The Jolly Restaurant in Edinburgh, City of

The "Italian" dishes...just the name. Not even toothpaste. Clearly for someone who doesn't know Italian food

Excellent and authentic Italian affair in Edinburgh. Family owned eatery which serves hearty Italian food followed by brilliant service. You will definitely not leave hungry. Best pizza and pasta in town at very reasonable prices.

Visited the Jolly for a family birthday meal on a Monday evening. We had booked a week in advance, 20 seats for our family. The restaurant has a great atmosphere and the food is traditional Italian. I have never had such a good evening in a restaurant before, so welcoming, amazing service and the generosity! And that is even before we talk about the food - beautiful dinner we all had. The Jolly is a must visit. What an atmosphere on the night we were there.

We had a large family booking on a Monday night for my son's birthday. What a night, amazing service, great fun atmosphere and generosity. Food was fantastic

Great food in a bustling Italian bistro. The lunch deal is incredible value!

What a fantastic find! We were wandering around looking for a place to eat and stumbled upon this gem. I’m so glad we walked in—the atmosphere is incredible, making it feel like we were in a charming small town in Italy. The music was a perfect 10/10, and the staff was incredibly kind. As for the food, it felt like it was made by an Italian nonna—absolutely delicious, 10/10. Highly recommend!

Fab place. Great food at a reasonable price. Lovely atmosphere and friendly staff.

The pizza was very good, with very thin dough. You can tell they are Italian. Good value for money and they treated me very well and quickly. I recommend it!

Fantastic service with great food , and a smiling Vito

Pizza de leña en un restaurante familiar agradable. Nuestra segunda visita. Personal encantador. Gracias - volveremos!

Great place to eat. Tables are a bit tight together. Overall a great meal. Reasonably priced.

Disappointed! Tables were very close to each other and the noise was extremely loud. Not the experience I had a few years ago when Jollies was smaller and more intimate.

Brilliant, buzzing. 45 pizza menu!

I ordered a meal on just eat took over an hour to arrive, yes that was indicated on just eat you accept that. What was unacceptable was the pizza was cold very disappointed as we waited over an hour for cold food! I called the restaurant to be passed from one person to another, I explained the situation and was told the following, It’s not our fault the food is cold it wasn’t delivered by us it was delivered by just eat it’s their fault not my problem, not interested one bit in rectifying the situation just a blatant disregard for the customer. So the restaurant sell food via just eat that they knowingly know is going to be cold on arrival ( reviews all say the same cold food ) surely this is not how you run a take away service surely this is against the food hygiene guidelines surely environmental health should be made aware and look into this matter! To add insult to injury if you had ordered it directly from us it would have been hot ! Disgusting behaviour from this restaurant. Very sad that I write this as it’s my Mrs favourite restaurant! Will I be back nope , do I think the restaurant cares nope , they hide behind Just Eat

I ordered a meal on just eat took over an hour to arrive, yes that was indicated on just eat you accept that. What was unacceptable was the pizza was cold very disappointed as we waited over an hour for cold food! I called the restaurant to be passed from one person to another, I explained the situation and was told the following, It’s not our fault the food is cold it wasn’t delivered by us it was delivered by just eat it’s their fault not my problem, not interested one bit in rectifying the situation just a blatant disregard for the customer. So the restaurant sell food via just eat that they knowingly know is going to be cold on arrival ( reviews all say the same cold food ) surely this is not how you run a take away service surely this is against the food hygiene guidelines surely environmental health should be made aware and look into this matter! To add insult to injury if you had ordered it directly from us it would have been hot ! Disgusting behaviour from this restaurant. Very sad that I write this as it’s my Mrs favourite restaurant! Will I be back nope , do I think the restaurant cares nope , they hide behind Just Eat

Great food and service Vito and his team are all fantastic 👏

Very busy restaurant. We were there 5.30pm on a Thursday and only one table left! Service was great despite it being so busy. We had half pizza and pasta and both were very tasty. Very reasonably priced. I would recommend.

Excellent service lovely staff 👍

We usually try restaurants that offer local food, but that evening we wanted Italian. If I could go back, I would slap myself. The restaurant looked Italian to excess, Italian decorations everywhere, there was practically no space left on the walls. One waiter out of the 4 present that evening spoke Italian. Not that it is an obligation, but authenticity is lost. As an appetizer we ate bruschetta prepared with PRE-COOKED bread, soaked in oil and garlic powder. Nothing against pre-cooked bread, but it was so soft you couldn't lift it off the plate, it was more of a soup. They then served us a frozen pizza, some reheated gnocchi (they were cold but the bowl was hot) which had a sour taste and had clearly been prepared hours before. When we asked for wine, we expected them to bring us a card or to ask us what type, but instead they directly brought us two glasses full of what seemed to have the same taste as Tavernello. A plus for the pasta all'arrabbiata which wasn't bad, but after all you don't need a chef to cook it. Overall, extremely disappointing, I'm just sorry that the locals believe that this is Italian cuisine.

Have been going to the Jolly off and on for many years and generally it is good value for money but today was a real disappointment. My main spaghetti course was warm, at best, as was that of my partner's. The parmesan never appeared, despite my having to get up and catch one of the only two waiting staff to request it. Similarly, I had to get up and ask the waiting staff to bring the tea I ordered which was stewed and cool when it arrived. In short, the service was appalling and the food not much better. I do not understand why kitchen staff would put out food on cold plates, leave it lying then expect it to reach the diner in a fit state. Kitchen staff need to send out hot food on heated plates and the waiting staff need a course in customer care and focus. Or maybe just tell them to survey the room regularly for diners trying to 'catch their eye'.

Brilliant nice staff really quick and brilliant quality

Delicious food, so welcoming and friendly!

We love The Jolly! Live 400 miles away but whenever back in Edinburgh, always plan a visit to Vito and his restaurant! Even our granddaughter loves it now 😍 Great pizza, great prices.

The food is great here ! The staff are superb & it's great value for money. It's definitely worth a visit

The Jolly was badly let down by the courier. The pizza was cold, it was clear the courier hadnt transported the pizza in an adequate way to preserve any heat. Once heated up though it was great! Always tasty food from The Jolly.

Went here yesterday for the first and last time, brought some friend and family that were visiting the city, i wish i would have never done it. Service was horrible from the beginning to the end, drinks that never arrived, wrong dishes taken to our table, waitress and and waiter or whatever he was with attitude and not even listen to what u had to say or ask, i do work in hospitality aswell (for almost 20 years now) and never saw anything more disappointing than this place, even when we were presented the bill( a piece of paper wrote by hand) things were having no sense and u can see that everything was random...and most of everything...why do u pretend to be Italian??? Everything was far from be Italian in that place, from the food and staff to the decor...it was tacky and almost insulting for a culture that they obviously know nothing about. I wouldn't advise it even to my worst enemy. Still wondering how did we end up there.

Tasted great. Good portion size.

Real Italian restaurant Proper food and great service. We've been before and certainly will be going again Vito is the perfect host If your in the area or at a show you need to go.

Good Italian food at a reasonable price. They had plenty of gluten free options which was great.

My work colleagues and I visited this restaurant for a Christmas lunch recently. The place was absolutely packed, which, along with the décor, gave off a very authentic Italian vibe. The tables were quite close together, and the atmosphere was lively—great if you enjoy the buzz, but probably not ideal if you’re after a quiet meal. My guess for the restaurant’s popularity is the incredibly cheap lunch menu: £9.90 for three courses. At first, I thought it was a misprint, but no—it’s real. The lunch menu offers a small selection of starters, mains, and desserts, but there is also an extensive (almost overwhelming) main menu. Being indecisive, I opted for the lunch menu—plus, it’s hard to pass up such a bargain. I chose garlic bread for starters, half pizza (Pizza Jolly)/half pasta (carbonara) for mains, and the strawberry gateau for dessert. The Food Starter: The garlic bread was mediocre two plain slices with garlic that lacked any flair. Basic and forgettable. Main: The carbonara was the highlight. Creamy sauce, perfectly cooked pasta, and genuinely delicious. I wish I’d ordered a full portion of this because the pizza was underwhelming. Despite having a proper pizza oven, the Pizza Jolly (a margarita with onions) felt underdone and too doughy in the centre for my liking. It lacked the crispness and charred spots I expect from good pizza. The flavor was okay, but nothing memorable. Dessert: The strawberry gateau was a small portion, which turned out to be a blessing since it was a bit dry. The accompanying ice cream saved it somewhat. Value for Money At £9.90 for three courses, the value is undeniable, even if the quality isn’t top-tier. The pizzas on the main menu are £3-5 more than the entire lunch menu, which raises questions about how they maintain such low prices. However, the budget-friendly approach is evident. For example, my friend got minestrone soup for starters which came with bread. The bread was like, as my grandmother would say, “blotting paper”. Probably the cheapest bread they could find in the supermarket. Highly refined to a point that it’s not really bread. Perhaps if I had ordered from the main menu I would have received a product that is more reflective of the price. As they say, “you get what you pay for”. Service Another reason why I am scoring this low was because of the poor service. Firstly, they didn’t have enough menus for the whole table so we had to share. This wasn’t a major issue but it is worth noting. The next thing was that they made mistakes with the order and brought food to us that we didn’t order. Also, my friend’s garlic bread arrived long after the rest of us had finished ours. The biggest blunder was made by one of the female waitresses who knocked my friend’s drink over another friends lap. She was apologetic but she didn’t rush away to grab napkins (we used our own) and she didn’t even offer to replace the drink. We had to ask for a top up. I would have expected a free drink since it was her mistake. The staff were pleasant enough but not their finest showing. Maybe just an off day and to their credit it was very busy so must be under a lot of pressure. Overall Impression Despite the disappointing food and service, the incredible value somewhat redeemed the experience. Perhaps visiting during a quieter time and ordering from the main menu might lead to a better experience. For now, though, I can’t rate this place highly.

The Jolly is a place I would go to again. The food is excellent and the prices for the food you get is excellent. The only thing is it small but I will go back .

delivery driver was just about to leave but caught him on time. he could have phoned if he couldn't find the address rather than turning back. food was lovley apart from we asked for a margarita pizza but got a pepperoni which was all good as we like a pepperoni pizza. couldn't fault the food and would order one again

A Hidden Gem in Edinburgh: Five Stars for Jolly What started as a chance discovery through Google reviews turned into the highlight of our Edinburgh dining experience. For four consecutive nights, we found ourselves drawn back to Jolly, and each visit surpassed our expectations. This restaurant truly captures the authentic essence of Italian cuisine in the heart of Scotland. The heart of Jolly lies in its exceptional staff, who transformed from servers to friends over our stay. By our final visits, they would warmly joke with us about our predictable orders of seafood and rum. Their attentiveness shone through even in small moments - when they ran out of tiramisu, they enthusiastically recommended their profiteroles, showing how invested they were in our dining experience. Such personalized attention culminated in a touching gesture - complimentary limoncello on our last night. The culinary excellence here is remarkable. Their mussels are a revelation - sweet, succulent, and perfectly prepared. Each pizza emerges from the oven as a masterpiece, and the pasta dishes... oh, the pasta! While some chase Michelin stars, Jolly creates something more valuable: food cooked with genuine passion and heart. Every dish tells a story of dedication to the craft. I've chosen not to post photos because they simply wouldn't do justice to the exceptional taste of the food - this is something you need to experience firsthand. A word of advice: the restaurant is consistently full, so booking in advance is recommended. Though we took our chances each night without a reservation, the staff's incredible hospitality meant they always found a way to accommodate us. Their willingness to welcome walk-in guests like us, even during peak hours, speaks volumes about their commitment to service. As we bid farewell to Edinburgh tonight, we realize we're not just saying goodbye to a restaurant, but to a place that became our home away from home. The extraordinary level of hospitality we experienced here sets a new standard for customer service in Edinburgh. We shall miss you dearly. With heartfelt gratitude to the entire team at Jolly, Vasu, Chithra, Kaveendra and Thevasshre Visiting from Malaysia

A gem of a find not far from the playhouse. We came for dinner after a recent theatre show, the place was absolutely jumping. Pleasant staff, good service without being intrusive. The dishes selected were all nicely presented, hot and tasty. The pizza was exceptional. Only complaint, was the garlic bread was just your bog standard frozen multi produced type. Still for Edinburgh, good value for money.

truly had the jolliest time digging into my 1/2 pizza 1/2 pasta combo

Fantastic little find of a restaurant near to the playhouse. Had a pre theatre lunch at a very reasonable price. Staff very friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend to anyone and if we were ever back in Edinburgh would definitely visit again. 10/10.

We love to come to jollys. Nice atmosphere and the food is amazing. The price is quiet good as well for the portions, they are huge! Totally recommend

We have visited this place for over 40 years and it has never disappointed us. Vito has never changed and is always there there with a warm welcome for everyone.

Best value for money & staff who can't do enough for you this is prime example of hospitality at its best ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ordered the SPAGHETTI ALL PESCATORA and all I can say is that I will travel all the way up from the South of England back to Edinburgh for this pasta. The tiramisu was the perfect dessert to end our last night in Edinburgh. The service was amazing, warmly welcomed by the friendly and amusing staff. Very attentive and very quick!

Another value for money lunch. Bums on seats says everything about Vito and staff.i 5 of us arrived 15 minutes before closing time, yet no problems fitting us in. Usual standard served up with usual customer service with a smile.

My partner and I visited Jolly’s last minute, and was warmly welcomed. The food and portions were absolutely incredible, which was complimented by the homely atmosphere. We would visit Edinburgh just for this restaurant! All the seafood was fresh, cooked perfectly and you can tell passion goes into the food. Tiramisu was a delicious way to end the night, complimented by free mint chocolates at the end of service.

Excellent food and friendly funny staff, I wish I can order more but my stomach says no. Definitely one of the best Italian restaurant in the area.

Cheery staff with a cheap extensive menu.

Nice food and very nice staff. Half and half - pizza / pasta on the menu, simply splendid Been back and ordered the large on a rainy Monday night This behemoth was really appreciated and tasted fantastic (the spoon gives a sense of scale) Been back and my gluttony was tested, I was beaten but gave a good shot at clearing my plates - fab as always

Food was very tasty as it is in the restaurant

It's like stepping back in time to this amazing little Italian. Food amazing just love coming here

1970s 'proper' Italian restaurant with hanging Chianti bottles and red checked tablecloths, plus some theatre memorabilia - so dated it's now chic again! Wonderful food, great service and very reasonable prices. Generous portions, huge menu and a really good three course lunch menu for just under £10. It's a real Edinburgh institution - and always busy. Love it!!

Qué restaurante increíblemente amable. Servicio - Cheeky & Charming. El equipo es muy bueno y se asegurará de que usted sea atendido. Comida - Fabulosa Vino - Buena calidad y gran valor Calidad - Gran calidad (Cualquier pizza - excelente) ; Para ser justos, yo (puede haber) trabajado mi camino a través de la mayor parte del menú. Excelente ubicación y la clientela local es muy amable. Este lugar está muy ocupado, muy rápido. En un momento, el restaurante puede estar medio lleno y en cuestión de minutos - está lleno, con la gente haciendo cola por la puerta.

pizza half cooked and cold. pasta was also cold.

Buen restaurante local. Mejor relación calidad-precio y ambiente que otros que los lugareños son menos propensos a visitar. Disfrutamos del almuerzo. Gracias - que bonita experiencia.

Lovely pizza, quick friendly service.

Food was absolutely freezing cold

The pizza arrived floppy and crushed it was as if the cyclist had to slam on the brakes causing the pizza to smudge against the box with toppings falling off and a big missing chunk of cheese

Pizza and pasta for a very reasonable price. The interior is older but hey – at least it has a unique vibe. We didn't really enjoy the strawberry ice cream since it tasted like a toothpaste for children, but other than that we had a pleasant lunch.

Absolutamente el mejor restaurante italiano en Elm Row. El servicio excepcional es genial que tienen un menú para personas celíacas y no celíacas que hacen la mejor pizza, s y sopas y mejores platos yo y mi papá fuimos allí para su almuerzo de cumpleaños. El personal era excepcional y 200% recomendable y yo y mi padre lo haremos. Seguro que vuelvo para otra visita. Bien vale la pena amigos

Very nice establishment, delicious food, great atmosphere🔥

We went before the theatre and the place was packed at 5.45 on a Monday night, clearly we stumbled upon the best pre-theatre secret in Edinburgh! We weren’t expecting much, this place clearly hasn’t changed since the 80’s. However, we were very pleasantly surprised! I had a huuuge plate of pasta with mussels (very fresh) and giant prawns, which fit the bill. BF had pizza and we both think it’s the best we have had in Edinburgh, and we have eaten a lot of pizza over 20years! Service was polite, not intrusive and friendly, 2 pints, two wines and two mains came in at £45 so fabulous value as well!! We will be back!

The food, the customer service and the kindness of the owner made for a great night which was our last in Edinburgh. Typical Italian still life that preserves an authentic style. Safety pin!

Fantastic restaurant. Delicious food. Really good value for money. Welcoming homely atmosphere. Staff are amazing. Would very much recommend.

Spaghetti is good and food is valuable on time but the pizza messed . Just eat quickly respon for this issue

Food is homely and well priced, I enjoy bringing my family here. I would prefer that my wine arrives at the table unopened as the wine is hit and miss

Over packed restaurant with no room for moving anywhere. Never saw so many tables & seats in the one area. We asked for early tea menu, it seemed they were reluctant to give it to us. The waitress looked like she didn’t know what we were talking about. Got the menu and a la carte menu which was sticky and falling apart. Ordered garlic mushrooms which was mushrooms swimming in grey sauce and slice garlic bread. Not the best. Then main course. Pizza was cold and hard to cut through although not burnt! More chewy!! Pork was dry and steak fatty. Then we asked for puddings included in tea menu. We were told strawberry cake or ice cream. Cake was like a homemade sponge with icing on it and tinned squishy cream. Downstairs the toilets were awful. Steep steps which were dirty, and (stuff!!) stored in corners, it smelt of damp. Inside Toilet doors were dirty. We won’t be back. This restaurant needs a good overhaul. It’s stuck in the past.

A Jolly fantastic establishment for a very reasonably priced Italian meal! First ate here, as a student, in the early '90s, generally the half n half option, of pizza and pasta. Popped in for Lunch on Saturday and tried the set menu for the first time, which was very nice and excellent value. Good food and friendly staff, definitely recommend if you are in this part of town.

Great food . Really cheap and not over priced . Great staff . . Win win 🏆

Had to chase the driver along the street as he drove away from the wrong address. Just Eat's pin location is wrong. Despite always giving additional instructions to call my number to get directions to the correct location, they never do! The food itself was ok. Not the usual great quality from the Jolly. Pizza base was far to thick (more like deep pan). Pasta was OK but had a slight chemical aftertaste to the bollegnese meat sauce.

I've eaten here a few times now and the food has always been good, decent sized portions and staff are friendly and the restaurant is always busy, last Wednesday when I was in I had a desert and it was fantastic.I think it was called tartufo, I will try and post a picture of it,I also recommend the Spaghetti Amtriciana, keep up the good standards please.

Been many times, we have celebrated quite a few family birthdays at Jolly's. The food is delicious and the service has always been excellent. Very good value for money, portion sizes are always generous. Would definitely recommend.

Lovely Italian neighborhood restaurant. 3 course lunch

The food was very average, but at a good price! Friendly service and the atmosphere of the place is a plus :)

We enjoyed the spaghetti vongole and the house-style penne. The portions are rather large, so we couldn't finish everything. The wine selection corresponds to the restaurant. Everything Italian friendly.

Was really busy and quite cramped. Food and service was superb tho

It's a great little Italian place, I stress little. It's a tiny little place; it was busy both times we stopped in. The pasta and pizza were amazingly good. It was so good we went twice.

I don't ever post reviews but I felt compelled to after my parter and I took our 3 children for dinner to Jollys last night. It was quite late when I'd called and it was last minute but the owner had absolutely no issues squeezing us in and got us a comfortable little table at the side. We ordered three pizzas between us, everyone has drinks and desserts but the best past was when they brought out our 6 year olds dessert, they sang happy birthday to him. He was so happy and I was so touched at this little detail of going above and beyond for him. The service was impeccable and the owner is absolutely lovely. Our kids all gave him a hug before we left and said thank you. He gave our birthday boy a chocolate bar and some lollys for them to share. I honestly cannot recommend this place enough. Not only is it family friendly but it's run by family and makes you feel so at home and so welcome. The food was *delicious* and authentic. We felt like we were in the heart of Italy in a family's home. Thank you so much for having us. We'll definitely be back 🙂

Very beautiful place and history

Incredible!!!! Better than in Italy! The pasta, the pizza, the brusquettas, the super attention!!!! Highly highly recommended! This is what a pizza and pasta fan says. Without a doubt very highly recommended!

We ordered a dish that is half pizza and half pasta. Neapolitan pizza and spaghetti: the best in the world. My husband ordered lasagna, amazing. 10/10!!!

The best pizza I have ever tried, and the lasagna pasta is the best, wine, pizza, everything is excellent.

The most amazing coeliac friendly meal I have had in a very long time. My husband found this restaurant on the gluten free app and I was not disappointed. I ordered a half pizza half pasta dish and I was given a full pizza as no one else had ordered a gluten free base. I cannot fault the food or the service. We tried to pay extra as we got a full pizza but the lovely man wouldn't accept it as his phrase 'times are hard' in the end we compromised and left a larger tip than normal. 100% will be back.

Great friendly servers and hosts, welcoming atmosphere with great traditional Italian cuisine, go and meet Paul the host if you can!

Amazing service, tasty food, large portions. Love everything about the experience. We ordered for takeout and it took only 15 minutes.

Terrific value lunch menu. Friendly service, great food and lovely atmosphere.

We got warm beer, the food was also not outstanding and even average

10/10, me and my celiac girlfriend went out for dinner and it was some of the best gluten free pizza she has ever had. Would return . Great prices, great service, great atmosphere.

We came here for my grandson's birthday..I love it here...Great service..friendly staff and...not pretentious. Just as well we booked a table..as it is soo popular. The owner is always around making sure everything is working well. Last but not least pizzas are fantastic. V.Clapton

Very good restaurant, super traditional. Food well prepared. The waitress was super kind. Recommend to everyone.

The pizza were delicious but the orderr was unfortunately wrong

A true ‘hearty italian’; forget the bread, try this place instead

Delicious and authentic Italian food. Affordable prices, good portions. Absolutely recommend.

If you order the large pizza for yourself, you're probably making a mistake because it's enough for two people! The pizza is not only big overall, but also really great!

I haven't been to such a great Italian restaurant outside of Italy before.

Such good value for money here at Jolly Restaurant! I had minestrone soup and lasagne, both delicious. Come with the whole family or friends, and know your meals will be decent and affordable 👍🏻 Very central too, just a short walk from the St James Quarter, cinema in the Omni centre and the New Town.

pizza had clearly been dropped and all the toppings had sliding off!

Best food I've had in a while, excellent fast service, cannot fault anything. Would definitely recommend to try here.

I visited to check out accessibility. Most places welcome you and show you round. Not the Jolly. I was met by a guy who was definitely not jolly. He did not answer my questions helpfully. The toilets are down an extremely dark stair which had very narrow steps did not look clean. The stairs reminded me of the type that you put in to access your attic - yes that steep!! Not sure who could negotiate them safely. A few reviews have said toilets not clean (I didn't see them myself). Tables and chairs very close and crowded again making accessibility problematic. I said thanks for your help and without a word the guy turned his back and walked away. I have no idea why this place gets nice reviews, such a bad vibe.

Had lunch here. Got diarrhoea few hours later. Avoid.

Busy lunch service, built on very competitive three course lunch. Plenty of choice. However, tables are close together, and toilets down a steep staircase. Tables turned over quickly. Great value for money, but not for a quiet meal.

Very good original Italian with an absolute top price-performance ratio. The food was incredibly delicious.

Jolly has a very nice atmosphere and the staff is very friendly and pleasant. The food was very tasty and good value.

What a gem of a place, old ,authentic, noisy, jam packed great atmosphere lovely staff tasy tasty food and so cheap . Been twice now for dinner think its my favourite new old place to eat