If you seek a place with an upscale, yet laid back, vibe where you can enjoy a glass of wine and nosh on delightful cuisine, look no further than BoHo Biloxi Social House. Located in the heart of historic Biloxi on the rapidly developing Howard Avenue, BoHo Biloxi Social House provides an alternative to the bar or casino scene with a relaxed atmosphere in which to visit with friends and family.
Owner Sommer Canon, who launched BoHo in early January 2022, wanted to meet a need in downtown Biloxi. Initially intending to open a bookstore, Sommer and her husband, Ryan, were inspired to open a wine bar during a trip to Spain.
“We found ourselves late at night in the coolest little wine bar in Valencia,” Sommer recalls. “There were stacks of books on the tables, and maybe a dozen chattery internationals, legs crossed, leaning into one another — all thoroughly enjoying their late dinners in this little back-alley Spanish wine bar-bookstore. It was in that moment, I thought, ‘We need this,’ that Biloxi needed a wine bar.”
The following week, they flew home and found the right space for lease within a few days. Sommer’s sisters, Sarah and Taylor Fitzgerald, helped them brainstorm design ideas for the opening, committing early to oversized wine glasses and a delicious recipe for baked brie. Together they came up with a name that’s a bit of a double entendre, being a play on a combination of “Biloxi” and “House,” as well as a nod to a Bohemian theme that is often shortened to Boho.
“We designed BoHo as a place where every person who walks through our door feels at home and at ease, ready to enjoy a candlelit glass of wine with close friends,”Sommer says. “Our guests have told us that it is a mix of Nashville, New Orleans and Los Angeles, but we prefer to think of it as uniquely Biloxi.”
The BoHo menu is simple and focused on providing different flavors and pairings so patrons can enjoy a new experience every time they visit. Unique cheese and wine pairings complement and contrast in different ways, encouraging guests to deviate from their normal fare. Wine flights are available for those wanting to experience a variety and find their new favorites.
The appetizer and small plates menu offers a lovely assortment of items to pair with an ever-changing list of local, regional and international wines. A hot crab dip made with fresh crab meat, the salmon lox on garlic truffle crostini and a house-made spinach and artichoke dip are all great choices. On my visit, I had the fantastic baked brie with truffle and honey, which already has me planning a return trip.
If you want to treat yourself, I highly recommend getting one of the BoHo grazing boards that are artfully arranged and feature gourmet cheeses, meats, pate, hummus and other tasty charcuterie items. They come in a variety of sizes and are perfect for showcasing on social media.
“This has been an unbelievably fulfilling endeavor, and through it, I’ve seen that people on the Gulf Coast are amazing, warm and helpful,” Sommer says. “It’s been just such a beautiful thing.”
BoHo Biloxi Social House is open Tuesday through Saturday evenings and has daily events such as Taco Tuesdays, WINEdown Wednesdays and Ladies Night on Thursdays. It is a wonderful place to host a birthday party, wedding or baby shower, and catering and to-go trays are available. It also provides cool photo opportunities in front of a one-of-a-kind wall mural painted by CaliRob and a greenery wall featuring a hot pink neon sign that reads “Love the wine you’re with.”
BOHO BILOXI SOCIAL HOUSE
871 Howard Ave., Biloxi
(228) 219-5971
www.facebook.com/biloxisocialhouse
