Cafe Boheme

Café Boheme in Old Compton Street reminds me of the sort of cocktail bar you see in movies; a Cuban bar where Ernest Hemingway may be sitting beneath an old fashioned fan hung from the ceiling drinking rum, or a French wine bar where suave lady-killers fiddle with martini glasses and smoke white-tipped cigarettes. Call me a fantasist, but there is something quite glamorous about the place, perhaps due to the barmen’s impeccable shirt & waistcoat combos.

The décor helps too. There’s a circular bar in the centre of the room with elegant leather stools, while the fully stocked shelves in the centre of the bar denote that any type of cocktail is likely to be catered for here. It’s all very chic, and very Parisian.

Their aperitifs include all the French favourites: Pernod, Dubonnet, Martini, and even Kir Royal at the incredibly low price of £5. The bar remains open till 3am, however for those meandering around during the day they also serve food; breakfasts, brunches or a la carte dishes of duck liver parfait, or oysters are available. Most dishes are below £10, and snacks are also available after midnight if one is peckish after a night on the Soho tiles.

Café Boheme’s sophistication would not be complete without live jazz performances at weekends. A smart, relaxed, and elegant venue.