Café Marina

(2)

Café Marina

61 Cockburn Street

Edinburgh, EH1 1BS

Phone: 0131 622 7447

amend this address

Find hotels nearby

Food served: Mon–Sat 8am–5pm; Sun 9.30am–4.30pm. [Extended in summer]
Delivery: ask for details
Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Children's portions, Wheelchair access, Outdoor tables
Music on stereo: Italian/classics/pop
Capacity: 21
Largest group: 8 - also do outside catering
Open since: 2002

View larger map of EH1 1BS

Average price:
£10 (lunch)
BYOB: £2 corkage

Send us more details about this place.

The 2011/12 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

This review is taken from the current (2011) edition.

With ancestry of Edinburgh’s legendary Elm Row deli, it’s not surprising that Marina Crolla places an emphasis on using good quality, simple ingredients in her home-style Italian lunches. The blackboard behind the counter shows off an endless list of sandwiches and paninis, with an impressive number of freshly cooked fillings. Particularly delicious is the hot breaded chicken escalope sandwich, difficult to eat in its enormity without dripping lemony mayonnaise. Vegetarians might try the frittata, which can also be stuffed between bread, or a number of roasted vegetable options. Takeaway lunches make up most of the custom, however a line of back-to-back diner-style tables do get packed at lunchtimes too, by those wanting to linger over a (huge) bowl of one of the robustly flavoured pasta specials. Breakfast staples such as porridge and fried eggs are served from 8am – perfect for any early risers. And for when it’s warm enough, outdoor seating is an added bonus: it’s a rare treat in Scotland to watch the world go by over a coffee and home-made doughnut.

High point: Rich, comforting bowls of pasta
Low point: Takeaway coffee in polystyrene cups

Reviews of Café Marina (61 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh)

2. Cat, Edinburgh – 26 May 2008, 10:04pmCafé MarinaReport: Perhaps it was just bad timing. Perhaps Monday is just not the day to visit this Cafe. The welcome was good although you got the impression that the staff didn't want any more business late in the afternoon on a gorgeous, sunny bank holiday Monday, even though there was only 1 person in the whole place. The chairs begun to be packed away as soon as we sat down and my cappuccino arrived quickly (albeit they don't provide soya milk as do most other cafes in town) and was good although the £2.40 price is quite steep. Food was ordered and perhaps at one point in the day had been edible, but heating up in the microwave could do nothing to save this cold, overcooked, bland penne with aubergine. Staff just shrugged their shoulders and said "sorry" when this was highlighted. A light snack for two with one coffee came to just over £18. Not cheap and a return visit would not be recommeded!