La Locanda Italian Bistro in Edinburgh, City of

Great food and friendly atmosphere. Sat outside with view over street and people walking by. Attentive staff. All in all a very pleasant meal and experience.

We read the reviews months ago and booked this place for our honeymoon. The reviews online reflect our experience and I cannot recommend enough. We arrived early but staff were happy to accolades this and we sat near the kitchen end opposite the bar. The atmosphere is cosy, romantic and feels so Scottish Italian if that makes sense - I am half each so felt double welcome. Staff were attentive, knowledgeable and friendly, the drinks and food were delivered just at the right pace, not rushed or slow. The menu is perfect, the specials board included some really Italian ingredients that reminded me of long summers in Tuscany as a child - the guanciale cheek for instance! Everything we ordered was stunning, arancini was standout, could taste every piece of perfectly cooked rice in a crusty ball, melted with amazing cheese, just blew me away. Pasta dishes for our mains as good as anything I’ve had back home and served with amazing wine. We chose gavi, served in chilled glasses that hit the spot! Cocktail time was worth it, my Godfather was a good call. Did not need a desert as we had left a pasta dish half eaten, however the amazing lady offered to save this for us to take away. Then, having seen the tiramisu being served, had to try it, with a cheeky espresso. Words cannot do it justice, just yum. To wrap this up, it is one of the best experiences dining here, the staff make it special and you will not be disappointed. Ciao

Very good time, good meal, very pleasant waitresses.

As an Italian, finding good Italian food abroad can be a challenge – but this place absolutely nails it! The food is simply magnificent, with flavors that remind me of Italy. Beyond the delicious dishes, the staff are incredibly kind and welcoming, making the whole experience feel warm and genuine. If you're looking for a real taste of Italy in Edinburgh, this restaurant is a must-visit!

What can we say. Food absolutely beautiful and staff amazing, don’t go to another Italian restaurant as La LOCANDA is just the best

Stanley Tucci recently included London in his TV exploration of food in Italy. Well, let's include Edinburgh also. Wonderfully fresh, tasty, visually appealing dishes in a friendly bistro atmosphere. A highlight of our two-week trip that has included a lot of fine Italian food.

I had an absolutely perfect meal at La Locanda. I was looking for an escape from Scottish food so I’m so glad I found this adorable family owned restaurant. From the Arancini with spicy sausage to the Ravioli in a mouthwatering sauce to the Scotch snowball desert, everything was absolutely delicious and the staff was friendly and attentive (offered bread to sop up the sauce without me asking). Finished with a limoncello and a disorono. I highly highly recommend!

This establishment came highly recommended and we echo that sentiment. Our meal was a delight from start to finish. The staff were courteous, knowledgeable and professional. The service was excellent. The food is outstanding, beautifully presented and you have to taste to understand how good it is - highly recommended.

smallest serving of lasagna ever, $36.50 USD for ONE dish after tax and added fee. total rip off. basic tasting. would not recommend.

This is a good quality but overpriced institution for Italian dinning. The highlight were the atmosphere and the wine. The food was okay, but should have been cheaper for the quality.

Excellent, fresh pasta with great flavours. The service was exception and the ladies were kind, quick, and friendly!

Good drinks, lovely food. Although the menu is small (which is a good sign), there were great varieties to choose from! Good taste, was full and the food arrived quickly. The only downside is the size of the space.

Lovely food and drinks, the food arrived in no time. Super service, pleasant waiters! Recommend this place.

Delicious sauces and pastas like in Italy, very good service. The place is somewhat small but good. Highly recommended

Excellent food and large wine list, very nice service

The food was excellent - exceeded my expectations given that it is in a very touristy location. The buffalo mozzarella and ciabatta bread were amazing. Lasagna was very good as well. Service was fast and servers were kind and friendly. Would absolutely return and recommend to others.

Incredible food, wonderful staff, and great tasting drinks. Cannot praise the staff enough for their wonderful hospitality. Always an amazing evening.

Very expensive for 4 raviolis 🫨

What a wonderful find. The quality of food and service in La Locanda Edinburgh is superb. I especially liked the relaxed reply when I asked if it was possible to have the ravioli as a starter instead of main course - they were very happy to oblige and the ravioli was exceptional. Every aspect of our meal was a delight and we will return when we are next in Edinburgh.

We came here twice on our trip to Edinburgh because it was that good. The food was outstanding. And our server, Federico, was incredibly helpful and kind.

Amazing food! Definitely a recommendation if you are in Edinburgh!

Nice pasta, good service. Really expensive for pasta!

Sadly, we were so disappointed with the customer service of this place that we didn't get to experience the food. We booked several days in advance for a special birthday meal. Arriving exactly on time, we were told our table would be, "Not even 5 minutes." Not a problem at all - we were happy to wait despite having no waiting area so required to wait on the street. We were then greeted again 15 minutes later and told, "Only 5 minutes." At this point, we were quite cold due to the artic Scottish conditions. My partner politely said to the waiter, "We were told 5 minutes 15 minutes ago," and was confronted with quite simply a stand offish response, "I know and?". Shocked, we decided to leave and dined at another lovely Italian bistro around the corner. We had no issue waiting but the lack of apology and quite frankly rude attitude from the staff ruined the experience before it began.

A truly fabulous dining experience from start to finish. La Locanda on Cockburn Street continues to impress with its warm, inviting atmosphere, exceptional food, and attentive, friendly service. Each dish was beautifully presented and bursting with flavour. It’s a very small, intimate restaurant, which adds to its charm—but it does mean you need to book in advance to avoid disappointment. For drinks, I enjoyed a lovely glass of red wine with my meal. My husband started with a Limoncello cocktail—zesty and vibrant—followed later by a fine whisky to round off the evening. Our starters were both from the specials menu: I had the Trio di Crostini—a delicious variety of flavours and textures—while my husband chose the Arancini, perfectly crisp on the outside and creamy within. For mains, I had the Ravioli, rich and delicately balanced, and he went for the Lasagne, a hearty, flavourful classic. We finished with desserts: Tiramisu for me and Panna Cotta for him. Both were absolutely delicious—we were already halfway through before we remembered to take any photos! Having dined here before, we returned with high expectations—and once again, La Locanda did not disappoint. A real gem in the heart of Edinburgh, and one we’ll happily return to time and again.

Best lasagna! Juicy, lots of tomatoes, enough meat! I recommend it.

Older male waiter was very rude and sarcastic. Made me feel really uncomfortable dining in his restaurant. Food was cold and substandard. We have been to restaurants of higher standards and this unfortunately did not cut the mark. Gordon Ramsay would treat clients better than this place. Food was cold and tried to overcharge us out of spite.very horrible man, Hope he learns some manners.

Excellent house made pasta, fresh salad.

Amazing Italian food in the heart of Edinburgh, we came at 12 for lunch and the pasta was amazing.

Food made with love. Good presence but small portions. The lasagna very good.

We happened to take a seat here and have a lovely lunch while we waited for the rain to pass and what a lovely experience for our family. I'm still thinking of the delicious pasta I had and the friendly and helpful service. We will definitely return.

An intimate, fabulous restaurant. I go here on special occasions with my spouse. The food quality is excellent. So incredibly tasty. The staff are super friendly. It’s a cosy place filled with trinkets from the past. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Best Italian meal we’ve ever had. Everything was fresh and cooked to perfection. Highly recommended!!

Excellent food, fantastic service. Highly recommended.

We loved this place! Friendly service and great food!

Best Italian food I have had in a long time. Small place with a great atmosphere. Looking forward to going back.

Great food with superbly engaging staff

People always say that restaurants in touristic areas are usually not great, but this proves them wrong. They're located 1 minute from Royal Mile and as a local I'd go back there. Is it the best Italian restaurant in Edinburgh? No, but it's a great option in the centre. The food was really nice and the atmosphere was great. Prices were ok too considering the location.

I had the pappardelle which was the best I’ve ever had. The ragu was meaty and perfect. The noodles were al dente and had a great texture. For dessert I had the chocolate cake which was very rich and dense. Wonderful food. Will be back but the interior was a bit warm and stuffy so outdoor seating is probably better.

The most delicious pasta! I recommend the ravioli and the ragu

The food is incredible, you can tell they are Italian. They have gluten-free pasta options although there isn't much to choose from. It comes in a VERY small quantity for the price, but it is very very delicious for a treat-meal.

The food is delicious, the appetisers, main course and desserts are delicious, the place is not big but the food tastes good

Excellent pasta and other italian dishes. I highly recommend this restaurant! Make a reservation as they only have limited seatings. Outdoor seats also available. Besides the excellent food, also great selection of cocktails and drinks.

Top quality Italian food in Edinburgh. All the dishes are excellent. In my case I ordered spaghetti with mari fruit and it was delicious. The only thing to highlight was the price, which was quite high per person, since we did not order wine or dessert.

Food's sooo tasty, plus the nice and kind service. My mum and I had lunch today and we both truly recommend it. Lovely place 🤍🤍🤍

Lovely traditional Italian, simple and brilliant menu, hands down the best lasagna I’ve had!

We have been to La Locanda many times in each of the last nine years. Incredible Italian food. Staff and service A1.

We had the pleasure of dining at La Locanda Edinburgh last night, and it was an experience to remember. From the moment we walked in, we were warmly welcomed by the friendly staff, who made us feel right at home. The cozy, intimate ambiance set the perfect tone for a relaxing and enjoyable evening. We started with the bruschetta al pomodoro, which was incredibly fresh, with ripe tomatoes, fragrant basil, and just the right touch of garlic on perfectly toasted bread. For mains, we opted for the homemade tagliatelle with truffle and porcini mushrooms, which was simply divine—the pasta was cooked to perfection, and the sauce was rich yet delicate. What truly stood out was the impeccable service—attentive without being intrusive, and clearly passionate about delivering a great experience. Everything from the food to the atmosphere made us feel like we had stepped into a little corner of Italy in the heart of Edinburgh. We’ll definitely be back, and we highly recommend La Locanda to anyone looking for authentic Italian cuisine in a warm, welcoming setting!

Very clean, well served, but terrifyingly expensive (paper napkins, the waiter makes a recommendation on a blackboard of three dishes with ascending price from top to bottom and the surprise comes when for some linguine alla matriciana they charge you 29 pounds and what seemed like a 1 on the blackboard is a suspicious 2 written in a "peculiar" way 🤨 🤷‍♀️ that's what it is but those of you who are warned are warned. Ask for the recommendations on the board, I know better and more humble places here when charging.

Amazing restaurant find in Edinburgh! Authentic Italian food, ordered all the specials and it didn’t disappoint (beef cheeks🤤)! Lovely service, great wine, can’t wait to go again.

Small Italian a stone's throw from the Royal Mile. The food is fine, some dishes a bit too spicy. The service is friendly and the atmosphere is good.

Disappointing experience - not worth repeating. Unfortunately not a good experience. The food had little taste: the ravioli was lukewarm and the sauce watery, while the lasagna tasted only of tomato sauce. In addition, we found the service quite pushy, although that may be because it was quiet. The prices are way too high for what you get, and to make matters worse, a 12.50% tip was included in the total price without notice. This should be optional, but it will be on the bill immediately. Definitely not worth repeating.

A genuine Italian restaurant with a very professional service and perfect food and deserts!! Congratulations

It's small and perfectly formed. Amazing handmade pasta, gluten free handmade pasta too! They certainly cater for the gluten free team in style. Great tastes and great presentation. My husband is an Aperol Spritz officiando and says it's the best he's tasted outside of Italy. What more can we say - go and eat happy!

Very small restaurant, hut on a hat. Good food, but when we finished our starter the main course was put right in front of you?! We felt very rushed during dinner and had little or no enjoyment. Would have been a nicer restaurant if everything went at a normal pace

Very good italian food and the place is very nice. It’s is located in pretty street.

Outstanding lunch stunning food and lovley please highly recommended top marks

The food here was outstanding, with every dish crafted to perfection and bursting with authentic flavors. The restaurant itself is quite small, which adds to its charm and intimacy, making it ideal for a cozy dinner. However, due to its limited seating, I highly recommend making a reservation in advance, as they tend to book up quickly each night. The service was exceptional—friendly, attentive, and genuinely helpful, making the entire experience even more enjoyable. The staff was knowledgeable about the menu and happy to offer recommendations, which made us feel truly welcomed. I was particularly impressed with the pappardelle with ragu; the pasta was silky and perfectly cooked, while the ragu was rich, hearty, and full of depth, clearly made with care and quality ingredients. Each bite was a delight and felt like a taste of true Italian comfort food. While the prices are slightly on the higher side, it’s fairly standard for the city, and the quality of both the food and the experience makes it well worth it. If you’re looking for an authentic dining experience with delicious food, attentive service, and a cozy atmosphere, this gem is definitely worth a visit.

Exceptional food in nice location.

Nice restaurant with excellent service. I would definitely recommend the starters, the mussels and salmon were delicious! With delicious fresh bread. The pastas good but not mind blowing. The ragu was mainly a tomato sauce. Lasagna fine but not exceptional. Dessert chocolate cake very good, but small. All in all, certainly nice, but I would stick to several starters. And a dessert.

Quite a pleasant little restaurant along a beautiful historic route. The Arancini Balls are outstanding, as well as the homemade lasagna. The table service is also very friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend dining here!!

Horrendously expensive for the quantity of food and space provided. However, the food tastes amazing. Specially the aracinni and the chocolate torte were oi of the world.

Very small restaurant, cosy with great atmosphere. Food was outstanding and service was great. Wines were fantastic too. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Perfect italian dinner. The lemon prawn was so tasty and the gnocchi gorgonzola was extraordinary.

One of the most amazing meals we’ve ever had! The staff were so helpful and attentive. We had starters, mains and dessert and it was exceptional from start to finish!.

A small, quaint, little restaurant situated in the heart of Edinburgh. I frequent this spot regularly and am never disappointed! The menu is a mix of delicious, firm Italian classics that anyone can enjoy and new ideas that are no less classy. The prices are high and the portions are small, but, you will never leave not feeling full and satisfied. This is mostly in part to the freshly and heartedly made dishes that wipped up in the petit kitchen in the back. The serves is also second to none. With kind, attentive staff all around ready to take your order, pour you another drink, or just have a chat. In summery, if you have the money and want a dinner that you shall never forget, go here! You shall not be disappointed

The pasta was sooooooo very delicious we didn’t book but they managed to squeeze two of us in without making us feel uncomfortable I highly recommend

Simply outstanding! Amazing service, Stunning Food and Very Cosy Atmosphere. 100% recommend booking. By far the best Italian food we’ve ever had.

To be honest: the food has absolutely nothing to do with Italian cuisine. The spicy tomato sauce tastes like it came straight from a tetrapak, and the Aglio e Olio was diluted with water and tomato sauce - this is really the lowest level. In terms of price, the whole thing is also far from reality. In addition, a 12% tip is 'practically' automatically added to your bill. The service is simply unfriendly - if you ask something or say that the food wasn't good, you are laughed at and even laughed at. Do yourself a favor and just don't go!

Good food with great flavours,pasta is fresh and warm clean restaurant. Staff are very professional and friendly if any questions in regards to dietary preferences.

Hugely overpriced, I guess it's because it's just off the royal mile, a glass of wine was £9. I had fresh pasta with some cherry tomatoes and garlic £19, I could have made this at the home £3. Might be better for meat eaters, but for a veggie not a huge range.

Food was delicious. My friend and I ate here twice during our 5 days in Edinburgh. So flavorful, excellent service. make sure to book a reservation you won't regret it.

Honestly it didn't excite me. The gnocchi were overcooked, the seasoning was nothing special. Perhaps for those who have never eaten in Italy or have actually eaten Italian it could be excellent. Furthermore, the price was too high compared to what was served.

Wow! The quality of the food here was superior. Been to Italy and the pasta here was as close as you can get. Nice service as well. The interior was cool, but would have liked a bit more delicate taste in the interior. Super place!

Food was good and service exceptional. I do get the point about the prices being high for the quantity however I would say it’s worth it.

Best pasta I tried in my life! I am not a big fan of pasta, however the day special: pasta melanzane is a life changer. This is my first time trying a fried egg plant which was a big surprise it can be that good! The texture and flavour everything in this dish is amazing . Now I know why some ppl doesn’t have to put any meat in the pasta, the egg plant do all the work . The staff are really friendly the service is amazing. Most importantly: they are dog friendly for seating outdoor

Best food I’ve had, the meatball pasta was fantastic and we had the special starter and the dessert, both was so flavourful and delicious; The photo is the special Scottish snowball dessert! The meatball was so good even I had to try some, all the dishes was amazing and would definitely go again and recommend to others!!

Little gem of a place. Menu is short and sweet. I had the lasagne and my husband had the papardelle with beef ragu sauce. Both were excellent. We split an order of the arancini, which is a good thing because it was a large portion. The pasta is also quite a large portion.

Highly recommend. Make reservations though because the place is small. Lasagna and Ravioli was excellent. Service was superb.

Excellent, fresh and light Italian food as it should be. If you want a really wonderful light meal and to avoid the whisky and haggis tourist traps, come here. Was very busy after 1pm so I would reserve to be sure.

Very busy place for a reason! We were lucky to be squeezed in for a small dinner after a late tour and the staff were so accommodating and sweet. Catered to gf allergies without issue and the food was incredible. Arrancino were the best I've had in a long time as was the pasta. Highly recommend this warm and cozy restaurant. Thanks

The food was super tasty. I just found it a little expensive. The atmosphere is great but very small. You need to book in advance

Tiny place. You can barely fit a butt cheek in there, but as we know, amazing things come in small packages. This was a lovely gem we found whilst strolling the royal mile. Fresh, homemade pasta and sauce with a great wine selection. We had the Classic Pasta Polpette and the Pappardelle. Both were fantastic! We were lucky enough to get in before the rush, so reservations are highly recommended!

The price is totally disproportionate to the size of the portions. There are much better options just a few blocks away.

Bruschetta, lasagna and tagliatelle simply excellent! A Cabernet Franc to accompany that we had the chance to taste before ordering. To finish, delicious tiramisu. The service was just perfect. We felt at home. We even got a recommendation for an honest shop on the Royal miles. Much appreciated! We would go back but we are leaving tomorrow. Don't miss your chance to go there. A reservation is recommended. Enjoy your food!

The best meal that we had in Edinburgh. The food, the service and the whole experience was 10/10. Would come back whenever we’re here in the city. Shout out to Margi who was wonderful and took great care of us.

Excellent Italian food. Highly recommended; reservations required.

Initially, we received the wrong meal and no side, resulting in us not being able to eat together. We were only offered 50% off the late meal, which we felt did not rectify the situation, so we asked for the whole late meal to be reimbursed. To our surprise, the waitress (Rebecca) not only declined this, but also went on to patronise us telling us how little we know about the industry. We politely asked the manger to support who also quickly became defensive and argumentative. At this point the waitress (Rebecca) and manger inappropriately stood over us having an argument about the situation in front of the other customers and suggested there was no problem at all (gaslighting), with sarcastic comments, smug smirks and snide remarks. As this event escalated and became more and more disconcerting, we asked Rebecca to step away from the table as she was insistent on continuing to argue. The manger proceeded to threaten to call the police if we didn’t pay for the service which at this moment we felt was not worth a penny and had left us feeling utterly worthless. We left, £62 pounds down and a ruined date night later, with no sincere apology for arguing (only half of the late meal deducted). We really love to eat out at good restaurants and we can both say we have never experienced anything of this nature in our lives - the service was abhorrent. As the customer, we felt belittled and had no power to defend our position. Our evening was ruined by the aggressive confrontation and we felt violated. We will never step foot in this establishment again and would recommend others also look for an alternative. If there was anything else we could do to make people aware of their attitude, we would because this does not justify how disgustingly undignified this was handled. With customer service like this, good luck to their business in the future. (Just checked their other reviews and all you need to do is see for yourself on the responses back to these - the company is just embarrassing and these people should not be working in hospitality clearly).

Just a perfect evening! Friendly staff warm environment and just amazing food. Do not miss this one. Small cozy spot and every plate was amazing.

Second time here. Will go again. Beautiful food, great service, thoughtful wine list and a shelf of rare Whisky

The staff is super friendly. The food and cocktails are amazing. Would recommend the lasanga!⭐️

An unexpected Italian delight in the heart of Edinburgh. I love Italian cuisine and given that La Locanda offers gluten free pasta, it was a must stop for our dinner plans. You walk in and its extra cozy so I would not recommend for parties of more than 4. There are only like 5 or 6 tables in there so make reservations in advance. The service and ambiance were amazing. We got the arancini (picture is only half serving), amatriciana (daily special), and the classic pasta polpette (gluten-free). It was all superb, and the gluten-free pasta is probably the best one I've tried. 10/10 would recommend

Wonderful lunch. Wonderful people.

There was a wait, but it lasted 30 to 40 minutes, of course, depending on the crowd and people... The service was excellent, but the food was late to be honest The food is delicious, you should try it and the place at sunset is even better👍

First time visiting this restaurant and we very much enjoyed both the food and service. Prices are quite steep but I’d say it is good value for money. It is an extremely popular restaurant and so a reservation is highly recommended; in fact, many people were turned away who did not have a reservation as the place is small inside with only 20 or so seats. There is a service charge applied which was respectfully mentioned at the point of paying the bill. Would highly recommend - they also had a very nice range of ‘specials’ on the evening we visited.

What a superb restaurant and highly recommended for coeliacs with most of the menu being available Gluten Free, even home made Gluten Free Pasta . The service was incredible, so friendly and knowledgeable. Thank you for giving us a relaxed & highly enjoyable evening,

Amazing Very tasty Italian food. Home made taste. A little bit pricey.

Top top top! Incredible experience in the heart of edimburgh

Excellent traditional Scottish meal. Well done

They took a very slow time to serve us and when we ordered a beer instead of food since they didn't have pizza they invited us to leave, horrible

Real Italian cuisine from Italians.