The Bon Vivant

Stopped here for lunch! The space has a wonderful atmosphere and the service was great. The truffle chips were a highlight for me and the salmon was cooked to perfection. Would come back here in a heartbeat :)

Absolutely lovely. Had dinner to celebrate the birthday of my mother and everything was wonderful. The food and wine were outstanding and the service maybe even better. Water was filled free of charge continuously and on top of that they surprised us with a birthday dessert for my mother (I had written that months ago on the reservation form). If you're spending a weekend in Edinburgh make sure to go here.

Regarded as one of the finest cocktail bars in Edinburgh and the UK, this spot truly lives up to its reputation. We sat at the bar and sampled a range of cocktails. As a self-proclaimed French Martini connoisseur (after trying many world wide! ), I can confidently say this was one of the best! The balance was spot on, with perfect proportions. The staff were delightful, offered us a range of selection to meet our drinking needs, which we loved. One standout was the Champagne French Spring Punch (pictured)—absolutely superb. The atmosphere is moody and inviting, making it perfect for a relaxed chat over exquisite drinks. While it’s a bit pricey, it’s worth every penny for the quality and experience. Highly recommended!

Visited on a trip to Edinburgh. Greeted with a warm welcome and the place was so buzzy and interior was lovely. Food was absolutely gorgeous. Especially the chicken supreme and chocolate mousse. Great wine choice too. Would absolutely recommend visiting.

The restaurant is lovely and feels really cozy. The cocktails were great as well and none of them were overly sweet, just well balanced. The food was pretty good, haggis bon bon being a fave, but the cheese options were really bland, as were the crackers.

Visited for the Festive Lunch and had a lovely time. The festive lunch menu is really great value and the dishes were all delicious. I had some food envy with my friends dishes too! I had the ham hock terrine, ox cheek risotto and tiramisu mille-feuille. The venue is cosy with mood-lit candles. The staff were all really attentive and friendly. A must visit ☺️

We enjoyed our last dinner in Edinburgh here and it was a knockout. The romantic, cozy atmosphere was great for our party of 2. The server was very knowledgeable of the wines and helped us select the perfect bottle (even allowed us to try them first). The menu options were delicious and great to share. My husband got the sirloin which was incredible. So glad we finished our trip here!

My visit to Bin Vivant Edinburgh tonight was an absolute delight. The atmosphere and setting were truly captivating, setting the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. One of the highlights was the locally sourced produce, which infused every dish with exceptional flavor and freshness. I started with the mushroom truffle, soup, and pigeon, each dish impressing with its unique taste and presentation. For mains, I indulged in the cod and lamb shoulder, both of which were cooked to perfection and bursting with delicious flavors. The chocolate dessert with cherries was the perfect finale to a fantastic meal, leaving me completely satisfied. A special mention goes to Emily, who provided impeccable service throughout the evening. I would like to extend my gratitude to Calum and the entire team for their hospitality and ensuring a lovely and relaxed dining experience. I highly recommend Bin Vivant for anyone seeking a traditional, wholesome meal in a welcoming and friendly environment. I'm already looking forward to returning for another memorable dining experience.

My family and I celebrated Christmas Eve dining at the Bon Vivant. Pre-fixed special menu was amazing! Service top notch and nice ambiance (pub). You will have a nice time!

We watched a lot of TopJaw to determine restaurants to some of the top restaurants to eat in Edinburgh. Unfortunately this was subpar and nothing to write home about. Ambiance was a cool darkish vibe. Might be a bit loud for some. Service was pretty good and waiter was attentive and answered questions. Drinks were boozy and strong. Food however, was so so. We ordered the haggis bon bons which came in a bbq sauce. Also ordered the Cacio y Pepe risotto. It was creamy but missing something. The venison was tender but lacked flavor. Mash was alright as well. Simple. Overall would skip as didn't seem worth the hype. However, they have a massive whisky and wine list, so stopping in for a drink might be worth while.

Pleasant meal in a comfortable setting. The restaurant is relaxed, with good cocktails and beers. The appetizers are varied and tasty. The charcuterie platter was delicious. The service was attentive and helpful.

Ambience, decor & atmosphere was awesome! I was hoping for a more unique cocktail menu, but it had the classics. My "bite" at the start was excellent! My main course, the mushroom risotto, was underwhelming and a bit disappointing. The hostess was wonderful, but my waitress was unhelpful. Not sure if I would return with so many other great options all over!

The Bon Vivant capped my trip to Edinburgh and was the best way to see me off. While every bar offers a variety of beer, an array of whisky, and some wine, few places offered any sort of extensive cocktail options. Initially I thought their offerings were limited to more classic cocktails but then realized their menu had a a few hidden pages within that then explained their extensive spirit selection. While I had several cocktails from the menu, the bartender also offered a couple that were not listed. Not only were the cocktails delicious, the staff was amazing, and bartenders in particular were quick and highly skilled. The space itself was dimly lit, but bright enough to see one another. We had no problem hearing one another and had we not eaten immediately before I would've happily have enjoyed some bites. For all your imbibing needs, The Bon Vivant has something for everyone. I'd happily return on my next visit to Edinburgh.

My wife said this meal ranked in the top five meals of her life. She had a hatch of venison. My steak, barley, and wild mushrooms was exquisite. The service was excellent even though we sat through a shift change. Nothing but accolades for this place.

The Bon Vivant was extremely busy when we got there on a Saturday evening. Good thing we had made a reservation. We were seated immediately although our first table was quite small and around the corner from the loo. When we requested a table change, they were more than happy to oblige. Service was superb. Our glasses were never empty and our orders came out quickly. The staff was always coming around to check on us. They were very attentive indeed. We ordered the haggis bonbons and the pork belly rillettes as our appetizer. If we had to choose, we would go for the haggis bonbons. For our mains, I got the venison and the partner-in-dine chose the duck. The venison was tender and tasty. But the duck was way better. We also shared a lemon custard dessert. It was zzzzzzzzzesty! Our dinner wasn't cheap but the meal was worth the price paid.

Fantastic Sunday roast at The Bon Vivant. A small upscale restaurant serving traditional fare. Reservations are necessary

This is a bar Not a restaurant Loud music ..thump thump boom boom. Non-stop. I tired to bail but could not. In my decades of enjoying restaurants I have never had a bavette steak cut into pieces before it was served If you want a noisy bar that claims to serve food maybe Bon Vivant will be your dream come true in Edinburgh

A good place to eat with different opinions between all of us dining. Most of us thought the food had an impeccable presentation but lack seasoning, the salt shaker was used abundantly. The staff was very nice and courteous and an exceptional heat wave In Edinburgh we still enjoyed ourselves.

Food was delicious, drinks were well made and service was very good. We tried the haggis bon bons and korean fried chicken for starters. Both were delicious, each served with their own punchy sauce. For mains we had the lamb rump and sirloin steak with a side of truffle parmesan chips (must have!). Very well cooked, each item on the plates was well prepared and paired with everything else. Lemon posset was the perfect end to the meal, light and refreshing.

We looked at yelp to find a nice place and it didn't disappoint. The small bites were nice. I had the pork belly. I had the lamb for my main, it was awesome, tasted great and the portion was spot on. Photo was uploaded. The atmosphere is cozy and service quick. Great help from the server with recommendations on restaurants and tourist places.

Great food!!! Great service (thank you Alicia)!!! Elegant food w/o the black tie! Mushroom bites are to die for. Venison dish as well as the wild rice aubergine were phenomenal!

We made this reservation 2 months in advance as the place we wanted to have dinner at on our last night in Edinburgh. We were really excited but the staff was very rude. We never really knew who our waiter was, they didn't have much personality or didn't seem excited or happy to be at work. Some of the food was a little bland but their sirloin, dessert and drinks were excellent. The ambiance is great, nice and cozy but maybe the staff needs better personalities.

Was recommended a trip down Thistle Street to find good food and after stopping in at The Bon Vivant Companion next door and getting fabulous service, we thought we'd try their bar. So glad we did. After only having plane food for the last 24 hours, anything would've sufficed but for our first meal to be such a home run was a delight. Our waiter recommended fabulous drinks based on our preferences and the food was delicious. We ordered a series of the Bites and each was a thoughtful creation of flavour and texture. The sweet corn Panna Cotta with subtle garlicky back notes and the chorizo and smoked cheese croquettes were stand outs for me. Interestingly, the only dish that wasn't great was the chips! I think the oil might not have been hot enough as they were a little soggy and oily. Although bordering on full, we chose to press on and shared a main. And how glad we were. The apple smoked duck with hazelnuts and cherry was a smokey punch in the face but delightfully so. Often when a dish is described as smoked you really have to search for it, but this was by far the smokiest dish I've eaten. The richness of the duck the perfect vehicle for the smoke, and the cherries brightening up the whole dish. Superb.

Food is fantastic, as well as the atmosphere. I had been out seeing the city for ten hours and wanted a great meal as my reward. This restaurant does not disappoint! Since I had guest looked it up, spur of the moment, I was not prepared for the full restaurant. My meal and experience couldn't have happened without the assistance and kindness of Cameron at the front. He warmly greeted me, offered me the standing room he had available since they were booked full. While I was standing, he came up top me and offered me a table, he had found a way to fit me in. I couldn't have had the experience without him. If I wasn't visiting, I would frequent and recommend this location to everyone I talked to. Keep up the hospitality Cameron

Service wasn't good but I had a fantastic cocktail here before going to dinner elsewhere. I love sour things and the 1934 Zombie was absolutely perfect. They even tied it up with a little yellow ribbon, which was unnecessary but undeniably cute. Minus one star for the service but it really was a great drink.

I wanted my friend who was visiting Scotland for the first time to try some Scottish food, but wanted her to also try a variety so I chose this place since they served up Scottish type tapas. Bon Vivant is a dark, sexy, loud, but intimate type restaurant/bar. The tables are small and the space is tight but the place has really great energy. It offers amazing small dishes and also main. The small plates varies and include haggis balls, arancini (Italian rice balls), pork belly, chorizo, and many more. One piece cost £2 and £6 for 3 pieces. The bigger portion can be around £8-£9. Their main courses cost around £15-20. I prefer ordering the small bite dishes cause you can try many different types and they are truly tasty. The haggis balls sits on a sweet Asian style pepper sauce and the combination works very well. The pork belly was my favourite. It's decadent, flavourful (from the fat) and satisfying. One bite of it was more than enough unless you want to over indulge. They have extensive drinks menu which includes beers, red/ white wine, and many different types of cocktails. Their cocktails are strong, tasty, and creative. The staff are quick and helpful. The place isn't the best place to take someone on a date unless your both comfortable shouting at each other cause it can get loud. This is a great place to go with friends while enjoying good food and drinks.

Walked passed on Friday and after looking at menu we decided to pop in Our meal was delicious my baked cod was cooked perfectly My wife had pork loin which was delicious Service was excellent with the waiter recommending beers to try Will definitely be back

All the dishes were tasty. The Cauliflower soup, pig belly, venison, gnocchi, and trout. A great atmosphere with reasonable prices. Tried time get into Fishes and and and they were all 30 to 60 min wait at 7pm. Silly us. This was a fine alternative, filled with many that were in the same boat. Of note: Portions were healthy, except the gnocchi, which came with 6 pieces. Normally expecting a bowl full, but the taste and veggie made for a filling experience. The Venison was 3 healthy pieces and was a great experience. The trout was something we thought looked like salmon. Again a solid portion all tasty The wait between courses was a bit longer than expected, but the place was packed.

Late night cocktails and good chat! We had some fantastic cocktails here and a great catch up. The inside is a bit dark and can get a bit loud but who cares with martini's and bar bites this good!? I am definitely a fan and have sent many people along. They also do some great tasting events where you can choose the wines on the list - all the details are on the boards.

Tucked away down a tiny cobblestone street Came for the Scotch, but stayed to eat Ordered a Scotch, only had 1 drink But tasted so good, in it was called chocolate something... Had a huge ice cube, kind of looked cool Would have been even better, if

Visited here last night for the first time. I can't say enough good things about The Bon Vivant. The atmosphere was relaxed, welcoming and cosy. We found the bar tenders to be first class. They were friendly, chatty and knowledgable, recommending alternative whiskeys for us to try. We enjoyed sitting at the bar and watching them make cocktails. I highly recommend anyone to pop in for a drink. It's a perfect place for date night.

Ah, a friday night and like many a working professional i found myself headed to the bar for a few drinks and a catch up with a lovely friend! we decided on bon vivant and as i walked into the bar i was met with a scene of many suited men and some very attactive bartenders!! perfect start to a friday night.... now if you're in need of a cocktail, the drinks list at Bon Vivant has a large number of options. they also have a really good wine list from which i ordered a glass of riesling, an old favourite. My friend opted for the Matinee cocktail which was a gorgeous concotion of rum mixed with kaffir lime leaves and some other items i can't remember nor can i find a cocktail list on their website to tell me... i did have a taste of the cocktail and thought it was so good i ordered one as soon as i finished my wine! the restaurant portion of this bar is lovely with a sort of gothic chic design. the food menu is quite clever as all their starters come in two sizes, a start portion or a bite portion. the bites are each £1 and it's a great way to try a few of the tasty starters they have on offer. we ordered the crispy prawns, the breaded brie with pesto, the falafel with a chili and pumpkin sauce, and queenie scallops with garlic butter. all of these were delicious and just the right size to enjoy as a nibble while having drinks. the bites were also the perfect size to leave us with room to have a look at their dessert menu. we shared a portion of the chocolate mousse with caramel and a quince and pear crumble with a side of pear ice cream. both of these were absolutely delicious and were quickly polished off!! the perfect end to our time at bon vivant and our catch up. it was also good timing as the table was reserved, but i have to say that helpful staff never rushed us to leave which i thought was a nice touch. my last comment about bon vivant is that the drinks may be a bit more expensive than other bars, but everything else on their menu is incredibly good value! the bites at a £1 are so good and the desserts were only £4 for a size that was big enough to share. it's also worth noting that their desserts also come in a £1 bite size. and really, the cocktails are so good they're totally worth the price!! looking forward to another visit some time in the near future :)

A fabulous cocktail bar right next to a cool bottle shop. From the outside it looks plain and you can easily miss it. Look for the blue doors and walk into a low lit bar with lots of places to sit and or stand and sip a cocktail or few. The menu is extensive and there are a few bearded bar tenders mixing up a great variety of cocktails. There are cocktail specials on the boards and an extensive cocktail menu. They do serve food here however as we did not eat here cannot comment on the food. The crowd is generally a little bit older and probably over 25 rather than under. I would happily come back here for an evening with friends and spend a lot of money trying different cocktails. It's not cheap but well worth the money. The service is excellent and they even replaced one of the cocktails on a mere notion that it did not taste right. They did go our of their way to please and that is always a hallmark of a good bar.

Nice Hendricks gin, nice atmosphere! The place is hidden away on Thistle street and I might walk by without realizing its there. But if you find the entrance, then you won't be disappointed. There is a bar area and a restaurant. Its quite dark in there, so the candles around the place offer some visibility of your surroundings. I really like the bar area. Its cozy and intimate. Good for dates! Not sure if I would have dinner there. Would like to see what I eat :-) The toilets are clean. Fortunately I found the women's toilet in the dark.

I really wanted to like this place, but it didn't do it for me, I was quite disappointed. We went here for a nice dinner but left still hungry! The atmosphere is beautiful, dark, romantic and has a good buzz. Unfortunately, this buzz was ruined by Octoberfest drunks, who were luckily just leaving as we arrived, but were quickly replaced by a group of 30 freshers at the bar. I get it's Saturday night and people want a drink, but the Bon Vivant can't both be a cute restaurant and a loud student bar. Either refuse the large group or change your venue to a bar. I wanted to drink an alcohol free beer as I'm doing a sober October, but they didn't have any. Really? The staff was in a hurry and didn't offer me a drinks menu, nor an alternative, so I just ordered a coke. I would've gladly had a virgin cocktail or a more exciting soda, as I know they probably do them! Food arrived quite late, the nibbles (now £2 each) were OK. I had the tiny venison burger and crab cocktail. Not very exciting to be honest, the burger was incredibly plain, dry and hardly had any sauce. The crab cocktail was a little better. After this, our mains were delivered and I was stunned. I ordered trout with seafood and a cauliflower puree, assuming this would be a full main. The piece of trout was very small, maybe a handful of seafood and the cauliflower puree wasn't a side - it was 3 small dollops of sauce. I literally did not expect that the food would come out in incredibly small Michelin style sizes. For £20 a plate, I didn't think I had to order a side to be full. The flavours weren't amazing, the fish was dry, the seasoning was off. After asking for my partner's wine (twice) and for the bill (twice) I was quite done with the restaurant. In my opinion, they need to do one of two things: really go upmarket, make their food a little better and just have people dining, without any people standing at the bar. Or they could lower their prices/double the portions and become more of a middle-weight bar-type restaurant. What they're doing now is trying to do both, and it just isn't happening for me.

I sang karaoke in here once when it was The World, or at least I think that was its name. I'm not sure if the karaoke nights still exist, but the place has certainly been revamped to quite a large extent, and is going for the classy wine bar feel, rather than traditional pub vibe. In deceivingly quite large premises on Thistle Street, Bon Vivant has the dark and mysterious, candlelit thing going on really well. I've been in here with a few friends for after work, midweek drinks, which went down pretty nicely, and the dimmed lighting and relaxed atmosphere makes you feel nice and warm and slouchy, so you get the impression that chilling with a drink for a few hours won't be a problem. Why does it seem that in some bars it would be a problem? Hmmm, in any case, there is a good selection of wines here, plus a more than average number of champagnes available by the glass, great if you're parched and feel like a glass of fizz would fill the void, but don't necessarily want to splash your whole night's funds on a bottle.

Once you step into this adorable restaurant, it will remind you a romantic Parisian restaurant that is quaint yet somehow modern. Although by appearance it is very romantic with dim lighting, candles and dark wood furnishings it is a great place to meet the girls for dinner or a drink or to have a quick meal. I like the concept of this menu, a great wine/champagne menu paired with appetizers, small plates of mains and desserts (though there are few items that you can get as a main course). This way you can try lots of different dishes without committing to just one dish. I'm a huge sucker for variety and this is a great way to accomplish sampling whilst dining alone. Another huge plus is that since there are small bites, the food comes out virtually instantly. Love it! I'm usually starving so the idea of ordering and it comes out right quick is very appealing. It's quicker than a fast food restaurant. The only drawback I think to the menu is that although very tasty, most of the items are very indulgent - either deep-fried or in pastry. I know the portions are small, but when you add them up, so do the calories and fat. However, it's not say that the food was not excellent because it was. To top off a wonderful meal, the wait staff was very friendly and accommodating.

Meh. If you like beards and waistcoats, are very into the current trend for drinking fancy gins, and would maybe stretch as far as to say you had hipster tendencies this is probably the bar for you. Don't get me wrong - there's nothing the matter with any of these things. I just felt that it was trying a bit too hard. We were only here for one drink so I will condense my usual essays into a few sentences. Good things involved an extensive drinks menu, attentive service, and I really liked that the servers brought iced water as soon as you sat down (I always feel cheap asking for tap water but often like to quench my thirst before I sip a tasty beverage). Prices were fine, more expensive than your regular old man pub but nothing really over the top. And the staff were super nice. Bad things included having a wine/cocktail/mixers type list that had every type of drink imaginable EXCEPT any of the draft or bottled beers, ciders or softs. Just because you serve fancy cocktails doesn't mean everyone wants fancy cocktails all the time! It was also pretty dark inside on what was otherwise a fairly bright day, but if you prefer to start drinking early and keep going late then that probably won't bother you. On this occasion we were waiting for a friend to arrive for dinner so when we stepped outside it took a while for eyes to readjust, and that was at 6pm so it was a tad dusky. But then again this is the bar owned by the same people that own El Cartel, the wee mexican restaurant across the road. For that alone I would give it another half-star because the linking of the two venues across the lane from each other is rather lovely - if you can't get a table in EC when you arrive they will tell you that they will come and fetch you from BV if you want to stop in for a drink. I wouldn't rush back but if I was in the vicinity I wouldn't avoid it either. Just so-so really.

Great place for cocktails and tapas-style dishes. Recommended: Haggis bon bons, deep fried brie, scallops, chorizo, tuna carpaccio. Cons: they overcharged us for the wrong bottle of champagne.

You know when you wake up on a Sunday and you're hungover and you can't look out the window because the light pierces through your head? Well, get over it and go for a full roast at Bon Viv's. It'll be better than any fry up you can make yourself and makes you feel warm and fuzzy like you've just been born. An unreasonable amount of perfectly cooked meat (other options for you too, veggies), the crispiest roast potatoes and veg like something from an M&S ad (the slow mo one, not the one with that guy talking about girls in knickers) To avoid all disappointment when it comes to pudding - for once, you can have everything as for the costly sum of £1 you can have a little portion. I highly recommend having a trio, because hopefully like you, I have no concern for the size of my arse as my priorities lie with my taste buds. Thank you, Bon Vivant. I love you.

Ok so I feel like I may get shot down in flames for saying this but I find Bon Vivant so disappointing...the first time I entered this place it was fab. Not overly packed, good service and nice drinks but since returning several times over the past few years I've left each time feeling glum after the experience. I apologise to all the diehard fans of this place but each time it was packed to the rafters, the service at the bar was quick but typically cold and rude and the cocktails really off in taste....I will no doubt find myself tagging along in the near future with some of the diehard fans of this place and I hope my mind will be changed but for now I'd rather try somewhere else :-S *Don't worry diehards, if my mind does change I'll update my review ;)

After my fifth visit in this dark, decadent drinking hole, I thought it was high time I reviewed one of my favourite bars in Edinburgh. They've really embraced the dark, eerie buildings that the cobbled roads of thistle street offer, and not tried to modernise or lighten it in any way which I love. With dark grey walls, beveled mirrors and candle light adorning the bar, it's one of those places that you could stay in for hours. Sunday's they play a mixture of singer-songwriter indie acoustic music, which makes it feel a more chilled out vibe that Sunday's are all about. If the atmosphere in the Bon Vivant isn't enough, the cocktails really are stupendous. Hand crafted expertise isn't quick, but I'm glad that the drinks here are never rushed, even on a busy Saturday night. They offer a diverse menu of fantastic drinks ranging from whiskey based hard hitters to the more delicate gin based cocktails that match the pretty girls drinking them. They also have specials which change regularly on a black board opposite the bar, which are great for locals to try something new. I've eaten here once or twice, and the food is good, but the five stars I'm awarding is purely for drinks. My advice is drink your fill here, then nip across the road for some delicious tacos at El Cartel. It's the perfect way to spend any day, with fabulous drink, and fabulous food.

I want to give Bon Vivant 3.5 stars but Yelp won't let me, and I can't quite bring myself to up my review to 4 stars. Yesterday was our very first Edinburgh Yelpers Massive. We had a whopping turnout of 3 Yelpers (myself included) with two Canadian non-Yelpers in attendance. The plan was to go enjoy the couches and cocktails in Underdogs but for some unexplained reason, it was closed. So, we headed to Bon Vivant, just around the corner. When we walked in from the bright day I was immediately hit with how DARK it is inside. That's all well and good when it's dark or dusky outside but seems a bit extreme in the middle of the afternoon. We were immediately greeted by a waiter who handed us a wine list told us that while we were welcome to sit at any of the tables generally reserved for diners, we might need to vacate if the table was needed. I thought that was completely fair and very nice of him to let us know the low-down ahead of time. A couple of us got the beers in and I was very pleased to find that the mugs were refrigerated which made the beer that much tastier. It didn't quite warrant paying £3.60 for said beer, but I guess that's what you have to pay in New Town these days. We had a great time chatting away about the kind of topics you don't normally bring up with people you've not met before, but then I can't really give the bar credit for that. I've heard very good things about the food and the fact that the portions are served in "normal" sizes as well as £1 and £2 tapas sizes sounds like a great idea. But even after all of that I just can't bring myself to give it 4 stars. I think the problem is that it's maybe just a little too posh for me, a little too stuffy. The staff aren't stuffy mind you, so it must be the decor I'm commenting on. It's not very comfortable, you don't feel like you could stay for hours and hours. At least, I don't. So I stand by my 3.5 stars but will definitely go back and try some of those tasty looking tapas at which point you will be hearing from me again.

Cosy, atmospheric & lovely! We ordered cocktails and they were lush! Service great, although we did go in the afternoon and it was relativley quiet.We didnt eat there but would definatley reccommed for drinks!

Woweee, Despite recommending people head here a bunch this was my first visit to Bon Vivant. I genuinely didn't even actually know where it is, but we were in that end of town looking for a table for 6 after some drinks with work and I suggested heading along. We were STARVING and THIRSTY. In we went and first impressions were that if you wanted a cosy drink, or to eat with friends then this was the place to be. It was a tad dark in that I couldn't see what was in the fridges, but I got over that rather quickly. The staff were really friendly and clearly really enjoy working there which is always good to see. We were seated after about 10 minutes which considering we just wandered up at 9pm on a Thursday isn't at all bad. Olives and bread ordered (tasty) and eaten, we ordered mains and more drinks. **ISSUE BREAK** My two main issues with this place 1) beer - get some bloody decent beer in. San miguel is alright but a decent craft beer wouldn't have gone amis. NOT INNIS AND GUNN - you're a restaurant not a sweetie shop. Something like Cesar Augutus from williams brothers or Schiehallion on keg would have been spot on. Light, fruity, refreshing. 2) Toothpicks - get some wooden ones. The plastic ones for the olives were annoying. **/ISSUE BREAK** Now we're done with that. Food - most of us ordered a magnificent roast lamb with mushrooms and ducks hearts. Oh my word it was awesome. I don't even want to describe it as no doubt the menu will have changed, it changes daily, so just trust me when I say put their food, in you, NOW. Staff were attentive and smiley, water glasses were refilled almost scarily quickly. All in all it was an awesome venue. recommended.

The Bon Vivant is a unique place in Edinburgh. Tucked away in Thistle street, the place is a bar that also makes food. There is a little restaurant area at the back. They have a lovely range of aperitif martini cocktails at a reasonable price which you can sip in the comfy seats near the front. The food is lovely, fresh and Scottish fusion I would say, reasonably priced too. I only went to that place once but cannot wait to go back. With an intimate decor, it's a great place for a romantic night or just for a drink and food with a couple of friends. I have only been during the week but I believe the place must get quite busy at weekends. Highly recommended.

A great please to pop into for a spell on an unseasonably warm day in Scotland. Nice bites and good coctkails. Haggis and fish croquettes were delicious.

Okay, so I went here last night.. and I loved it!!! First, the staff are super friendly and always smiling. They definitely made me feel welcome. Our waiter took the time to explain the menu for us, and was very helpful by arranging our meal to be brought out in the desired order my friend and I wanted (we might have ordered pretty much everything) So I tried out all the bites except for two, and had some of them in the £3 starter size, all of them to share. They were really quick at keeping our table nice and orderly (we honestly had so many plates), but didn't seem intrusive. I liked the food a lot too. I'd have to say my favourite starter was the Mackerel. yum. So even with ordering 4 starters, 1 bite, and a side of garlic potatos, we might have still been a bit peckish. So if you're the type to want to try EVERYTHING because you're indecisive like me. I'd recommend to still order a main and a couple bites. After we had finished what we ordered, instead of going for dessert we went for the chorizo and bread to fill us up. All in all, the bites are really bites, but the food is great and i loved the atmosphere. I'd definitely consider going back again. The tapas style really is quite fun!!

I was really impressed with the quality of the lunch in the Bon Vivant. I've been a regular visitor, overall the previous months and years, but usually just for wine and/or cocktails. Their all day menu, showcasing a range of "bite" starters, ranges from £1 for a bite, to the mid-teens for main courses. The quality remains high, throughout. Overall, we said: "the Bon Vivant serves really impressive food, in lovely surroundings. The service couldn't be friendlier, but could be a trifle speedier. But for a relaxed lunch in a smart pub setting, there are few better places in our fair city. Bravo, chaps - I enjoyed my visit very much."

I went in for Gin & Tonic. This was served promptly and expertly. Nothing really wrong with the place just a feeling of familiarity. I feel I've been to many places like this. Room in West End springs to mind and Tonic also. The music was a decent level and I liked the look of the menu. What else can I say.. this in not one of my favourites of hangouts.

My friends and I arrived after the kitchen had already closed but we still had a great time. I loved the champagne bottles on the table. They were used as candle-holders. The staff was extremely friendly. I enjoyed the few drinks that we tried.

Big fan of this place. I love the concept of tapas so to see a place taking Scottish produce and coming up with seasonal menus which highlight the best of it makes me smile a lot. With a good wine menu (perhaps slightly over-priced IMO) and a good combination of food this place is a winner for a number of eventualities. Post Friday drinks and nibbles = tick, Sunday Prosecco and nibbles = tick, mid-week casual date option = tick! The staff are good, know the menu and know their drinks, the ambiance is nice, the music seems to be chosen by some of the rather ecclectic staff so can be a bit hit/miss but overall a great member of the Thistle St bistro scene. Jd = happy man!!!

I went here for date night with my sweetie while in Edinburgh and was thoroughly impressed. This little hole in the wall was just perfect - cozy atmosphere, wonderful drink selection that included inventive cocktails and a decent wine list, a creative menu with delicious appetizers, entrees and deserts. The servers were also incredibly knowledgeable and spot-on. I went with all the waitress's recommendations and was not at all disappointed. I love their menu layout. The appetizers are available in two sizes: the "nibbles" are enough for a bite or two and run about £1 each and then there is a larger portion enough to share between two or three people depending on the amount of dishes ordered. We ordered a few nibbles and one larger appetizer and all were wonderful. The best dish of the night was the roast pork with onion marmalade. If I go back I am ordering two of them as my main course! Every once in a while you have a dish that just makes you go "wow" and smile from the inside out. Yes, this dish was that good. We also had little fried fish with mustard sauce which were great as well as fried haggis balls which my BF assures me were awesome but I am just not able to get behind. Entrees were delicious as well. Liver and onions for the BF and duck for me. Both were tasty. Desert was also very good. They once again had the "nibbles" option for dessert which I really appreciate since I am usually too full for something big but like ending on a sweet note. We had petitfours which were more like truffles and extremely tasty. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful meal.

We spent a lovely evening here last night, catching up with family long not-seen. I'll echo other reviews in noting that the bites are a great idea, and as a person who likes to try everyone elses food, I got to indulge that in having a selection of bites to myself. Breaded brie - too strong for my tastes, overpowering the tomato salsa that is was accompanied by; fish dumping - tasted fabulous and I could have eaten 10 more; charred halloumi with some seriously tasty (nut-free) basil pesto. The SR checked out the haggis bonbons with chipshop sauce (chipshop sauce not as good as the real deal apparently), and my nephew loved the lamb offering. For the mains... I'll admit, I was surprised. Given that the bites are truly bites, I didn't expect the portion sizes to be as big as the mains were - not massive, but solid cuts of fish and meat were on display at the table. Most of us tucked into the John Dory, which was cooked beautifully with a seared diver scallop (so tender, it was embarrassing how much I enjoyed it) and a wild salad... the nephew had the sea trout with a solid serving of mussels, and the SR had the pork belly... which disappeared almost instantaneously as it arrived. Triple-cooked Chips (cooked in veg. oil) were fantastic, and the only downside was some nasty tasting asparagus (felt like they had been burned by garlic... didn't taste right personally, but my sister and her friend both enjoyed it). Of course we had to have dessert as well, and the bite size came in handy, as I really only wanted a little sample rather than a whole dessert of the chocolate and raspberry tart... and the richness of the dish really meant that bite size was more than enough for me. I think the only downside is that while the waiting staff were very friendly and pleasant, at times I felt pretty rushed, and while we were left to our own devices (despite being told we were supposed to vacate by 9... we left after 10), no-one really came by after dessert, so any prospect of drinks disappeared... not that we needed anymore - but it felt rather like a feast, then a famine. Otherwise, loved BV, liked the restaurant, would love to visit again.

My visit here was very brief, just a glass of wine before heading out to dinner. I wish I could have stayed longer!! This place is incredibly cosy, comfortable, full of character and has an amazing air of romance about it. It is the sort of place you see yourself settling down for the evening with a nice wine (the choice is very extensive), some nibbles (which looked devine) and then suddenly checking your watch and the hours have flown by! A good place to come with someone special. I would totally come back here, it may not meet this over the top hollywood-style liaison I have mapped out in my mind but coming here would be a damn good start!

Popped in here for catch up drinks with friends. Great table service, we were never short on drinks. We ended up staying for dinner too. Tasty starters of fish cakes and halloumi. I chose the Wellington for my main and hardly a word left my mouth as I stuffed it with crispy pastry, beef and the most delicious pate topping AMAZING! The bar and restaurant were rammed, but the atmosphere was really chilled. The drinks menu was also fantastic and cheap! This is definitely on my places to re-visit when I'm in Edinburgh next!

This place is known as 'The Bon' I believe, among its loyal clientele. It's warm and friendly, a little pretentious but self confident with it. I probably showed myself up with my ignorance of cocktails, their ingredients, serving paraphernalia, names and sizes, but a drink was ordered and a drink was drunk. Sadly my cocktail didn't come in a small metal bucket, but my fellow drinker's did so I was at least able to enjoy that vicariously. (Mine was in a glass that reminded me of something my socially aspirational gran would have had in her sideboard. It was called an 'Elderflower Gimlet'. (The drink that is, not the glass. Or my gran: she was call Win. 'Elderflower Gimlet for the Win'?)) 3.5 stars would perhaps have summed up my sense of ease in the place, but we'll go the four because it was a birthday celebration, and the bar tender and waitress were both very kind. I drink cocktails even less frequently than I have hot drinks (combined totals in 2013: 3 thus far), so giving more stars also means I got better value for money, right? I shall be back, but it'll take a birthday to get me there I suspect.