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    The Bon Vivant

    4.1 (75 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

    The Bon Vivant Photos

    THE BON VIVANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - The Bon Vivant

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    Appetizer assortment
    Alan L.

    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.

    Clover club
    Andrea L.

    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!

    Lemon posset
    Pooline N.

    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.

    Venison
    Wendy S.

    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.

    Charcuterie board
    Larry P.

    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.

    Chicken thighs, jalapeño cream cheese
    Barcamatic M.

    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.

    Awesome lamb!
    David H.

    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.

    Menu

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

    Angelo E.

    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.

    Apple smoked duck.
    Jenn R.

    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.

    Birthday cocktail
    Carol W.

    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.

    1934 Zombie
    Gab G.

    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.

    Amazing but very strong cocktails!
    Robyn Z.

    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 :)

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    The Bon Vivant Reviews in Other Languages

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    The Devil's Advocate - Smoked fish plate

    The Devil's Advocate

    4.3(640 reviews)
    0.4 miOld Town, Royal Mile
    ££

    Walking in to The Devil's Advocate in Advocate Close, just above Market St, the large bar greets…read moreyou. We chose the Scottish Road trip whiskey flight. As someone who truly loved little about Scotch, it was a wonderful way to taste and compare smoky vs peaty whiskeys. Fun. Our table was upstairs and we sat next to an open door which allows for fresh cool air. It was a warm day in Edinburgh. Our server was wonderful, patient and really helpful. Our choices were truly delicious. We started with the fish board, olives, and mushroom skewer. We loved them all. I enjoyed the cod main dish, while my wife finished the starters. The side of asparagus was also excellent. The mouse dessert was delicious but very rich, it's enough for 4 people. The cost of dinner was also totally reasonable. I recommend this place highly.

    After seeing the high reviews on Yelp, I decided to make a reservation for this restaurant. We…read moretrekked up the steps of Advocate's Close to get there. When we arrived at noon (opening time), the restaurant wasn't too busy. There is an impressive bar downstairs with many whiskies. We were led upstairs to the dining area. There is outdoor dining too that would be nice if the weather was warmer. Cool vibe, but it is kind of dark inside the stone walls. The menu is Scottish-focused with seasonal ingredients. We didn't want to overeat, so we decided to share a starter and a main. We got the Scottish venison fritters, which were ok. We enjoyed the pappardelle pasta (roast pumpkin and pecorino sauce, wild mushrooms, spinach, bacon and poppy seed crumb, crispy sage). It was flavorful and didn't feel too heavy. Staff were friendly and it was an enjoyable lunch.

    Photos
    The Devil's Advocate - Whiskey flight tastings

    Whiskey flight tastings

    The Devil's Advocate - Fish Filet

    Fish Filet

    The Devil's Advocate - Double Shot with Dalmore 12, kahula, espresso shot, and Demerara.

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    Double Shot with Dalmore 12, kahula, espresso shot, and Demerara.

    Monteiths - The salmon, the he monkfish and the broccoli. We also had other sides that were brought later

    Monteiths

    4.0(88 reviews)
    0.6 miRoyal Mile, Old Town
    £££

    Wandered into Monteiths in search of libation and oysters and was immediately treated to an…read moreelevated offering of both; but it was the kindness of the bartender and his suggestions on what to do that night that really made our visit special. First of all, I had the best nonalcoholic mojito I've ever had in my life. Then I had some ridiculously dressed oysters--horseradish cream and caviar and dill oil. Was the lily guilded? Maybe but still so tasty. Upon recommendation from the bartender, we ended our night at a club set in an old church and enjoyed so much great music; the Chicano band were my favorite. I would come back definitely the next time I'm in town.

    Terribly disappointing. We made reservations and we're excited upon walking in. Upon arrival, it…read morewas awkward. At least four people said they'll be right with us. We just stood there waiting, waiting, waiting, and waiting. We were seated at the bar and were assured we would get full service and menu. Given it was NYE, we didn't have many options even though we made a resy. It was a while before anyone took our order. The drink came and we were still waiting to place our dinner order. The person who took our drink order is consumed by other tables. Finally, someone comes and takes our dinner order. As we wait, they load the dishwasher and place dirty dishes near us. Not cool. Food comes and we are tempted to scoot to the right away from dirty plates, but they move another couple from their bar area table to the bar. Lost opportunity. Food wise, it was okay. My salmon was fine, nothing to rave about. The vegetable was on the undercooked side. The portion left hubs and I looking for more food that evening. Very disappointing experience given the price point.

    Photos
    Monteiths
    Monteiths - Lemon Crème brûlée and tea

    Lemon Crème brûlée and tea

    Monteiths - Wine

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    Wine

    Vino at the Arches

    Vino at the Arches

    4.5(2 reviews)
    0.6 miRoyal Mile, Old Town

    Vino at the Arches is like a dream - part wine bar, part bottle shop and amazing little snacks,…read moretoo. The weather was ok so people were sitting out the front drinking as well as inside the shop and this place just totally won me over straight away. I was just after a bottle of wine to take back to Glasgow so I just picked something from the fridge. Prices are quite high but it's not your standard supermarket wines so you'll get something a bit different. I also got a packet of locally made cheese sablé biscuits which were AMAZING and I scoffed the whole lot in one go (woops). I'll definitely be back here for a classy drinking spot next time I'm in Edinburgh. What a great addition to the Arches area.

    Woah, this place is AWESOME! I visited recently with a group of colleagues. We were quite a big…read moregroup, and the chap couldn't have been more helpful, swiftly re-arranging many tables so we could all sit together. And he was just brilliant really, explaining the drinks to us and such like. Vino is kinda like a combination between a wine bar and an off-license. So you can buy wine etc to drink, as you would normally. You can also buy products from the shelves, and pay 'corkage' to drink it in-house. They have an impressive range of craft beers for example. They also have a particularly good range of gin, and there were also a few dark rums which caught my eye. I'm not sure if you can buy the spirits and drink them there and then, I'd missed that part of the explanation, but you probably wouldn't want to do that anyway. They have great products that you don't often see elsewhere, for example the new Eden Mill 'mixology project'. We tried the 'basil smash hop gin' and the 'berry bramble love gin'. I also lingered over some Chocolate Tree chocolate bars, but decided against it as I wouldn't have been able to resist trying them and that would have spoiled me for my imminent dinner. We were sat inside the main shop area, and there is also outside area where you can have your drinks. Maybe not so much in winter, but nice during the 'summer'. It was a quick visit as we were heading off for dinner, but I would definitely like to return to Vino, for a more leisurely visit (you could while away many hours here) and to browse their wide range of spirits and craft beers. And obviously wines. Cool place, and the main man was just brilliant, very welcoming,

    Angels with Bagpipes - Chicken with artichoke and garlic

    Angels with Bagpipes

    4.4(135 reviews)
    0.4 miOld Town, Royal Mile
    £££

    We are here tonight on our first night in Edinburgh and loved it. I actually messed up a…read morereservation somewhere else (Not used to seeing two times on a reservation.) and we came upon Angels with Bagpipes. After the other restaurant (named for the Devil, oddly enough) was ridiculously rude, but the staff at Angels with Bagpipes was wonderful! The drinks were great, the food was incredible and probably the best meal we've had the entire time in the UK. We had a crab appetizer and bread. Then for the main course the kids both had the filet, I had the chicken dish and my husband had a carrot risotto. I almost never eat chicken out at a restaurant but this was so tender! Everything on the plate went together very well. My husband loved his risotto too and I agree it was delicious. I hope you can make a trip to this restaurant when visiting Edinburgh. Truly angels in the kitchen and with the staff.

    Given that this place is in an extremely touristy part of town, surrounded by souvenir shops and…read morefamous landmarks, you kind of have to appreciate the effort they put into their food presentation and service. Most places survive on knowing they can serve terrible food and still bring in the tourist crowd. These guys are serving up some healthy and hearty cuisine with a nod to their Scottish roots, but with a more sophisticated take. Everything packs amazing flavour. I came in just a few minutes after they opened for lunch, so snagging a seat was easy; however it filled up in record time, so reservations are highly recommended. The menu offers everything from light seafood salads to hearty steak dishes, to a few veggies options that leave nothing to be desired. Yes, they serve haggis, too, and I have to say, it wasn't bad, even for my first-timer's palate. They fry it up and serve it in ball form, so the taste is mild and appealing. My BBQ Lentils and Vegetables dish was beautifully presented and so tasty, I didn't miss the meat. Cocktails, wine, and beer are also available, so pick your poison.

    Photos
    Angels with Bagpipes - Their sign is adorable.

    Their sign is adorable.

    Angels with Bagpipes - Haggis with whisky gravy - SO good!

    Haggis with whisky gravy - SO good!

    Angels with Bagpipes - Battered cod was fresh and not oily at all. Scottish crab, lemon and crumpet was super fresh and delish.

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    Battered cod was fresh and not oily at all. Scottish crab, lemon and crumpet was super fresh and delish.

    Pickles of Broughton Street - Inside front room (there's a back room as well)

    Pickles of Broughton Street

    4.9(20 reviews)
    0.5 miNew Town
    ££

    We were doing our regular research, hoping to find the perfect anniversary restaurant, when we…read morestumbled upon Pickles on a map. A quick Google search later, we decided to add this to our "must visit while in Edinburgh" list. This wasn't our anniversary restaurant, of course, but we knew we needed to dine here at least once. It was a long walk from our hotel, but it was a nice way to see parts of the city that we wouldn't normally have gotten to. The restaurant itself is nestled in the basement (or downstairs) of a cute building. It's small in there, but they're very good at maximizing the space they're given. We settled in at a teeny-tiny table off to the side and swiftly ordered a couple of pints. The menu is very straightforward: you're either getting a meat and cheese plate, just a cheese plate, or pates. We decided to share the Mixed Meat & Cheese platter. We figured that we'd snack and drink some Scottish beer, then head off into the night to find our "real" dinner. Thing is, though, that combo platter filled us the heck up. The waitress came out with the meat and cheese plate and a box of bread, oatcakes and crackers, and my husband and I had a "where is all this going?" moment. But our pro-waitress dropped the plate on the table and popped the bread box into a shelf on the wall next to us - a shelf that neither of us ever even noticed, to be honest. The meat and cheese selections were delicious and paired really well together. Kind of hidden away on that shelf (holding the bread and oatcakes) were a couple chutney jars. That chutney - lots of fruit pieces and complex flavors - brought a lot to the cheeses. We really did love the food, the surroundings, the beer and the staff. I wish we had something like this back home.

    Comforting environment, food and drink. It's like being in your own home, warm with friends. Staff…read moreare helpful and friendly. Enjoy yourselves.

    Photos
    Pickles of Broughton Street - Cheese platter

    Cheese platter

    Pickles of Broughton Street - The cheese board

    The cheese board

    Pickles of Broughton Street - Amazing cheese and bread and wine.

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    Amazing cheese and bread and wine.

    The Outsider

    The Outsider

    4.1(278 reviews)
    0.5 miGrassmarket, Old Town
    ££

    Such a cute place. And the view of the castle from here was amazing…read more Super helpful staff! I am a member of a flight crew and as I was eating dinner I was asked to get catering for a flight literally the next morning. I asked the manager if he could make me some take away (to-go) steaks cooked rare to be cooked further on the plane. (I'm a private flight attendant and we cook and plate everything onboard). He went out of his way to make sure I recieved all the items cooked perfectly. Passengers left raving about the food!!! And these are passengers that definitely eat the best steaks. The manager even talked me through a playing game plan and I ran my thoughts of the dishes with him and wow, perfect outcome. I personally got the coley fish dish and started with some cheese. I am a big bleu cheese/stilton girl and it was all amazing. Everything was so good I used the bread from my cheese to mop up every ounce of juice left from coley plate. Great service, great views, and incredible food. All local and ever changing menu to fit what's in market. You'll see handwritten additions to each menu like the cheese and fish. The steaks were the 35 day dry hung flat iron steaks.

    Three of us stumbled upon The Outsider while out looking for a place for dinner. It was so good we…read morewent back with 2 more friends a few nights later. Nice pleasant room with good size tables and very helpful, friendly courteous wait persons. Very good steaks, and fish, and affogato for dessert. Go to read the creative food descriptions on the menu!

    Photos
    The Outsider
    The Outsider - Flat iron steak

    Flat iron steak

    The Outsider

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    The Bon Vivant - modern_european - Updated July 2026

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