The Best Cocktails and Bars Around Chinatown

Where to Drink in and Around Chinatown

Chinatown may be famous for dim sum and bubble tea, but its surrounding streets hide some of London’s most inventive cocktail bars. From hidden speakeasies to rooftop terraces, here’s where to find the best drinks within a short stroll of Leicester Square and Soho.

Opium Cocktail & Dim Sum Parlour

Tucked behind an unmarked jade door on Gerrard Street, Opium feels like a well-kept secret. Spread over two floors, it mixes Chinese apothecary decor with serious mixology. The signature Opium #7 blends gin, yuzu and jasmine, while the dim sum menu makes it easy to stay for a second round. Book ahead, especially at weekends.

Experimental Cocktail Club

On the edge of Chinatown, this three-storey townhouse bar helped kickstart London’s speakeasy scene. Expect playful twists on classics, a rotating seasonal menu and a soundtrack that encourages lingering. The top floor is the most intimate, so ask for it if you’re celebrating.

Pequod

This tiny, book-themed bar on Old Compton Street is easy to miss, but worth seeking out. The cocktail list changes often, with ingredients like miso, sherry and smoked pineapple appearing alongside familiar spirits. It’s perfect for a pre-dinner drink before heading into Chinatown for noodles.

Rooftop Bars with a View

If you want fresh air with your cocktail, head to one of the rooftops overlooking the area. Madison, atop One New Change, offers sweeping views of St Paul’s and the City, while the terrace at The Rooftop St James’s pairs spritzes with a relaxed crowd. Both are a short walk from Chinatown and ideal at sunset.

Five More Worth a Visit

• Nightjar – live jazz and meticulously crafted drinks in Shoreditch, a short Tube ride away.
• Swift – a two-floor Soho bar known for its Irish coffee and champagne cocktails.
• Bar Termini – Italian-style negronis and espresso in a compact, standing-room setting.
• Happiness Forgets – a basement bar with a cult following and excellent Old Fashioneds.
• Artesian – inside The Langham, repeatedly ranked among the world’s best hotel bars.

Practical Tips for a Chinatown Bar Crawl

Most bars open from late afternoon and fill up quickly after 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Many operate a smart-casual dress code and don’t take reservations for small groups, so arrive early or be prepared to wait. Chinatown is served by Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Tottenham Court Road stations, making it easy to bar-hop without a taxi.

If you’re combining dinner with drinks, plan your route: start with a cocktail in Soho, eat in Chinatown, then finish somewhere with a late licence. Budget around £12–£18 per cocktail at the higher-end venues, and less at casual spots.

Round off a meal in Chinatown with a nightcap at the hippodrome casino, just across the road.