If you love Italian food, you’ll find much more than pizza in Edinburgh. From rustic plates of pasta to special-occasion dinners, there are family-run restaurants, small delis and places to sit down and enjoy pasta, fish or a great dessert.
Here is our selection of five Italian restaurants in Edinburgh, from Dalry and Bruntsfield to Marchmont and the Leith Walk area.
1. Locanda De Gusti
102 Dalry Road, Edinburgh EH11 2DW
A restaurant specialising in Neapolitan and southern Italian cooking. Don’t expect a modern, sophisticated place, but a family-run, traditional Italian restaurant where you’ll eat as if you were in Italy.
Everything is delicious, but fish and seafood are two of its specialities, along with fresh pasta and excellent desserts. It is popular with locals and visitors alike, so booking is essential.
2. Osteria del Tempo Perso
208 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh EH10 4DE
One of the best Italian restaurants in Edinburgh, known for its mastery of traditional Italian cooking and its award-winning wine list.
It’s a beautiful, carefully decorated and very cosy restaurant, ideal for a special occasion.
The food is sensational and the desserts are very good: if you like tiramisu, don’t miss it. And, as any good Italian restaurant, it serves some of the best coffee in Edinburgh.
Check the current menu and any lunchtime offers before booking, as they may not be available every weekday.
3. Gaia
32 Crighton Place, Edinburgh EH7 4NY
Gaia is one of those small family-run places where what really matters is the quality of the produce.
Pasta dishes, homemade soups and excellent sandwiches. It isn’t in the centre, but if you fancy well-made, homemade Italian food, it’s worth the walk. And, of course, the coffee is great.
4. Polentoni
38 Easter Road, Edinburgh EH7 5RG
Polentoni is a small Italian café and deli on Easter Road, more informal than a restaurant for a long dinner, offering specialities from northern Italian cooking.
It’s especially good for breakfast or lunch if you are around Abbeyhill or Leith Walk, with fresh, good-quality produce. Check the opening hours before you go, especially if you are hoping to have dinner there.
5. Café Artista
94-96 Marchmont Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 1HD
As well as pizzas, this simple, family-friendly restaurant near the Meadows, in lovely Marchmont, serves some of the best Italian dishes in Edinburgh, made with top-quality ingredients.
Try their spectacular risottos, a real treat, especially in autumn, when you may find them made with porcini mushrooms.
And their pizzas are among the best in Edinburgh. See more in our guide to the best pizza in Edinburgh.
