The Bon Vivant in Edinburgh, City of

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.

Nice place for a quick bite and wine. Very expansive wine selection.

Nice Sunday roast, I had the lamb. It was very flavourful. Atmosphere was relaxed and service on pointm

Delicious food and great service. The Cullen skink, truffle fries and the risotto were great. And the beer was on point too.

Visited this evening. A most excellent experience. Food was delicious; perfect portion size and cooked to perfection. Staff were friendly too. Haggis bon bons were yummy. Steak was medium rare and juicy. Caramelised carrots are not to be missed.

First trip to Edinburgh and to The Bon Vivant which was on our to-do list after watching a review on YouTube. Didn't disappoint, like a little corner of Paris in the UK. Atmosphere was wonderful, staff were informed, attentive but not intrusive and the food and drinks were sublime. Loved Edinburgh, can't wait to return and have a second helping of this lovely restaurant. Perfect.

Le Bon Vivant failed to live up to expectations. The instrumental jazz soundtrack was overpowering for a Sunday lunch setting as the restaurant was lively and buzzy anyway. Our Sunday roast mains took an hour to come out from the kitchen which given the restricted menu and standardised sides was way too slow. The cod was very nice but the pork belly was dry as if it had been overcooked. Our servers for food and drink were very helpfull and attentive but possibly let down by elements outwith their control. I would give it another go to see if our experience was a one off because its a cool little place and I'm sure can do better.

Love this place. Great atmosphere, great food, great cocktails.

2nd visit. A firm favourite restaurant in Edinburgh. Again, absolutely super food and warm service. Such a lovely relaxed atmosphere. We'll be back.

A great time in a great restaurant, a little expensive but worth the detour, the staff is very friendly To do

Food was great, as was the service, only down side was that it was a bit loud, but I guess that all helps with the atmosphere. Awesome food, highly recommended

Nice place, lovely staff, a little expensive

Found by accident great staff cracking atmosphere

Amazing feel, delicious food and great drinks. A must for any visit to Edinburgh.

Really lovely, friendly staff. Came with my French boyfriend and his family. They said it was the highlight of their trip to Edinburgh...food was incredible!

Food was great and lovely attentive staff!

The place is located at a nice lovely location, they serve some good food starters and mains, the music is nice and the ambience quaint and lovely, the drunks great with a lovely selection of spirits and beers. but what makes this place special is its staff. Sooo friendly, attentive, courteous and just all round amazing.. the place is lovely for big groups or for friends/ families (above 18) or even just on your date night.. great cosy setup with candles make it a cracking evening

Lovely atmosphere, staff were fantastic and very attentive. The steak was sublime! Thank you

Pleasant dinner. Great place. Cordial atmosphere.

Distressing night at an overrated restaurant. Unspeakable behaviour commited by staff. I had ordered a table for three, but was given a table for two right next to a wash room. When prompted to solve the situation, staff was hesitant and blamed us for having booked for two and «suddenly we had become three». Waiter was snappy and rude about it. We were sent to the bar to wait for another table, but in the end agreed we’d start at the table by the wash room until another one was made available. Instead of giving us a new table, staff dragged another small table next to us closer, creating an awkward seating for three. Weird, given that a table for four was free while this was happening! At no point did the staff try to amend for the situation. At least a drink om the house could’ve made us feel serviced rather than rejected. Ultimately, food was good when it finally arrived, but sparse. Very disappointing given the positive reviews this place has gotten. We were also served random potatoes. We had not ordered these, and they subsequently were taken away. Hoping the potatoes could have been an attempt at amends, it turned out to be another mishap. Tipping point, I’d say. When asked to remove service fee from the bill, the waiter was annoyed. All in all, abominable experience.

Really good food and service 👍🏽

The vibe is vibrant and buzzing but with a candlelit dinner section too. The food was excellent, really great quality! Our servers were also great, lovely and attentive. Highly recommend if you don’t mind the buzz (we went on a friday night)!

Excellent place! The bites can be shared and give you a very diverse and very tasty start into the dinner. Seating could be improved, but other than that i was absolutely amazing!

Amazing food and good service. We went on a Friday evening and it was very loud so difficult to have a conversation - a combination of the music and a crowded bar area .

Fabulous food, atmosphere and service. Don’t hesitate - just go!

Delicious Sunday roast! And the atmosphere is very cozy and beautiful!

A gem of a restaurant in Central Edinburgh, it was highly recommended to us and it so delivered, the menu felt curated and the food was of the highest quality, service was attentive and friendly and the atmosphere in the evening was boutiquefeel, warm and special

Tolles Restaurant. Mega gutes Essen und zuvorkommende Bedienung. Wir können es nur weiterempfehlen. Das Restaurant ist sehr gefragt. Wir haben online einen Tisch reserviert und es hat alles super geklappt.

This place is amazing! From the lovely surroundings, the friendly attentive staff and the outstanding food. We had the smoked salmon to start and beef picanha for main, delicious! It was my first visit, but I'll definitely be back and I'll telling all my friends!! ❤️

Pre Christmas lunch. Great time. Fabulous place to eat, drink and be merry. Well done The BV.

My favourite bar in Edinburgh City centre. Bar staff are really knowledgeable and the cocktails are all so good.

Great place, came highly recommended. My partner said: “best plate of food I’ve had in a while”. The haggis Bon bons were great and our sever was so lovely! We asked for some mocktails and she asked what we normally like and came back with some fabulous drinks! 10/10 would go again!

Nos encantó el lugar. Comida escocesa, en un ambiente muy bistrot. Muchos wiskys, yo me dejé aconsejar y me gustó mucho. Mención al postre: la pannacotta de 10. buena relación calidad precio.

Quaint little spot for NYE. It is part of a larger chain of restaurants in Edinburgh that I’ve found are all delightful!

Cuisine excellente,serveuse très sympa et professionnel, très bon vin Une très belle découverte dans Édimbourg, Bravo au chef et à l équipe

Having travelled all the way from Australia we really wanted an immersive experience for NYE. The Bon Vivant did not disappoint. The atmosphere, food and next level table service made it a night to remember. Thoroughly recommend as a must do for anyone visiting (or living) in Edinburgh. Scott and Louise

We found a lovely and warm atmosphere with very interesting & tasty food options. We arrived only a few minutes before the kitchen was going too close, feeling very cold after hours spent outside on a cold winter day. At the beginning we didn't understand that there were objective reasons for wanting to have the orders taken soon. Instead we took our time waiting to warm up again. The waitress eventually explained to us that it was that late in the night and we adapted to the rhythm, with great satisfaction in all the following interactions. The food was rich of interesting options that mix local and European cuisine. We loved that there were both plenty of small bites and appetizers to choose from. We liked a lot the presentation of our bites, which were larger than we expected. My starter of pigeon breast was tasty but very tough. Much more than I would have breve expected. I don't have a comparison though to say whether it was normal or not. Both mains looked and tasted very good. I had 2 cocktails and both were creative and tasted very good. Service has been exceptional and always attentive to ensure there was nothing missing on our table or any empty glass getting in our way. I loved the bread they brought us when I asked some for us to mop the sauce of my main.

The place was packed, so i highly recommend making reservations. We had a few drinks and LOTS of bites. The mushroom truffle roll was my favorite. Others liked the hake fishcakes and the goat cheese tartlet. The drinks were also amazing, and picking one would be hard!

What a disappointment. The starters were the worst. £16 for 2 small scallops, one of which was cut in 2, I assume to make it look like the standard portion of 3. Over half the plate was a chopped apple salad, which made an appearance in both underwhelming deserts we got - we were bored of the apple in the salad so. To have it in both deserts was tedious. The main courses were grand. The attitude of the waiter when we expressed dissatisfaction in the starter was overly defensive and dismissive. There are good aspects to this place I think they are just overwhelmed with the Christmas period. Much better experience on quieter periods.

The staff members were so so kind.

Atmosphere, drinks, food, service all absolutely brilliant.

Great service, fab food and cosy relaxing atmosphere.

food and staff service was fantastic as always. Loved the atmosphere and stayed in bar area after our meal. The cocktails were delicious and the attention to detail by the barman with the lovely tattoos. Sorry we forgot his name. We think it’s Elliot. His wife is from Mexico. His service was first class and we really wanted to give him a special mention. When we arrived at the bar he gave us a warm welcome as he was doing with everyone.

Delicious lunch (we shared lots of the bites) and excellent service. Very reasonably priced. Couldn’t recommend enough!

Excellent spot. Great atmosphere but you must appreciate a “busy room” If you looking for a quiet, reserved restaurant this place is not it. However if like us you like good food, cracking music & a busy but friendly place then try grab a table. Loved it.

Food was delicious! Most of the dishes were good, some were not. The pigs in blankets tastes like frankfurters.. disgusting. But the broccoli tempura and the venison were great.

Très sympa mais très cher.. De plus des taxes exorbitantes sont rajoutés ! Cela a clairement entaché notre enthousiasme.

Fab place great service and good food

We had a reservation for dinner elsewhere and decided to stop for a few drinks before our meal in The Bon Vivant. Even tho we didn’t have a reservation we were accommodated on a table and made feel welcome. The drinks were delicious and I can’t recommend them enough!

The place is great with a fabulous quirky atmosphere but food was very disappointing. We had Sunday lunch which was poor - meat (pork and beef) was griddled steaks rather than a Sunday roast and the beef was too rare and chewy. Accompaniments and grave also very disappointing. Would return for drinks but not food.

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.

We had an amazing dining experience at Bon Vivant for dinner on a Saturday evening. I could not falter a single thing. Great atmosphere . Prompt service. Excellent food and cocktails in a candle-lit, intimate venue. We had a few of the small bites (mushroom and goats cheese) as well as the steak and the bass and it was all delicious. Easily our favorite meal during our time in Edinburgh. I would happily recommend for anyone looking for a great meal that is well priced for the portions and quality . Bookings essential

We had an amazing dining experience at Bon Vivant for dinner on a Saturday evening. I could not falter a single thing. Great atmosphere . Prompt service. Excellent food and cocktails in a candle-lit, intimate venue. We had a few of the small bites (mushroom and goats cheese) as well as the steak and the bass and it was all delicious. Easily our favorite meal during our time in Edinburgh. I would 100% recommend for anyone looking for a great meal that is well priced and only a stones through from Old town.

While we probably weren’t the only tourists, this place had a busy buzz of locals. The dishes were all well made and had touches of gourmet to them. Chocolate raspberry crème brûlée was an inspiration. We thought it was reasonably priced for the level of quality in the plates. All in all a good choice for a top line Edinburgh restaurant.

The Bon Vivant instantly transported us to the vibes of Paris! Finding bars open on a Monday is a challenge, but this gem welcomed us. From the charming decor to the extensive drink options, it was a fantastic discovery. Each drink I ordered was a delight, and the prices were reasonable. 🍸✨

These guys have the classic cocktails mastered. A great Paper Plane (on the menu) and perfect version of The Last Word (off the menu). Don't miss this place.

Good food! Enough options in order to cover every need. Got a mescal cocktail which was great. The place a bit too hot so keep that in mind.

I visited here about a year or so ago now but I still remember how amazing it was! The venison spring rolls they did were to die for! It was great service too and had a really cosy atmosphere. I'll definitely be back on my next trip to Edinburgh :)

Absolutely lovely setting. Fantastic staff and great food. Not a fan of the tankard glasses though but that's a very minor bit of feedback.

Firstly make sure you go. Secondly make sure you book. What an absolutely amazing venue. We booked here for my fiancé's birthday and what a good move that was. The ambience is perfect. The staff are an absolute credit. All happy , helpful and attentive. I had the picanha steak which was one of the nicest melt in the mouth steaks I've had. My fiance had the Stone bass which again was beautiful to look at and taste. The deserts are a pure joy and the cocktails are pure alcohol! All in all one of the best meals we've had and will definately be returning when in Edinburgh. Thank you to all the staff.

A gem. Staff was very nice and accommodating. Our first time in Scotland and Edinburgh and was pleased with our experience dining at this restaurant!

Had lunch here with friends yesterday and it was a fantastic experience. The cocktail list had lots of interesting and unusual options and the staff were happy to advise on some of the more unfamiliar ingredients. We had a mixture of the light bites to start and all were a hit with the Haggis Bon Bons spicy and full of flavour. The Picanha steak main was genuinely the best cooked steak I’ve had this year. The option to have some delicious wines by the carafe also worked well with 2 drinking red and 2 Rose. Sides of fries were pretty generous so if you’re not that hungry 1 would be enough between 4. The menu is quite small but we had 3 different starters and 3 different mains and everyone was equally happy. Would definitely come back.

Lovely candlelit restaurant, with very friendly and accommodating servers. We really enjoyed a mixture of small plates and side dishes. Also a great whisky selection. Would recommend to anyone visiting Edinburgh.

Very good food, standard drinks, ok vibe But what really killed our visit was the heavy stale air inside, it seems there was no ventilation at all and it was really difficult to breath and generally uncomfortable. So I'm really not inclined to visit again, at all ...

Buen sitio para comer y tomar unos whiskies.

Glass of champagne on arrival for the 2 of us a starter and main course each and I had dessert. We had a carafe of wine between us plus another glass each. Bill came to £144.00. If you're looking for a quiet dining venue this isn't for you. We love it, the food is great and the service friendly.

Absolutely fabulous Sunday roast. Staff were so so lovely and the vibes were cosy. Would highly recommend!

Love this place. Great food, great service, great cocktails.

Pro: Fab atmosphere, cheery staff, good food (although venison wasn’t as tender as would have liked). Con: House red very mundane. No Sauternes, despite being on the printed dessert list. Great experience overall, though.

A nice find! Great food, a big selection of drinks and fast service. Everything we tried was tasty and reasonably priced. Staff was polite and attentive. The only downside is that it can become quite noisy. I would visit again though!

Food is consistently first class and nowhere else quite like it in Edinburgh for the quality and atmosphere and prices that are fair. The wine choice is always interesting and well priced as is the choice of whisky. Service is as good as the food.

Dimly lit setting, great for cheese and wine. Sweet hostess and server- good place for snacks and drinks

One of the best restaurants in Edinburgh. Had a pork shoulder to die for, and so much delicious wine. Fantastic ambiance as well.

Great value for money, excellent service and relaxed atmosphere even though it looks and feels quite lux. The food was great, recommend the elderflower panda cotta

We booked a last minute table at The Bon Vivant on Sunday 10th September 2023. We had almost lost hope of finding somewhere that still had roast dinners and we’re so excited when we came across this place - and it was so good. The roast was one of the best roasts we’ve ever had - it looked, smelt and tasted amazing. It was a good portion and we are every bit. The meat would cooked perfectly. The only thing they could’ve done better was the roast potatoes - they were a little dry/not crispy. But everything else was great. The staff were very friendly and they served champagne by the glass which was exactly what we needed! The atmosphere was perfect for our date - candlelit and just enough bustling around us. Would recommend.

Delicious Scottish fare, with unique twists to suit any pallet. But the best kept secret are the cocktails and beer selection. Highly recommend

We ate here after our wedding ceremony. Atmosphere was ideal, drinks were fantastic - we had a range of cocktails, beers and wine. Nothing was too much trouble and the staff were super friendly and attentive. Ben was fantastic throughout the whole process, great at replying to my emails from booking to date of meal and it was fab we got to see him on the night too. Food was just spot on and the place matched our vibe for the day perfectly - we love it here. Wasn't our first time and definitely won't be our last.

Everyone really enjoyed the food, service superb and a perfect dining experiance.

Cosy spot with lovely staff. The food looks great and the creme brule in particular was delicious. Only thing to mention was my starter was a bit underseasoned. Regardless I'd go back!

We had the most wonderful time at The Bon Vivant, as always! Our server was so nice and really helpful, they made us feel so welcome and accommodated. The food was amazing, really creative and just delicious. And the atmosphere just can't be beat!

Beautiful place with friendly and helpful staff, highly recommended having an 'old fashioned'.

Having found that it is necessary to prebook restaurants in Edinburgh, I initially had some difficulty booking this restaurant. The online booking conditions were to proscriptive and required credit card details which I was not prepared to give. Phone booking was also not possible until 4pm - no-one on the premises before this. So we booked direct. It has more the atmosphere of a pub than a restaurant and was quite noisy with loud music but very vibrant. Not sure whether is was our late booking which caused it but our table was by the entrance to the ladies toilet and very cramped. However, the service was good and the food very good. My wife had the belly pork which she said was super tasty and very tender. I had the Hake which although very well coked, felt a bit lost with all of the other ingredients. Bites were super and we were served one each.

lovely food at a lovely place with a lovely staff. A perfect Evening.

Great hideaway European low key style bistro, Perfect for a special but cosy occasion. Booking advised

We had some minor issues with our food but the way the service staff dealt with the situation was spotless and made our dinner great.

Really nice vibe at this little gem on Thistle Street😀

Came in for some cocktails and were greeted with brilliant service and amazing drinks - would return here on every trip to Edinburgh

Very cozy little spot away from the hussle and bustle of Princess St Edinburgh but still an easy walk from Waverley. Very interesting menu too, not the usual menu every other place have. Worthwhile a try for food and drinks.

Wonderful evening & definitely a new favourite for us to visit. The food was delicious & so flavoursome. The staff were helpful & knowledgeable. Great atmosphere

Fantastic experience, amazing atmosphere, attentive and knowledgeable staff and food that had us sharing!!! Not normal for us! We were running massively late and they very kindly kept the table for 15 minutes and yet we were still not made to feel rushed. The restaurant was buzzing and the low humming of chatting tables added to the experience. No complaints, no issues and will be back when we are next in Edinburgh!!

I accidentally came across this place ... inside there is a very pleasant atmosphere .. cozy tables lit by candles. I was very tired and special thanks to the waiter Simeon - he was very attentive and responsive. On his recommendation, I ordered a medium rare steak with anchovy sauce and dessert. It was delicious!!!! Highly recommend this restaurant: relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff, and Delicious food.

I accidentally came across this place ... inside there is a very pleasant atmosphere .. cozy tables lit by candles. I was very tired and special thanks to the waiter Simeon - he was very attentive and responsive. On his recommendation, I ordered a medium rare steak with anchovy sauce and dessert. It was delicious!!!! Highly recommend this restaurant: relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff, and Delicious food.

I had dinner here last night and it was great! Both the food and service were hard to fault.

Food was really excellent, service exemplary, only downside was a table of particularly loud undesirables three tables away . No fault of the restaurant but did slightly spoil the occasion

Brilliant roast, the beef was beautiful! 4stars as it was a bit expensive, the portions were on the smaller side and the food wasn’t the warmest but thoroughly enjoyed it regardless, great staff!

One of the highlights of our Fringe weekend. Easily in my top 3 roasts of all time. Attentive staff, relaxed atmosphere and beautiful food. We enjoyed the pork and beef, followed by the creme brûlée and caramel cake. I’m still full the next morning because we couldn’t leave a bite. We’ll be back!

Love this bar. It has a fantastic wine list, very cosy ambience and great service. Have been a few times and it is consistently excellent. Would recommend!

We hebben hier fantastisch gegeten.Lokaal voedsel uitmuntend bereid. Voorgerecht, hoofdgerecht en dessert. Met daarbij ook nog een hele vriendelijke bediening.

We didn't eat here but the menu and food looked good. We only popped in for drinks. Ordered cocktails and waited 40 minutes for them. They weren't even the best. Might go back to try the food but wouldn't recommend if you just want drinks.

I emphatically recommend this bar/restaurant. My husband and I dined here on our very first night in Scotland, and I couldn't be happier that I'd reserved a table here. From the moment we walked in, it was clear that we would have a lovely evening. The appetizers and entrees were deliciously and appetizingly prepared, the beer and wine offerings were very complementary, and the dessert was scrumptious. Our waitress/hostess/manager, Emily, was a pure delight; she couldn't have been kinder, friendlier, or more helpful. She even called a cab for us, as we were having difficulty calling from our US cell phones. Do yourselves a favor, and dine here.