Opera House is a beautiful bar under the restaurant Chinese Tuxedo in Chinatown. I LOVE the vibes, the interior is inspired by Chinese theater, with each drink inspired by an iconic Chinese opera. The complimentary bar snacks (fried chickpeas, fried lotus roots, redskin peanuts) are so good and they give so much?! The drinks and menu are so pretty. I also liked the spicy cucumber dish - I would love to come back when I am more hungry so I can try the dim sum too. The staff are incredibly attentive, I love the vibes and highly recommend. read more

See all

The vibes are great here. We were led downstairs into this intimate space meant to resemble a Chinese opera house. We were able to get a table for 2 without any wait on a Saturday night around 9pm. Their drink menu has a select number of cocktails, all with asian opera related names. We got the havoc in heaven and unfortunately didn't like it too much. It was pretty acidic and hard for me to taste any notes of lychee, coconut, jasmine, or sesame. I found the lemongrass flavor to be a bit too dominant, which is not in my preferred taste palette. They did provide free peanuts, chickpeas, and lotus root which was a nice touch! read more

Opera House - Complimentary snacks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

See all

I just attended an event at the Opera House and EVERYTHING was going so well until the very very end... The private event was held in the back room on the lower level. It was pretty dark making my way down there, but my eyes eventually adjusted. There's also railings, so if you were heels like I did, make sure to hold onto the railings! The staff that attended to the private party was SUPER friendly, especially the Asian lady with glasses who helped with passing around light bites and the man with semi-crazy hair with glasses who really loves the Flower Princess drink (we vibed over this!). Again everyone was extremely attentive and friendly. At the end of the party, I decided to pickup food for my partner and had asked the 3 hostesses (I'm assuming they're all hostesses because they call congregated and chatted at the front table facing the entrance) if Opera House does takeout. Two were sheepish as if they didn't know the answer to it and the very tall one looked at me very condescendingly and said "no, we don't do that here." There was DEFINITELY unnecessary mean girl vibes. Why? Since when is takeout looked down upon? I'd visit Opera House again, but hope I don't encounter her when I do. read more

Super super dark and cold. Like 2 levels underground. Very cool vibes. Very good service. Drinks are certainly expensive but all 4 drinks I tried were yummy and unique. Would come again. Super easy to get a spot at 5:15ish on a Sat night when all the other bars were full read more

Opera House - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

It's the little speakeasy bar downstairs of the Chinese Tuxedo restaurant. So very well decorated. Very very cute. Great service! Very friendly staff who explained the history of the building and helped us get a table at the restaurant. Comes with little bar snacks which is such a plus, especially the lotus root chips, obsessed. Drinks are good and themed after different operas. Great vibe, not too loud. Love love love. Will definitely be back! read more

Opera House - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I loved the ambiance, very dim light, very intimate and spacious so you're not on top of others. Nice classic Chinese royalty feel- if ever. Small or large groups. Alls a private space. All the selections we had were great. Our server knew his drinks and history of each - which was amazing- the level of passion he had for it, and only a few months in. I will get his name next time. He was helpful and definitely offered great suggestions based on my taste and style as discussed. He was amazing! Win. On the house Baijiu shot in a 24k glass, handsomely dramatic, and a real kick ans I was there for it all. Overall, wonderful experience and I would go again. read more

See all

Overall, Opera House is all style and very little substance. I really wanted to like this place, but everything fell short. One of the most off-putting aspects was the service. When I asked our server for a drink recommendation, she said "everything is good" and kindly walked me through the menu. Unfortunately, her descriptions were inaccurate and drinks she described as sweet were actually very strong and liquor-forward, while those she warned were strong turned out to be light. She specifically cautioned us against ordering the White Snake Legend unless we were experienced martini drinkers who could handle a stiff drink, but it arrived light and refreshing. There was also confusion about gluten-free options, which was frustrating for someone at our table with dietary restrictions. When a glass of water spilled on our small table, no one checked on us or offered assistance as we got out of our seats to clean up the mess ourselves. While our server was pleasant, the service issues unfortunately outweighed the positives. The dim sum was hit or miss. The wood ear mushrooms were excellent, but the noodles and dumplings were overly salty. Overall, I don't plan to return and would recommend other restaurants over this one. read more

See all

Beautiful interior and design. Might be my new go-to whenever I'm in the neighborhood. Came right at opening on a weekend and stayed for about and hour--not too busy at all's The menu is super illustrative and depicts each drink really well so that you can better gauge what to expect. Very helpful for someone who doesn't keep tab on alcohol much, like myself. Complimentary snacks to every table was much appreciated too. read more

Opera House - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

See all

I originally tried to get a reservation at Chinese Tuxedo, but since they were fully booked, they suggested we head downstairs to Opera House. It ended up being a great alternative. The space has a moody speakeasy vibe with very dim lighting that sets an intimate tone. Our server, Nathan, was incredible. He was knowledgeable about the cocktails and the dim sum and really helped shape the experience in the best way. I do wish there were more dim sum options, but everything I tried was solid. The spring rolls, oxtail bao buns and pork dumplings were the standouts for me. The noodles were just okay, but the drinks were well-crafted, balanced and very enjoyable read more

Opera House - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

This is the speakeasy connected to the restaurant. The entrance is quite packed and the restaurant was pretty busy so it took a second to get situated. They have a coat check as well. Service seemed a bit cold initially, but we warmed up to each other eventually. I'm surprised the bar wasn't more packed. It's a downstairs area aside from the restaurant. The drinks are based off different Chinese operas. I honestly loved every drink we ordered and definitely would come back to try more. All the drinks were super creative. We ordered some snacks for the table which were all pretty good! The noodles were nice and al dente but kinda boring. Just noodles in sauce. Eggplant was super crispy. My favorite was the shrimp and scallop toast read more

See all

Fantastic drinks, amazing service. Definitely come here for date night or if you are in Chinatown looking for fancy cocktail.

Good ambience and cocktails! Service was good unlike Chinese tuxedo! Good spot for after dinner drinks and hangout read more

Opera House - Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Full disclosure that I've never eaten at Chinese Tuxedo and had never been inside the space before the night we visited Opera House. It feels important to be said because Chinese Tuxedo is very much its own destination with a very well-curated image. So coming to the space just for Opera House has definitely piqued my interest in Chinese Tuxedo for vibes alone. This all said, Opera House is its own entity with its own image, more sultry and intimate than upstairs. We got here at around 10:30pm and got seats at the bar, though there were a few tables in the back of the space available as well when we arrived. A chic subterranean cocktail bar is always going to entice me, but what sealed the deal for me were the menu pictures I managed to scavenge through scouring the internet. Between the illustrations and drink ingredients, I was intrigued. As annoyed as I am by overt marketing efforts, Opera House's curated image alone was effective enough that no intrusive targeting was necessary. Anyway, the drinks are all inspired by classical Chinese operas and literature, the specs make interesting and sophisticated use of various Chinese ingredients, some relatively well known (i.e., sichuan peppercorn) and others maybe less familiar to some (i.e., soursop). The two drinks I ordered were both solid. More like 4.5 stars, but Yelp doesn't allow for such things. I first got the White Snake Legend (gin, cocchi americano, shepherd's purse, chamomile, pickled lotus root, olive brine, sichuan peppercorn), which was a funky and complex dirty martini variation, super vegetal and herbal with a bit of spice. I can't say it is much like your classic dirty martini but if you're adventurous you should definitely try it. I then got the Dream of the Red Chambers (five spice duck fat-washed bourbon, campari, sweet vermouth, pu'erh tea, red jujube, goji berries, black cardamom, toasted sesame), which is a rich boulevardier variation, with elements highlighting spice, fruitiness, and some bitterness. Really well done and pretty masterful in creation. At the end of the night, I talked with the bartender about wanting something like an Alaska cocktail as a nightcap. He mentioned that a recent guest of his liked an Alaska with champagne (I later found out it's typically just called a "Royal Alaska") and asked if I'd like to try that. I'm always down for a random recommendation so of course I went with it. Not my usual nightcap (I usually go for a spirituous whiskey drink) but still very enjoyable and I'll definitely need to add it to my list of lesser-known classic cocktails to make at home. read more

A gem under Chinese tuxedo. Love how the cocktails are tied to Chinese tales and the usage of unique ingredients. They gave us complimentary bar snacks along with our drinks and made us feel really welcomed! The drinks are interesting and tasty and we really enjoyed the quiet vibe. read more

Opera House - Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Our last stop on a speakeasy swing, and Opera House did not disappoint. We came in about 45 minutes before closing on a Sunday with our party of eight, and walked right in -- a perfect cap to an already great night. Down a few flights of stairs from Doyers Street (you will need to be able to climb/descent), you enter this dimly lit, Chinese-inspired space that somehow feels cozy, dramatic, and mysterious all at once. The design hits just right -- think moody lighting, beautifully curated artwork, and a vibe that feels like a nod to hidden stages and whispered secrets. Nathan, our server, was easily one of the best we had all night. He knew his stuff, walked us through the cocktail menu with personality and depth, and helped us make the right calls on what to order. The cocktail descriptions are almost performance art in themselves, and the drinks lived up to the storytelling. We were bummed to miss the food -- the menu sounded amazing -- so plan ahead if you want bites with your drinks. The location's subterranean nature only adds to the allure, like you're stepping into a piece of Chinatown history. And speaking of history, this address has roots going back to one of the first Chinese language theaters in New York, right here on Doyers Street. From 1893 to the early 1900s, this block was a cultural hub where opera and community intertwined, and Opera House keeps that spirit alive in a very stylish way. Fun touch: each restroom plays an opera track, a clever little tribute to that legacy. Moderately priced, unforgettable, and perfect for your final round or a late-night highlight. Come early if you want food, stay late if you can, and absolutely put this one on your list -- I will be back. read more

See all

cool vibes, very interesting cocktail menu, well made drinks that are balanced. bar menu, downstairs the dining room, and even further down the cocktail lounge. great spot read more

Amazing you won't regret it and the service is amazing and the vibe is tea.... The amazing .the speakeasy is the spot is tea... the service amazing read more

Opera House - This speak easy is a vibe and a must.... The customer service is top tier ask for Alex she's the best service I've had in a long time..... - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Drinks were 'ight, the one that was supposed to be "light and refreshing" was actually quite syrup-y. Service was god awful. Bartenders were busy, it was a busy night, but after 45 minutes of LOOKING like we needed something, you'd think management (yeah I'm looking at you headset and white shirt) would touch tables or notice. Maybe it's because we were younger than everyone in that bar, or maybe that's WHY there were no young people in that bar. Asked for our check because we had a concert to get to, and after all of them made unsubtle snide remarks to one another (ITS A CHECK I WANT TO PAY YOU), and another 10 minutes of waiting, we got to pay... wow. Is this how my grandma feels about all service workers? read more

We visited Opera House shortly after it opened to celebrate a birthday. Our server Yung was energetic, attentive and helpful (thanks for the drink suggestions Yung!). Our drinks were fantastic, we enjoyed lotus chips, oxtail bao, and a scrumptious pork dish. Highly recommend for imaginative cocktails and chic ambiance. Service was top notch, for instance when my husband spilled a spot of sauce on his shirt a team member seemed to appear out of thin hair with stain remover wipes. read more