Apothecary

Its really fun sitting at the bar and watch the drinks been made. Very cool. The only negative thing about this place was the manager, who I felt was trying to get people in and out quickly to get more customers... He seemed a bit stressed out, which made me uncomfortable.. Dont know, just a feeling. But the guy making our drinks was very friendly and nice.

I've lived in Beijing for over 10 years, and never before has a bar (or any establishment, for that matter), filled me with such disdain to the point where I feel like I have to let the public know about the awfulness of this place. I have never been treated with such disrespect in the service sector.

Here's my story: 2 people in our group arrived slightly ahead of everyone else in our party of 12. They requested a table big enough for our entire group, only to be told that because only 2 people had arrived, they had to sit at a smaller table. Okay, fair enough. As more members of our group arrived (about 7 people in total at this point), the staff wouldn't let us sit together in the cluster of smaller tables, insisting that we move to a large table. We explicitly asked the manager if he was sure that the table was big enough to accomodate all 12 of us. He assured us that it was.

When we arrived at the larger table as a group of 7, we immediately realised that the table was big enough for 7-8 people, but definitely not large enough for 12 people. When more people arrived, we pulled up a few chairs, only to be told off by the waiters that we were blocking the walkway- after sitting there for 40+ minutes, not a single person had walked by.

Moreover, they took over 20 minutes to bring us a drink and wanted to tack a 15% service charge because we were a "big group" (despite the fact that they didn't bring our drink orders at the same time. Might I ask how you can justify a surcharge for a larger group if there is no change/inconvenience to your service routine whatsoever?). They also mixed up our drink orders and brought out one drink when we ordered two.

Completely fed up and exhausted at this point, my friend went to talk to the manager and explain the terrible service and attitude that we had received from their staff, only to be told to "finish your drinks and get out". On our way out, we witnessed the "door man" close the door in a woman's face because "it was too full" and she hadn't reserved a table, despite the fact that we passed by several open tables on our way out. Part of their ridiculous "no standing by the bar" rule, apparently.

In conclusion, I will never visit apothecary again, and neither should you, unless you like rude service staff and shelling out for overpriced, frankly quite average, cocktails.

I am simply in love with their interior and decor details, all those cute little jars and pretty drawers, and bottles and all kinds of apothecary stuff. I think it's absolutely lovely.
The day I was there it wasn't too crowded, we were sitting next to the bar and could watch the barman making cocktails. What he was doing was not a job, but a performance, an art, he was like a magician, or an apothecary preparing some ancient potion. I don't know what I enjoyed more: the cocktail itself or the process of its creation. I think it was magic.
Also - loved their creative names for cocktails, I had a lot of fun choosing.
Definitely coming back, and bringing more people along.

The cocktails are always fine but I find it quite crowded and for a relaxed environment always choose some other club or bar for a unwind on weekend.Only if this place was bigger I would come back for the mixed drinks.

The cocktails are always fine but I find it quite crowded and for a relaxed environment always choose some other club or bar for a unwind on weekend.Only if this place was bigger I would come back for the mixed drinks.

Good but expensive place. Unless someone pays for me I feel not the worth for the size of the drinks.They are made well ,but I guess whichever bar I go If I explain my drink to the barman well he makes quite a good drink so I love to be invited here but wont throw a party or get friends here to drink as it turns out to be too expensive affair

Just an update . . . I finally made it to the bar last night; the drinks were outstanding and a well-deserved break from my usual Tsingtao's. Would highly rec.

I have read many reviews of this bar, and I was definitely excited to check it out, however, given that it is a popular bar, I decided to call ahead to see if I could get a table held in advanced. I am not sure if the bar does indeed take reservations because no one answered the phone. I must've called the place at least a dozen times, but no one picked up. I decided not to go, as I did not want to wait in the cold if the place was mobbed.

Was told that all the earlier reviews got lost for some reason. Mysterious. Anyhow, my review (or part of it) was quoted on Beijing Boyce, so here it is again:

When this place first opened I loved it. However, the spiraling sense of self-importance has morphed it into something insufferable. Its like the bar equivalent of a pompous guy who has a couple of drinks and talks nonstop about his lifetime of accomplishments.

Conceptually, a bar that treats mixology with such reverence is great… but in practice its just obnoxious. The drinks are lovingly created… sure… too bad they take about 20 minutes apiece to be hand-crafted and arrive, even when the place is empty.

And what in God’s name is the “must be seated at all times” policy? I stood at the bar to talk to a friend (since you’re all lined up in a row and can’t practically speak to anyone beyond the person to your immediate left and right) and was chided by the manager, and told they have a policy that requires patrons to be seated at all times. Are you kidding? Is this place a bar or a kindergarten? Will I get my knuckles rapped if I talk with my mouth full? Maybe a bouncer will toss me if I smack my gum? Seriously… its just silly.

Score. Apothecary just never fails to deliver. Last night sampled the bazillionaire and the rock n rye. Both amazing, especially the rock n rye. I always ask the bar men for recommendations because that hundred page menu is too complicated for me and I am never disappointed. Winter is coming. I'm spending it at Apothecary.