The Bon Vivant

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.

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.
Bön 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.

One of the finest negronis I’ve tried — out of a considerable sample size. Food is also top notch. I recommend the duck.

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 Bön 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 think I was already charmed by the name of this place (I’m not really sure why, but it just appealed!) and the venue itself did the same. It has the cosy boozer vibe down but without straying too far into old-​man-​pub territory. The quirky historic décor on the walls and dimly lit atmosphere help with this — it’ll actually probably be too dark for some people’s liking but I loved the romantic touch of having candles everywhere. It’s particularly nice when you duck in from the cold and rain outside! We popped in in quite a large group which they handled well when we took over most of the bar area. The guy behind the bar was wonderfully patient when my colleagues kept changing their drinks orders and was also happy to give me some ale advice. I’d like to come back in a smaller group or cosy up with a date here — it seems like a fine choice for a pre/​post dinner drinks stop on this side of town and I spotted some yummy-​looking bar tapas being ordered too…

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.

Definitely a 3.5 star experience for me — Unilocal,when will you let us do half stars!
I’ve wanted to come here for an age, Nd finally got the chance to go for some drinks and nibbles tonight. The bar is beautiful, if a touch dark, but there are candles almost everywhere so no danger! We were seated promptly, ordered our nibbles and a few
Drinks.
The nibbles were good — not mind blowing, just good. my pork belly was a touch dry for my tastes, and the sauce that came with the haggis Bön Bön was overly sweet. That said, they nailed the potato wedges! Yum! 2 delicious soups followed, and a beautifully presented and generous Lamb main course. My cocktail was also delicious — a combo of rum, blood orange and lime, which was sweet and strong. Mmm.
My main gripe was the customer service — she was fairly attentive and filled our water regularly, but was generally cold. Rolling her eyes and sighing when we needed a few more minutes with the menu is not a great start — nor is dumping our food on the table without so much as a smile. ‘What do you want’ and ‘are you done’ were her main questions to is, as if she couldn’t wait to get is in and out again. A sour note to what was otherwise quite a nice experience.
I’m sure I’ll be back, perhaps just for some more drinks, but not in a rush.

Fabulous inventive cocktails. Attentive service. Yummy small plates including some delicious serrano ham. A hidden gem of a bar

Super good food and service. Got whiskey cocktails with my boyfriend that were so good! Our server was super friendly and nice. We got a bunch of little things to share and the food was great. The sausage and sage roll was so good!

Everything was superb. I tried four mini-​appetizers, a pasta/​rice main and a dessert. I also had a nice glass of white burgundy. A few of the appetizers were fried (spring roll and samosa) but they were not too hot to eat, nor did they shatter. They were both fried just right as to be crispy. The harissa and pork belly were also both excellent — maybe slightly salty on the harissa.
Compared to other nearby restaurants I tried this has much nicer and more modern food at a similar price, so the value is definitely superior as well.

Personal simpatiquísimo y extraordinariamente guapo: la chica que nos atendió cortaba la respiración con solo mirarla de lo guapísima que era y lo bien vestida que iba. Si encima es capaz de abrir una botella de vino con la destreza con la que lo hizo, es como para ponerle un piso con vistas.
Lugar de tapas, con muchísimo encanto. Se puede pedir para compartir, y tienen bites (aperitivos) y raciones. Son más bien medias raciones (son bastante pequeñas) pero tienen cosas estupendas. Mención especial a los bombones de haggis, que están absolutamente deliciosos (son como una croqueta de haggis).
Tienen también un bar de whisky estupendo, y es imprescindible probar algo de whisky mientras estás en Escocia.

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.

Ok so I feel like I may get shot down in flames for saying this but I find Bön 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 ;)

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.

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 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.

ok — after my last few visits to Bön Vivant and getting absolutely plastered on cocktails and wine, time to revisit like an adult and write a Unilocal review.
Went here for some afternoon snacks/​tapas and a few cocktails. Had the chicken nugget kind-​of-​things (name escapes me), as well as the mackerel (yum) and serrano ham and whitebait. All were fantastic and just what I needed to recharge.
I had «The Rescuer» which was fab as well as a dram of Port Charolette to finish. Service attentive and friendly as per usual.
Great to see this place is still going strong.

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 Bön 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 Matinée 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 :)

Perfect place for a romantic date! Didn’t have dinner here (ate next door instead) but had a few pre-​meal cocktails each and really enjoyed them! The room is dimly lit, and there are comfortable chairs and candles throughout. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate.
I had a glass of champagne first, from their very nice selection. All their champagnes are dry — I had the sweetest one and it was still barely sweet at all but still very nice. My next cocktail was basically an elderflower gin and tonic which I loved. The last cocktail I had was something called the Dutch Courage (I think, can’t find the list online) and it was my least favorite. A strong orangey flavor in there that was a bit too cloying for me. My boyfriend enjoyed his masculine cocktails and we both nibbled on tasty olives. Though beware, the olives come literally in a bowl of oil — when you bring one up to your face, it will drip — on your trousers, as he learned! The cocktails are indeed presented beautifully, with interestingly shaped ice cubes and clear precision from whoever is behind the bar.
I will say that we hoped they would be a bit stronger. Two cocktails and champagne for me, three cocktails for him, and we both felt barely buzzed. Not that the point is to be drunk, of course, but you know… would’ve been a plus! But I suppose the good thing is that you can come and try lots of cocktails without being on the floor! Prices were better than I thought too — champagne was pricey per glass but many of the cocktails were only 4 or 5 pounds.
Would return anytime for a drink and a snack! So glad my friend told me about it as we could easily have walked right by!

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.

I was really impressed with the quality of the lunch in the Bön 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 Bön 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 love whisky & your May Tai!
Great interior, cool drinks, best service thanks a lot!