Restaurants, Italian

Glasgow's love affair with buffet-style dining is boundless, and it has found the ultimate mistress at this popular buffet-orama in the midst of Sauchiehall's staggering nightlife district. In the premises formerly Slumdog, Cook and Indi have managed to…

Owner Gino Stornaiuolo named his establishment in tribute to his two grandmothers, whose faces adorn the walls of a room in which space has been well exploited. However, it is the contribution of his parents that brings the restaurant to life. While…

From the moment you pass through the chic bar en route to the restaurant upstairs, your senses will be assailed by a riot of colour, rich flavours and music shared with the rest of the building. Seats covered in fabrics from the Missoni fashion house…

Named after a mythological maiden who died of heartache on the Bay of Naples, La Partenope offers a taste of Napoli on Dalry Road. This family restaurant is operated by a sibling trio: chef Paolo creates magnificent dishes, brother Renato is the…

Ti Amo's position opposite the Festival Theatre ensures its enduring success. Amusingly dated décor distracts from perusing menus bearing the brunt of many a thumb and spilled vino: menu-matching, smoke-aged, stencilled walls; pillars, statues, and an…

There are times you wonder if traditional Italian restaurants might be under threat as sharply lit chains and sophisticated, upmarket alternatives move in. With its wood panelling, chairs from the 80s and music from the 50s, La Lanterna, tucked down…

The pillars holding aloft the Georgian ceiling at Centotre and clever use of booths provide nooks and crannies for romantic tete-a-tetes and broader spaces for parties and business lunches. There is a clear focus on the ingredients here: mozzarella…

Divino can fairly count as one of Edinburgh's hidden gems. Set among the pretty murky shadows off Candlemaker Row and under George IV Bridge, this is a surprisingly sophisticated, enchanting subterranean venue of rough-stone walls, clubby leather seats…

The growing trend for sharing plates is capitalised on at this Byres Road venue. It is well suited to larger groups making a meal part of their night with popular Italian cuisine laid out in miniature over four pages of a vast menu. The monkfish and…

Having changed its name from Bath Street Pony thanks to legal intervention from a London bar operating under the same equine name, Palomino remains uncomplicated and relaxing, serving cocktails and a decent pre-theatre and lunch deal to office workers…

Italian restaurants in Edinburgh can sometimes be a touch uninspiring, but thankfully we have restaurants like Locandi de Gusti who are happy to tread a different, more authentic path. The menu here reflects the Neapolitan origins of the owners, with a…

An ice cream parlour, takeaway and restaurant, Equi's is now in its fourth generation of family management. Pietro Equi started the first cafe at Peacock's Cross in Hamilton in 1922, and the business is now run by David Equi. The takeaway side sells…

Al Dente is a small, rustically decorated venue that boasts two draws: country-wide Italian cooking from Chef Antonio and an enthusiastic Italian welcome from patron Graziano. The menu is seasonal and aspires to give the diner the whole of Italy, with…

A First World War minesweeper boat anchored right at the heart of Leith’s bustling Shore district, Cruz has to be among the most distinctive drinking venues in Edinburgh. A popular watering hole with the area’s young party crowd, Cruz serves up an…

A stalwart of Glasgow’s Italian scene, Dino’s has been plugging away on Sauchiehall Street for over 50 years. Renowned for their pizza, which is available for takeaway, inside it is completely unreconstructed. Behind the modern façade and green and red…

While the origin of the name may have been lost in the mists of time, the team at Firebird are certainly taking the ‘fire’ part seriously. A wood-fired oven bakes the signature sourdough pizzas to a pleasing crunch, while a blazing stove keeps the…