“Living in Berlin has turned me into a veggie eater and that’s great,” I found myself telling a friend in Asia over Facetime. Her face had an expression of what can only be described as ‘utter disbelief’ but also, a little proud of me. I was, after all, a strictly-meat-and-all-the-other-yummy-things type of woman. Greens and anything connected to a plant hardly made the cut while I was growing up. Thankfully, almost three years of living here have now changed that. An invitation to cocktail bistro and vegetarian restaurant Bonvivant was something I said yes to right away. And I swear, it wasn’t just because of the cocktails.
Come on in
If you’re a Berliner, you’ve probably seen its ultra-chic interior popping up on your Instagram feed. Everyone’s been dropping by and posting photos of the place. After all, it’s got that warm, cosy feel while being social media perfect.
The forest green walls and marbled tables, the pastel pink chairs and golden accents – everything is just too pretty. For bigger groups, a tastefully decorated backroom is available with a round table and a lazy susan. Lush plants adorn certain corners without making it feel too cluttered and that you’re dining in a jungle.
The exterior of the building where Bonvivant is located is also equally as lovely. Beautifully tiled, the façade will remind you of gorgeous, art deco times. The whole place is actually protected by a heritage conservation association and the owners of the restaurant had to be very careful during the renovation.
Of course, a restaurant is more than its ambience. However, I believe it does have a huge correlation to how you will perceive your food and enjoy your time in the establishment. But let’s get on the food part.
Vegetarian doesn’t have to be boring
If you’re not big on vegetables, the best way to get into liking them is finding a good, tasty dish. Something that won’t turn you off or make you feel like you’re going against the best thing about eating: Savouring flavours.
Most of us grew up thinking veggies are bland and they don’t taste as good as meat. When done properly and with the right ingredients and flavours, a vegetarian dish can be just as good. Took me a while to accept that but here I am.
Ottmar Pohl-Hoffbauer, the man behind the menu, is known for being an organic chef and a member of Germany’s Slow Food Chef alliance. He has mastered the creation of dishes that aren’t only good for you, they’re better for the planet and taste amazing too.
My favourite was a broccoli dish served with gnocchi, almonds, chanterelle mushrooms, lemon, almonds, and thyme. It packs a lot of umami and crunch, making it such a joy to devour. And by devour, I meant it was gone in minutes. Maybe I could have asked for a second helping? I did not. The Asian half of me was too shy and I knew that there were other dishes to try. It would have been an amateur move to get full because of one dish during a food review. We’re professionals here.
Oven-roasted carrots sound rather simple and normcore. However, at Bonvivant, they get an upgrade. Served with sweet potato mousse, yoghurt, and quinoa, it’s a refreshing dish that you’d expect to be easy but is rather complex on the tongue.
They have sourdough bread from Brot ist Gold to tide you over while waiting for your main dishes. They come with dips which got me excited. A warm, hearty soup is also in the menu for the colder evenings we’re now starting to get in Berlin. Slightly filling, delightfully savoury. Autumn has fully descended and good soup is of utmost importance.
Another thing to look forward to when visiting Bonvivant is an appetiser featuring Charantaise melons, kimchi, shiitake mushrooms, and some greens. The dish is flavoured with soy, ginger, and some lime which complement the spiciness of the kimchi so well.
Bonvivant’s cocktails are the major draw
Organic and vegetarian food should complement the drinks. So, yes – in case you were wondering. The drinks are also as organic and as vegetarian as the food. That doesn’t make them any less potent, believe me.
Of course, we couldn’t expect anything less knowing that it’s award-winning mixologist Yvonne Rahm who created the drinks for the restaurant.
It’s a place that prides itself for their cocktails and rightfully so. Four drinks into the night, I found that my favourites are the tequila-based Palömchen and the photogenic Blue 81. No guilt feeling over the alcohol consumption that night knowing that the Blue 81 also has some spirulina inside. If you’re going to be a hedonist, might as well make it healthy every now and then.
Know before you go
If you intend to take photographs of the place, it’s best to drop by when there’s still a bit of light to really appreciate the interior. I love the mood lighting inside as it makes the place extra warm and cosy. However, your camera won’t be able to give it justice.
The restaurant is a two-minute walk from the famous Winterfeldplatz market. It runs on Wednesdays (0800-1400) and Saturdays (0800-1600). Great spot to score fresh produce and handmade gifts. The market closes two hours before Bonvivant opens on Saturdays. However, that just gives you enough time to walk around and explore Schoöneberg before going for dinner and drinks.
Bonvivant
Goltzstrasse 32 10781 Berlin
Open daily, 1800-0100
Visit their website
Table reservations
**I was a guest at Bonvivant but that does not – in any way – affect my review and opinions expressed in this article.
**Photos taken by Caitlin Collins and provided by Bonvivant.
