The Bon Vivant

The Bon Vivant, Edinburgh: Quick Verdict

55 Thistle Street puts The Bon Vivant squarely in Edinburgh's New Town, one of the more concentrated pockets of good drinking in the city. The venue sits in a category of Edinburgh bars that does cocktails and food together, which means the crowd tends to skew older than a straight cocktail bar and more relaxed than a restaurant. If you are looking for somewhere that works for a date, a low-key celebration, or a long evening that moves from drinks to small plates without requiring a plan, this is a sensible pick. Booking difficulty is rated Easy, which matters: you are not fighting for a table the way you would at Bramble or competing for walk-in slots at a tightly seated bar.

Atmosphere and Who Goes Here

The Bon Vivant draws a mixed but generally adult crowd: professionals finishing the week, couples on dates, small groups who want food alongside their drinks. Thistle Street itself is quieter than George Street or the Royal Mile, which keeps the energy at a level where you can actually hold a conversation. For a special occasion, that matters more than most listings will tell you. A loud, crowded room is fine for a big birthday, but if the occasion is a first date or a dinner where the conversation is the point, a venue where you are not shouting is worth selecting for. The Bon Vivant fits that profile in the current season, when Edinburgh's post-work bar scene fills up quickly on Thursdays and Fridays — arriving early or booking ahead removes the risk of standing.

Is It Worth Booking?

For Edinburgh, yes — with the right expectations. This is not a destination bar in the way that Bramble or Panda and Sons are destinations, where the cocktail program itself is the reason to go. The Bon Vivant is better understood as a reliable, well-rounded venue that handles the food-and-drinks combination competently and provides a comfortable room for occasions that need both. If you are visiting Edinburgh and want one bar on the list that works for a date night or a relaxed celebratory dinner without a complicated booking process, this earns its place. For a wider sense of where it fits among Edinburgh's bars, see our full Edinburgh bars guide.

Practical Details

Address: 55 Thistle St, Edinburgh EH2 1DY. Reservations: Easy to secure, booking ahead is recommended for weekend evenings but not essential mid-week. Dress: Smart casual is the norm for the crowd here; no formal dress code expected. Good for: Dates, small celebrations, couples, pairs and groups of up to four or five. Getting there: Central New Town location, walkable from Princes Street and the main Edinburgh Waverley rail connections. For broader context on where to stay nearby, see our Edinburgh hotels guide or consider 24 Royal Terrace Hotel if you want accommodation with a bar on-site.

How It Compares

See the comparison section below for how The Bon Vivant stacks up against Bramble, Panda and Sons, and other Edinburgh peers.

For further exploration: Edinburgh experiences guide | Edinburgh wineries guide | Internationally, comparable cocktail-bar-dining formats worth knowing include 69 Colebrooke Row in London, Bar Kismet in Halifax, and Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu.