Must try Italian restaurants in Edinburgh

The ever-expanding Vittoria Group has become part of Edinburgh’s culinary landscape. Owned and run by three generations of the Croalla family, who have a wonderful city deli alongside multiple eateries, its first venture was an eatery on Leith Walk back in 1970. Open for lunch, brunch and dinner, Vittoria on the Bridge is perched in the buzzing Old Town. Incredibly versatile, it’s a go-to spot for families, as children receive a warm Italian welcome and their own menus here. But it’s also popular for date nights and with groups (private parties for 20-plus are ably catered for in a downstairs function room), not least as it represents very good value. You’ll be hard-pressed to find an Edinburger who hasn’t eaten here at some time or another. The menus are expansive with all the favourites and vegan diners have plenty of options too. And don’t miss the delicious cocktails, containing limoncello, amaretto and fruity Sicilian tonics.

Sommelier Giovanni Petitto and Chef Mara Allevi chose the word for ‘root of a plant’ in Latin, as the title for this independent restaurant. As such, it reflects a personal attachment to their culinary roots, in Marche, central Italy. Radicibus showcases the region’s techniques and ingredients, bringing its culture directly to patron’s plates. Mara makes pasta by hand, while Giovanni curates a unique selection of artisan wines. Five and seven-course tasting menus are available, with vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free options prepared on request. Cocoa ravioli stuffed with truffle and porcini, rainbow chard polenta and cremino all’ascolana, are just some of the delights coming from the kitchen. With just seven tables you can expect a sophisticated, intimate atmosphere, as well as the need to book in advance.

This is the place for those seeking a big selection of wines and whiskies to enjoy over a small plate or sharing platter. It’s for this reason that this is such a popular setting for city-centre office workers to gather come 5pm. Seafood is the main food event at Ecco Vino, with larger plates and desserts also available for hungrier diners. The aromas of potted crab, wild king prawns, pan-fried scallops and Shetland mussels infused with garlic and butter, enticingly fill the nostrils of passers-by on Cockburn Street. Added to this, the venue is deeply stylish, with a dark wood interior, complemented by burnt orange banquette seating and a sprinkling of outdoor chairs and tables in temperate seasons. And even if you’re not feeling peckish, it’s a super pit-stop for a decadent mid-morning liquor coffee as you catch up with friends.

Found well away from the tourist trail in the Dalry area of the city (albeit just a five-minute walk from Haymarket Station) this is a restaurant frequented almost exclusively with locals. Chef Rosario Sartore comes from a large Sicilian family (he was taught to cook by his mother and aunt) and brings authentic Napolese dishes to Locanda de Gusti. Artisan products from Italy are combined with the best meat, fish and seafood from Scotland and Rosario’s own pasta made using his gluten-free recipe. The restaurant has a relaxing vibe and a daily changing menu, reflecting seasonality. Mediterranean octopus velouté, fresh courgette flower frittata, orecchiette pasta from Puglia with slow-cooked Scottish lamb shoulder, freshly sautéed hot seafood/crustacean feast and charcoal-grilled marinated saddle of rabbit are just a few examples of what you might find on the menu here.

Featured in the Michelin Guide 2021, Mono has garnered a stellar reputation thus far in its two and a half years of life. It has a forward-thinking, progressive take on Italian cooking; a meal here is a tasting experience rather than simply lunch or dinner. Ingredients are locally sourced and foraged or imported from Italy. Beginning with an amuse-bouche, diners move through multiple courses, with optional Italian wine pairings. A vegetarian tasting experience is always available, while an a la carte selection offers options of small plates including tomato arancini, Tuscan style chicken liver pate, autumn truffle risotto, parmigiana and sharing boards. Mono’s sommelier also hosts a monthly wine club to sample its vinos, accompanied by edible tasters.