I had obviously seen Bohemia and its iconic frontage in the Lanes before and knew it was renowned for fantastic cocktails and a lovely atmosphere. But my recent visit opened my eyes to its range. Sure, there are cocktails – and dramatic ones at that (cue the dry ice) – but there’s also a live music night on Thursdays and seriously delicious food. Let’s break it down…
The Perfect Start: Tipples with Flair
We ordered the ‘Brighton Up My Rock’ and the ‘Smoked Coffee Old Fashioned.’ I’ll admit that if I’d read the description of the former properly, I might have saved it for dessert. I was so instantly sold on the Bombay Sapphire gin, dragon fruit, papaya, Cointreau, and fresh citrus that I managed to overlook the creamy foam, pink wafer biscuit, and Bohemia rock candy. That said, perhaps eating dragon fruit and papaya foam with a spoon made of biscuit is the only way to start a meal? The citrus ensured it wasn’t overly stodgy, though it was both very sweet and very delicious.
Bohemia put its own twist on an Old Fashioned, serving coffee-smoked Iron Wheel bourbon, Havana 7yr, homemade spiced syrup, bitters, and cinnamon steam out of a dry-ice-filled Bialetti moka pot. The steam didn’t overshadow the quality of the drink, which would stand alone as a bold and exciting interpretation of a classic.
Snacks Worth Sharing
A Garlic Lover’s Dream: Wild Mushroom Arancini
The arancini came with an aioli that did not hold back on the garlic—to the point where it was almost a little spicy. I’m a fan, though be cautious if you plan on spending the rest of the night on the dance floor.
Classic Chorizo Done Right
For me, a chorizo dish is all about focusing on the dominant flavor of the sausage and not overcomplicating things. The indulgent, fatty slices were crisped beautifully, and they went really nicely with the padron peppers.
Padron Peppers: A Simple Pleasure
I always order padron peppers. I really enjoy them, and I think it’s the simplicity for me: there is obviously plenty of skill in ensuring they are juicy and tender on the inside with blistered skin that bursts as you take a bite, and well-seasoned. But you can’t get away with bad-quality peppers. The balance of execution and the mildly spicy, slightly sweet peppers made them a great success.
Chilli Butter Tiger Prawns
Lastly, the tiger prawns. There is no better combo than big, juicy prawns cooked and served with confit garlic and chilli butter, white wine, and parsley oil. Every bite was a mix of the freshness of the herbs, richness of the butter, acidity of the wine, and quality of the prawns. I could quite happily have had another round of these if it weren’t for the showstopper we’d selected for our mains.
Main Attraction: Côte de Boeuf for Two
Why We Chose It
While the braised Sussex ox cheek with parmesan polenta and the grilled butterflied sea bass were very tempting options, when we heard about the côte de boeuf special for two—and how fresh and local the beef was—there was no competition.
Flawless Execution
Rare, well-seasoned, slightly charred, and perfectly accompanied by a smoked whisky peppercorn sauce, there are really no notes. Utterly lovely.
The Sides
There’s a lot to be said for the choice of sides with a steak. On its own, the hispi cabbage was delicious: sweet, sticky, spicy, and tender. I found the flavour combo was a little complex when paired with peppercorn sauce. That’s on me, though.
I’m regularly disappointed with myself when I have a meal as glorious as this, and I’m still so obsessed with the potatoes, but perhaps it’s just time to accept that if they’re done right, that’s going to win me over. These potatoes were perfect. Crispy, seasoned beautifully, and generously portioned. You have my attention.
Meet the Chef: Joshua Pingram
We chatted to the head chef, Joshua Pingram, who has joined the Bohemia kitchen with oodles of culinary experience. From his days working with Marcus Wareing to his flame-grilling at Brighton’s The Coal Shed, it’s clear he knows what he’s doing. He’s passionate and excited about the future for the restaurant. If this meal is anything to go by, we’re in good hands.
Dessert and Drinks: Coffee Lovers Rejoice
Tiramisu with a Twist
I’m famous in my friendship circles for drinking and consuming a very large amount of coffee for someone who claims not to like coffee. The reality is I just need sugar and booze added to it and I’m sold.
Let’s start with the tiramisu, served in a triangular glass perched on a tumbler of dry ice. Heavy on the cream and a great size for sharing if you’ve just consumed an enormous côte de boeuf, this is exactly what you want to finish your meal. It was sweet and indulgent but light and airy.
Espresso Martini Elegance
It was at this point that we headed downstairs to the bar and ordered some espresso martinis, served in the same jazzy way as the tiramisu. Swapping the sweet cream for some sweet liqueur did not take away from the enjoyment—if anything, it cranked things up a notch. We were now suitably well-prepared for the evening’s activity (yes, there’s more!)…
Evening Finale: Live Music Thursdays
Funkadelix, a Brighton-based funk/soul band, really took what was already an atmospheric dinner to the next level. Everyone was up and dancing along, and they really brought some infectious energy with them.
Why You Should Go
Entry is free, and the music changes weekly, so there’s officially no such thing as a boring Thursday in Brighton—or any excuse as to why you shouldn’t spend them at Bohemia.
