The Bon Vivant is a bar and restaurant on Thistle Street in Edinburgh’s New Town. Opened in 2008, it was conceived in the spirit of continental venues where serious food and drink are enjoyed without rigid formality. The low lit, intimate room suits a quick glass, several small plates or a complete evening meal.
The food philosophy is simple, carefully executed cooking built around flavour and good produce. Smaller portions encourage diners to order with thought and combine contrasting dishes rather than commit immediately to one large main. Seasonal lunch choices can include steak and fries, fried fish or a vegetable dish, while the wider menu changes with ingredients and the kitchen’s ideas.
Fresh preparation gives the concise selection its character, and meat, seafood and vegetables all receive equal attention when they are in season. The format works well for sharing but also allows one diner to build a personal sequence. Dietary requirements should be discussed in advance because the kitchen cannot guarantee that trace allergens are absent.
Drinks are a defining strength, with Champagne, still and orange wine, cocktails, beer, cider, aperitifs, digestifs and a broad whisky selection. Bartender recommendations help connect a glass to the food or turn the visit into a drinks led occasion. The Bon Vivant succeeds by treating the bar and kitchen as parts of the same thoughtful, informal experience.
Address: 55 Thistle Street, Edinburgh EH2 1DY, United Kingdom
The Bon Vivant Menu
Bites
Confit rabbit
tomato, capers, parsley, crispy cracker
Hash brown
truffle mayo
Smoked aubergine purée
confit cherry tomato, toasted focaccia
Ox cheek terrine
mustard mayo, pickled red onions
Salmon tartare
horseradish, aioli, tapioca crisp
Fried chicken thigh
chipotle & pepper ketchup
Boards
Cheese & charcuterie board
A daily Chef’s selection of charcuterie meats & cheeses served with house pickles, olives & cornichons, sourdough, oatcakes, crackers, oil, balsamic, whipped butter
Starters
Cured mackerel
crispy rice, daikon, herb oil
Haggis cigars
whisky sauce, pickled turnip
Heritage tomato salad
burrata, crispy bread
Mains
Crispy lamb breast
lamb shank spring roll, green yoghurt, pickled red cabbage
Pork neck
chimichurri, green apple, mustard
Scottish ribeye steak
black garlic mash, charred hispi cabbage, bone marrow jus
Confit hake
sweet potato curry, grilled baby corn, coriander oil
Cherry tomato risotto
buffalo mozzarella, pine nuts, basil
Sides
Hand-cut chips
Truffle & parmesan chips
Charred hispi cabbage
lemon, sumac, pomegranate
Salt baked baby potatoes
garlic aioli
Tenderstem broccoli
chimichurri
House salad
Desserts
Pistachio crème brûlée
shortbread
Strawberry Eton mess
Chocolate & popcorn crémeux
raspberry sorbet
Selection of artisan cheeses
chutney, oatcakes
Sunday Roast Mains
All served with traditional trimmings
Roast Scottish rump cap
Roast Scottish pork belly
Roast Scottish lamb shoulder
Seasonal vegetable wellington
Fish of the day
bisque
Weekday Lunch Set Menu
2 course £19, Wednesday – Friday. Supplements: Crispy lamb breast +£6, Scottish rib-eye steak +£15.
Heritage tomato salad
basil
Haggis cigar
whisky sauce, pickled turnip
Smoked salmon
crème fraiche, dill, sourdough
Cured mackerel
tabbouleh, daikon, lemon, sumac, pomegranate
Pork schnitzel
tenderstem broccoli, salt baked baby potatoes, aioli
Tagliatelle
cherry tomato sauce, burrata, basil
Crispy lamb breast
lamb shank spring roll, green yoghurt, pickled red cabbage
Scottish rib-eye steak
black garlic mash, charred hispi cabbage, bone marrow jus
Pistachio crème brulee
shortbread
Strawberry eton mess
Chocolate & Popcorn crémeux
raspberry sorbet
Digestifs
Pedro Ximénez
Colosia – Jerez – Spain – 16%
Reserve Tawny
Port of Leith with Martha’s Family Wines – Douro Valley – Portugal – 19%
Late Bottled Vintage
Delaforce – Douro Valley – Portugal – 20%
‘Garonnelles’ Sauternes
Lucien Lurton et Fils – Bordeaux – France – 2020 – 12.5%
Champagne & Sparkling Wine
Glass & Bottle
Gobillard Brut Tradition
Joseph Perrier Brut
Taittinger Brut Réserve
Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut
White Wine
Glass, Carafe & Bottle
Vinho Verde ‘Vale do Homem Branco’
Quintas do Homem; Minho, Portugal
Rioja Blanco ‘Valdepalacios’
Bodegas Leza Garcia; Rioja, Spain
Zibibbo
Tenute Orestiadi; Sicily, Italy
Riesling ‘Hills & Valleys’
Pikes; South Australia
Red Wine
Glass, Carafe & Bottle
Nero D’avola
Canapi; Sicily, Italy
Sangiovese – Cabernet Sauvignon – Merlot ‘Toscana’
Monte Antico; Tuscany, Italy
Pinot Noir
Domaine Jean Perrier et Fils; Savoie, France
Syrah – Carignan ‘Faugères Rouge’
Mas Olivier; Languedoc, France
Coravin White Wine
Glass & Bottle. A Coravin ensures you’ll experience the wine just as the winemaker intended. By employing argon, an inert gas, to replace the internal air in the bottle, it perfectly preserves the freshness and flavour.
Pinot Gris ‘Katz’
Domaine Klur; Alsace, France
Grüner Veltliner ‘Pulp Fiction’
Erich Machherndl; Wachau, Austria
Cortese ‘Gavi di Gavi’
Ascheri; Piemonte, Italy
Chardonnay
Bogle Vineyards; California, USA
Coravin Red Wine
Glass & Bottle. A Coravin ensures you’ll experience the wine just as the winemaker intended. By employing argon, an inert gas, to replace the internal air in the bottle, it perfectly preserves the freshness and flavour.
Mazuelo ‘Ulterior Mazuelo Parcela No.4 Organic’
Bodegas Verum; Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Merlot
Château Dubard Bel-Air; Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France
Pinot Noir
Nuiton Beaunoy; Bourgogne Côte d’Or, France
Grenache – Syrah – Mourvedre ‘Gigondas’
Domaine du Grand Montmirail; Southern Rhône, France
Beer
Draught, Bottles & Cans
Birra Moretti
Pale Lager – Italy – ABV 4.6%
Beavertown ‘Neck Oil’
Session IPA – London, England – ABV 4.3%
Guinness
Stout – Dublin, Ireland – ABV 4.1%
Cocktails & Mixed Drinks
A range of original cocktails and some curious classics. If you would like another classic cocktail that is not listed below, please ask your server and we’ll be happy to mix it up.
Kalahari Refresh
Grey Goose, Barsol Pisco, St-Germain, Lime, Watermelon; Shaken – Nick & Nora – Watermelon Belt
Tesoro
Ilegal Joven, Grand Marnier, Amaro di Angostura, Tepache; Stirred – Rocks – Pineapple Frond
Diavola
Casamigos Blanco, Hot Honey, Lime, Grapefruit Soda; Shaken – Highball – Grapefruit