Important Notice:We have made the tough decision to say goodbye to the Foursquare City Guide mobile app, effective December 15, 2024, with the web version to follow in early 2025. Visit our FAQ for more information or to download our Swarm app.Apothèke
Cocktail Bar and Speakeasy$$$$
Chinatown, New York
The experts at Food & Wine and The Corcoran Group recommend this place
"live jazz from BK and try the Sitting Buddha"(12 Tips)
"If you are in the mood for a great tasting drink try a Dr. Ruth."(10 Tips)
"Delicious cocktails and great live jazz music on Monday nights."(17 Tips)
"The aphrodisiac drinks are amazing!"(10 Tips)
417 Tips and reviewsFilter:
- cocktails
- good for dates
- trendy
- jazz music
- dr ruth
- (15 more)
Sort:
- Popular
- Recent
A BCDAugust 5, 2015Speakeasy cocktail bar smack dab in Chinatown. Looks like a Chinese pharmacy from the outside. Lab-themed and all of the mixologists wear lab coats and mix your drinks in vials and test tubes.
Amanda WilliamsNovember 16, 2017Great underground bar with fun DJ tunes and good vibes. We went here after having a delicious dinner at Chinese Tuxedo next door!
brenna cammeronAugust 27, 2012Music here is just as experimental as the cocktails on Sunday night. Get Matthew the head bartender to make you whatever he pleases. Don't leave without trying the smoked Negroni + Eucalyptus Tree.
Try the pygmy gimlet for something fruity or the bees knees for something unique. You'll need a password for prohibition wed when they have a different menu (hint: check twitter)
Sam SamskiesDecember 30, 2012Pricey (I got 2 drinks for $36), but delicious mixed drinks made with fresh and I believe local organic fruits mixed in. Nice place to bring a lady friend. Great atmosphere and music.
Kathryn MottramJanuary 16, 2017Went with a group of 5 friends- everyone delighted with their delicious cocktails. Very well- done bar, tucked away but the cool kids know about it!
Erwan E.April 18, 2016Easy speaking bar. Half secret as you can walk by without seeing it from the street. Great contains and lounge music ! So good- Lee SimpsonMay 2, 2017The cocktail here are amazing and the service is on point but the place looses its intimacy once it fills up. Not nearly enough seats.
Carmen da SilvaJanuary 4, 2013Check their fb page for Wednesday's "Prohibition Night" password (limited cocktails this night). Full 30+ cocktail menu avail all other nights of the week. Sunday's band, Live Footage, is the best!
Felix SargentMay 4, 2015Classy place, but the cocktails have to be your style. Everything is a little too sweet to my liking. All the cocktails are clever, but I feel they miss the mark of highlighting the spirit itself.
Tiziana RMay 4, 2013Awesome speakeasy with bartenders wearing mad scientist lab coats while whipping up delicious concoctions! They also have great Prohibition parties every Wednesday with live Jazz bands!- IsaMarch 9, 2017Ace of Spades cocktail. Forbidden-looking place with a definitely Prohibition-era-like feel. Worth a try - that is if you can find the door;)
Eline Van den EeckhautMarch 20, 2019Not easy to find but a real treat! Loved the atmosphere, the interior, the delicious cocktails and really fast service!
CompassApril 24, 2014The apothecary-themed cocktail bar is visually stunning, and with a list of over 250 specialty cocktails, it's become a haven for upscale spirit enthusiasts.
angelo wJanuary 24, 2011This is my favorite speakeasy!!!! I encourage everyone to go here atleast once. Nice ambiance and the decor is like an old school apothecary hence the name. Drinks are awesome and the scene is mellow.
WillMcDJuly 29, 2014Live jazz Mon, Tues, & Sun nights. Wed is prohibition night and password is required. (call ahead)
Looks lowkey from the outside. Very classy, they have live music sometimes and the drinks are adventurous.
Srujana AkkirajuAugust 26, 2016Hands down the best cocktails I've had in nyc. Try the smoked barrel and the matador. Spicy and smoky!
Susan S.January 27, 2017Cool speak easy, perfect spot for dates. Can get a little crowded so maybe go early to grab a seat.
Robin GrahamMay 8, 2013Such a relief to find this vibe after dealing with the bouncer egos everywhere else - amazing cocktails and even better music. You won't want to leave.
Allen YangAugust 7, 2014Unexpectedly cool cocktail bar in the heart of Chinatown, but the large, noisy crowds detract from the experience. Avoid the gunpowder cocktail - sounds interesting, but doesn't taste great.
Polina WeitzMay 22, 2019Cool design and great vibe, but there are only a few tables, and I was not in the mood for standing the entire night, so we left before ordering drinks.
Dustin LeeAugust 4, 2014Most "prescriptions" are $18. Nice cozy speakeasy and the two drinks I had were solid. Not sure about repeat visits though, knowing there are superior speakeasies not too far away.
Nick AndlingerFebruary 17, 2017Awesome hidden spot. Great place to hide out while waiting for Chinese tuxedo.- Candace OliverJuly 11, 2015I liked the Sitting Buddha drink. It was tangy and refreshing! Good times with good friends!
BarChickAugust 14, 2013An experience from start to finish. The large space is swanky and chic with cocktails made from local and organic produce. http://barchick.com/find-a-bar/new-york/apotheke-1
Julia PinkyJanuary 6, 2016Amazing hidden spot! Great cocktails served in old-fashioned crystal glasses. "Dr. Ruth" drink is a must-try 🍸
Christine HaMarch 1, 2016One of the best cocktail bars ever though expensive--~$20 per drink. Down an alley with a beaker demarcation & bouncer. 🍸
Dennis HansenJuly 14, 2016Check their instagram for the password for Wednesday nights. The drinks are really good and the atmosphere is spot on for a speakeasy.
Vanessa MartiniFebruary 27, 2013A really nice undercover weird cocktail bar in chinatown... The weird combinations of the ingredients in the drinks make some aphrodisiac combination... A MUST!
Zack SheppardFebruary 6, 2014Seek out the secret password and come by for Speakeasy Wednesdays. One of the only nights of the week where it feels neither deserted nor packed.
Renae MasonJuly 10, 2016The cocktails are amazing, but slow and served with a fair amount of attitude. Not cosy and chill like I thought it would be.
- Syd LeighApril 6, 2015Really cool spot. The drinks are very authentic and place has cool vibes. Free, mandatory coat check is great.
The Corcoran GroupApril 21, 2011Soak in the great ambiance as your mixologists make you the perfect cocktail. Need a dose of euphoria, we recommend one of their cocktails with their House Absinthe.- Cocktail GuidenSeptember 19, 2023Apotheke is a great speakeasy in Chinatown NYC. Turn the menu over for exciting absinthe cocktails.
Thea BOctober 25, 2012Apotheke claims they know their cocktails but when asked to make a pink gin, they laughed. Perhaps the bartenders need to go to Amor y Amargo or even The Shanty, where they have pink gin on tap.
Joanne ReinardOctober 18, 2016This is an exceptional speakeasy worth the try! A little hard to find but once you are in there..time is flying!
MariMay 14, 2013If you like drinks on the sweeter (but not too sweet side), you can't go wrong w/ the Dr. Ruth, Kale in Comparison, & Bull in a China Shop.
AmateurConciergeSeptember 28, 2017Drinks are good but not great. Still, a great place to take visitors who will be impressed by the street/neighborhood and dope musical acts
Saarim ZamanOctober 19, 2016Killer cocktails, good vibes, overall one of the best (maybe the best) speakeasy in NYC
CRUZiiiEApril 30, 2011I swear by the strawberry fennel concoction by the mad scientist bartenders! Pricey drinks, but totally worth the unique blends & one-of-a-kind ambiance! Love this Chinatown hotspot.- Michael Fox-RabinovitzFebruary 26, 2017Extremely original cocktail ingredients, great decor. Not a intimate as most other speakeasy, more like a cool bar hang out
Allison HeimMarch 15, 2012Tucked away fancy mixologist apothecary shop for the discerning tippler. House made syrups and liqueurs, neato space, and a ridiculous long list of specialty cocktails.
ISJanuary 15, 2019Not as good as everybody says. I went there Saturday 1/12. Had a awful experience. I’m never coming back. Plus I had a drink and barely finished, they cleaned our table and took my unfinished drink.
851 Photos
Foursquare © 2024 Lovingly made in NYC, CHI, SEA & LA
Specializing in seasonal flavors, Apotheke crafts its cocktails with fresh, daily made ingredients, using local and organic produce, herbs, and botanicals.
Open until 2:00 AM (Show more)
- Mon–Sat
- 6:30 PM–2:00 AM
- Sun
- 8:00 PM–2:00 AM
(212) 406-0400
Features
Reservations
Yes
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. Discover & Visa)
Wi-Fi
No
Outdoor Seating
No
Music
Yes
Parking
Yes
Restroom
Yes
Food & Drink
Drinks
Beer, Wine, Full Bar, Cocktails
See More
You might also like
- 8.8
"Veggie burger with waffle fries is amazing. Get a vodka cocktail and sit outside—it gets loud and packed in there real quick."
Margot Mazur - 9.3
"Taproom's fine, but the main event is upstairs. Cocktails are delicious and have incredible depth. Don't worry about ordering something w/an intimidating spirit. Hit & Run's amazing!!"
AmateurConcierge - 9.1
"Milk & Honey toast was great. As was the Smoked & Roasted mezcal cocktail."
Dan Money
Appears on 4,724 lists
50 Top Cocktail Bars in the U.S.
Created by Foursquare City Guide
50 items • 758 followers
Created by naveen
22 items • 822 followers
New York's Best Cocktails - 2012
Created by Best of Foursquare
10 items • 469 followers
