New restaurant, Vinette and cocktail bar, Vivien open in October

In October, Edinburgh chef and restaurateur Stuart Ralston, alongside co-owner Jade Johnston, will launch their newest ventures. Vinette, a Parisian bar à vin serving sharing plates and bistro-style dishes and Vivien, a cocktail bar named after poet Renée Vivien, located beneath it, will open at 36 Broughton Street, the former site of Fhior.

The menu at Vinette will focus on seasonal cooking and will celebrate artisanal Scottish producers.  Dishes will include braised duck hearts on toast with pickled green peppercorns; grilled Iberico pork chop with cider-braised onions and mustard sauce; and pig’s head croquettes with smoked paprika.

The kitchen will be headed up by Stuart’s younger brother, Calum Ralston. Front of house will be led by Elle Mackay, previously general manager of Aizle. Head sommelier, Stuart Skea, will be overseeing the wine offering, with an emphasis on wines from the ‘Old World’, as well as some from further afield. Wines will be sourced from small scale wineries, with a constantly revolving by-the-glass selection allowing for exploration. 

Vivien, downstairs, will offer bar snacks such as potato mille-feuille beurre blanc and Ortiz anchovies with lemon butter, as well as cocktails.

The new openings will be an addition to Stuart’s portfolio of restaurants, now named the Aizle Hospitality Group, which includes Michelin-starred Lyla, as well as Noto and Tipo:

“After closing Aizle, it felt important to mark a new chapter,” said Stuart:

 “Vinette and Vivien are about creating spaces that feel warm, social and a little indulgent. This feels like the group’s natural next project, but with the same commitment to quality we’ve always had.”

www.vinette.co.uk 

Rendering: Scarinish Studio