We arrived here after midnight - I was just grateful to find a place without a cover charge that stayed open past 1am! There are a couple of intimidating security guards at the door, but they smile and step aside as you enter.

To your immediate right there is a bar. To the left you'll see some comfy looking red seats against the wall. Don't linger - the space here is narrow and it's best to work your way through. There seemed to be another room in the back with another bar, but instead of entering we turned left and headed up the stairs past the bathrooms and into a room with a third bar and some enthusiastic dancers. In general, the downstairs seemed to be a little more mellow than did the upstairs.

Drinks were a little on the expensive side. Do yourself a favor and go on Sunday nights, when all drinks are one pound. We were there on Saturday so I didn't get to experience it, but I'm told that the Opium is very, very popular on Sunday nights.

And fairly popular on Saturday. We never did find a place to sit - everything was already taken. It's hard to generalize the Opium crowd. The young and the old, the conservative and the pierced/tattooed, the quiet and the loud all mingled together. Take note that my friend's coat was stolen. He went outside to smoke and we all accompanied him (Scotland is now smoke free in all enclosed public spaces!), and when we returned his coat was gone. This could happen anywhere, of course, but it's a good reminder that not all people are as upright as we want to believe them to be. I had a lot of fun here. Go. Go on Sunday, especially. Drink cheap! Hip-hip-hooray! 

Opium - Open from 8pm to 3am