"The atmosphere is great - very cool decor and the bartenders all wear fashionable lab-coats."
"Great ambiance and concept, especially in this area."
"The whole experience from walking down the small Chinese lantern lit alley to the discreet entrance way."
"Cool apothecary-themed bar with rock n’ roll vibe."
"Amazing concept - feels like a speakeasy, dark (maybe a little too dark) and eclectic ambiance."
"Such a classy and intimate little bar in Chinatown."
"The place is beautiful - from floor to ceiling and the bar."
Cons:
"The decor is very turn of the century Shanghai pharmacy as seen through the eyes of an Indiana Jones set designer. It feels superficially cool but there's no substance behind the scenery."
"The most overrated bar in Chinatown -- warning, its WAY SMALLER inside than the photos would have you believe."
"The entire cozy mystery and witchcraft theme works when you have about half the place full. But when everyone is practically shoulder to shoulder, just a barely bearable bar in Lower Manhattan."
"The normally quiet interior now echoes with generic club music, booming so loud you can hear it on the street."
"It's tucked away in a side street in Chinatown, surrounded by dim sum restaurants, grocery stores and souvenir shops."
"As lively as this place may seem, it's actually a nuisance for the people living in the surrounding area."
"The entrance could be improved so the entire bar doesn't freeze when the door opens."
Cocktails & Drinks
Pros:
"Lots of unique cocktails on the menu."
"All the cocktails are incredibly creative."
"They make some unbelievable mezcal drinks and the vibe is amazing."
"Serious cocktails (known here as 'Prescriptions') are made with exotic and fresh herbs and fruits, and you can even order a flaming absinthe drink to entertain the crowd!"
"Drinks are better described as concoctions and potions. Delicately balanced nuances show craftsmanship, detail, and a superior understanding of the craft."
"The cocktails are very tasty and expertly crafted but incredibly expensive."
"The cocktails are very complicated to make, and I haven't had anything like it anywhere else."
Cons:
"The drinks are good, not fantastic."
"The drinks are pretty good but very over priced. 1 drink is avg to be around 16 bucks..."
"The cocktails are expensive $18+, but here you get what you pay for."
"The absinthe drink I had was really great and just may have been worth its price."
"The drinks themselves though were a bit too perfumey for my tastes."
"The cocktails on the other hand were nothing short of disappointing.. whereas apotheke is well known for their ‘absinthe’ the taste of sugar overpowers all of their cocktails."
"Got the Sitting Buddha cocktail which was fine but not worth $19."
Service & Staff
Pros:
"The bar staff is incredible and they have a great knowledge of the drinks they serve."
"Bar staff was courteous."
"The staff was very friendly and the vibe is chill."
"Customer service was absolutely fantastic."
"The bartenders and servers here are just fantastic."
"Service from bartenders and servers was phenomenal, being quick/friendly/engaged for any needs."
"The staff were super friendly while juggling a billion orders."
Cons:
"The ridicule combined with the rudeness of staff is a reason enough not to return."
"Disappointing that a place like these has SUCH RUDE, ZERO PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE TREATING CUSTOMERS IN THE WORST WAY."
"The security the rudest person I have ever met."
"The doorman was arrogant and impolite screaming and shouting for no reason at all."
"Shameful. Tourists beware."
"Unpleasant experience with the security at the front."