ARTICLE: Devilish Fun @ Bohemia Cabaret

Corsets. Cocktails.

Appetising cuisine…

Do we have your attention?

These are what you will find and more should you dare to visit the new Bohemia Cabaret Club in Melbourne city’s South.

A bar, restaurant, cabaret and burlesque venue led by four impressive and contributing partners, not to mention a French inspired Chef, you can be assured of a deliciously wicked evening at Bohemia.

Going on the varied crowd it drew on a fully booked Friday, it appears to have something for everyone.

LMM: Stepping through the front door we entered a vibrant world exuding century Europe from which burlesque originates. The long timber bar, the ornate light fittings, the decorated frosted glass; Bohemia is a visual feast from the onset, resonant with inspiration derived from Art Nouveau. After arrival, all that’s left to do is settle in for a night of dinner and a show starting, of course, with an aptly named cocktail such as the Jezebel ($18).

A tapas style menu offers either progressive bites to eat, a feast style mezzo or a Bohemia Banquet (6 dishes for two $44pp, or 10 dishes for two at $76pp). While we didn’t see any red meat in our 10 dish banquet it was more than easy to devour the tasty likes of snapper with oyster, champagne and chive sauce ($15.50), pork tail and snails ($15.50), and quinoa with eggplant, zucchini, smoked celeriac and egg ($16), and roast cauliflower with sautéed mushrooms ($14.50). Add a few more dishes and three desserts and the banquet is sure to please the biggest appetite, or satiate a smaller hunger with individual dishes. One might enjoy a bottle of international bubbles starting at $44 moving up towards the $366 mark should it be more of a special occasion. A shortish but adequate wine list starts at $30 a bottle up to $108 and there is a choice of tap or bottled beer, cocktails, and cider (think Bresse), all with a European edge.

Just as you think you’re settled in, distracted by the food and the charming ambiance, out saunters your performance host Madame Natalia – or Mama – tantalisingly getting to know the crowd and introducing them to the next instalment of their evening. In fantastically frisky and highly humorous yet seductive style, Mama takes you through a show of naughty and nice voluptuous performers with generous attention and a flirtatious wink and a smile – everything the art of tease should be. Any inhibitions lingering in the air are quickly absolved through the devilishly fun acts before you and with the engaging Mama, a true and passionate entertainer.

The marvellous thing about Bohemia, besides the distinctly classical way it has been wrapped up and delivered, is the catering for all tastes, budgets, attitudes and evenings. Whether you’re a regular looking for a drink in a comfortable and appealing venue, or wishing for a night out with a difference, or perhaps celebrating something big and desiring the full Bohemia experience, it’s your choice of what will satisfy you best. Shows are held either at the front and centre of the venue or in the impressive glass roofed Night Garden Theatre at the rear of Bohemia. Cabaret, circus, burlesque, music, dance, theatre; it’s all there and starting from just $20 a ticket. With five shows from Wednesday to Sunday offering something unique and changing weekly, life is never dull at Bohemia Cabaret Club. Buy online from sticky tickets and get your panties down to Bohemia for a risqué evening with a twist. It’s quite simply nothing less than fabulous, darling.

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