10 top Italian restaurants in Edinburgh
With hearty meals and decadent desserts, we're spotlighting the best Italian food spots
Contini George Street
103 George Street
Set in a grand vaulted space, this is Italian cooking rooted in tradition and comfort but guided by Scotland’s larder, including vegetables from the Contini kitchen garden. Dishes are restrained yet full of flavour, like Shetland mussels steamed with trebbiano white wine, or homemade ravioli with mortadella, ricotta, courgettes and pistachios.
Divino Wine Bar & Restaurant
5 Merchant Street
This atmospheric Old Town basement wine bar and restaurant serves dishes from across Italy, with an excellent wine list. Expect the likes of linguine pasta tossed with chilli, tomato and king prawns, and Puglian burrata with grilled peppers. The cosy, bottle-lined, private dining room makes it a strong choice for groups.
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Little Capo
18 Howe Street
Self-described as ‘Italian-ish’, Little Capo leans into relaxed, neighbourhood charm. Start with zucchini fritte and a white Negroni spagliato, then try the cioppino stew with hake, mussels, orzo and samphire, or there’s always the pasta of the day. The cakes are delightful too, rich with almonds and citrus; perfect with an espresso.
Locanda De Gusti
102 Dalry Road
Rustic southern Italian cooking is the focus here, with Neapolitan influences at its heart. Daily-changing specials showcase fresh fish and handmade pasta. Family-run warmth comes through in every detail, from sweet Sicilian peppers to deeply flavoured vegetable ragù and a sense of generosity that keeps regulars returning.
Radicibus
2 Deanhaugh Street
A sleek yet intimate basement restaurant that brings a fine-dining edge to Italian cooking, drawing heavily on Scotland’s wild ingredients. Game, foraged mushrooms and seafood feature across both tasting and à la carte menus, supported by a carefully chosen list of artisanal Italian wines.
Tipo
110 Hanover Street
Tipo blends the ease of an elegant small-plates spot with confident Italian cooking. Generous and gently rustic, it’s known for dishes like strozzapreti with Calabrian sausage and zeppole, where fried dough strips are buried under a generous mountain of pecorino. The set lunch is excellent value: focaccia, a snacky small plate, pasta then tiramisu or soft serve ice-cream.
Also try… elegant Sotto in Stockbridge, the cosy back room at long-established Domenico’s in Leith, Patatino at The Hoxton or, for plant-based Italian, try Sora Diana on Causewayside.
This TipList is taken from Eat & Drink 365, our sister mag recommending the best in restaurants, bars, cafés and more across Edinburgh. Want a copy? It’s available online or across all good stockists in Scotland’s capital.