would avoid this place Weds-Sat, as it has the potential to be sceney and lame. Plus, who wants to wait for a table? You can and should make a reservation if you plan to go those nights though.
ALLrighty, Apothéke. We didn't have hard time finding you even though your door was located right under 9 Doyers st. Chinese Restaurant sign and even with the un-identifiable Brit acccented bouncer, resembling the Block Party lead singer, who made us wonder as he was flirting for 10 min with the girl smoking a cigarette at the gate... finally we got to talk to him - can we go in? " Ha-ve a good time! " opening the door for us....... TANG-KYU....
The whole place is amber blazed... or glazed.. I am not even sure what I am trying to say.. But, nothing German pharmacy about it as its title but, I liked the idea of, did look like a speakeasy in the middle of China Town when all Chinese people went home for the day, you crash and party in the forbidden city with foreigners.
Yah, nothing like German pharmacy but more like Hollandia lacking blondes with Arabic influence, because none of mixologists in lab coats were shaved nor had BMW engineering attitude. But, rather easygoing european pharmacy where you don't need Doctor's prescriptions BUT, under the table in the dark. The deco seems to be inspired by WWI scientific experiments + Mata Hari (actually this drink was on the menu), the dutch exotic dancer/double agent spy + Alchemistic colorful tinctures. Amber glowing Fabulous marble bar top, the bar shelves lined with various sized laboratory flasks and antique glass medicine jars, drop down ceiling fabric in french toile/arabian patterns and velveted renassance sofas, and finally Enigmatic-ish music. Cool~~
Bar-macists were really friendly and smooth operators from taking your orders to billing you, and even more adorable when giving out free drink treats. ON the House! Thank you! whispering... 'he must like us, right?' ki ki. Menu is quite intense. Categorized in themes of pharmacauticals, recreational drugs and holistic remedy consisting of 30+ cocktails - price is not listed but ranged from $12 - 18, the house absinthe is $35. Highly doubted if original reciped, tho.
I would say drinks were loveable, but not the greatest love of all.. it would be a hit or miss, even could taste like your cough syrups if you miss. But, with the ambience filled with primitive alchemic lab apparatus to dazzle at and cool mingleable mellow crowds, I would come back. It is not a quiet bar where you can chat with your pals but where to bring your out of town visitors to prove that you still know places. Or~~, you could would, may space out with your drink trials for some kaleidoscopic experience around you.
As the Brit said, Have a good time. Either you take this kewl or cruel, it is up to you.................... I liked it, I dare say.
HIDDEN LOUNGE SERVING INVENTIVE DRINKS IN A CHINATOWN ALLEY
We found the red awning that says "Gold Flower Restaurant" and opened the door to the magically lit lounge. They absolutely nailed the interior with the apothecary opium den vibe. We made our way to the five-ton glowing marble bar and studied their extensive cocktail menu.
Blood Orange Bourbon Sour
How could I resist blood orange-infused Bourbon with lime, sugar, blood orange bitters, and egg whites. I wasn't sure the egg whites were going to work but it made the drink light as air.
We enjoyed our drinks with disco and house music playing in the background. Luckily we went early because a line started forming as we spilled out into the Chinatown alley.
I love the red carpet treatment. Oh and I love that the bartender I talked to who sometimes works at Fraiche in Culver City! Damnit I should have asked him for that muddled grape drink I'm obsessed with...
The vibe here on a Monday was SO much better than what I had previously experienced. No blasting hip-hop - just oldies, which I obviously prefer. The menu is now printed on normal paper instead of that sheer vellum crap from before.
So yes, 4 stars because we knew an "in".
2.5 stars.
My friend wanted to check this Chinatown speak easy out so we headed there on a Tuesday.…
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Went on a Thursday night -- be sure you get there early or know someone at the door because there was a long line I was really thankful not to have to stand in.
Apotheke had great atmosphere & amazing music -- just a wonderful mix of house, dance, and hip hop / top40. No one really was dancing (probably to save their outfits from sweat & hairdos from frizz), but since I was wearing black and rock curly hair anyway, I forced my friends to dance with me. People seemed to appreciate us trying to start the party -- no sneering at attempts to do things other than stand and look pretty, as is common at other "scene"-y places. +10, Apotheke!
The fire show / tricks at the bar were amazing, the coolest thing I've seen in a while. After one bar-macist (the theme is a pharmacy) got a little enthusiastic, one guy had to feel his face to be sure his eyebrows were still there, so don't get too close! The drinks are second to none -- choose random ingredients like cayenne pepper and marshmallows and the talent behind the bar will figure out how to make it delicious.
One last thing: egos abound in this place. One fabulous (gay? I can never tell the metros from the gays) man told me I was gorgeous. Nice, right? Except he followed it with, "I would know, because I am too." Chalk it up to a night at Apotheke.
I love the color pink, I love my girlfriends, I love gorgeous men, but I hate bachelorette parties. I truly, deeply loathe them. A stop by Apothéke a few weeks cured my bachelorette party blues entirely.
It was a rainy Friday night and we didn't care. The wait on line wasn't terrible (or maybe the champagne distracted me) and the fedora-clad doorman seemed entertained by Bride-To-Be's maribou-adorned get up.
This place seriously took my breath away when I walked in. If I could own a place that looks like this I'd be extremely happy. Big gorgeous bar, dimly lit but not creepy dark, and fantastic music. Full, but not crowded (thank you bouncer, I suppose).
As this was later on in our evening of "omg!" and requesting Britney songs, I forked over the $15 for a drink and rolled my eyes... until I took a sip. First off, it came in a veritable goblet, and second, it was pretty and girly without being saccharine. Third, it inspired me to speak in French with some (I suppose) Frenchman into the wee hours of the morning.
Apotheke thinks it's cooler than it is. The decor looks like Martha Stewart's take on an opium den with all the cheesy sponge-painted decals and faux murals and the crowd is pretty new-jack and obnoxious. I agree with the other comments about the bouncer being a dickweed (totally obvious they're trying to make it seem more exclusive than it is) but I thought the bartenders were really friendly and gracious. My first impression did take place on a late Saturday night so I'm going to give it another go on the weekday when it's more low-key. I'd really like to enjoy this place as I live down the street and bar options are limited.
A Brief and Wonderous Guide to Apotheke:
1. If you appreciate cocktails and give a shit about what goes into them, come here on a Monday or Tuesday night.
2. If you like cocktails, but like looking cool even more, come here Thursday through Sunday nights.
3. If you wanna be one of the 'cool kids' who goes to speakeasies, please see rule #2.
4. If you don't like cocktails or cannot find a way to appreciate the craft, go some where else. This place is not for you.
That being said, here is my personal experience with what can easily be dubbed my favorite cocktail bar in NYC:
Ladies and gentleman, there is a bell pepper in my cocktail. Straight up, a thinly sliced green bell pepper just lounging around in my martini glass, soaking up the sweet, sweet nectar of alcoholic goodness crafted by Jack and Craig. The only thing I could think to do was it let enjoy it's dip in my drink, shortly before munching it down between intermittent sips of it's former home.
These are my experiences on a Monday night at Apotheke. Sans the weekend warrior amateurs and the B&T crowd, Apotheke is prime cocktail education and enjoyment in a lab-meets-boudoir with a sub-level feel.
We sampled lavender-infused gin, 23-year aged rum, cocktails from on and off the menu, all whilst being treated to delightful conversation of said cocktails amidst lively music and some real good people.
Swell little hidden lounge in Chinatown of all places. Nice mixture of people who just want to dance and have a drink or 3. Lack of pomp and circumstance on any given night.
Eclectic music mash-up and interesting drinks make this place perfect.
Apotheke = pharmacy = establishment where pharmacy is practice and where you go when you need a remedy
This Apothéke is specialized in the remedy for almost all the pains: a cup of good flavor alcohol. Yeah, sometimes we all need a good drink....what can I say.
so, what are you looking for today? a happiness pill, a confidence pill, repair your heart, stressful week... take a look to the menu.. they classified the drinks in this way!
They totally recreates the pharmacies of the 19th century. The bartenders with that lab coats, the bottles, strange instrument used in the past for those pioneers chemist. ... really funny. Is a little dark I have to say,
besides the recreation... the drinks are good. you maybe need find out which one you like it. I'm always with the ginger ones and they did it really well. However my friend's drink didn't like us too much.
Before we order, the bartender welcome us with a small drink on the house.. nice gesture.
Apothéke is a fun place to visit at least once. Drinks are little different to the regular cocktails that you get in many other places, so it worth a visit.
but, did I found my remedy? a kind of...
although supported by other Apothekes that I visited that night, I ended up here getting a remedy for my insomnia... sigh
In short: Great cocktails at a high end price.
I first noticed "Apotheke" when I was wandering through Chinatown on my way to another club. I noticed a bunch of trendily dressed white people hanging outside a random Chinese "restaurant" in a small alley street. There were also two huge bouncers standing outside this Chinese restaurant. Well I knew something wasn't quite right at that moment. Two weeks later, when my friend told me we were going to a "secret" bar in Chinatown, it all made sense.
I didn't stay too long, but if you care about cocktails, then just man up and spend the money ($15/drink) here to try it at least. This place is dead serious about the art, and there menu is just one page, front and back, of their cocktails all themed along medicines. I recommend the Hemingway Special.
The place is not too large, but it's well decorated and has a nice open feeling. The music was a little too loud for a lounge in my opinion, but I didn't care once I finished my drink.
As one of my friends put it, "It'd be nice to come to a place like this and not care that I'm dropping a huge chunk of my bank account."
PS - I noticed one of the other reviewers had a terrible experience with the bouncers. The bouncers I encountered, however, were the completely opposite. They were very polite, mildly funny, and pretty good about controlling the lines appropriately. Hopefully they fired the bad ones.
history lesson: doyers street used to be called bloody angle because it is a half-block angle and there used to be a long of gang wars on it. not just because of the set-up of the street, but also because the buildings had tunnels and secret passages, perfect for an ambush.
fast forward 70 years, doyers is now the heart of chinatown, with maybe 6 or 7 barber shops, and also a very good taiwanese restaurant. this hidden entrance, much like the many speakeasies in NY, is probably half the draw.
even though apotheke is in one of the cheapest places in manhattan rent-wise, the drinks still cost a pretty penny. at 15, its more than little branch or tailor, which have better drinks in my opinion. maybe i went on the wrong day -- they were training a couple people who had no idea what they were doing and clearly did not have any experience tending a bar. atmosphere-wise, its decent, a lot of standing room, but not much seating, even on a tuesday.
watching the bartenders work their magic was pretty fun, but i dont dig the gimmick of lab coats and eye droppers and stuff, just make me a good drink, which they kind of missed the mark at.
so, i would recommend that if you do come here and seek out the more experienced bartenders. but avoid staying at the bar...it tends to be very sticky.
I've found my new happy place in NYC, and its name is Apothéke.
Forget dinner and a show. This is what cocktail crafting should be like:
- An extensive menu of drink options that utilizes incredible variety in its ingredients and combinations, including house-made mixers, herbs, and spices. When's the last time -you- had pineapple mezcal and cayenne in a drink?
- A delicious space, which our party had entirely to ourselves for roughly an hour late on a Monday evening. Dark, sultry, less intimate than The Gibson, but equally as luxurious. More comfortable and spacey than PX, with a bar that dwarfs the one there.
- Bartenders with personality, who know what they're doing. Flaming martini glasses, white lab coats, and droppers of unmarked colorful liquid ingredients are all part of the show. Chat them up to have a glimpse into their passion for their craft.
- Bathroom doors plastered with mysterious ancient remedies that might be carried by ancient apothecaries: saltpeter, mercurochrome? Do -you- know what the hell these are?
- A bathroom sink that looks like a contraption out of Young Frankenstein. Spiral tubing, a mouth that showers water, more than streams it. Just figuring out how to work the damn thing for the first time while intoxicated is an intellectual challenge.
- A DJ who can work the music. I don't dance often. I danced here.
... walking back out of here and onto the street was like getting punted from heaven. A nearly inconsolable loss. It's a rapid transition from this hidden den of pleasure back into the harsh reality of daily life.
I want back in already.
Apothéke is now officially my favorite bar in New York.
First a disclaimer: I would never dare step foot in here Thursday through Sunday and even Wednesday is on shaky ground. But on a recent Monday with yelployees in New York from Boston, London, Philadelphia, Toronto and Washington, D.C. it seemed a perfect after soup dumpling spot.
We had the place pretty much to ourselves which might explain the impromptu Motown dance party. . .
Jack, despite being majorly jet lagged from a recent journey to South Africa, catered to our many whims and fancies including:
- a bespoke chocolate cake shot (no way was he touching amaretto and vanilla vodka)
- 10 Cane sampling to prove one colleague's point to another
- something grapefruit inspired even though he had no grapefruits whatsoever
- the sublime pleasures of cocktails involving egg whites
He also introduced me to Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 year old rum after which I will never be the same. Jack's an artist, through and through, and if you get him to mix you something, you will be a better person for it.
Finally, if you must order from the menu, make it the Deal Closer. It is everything its name implies.
So enjoyable was my last visit to Apothéke that I decided to return last night for another drink. A… Read more »
I'm not much for Chinese food, but a lounge whose front is a Chinese restaurant gets my juices flowing. The ambiance is dark and sexy and the exotic drinks enhance the mood all the more. You have insane mixes with cayenne pepper for heaven sakes! If this place doesn't make you want to snuggle up next to someone and suck face then you are hopeless.
The cocktails, however, do take a nice chunk from your wallet, but you are not solely paying for alcohol to revitalize you or help get you in someones pants, as Apotheke claims their drinks can do. You are paying for the bartenders to give you a show and they do just that. The boyfriend was excited to order 2 shots of Absinthe. Next thing I know the bartender became a pyromaniac and decided it was appropriate to not only set the bar on fire while flames grazed our arms, but to charge us $35 per shot. Aye ya! I advise any man on a date or with his hunny to come prepared with cash. Sure, in both departments is probably the safest idear. This place makes a gal hot.
Super clever theme that appeals to my science nerd side. You see old glass chemical bottles on the shelves behind the bartenders, who are all wearing white lab coats. It totally reminds me of college gen chem lab. The bar is totally unexpected and hidden. I went last night and was able to get in at 10pm. When I left around midnight, there was a lot of people waiting outside waiting to get in.
The drinks are amazing! I tried Dr. Ruth (vodka and strawberries), Smoke and Honey (tequila and dill with honeydew), Lavender Fields (tequila and lavender) and Femme Fatale (tequila and fruits). All the drinks were delicious. The only problem is that it was sorta pricey at $15 a drink.
The place is quite small with seating only allowed by reservation. The DJ played great music even though it wasn't a place for dancing. It was a fun place. I will definitely return in the future if I'm in Chinatown and looking for a place to get a drink.
This is one of my favorite bar. Hard to find, great atmosphere, friendly staff and good drinks. The drink is hit or miss since I always order something different and never remember what I had by the end of the night. Best to be there on a slower night so the "mixologist" will mix you up something off the menu and off the chart.
I really really like this place! The place is not that big so they will give you a hassle at the door if you show up late. Inside the ambience is super romantic - perfect for a date! We were there with a group of people so got one of the couches and just hung out and chatted - it was great! the whole theme of the place was very creative - I loved it! The drinks were delicious and very creative too, I must have tried at least 3 of them- all great! The music was good, the crowd was cool too-not too rowdy, drinks were delicious, place was very nice- great overall.
Very cool place, the pepper martini is amazing and by far the best cocktail I have had in a long time if not ever! Great bartenders who are in science lab coats and the music and vibe were amazing.
If you arrive and you think you are in the wrong place, you are in the right place!
Monday night, ~8pm
Brian B: Yo, are we meeting up later?
Kat F: Ya, but I'm at Apothéke right now.
Brian B: OK, so no.
Kat F: Huh.
Brian B: Apothéke will destroy you. You're done.
Coriander, lavender, watermelon, pineapple, ginger root - what DIDN'T I guzzle at Apotheké that fateful night?
Also, since when do I like coriander? Or gin? Apparently since last Monday when mixologist Craig sneakily prepared it for me and made me like it.
We sipped chartreuse (a French, monktastic liqueur flavoured with 130+ herbal extracts). We learned about yuzo and other citrus fruits. We sampled the drink of the day. I nursed a few Jasmine Sours (jasmine-infused vodka, fresh ginger juice, candied ginger essence, egg whites) throughout the night and next thing I knew it was 10pm and I was as mangled as a broken limb in a 20 car pileup.
Special thanks to Craig and Jack. You guys sure know how to souse a girl up.
Aaaaaaa.....aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (sound of the angles singing!)
5 happy happy stars get thrown at this place because the treatment we had there last night was unreal! Seriously unreal! Growing up were would be taken to various museums and I remember there being a copy of an old Chemist. Basically, it had been shut down but not cleared out and was stored in its original state. As Apothéke, as I can see are trying to recreate this... they have done it bloody well!
The uber friendly bar staff all dressed in crisp white coats and all of them promoting their newest infused poison. My personal favorite was Lavender Gin, someone should have told my granny about this one as it was pretty magical and it smelt how she did most day...gin and lavender!
Okay back to the review... As a bar we have nothing like this in London and YOU NEED TO come here, neeeeed alright! Don't ask me why just experience it for yourself. I've heard that Monday, Tues and wed are the best day kids!
New York I give you my 500th review to show my love to your city. I am equally proud that it is Apothéke I am reviewing. As an ex-mixologist from London I know a fair bit about cocktails. After my night at Apothéke, I can say without hesitation that this is the best cocktail bar I have ever been in.
The underground vibe, the sensational drinks menu, and the phenomenal skills of the bar staff are extra-ordinary.
I want to move here and make a little home in the corner of the bar and be drip fed alcohol all day. Watching Craig whip up pineapple reduction, agave lime and a host of other fabulous infusions and then implement them into truly lip smattering concoctions was a joy.
I am a huge, huge fan. AWESOME!!
Say what you want to say about this place but it still holds a special place in my heart.
We were there until 6:00 AM trying drinks and shots that were are not even on the menu with a group that consisted of the owner of this place, the owner of Macao Trading and Employees only, and a sales rep for Christian Louboutin.
"That's Pimpin" -Katt Williams
Plus It's always fun to walk around Chinatown drunk while everyone else is going to work.
Apotheke has the prescriptions for you! Whether you need a aphrodisisiac, stress reliever, or a… Read more »
Love this place.
"Oh shit, I feel like I'm going to have a kidney stolen."
Those were the words audibly spoken by my out-of-town friend as he rounded the corner onto Doyers street last night. I've been back to Apotheke a number of times since my first fateful visit, and I have to say, I love this place. I take the most pleasure in bringing friends who are completely unaware of its mystique; especially those slower nights when the streets are deserted. Feels like you're walking into some kind of portal when entering through those red doors and off of the street.
I also love that the drink menu is so dynamic and always seems to surprise me with new concoctions each time I visit. Yeah, the drinks are pricey, and no, I wouldn't spend an entire night here, binging on their cocktails (for the wallet's sake, not the taste buds'). But it's excellent for jump starting the evening, impressing a date and/or friends, and as an afterthought, just kicking back to enjoy some music and conversation with friends.
P.S. If you ever have a chance to see the owner perform an absinthe spectacle, feel blessed. This had to be one of the coolest bar fetes I've seen, with the fiery absinthe flying all over the place.
Went hear last night with my girlfriend after reading Gia V's review. Arrived on the corner around… Read more »
Thanks for taking us here R and J! We had a great time with the whole experience, from wandering up a random alley in Chinatown, to getting past the nattily dressed doorman, to entering the so-unique space, and of course tasting the wonderful concoctions that make Apotheke such a great spot.
Such a different concept, truly an escape. Want to go back!
The cocktail snob / speakeasy checklist:
1. Mega buzz from scene mags and in-flight magazines. Mention on Gossip Girl a plus.
2. Hard to find location in the LES, no signage, and tough as nails door policy. Bonus points for a bouncer with an East Londoner accent.
3. $15+ cocktails, pretentious drink names, and drip your own, hard-to-pronounce bitters.
4. Bartenders wearing 'period' outfits. In this case, swap the 1920 arm garters for 1800's era doctor coats.
5. Clientele that are mostly hipsters, scenesters, models & bottles, or the random lost tourist.
6. Extra secret private entrance, conveniently tucked away in the next door Vietnamese dive.
Haven't we had enough of this shit?
Drink Specials:
Neighborhood: Park Slope
$3 glass of sangria
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Category: Wine Bars
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Category: Bars
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