Bon Vivants and Bon Voyage

Remember that cruise we took recently and ventured off on our own to try one of North America's top 50 ranked bars? This post is dedicated to them, Bon Vivants - Nassau, new addition to the list coming in at number 50. Bon vivant is a French expression for an individual who enjoys the good things in life, and more specifically good food and drink. That's exactly what you get when setting foot into this place. They have some patio space just before going inside where people can sit and be served, but inside is absolutely the best. The decor was amazing and cozy. The place is not very big, but it is typical of what you expect for a local cafe/bar size. Patrons were steadily coming in and out and this was during midday. We later saw online that in the evenings, it can get really busy and entertaining. I would love to be around during that time. The staff was also friendly and gave us plenty of time to enjoy our drinks before taking our next order.

While my mouth was set on enjoying the guava strudel, we found out that it was already sold out for the day. We instead tried a few savory items from the menu just to hold us over; the chicken empanadas and a beef patty. Both are supplied by other local establishments. They were good! The crust on the beef patty was flaky and light. It had been toasted to perfection. The chicken empanadas were so flavorful and the dipping sauce was a perfect kick. I enjoyed a Beetroot latte w/ oat milk which was nice and unique. I enjoyed this warm and it reminded me of something along the lines of matcha. Not too sweet and a bit on the earthier or more muted side of things.

For regular spirited beverages, we went for the Gully Creeper Milk Punch and the Skankin' Sweet to start. These were followed by a classic Dirty Martini (but mini!), a Shibuya Highball, the Maize & Sol, and finally the Funky Nassau. I am going to link the menu for you to check out because the drinks were so amazing and just as they were listed. The flavor profiles just worked. When we tried the Maize & Sol, I was immediately reminded of a drink from another top bar we went to in New York, Overstory, and found out from the lady serving us that it was indeed inspired by them! The owners did a lot of traveling to curate their menu with specialty crafted cocktails inspired by their journey.

I would definitely return here for the vibe and work our way through more of the menu. The typical cafe options were numerous, they had a list of mocktails, and the prices were great! I hope this place is around for many years to come!