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Cocktails, Cuisine, and Tunes: Thursdays at Bohemia

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…

shot of the Bohemia bar in the evening, red light and bartenders making drinks. Live Music night at Bohemia Brighton

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.

smoke around the cocktail glass

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.

starters including pardon peppers, chorizo and prawn served on the table at Bohemia Brighton

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.

close up shot of the starters at Bohemia Brighton including, green papers, chilli butter tiger prawns and chorizo

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.

close up shot of the steak at Bohemia Brighton

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.

close up shot of the main dishes at Bohemia, including steak, potaotes and aubergine dish. Live Music night at Bohemia Brighton

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.

tiramisu, served in a triangular glass perched on a tumbler of dry ice. Live Music night at Bohemia Brighton

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!)…

espresso martini in the small glasses with the smoke around them

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.

live music at Brighton Bohemia

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.

Want to know more about Bohemia Brighton?
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Getting there
Map for Bohemia Brighton
54-55 Meeting House Ln, Brighton BN1 1HB
Fully accessible to wheelchairs and have an accessible toilet.
Opening Hours

Monday 12:00pm1:00am

Tuesday 12:00pm1:00am

Wednesday 12:00pm1:00am

Thursday 12:00pm1:00am

Friday 12:00pm3:00am

Saturday 12:00pm3:00am

Sunday 12:00pm1:00am