6 January 2026
Lowri Rennick
A gourmet French cafe has opened on Campo Lane in Sheffield, promising Michelin grade small plates, gourmet deli, wine tastings, cooking classes, and much more.
Zara and Pierre met in the French Alps and ‘bonded over a shared love of good food, great wine, and life’s simple pleasures’.
Now they are married and have brought their skills across the channel and back to Yorkshire, where they have opened Aux Bon Vivant.
Zara said: “Aux Bon Vivant means to enjoy the pleasures in life.”
With cuisine from Michelin star chef Pierre, carefully sourced (primarily French) wines, and quality British produce from independent businesses, there is certainly no shortage of pleasure to be had in their establishment.
Their hearty, tapas style dishes are known as ‘l’apéro dînatoire’ in France, and will include charcuterie, meats, cheeses, and other traditional French foods.
In the New Year, Pierre hopes to run a nine course wine tasting one night each week, which will be paired with their many delicious small plates.
Much of their wine will also come from independent UK suppliers, and they plan to invite the wine makers to direct and teach during some of their tastings.
Zara added: “The space is quite large and open – it’s really nice. We’d like to have something with live music eventually, and we plan to do an opening event around January.”
Live music is surely Sheffield’s love language and, along with their proposition to also include some European beer tastings for those less inclined to wine, it seems they know the way to the people’s hearts, Frenchman and Yorkshireman alike.
Their final gift to the community will be Pierre’s cooking classes, which will bring people together through the most global language of them all: food.
Zara finished by saying: “It’s a massive thing in French culture that, even though the presentation is beautiful, taste is key. You add the real ingredients.”
Head down to Campo Lane to ‘enjoy the pleasures in life’ with Zara and Pierre.
@auxbonvivant
Dining and Cooking