The story
Contini George Street, at 103 George St in Edinburgh, is an all-day Italian caffè rated "Good" in The Good Food Guide 2026. Gambero Rosso gave it one fork in 2020.
The double-height room once housed a bank. Pillars rise to an ornate ceiling, the walls are grey, and bright-pink lampshades dangle beneath a large central chandelier. A baroque fresco covers part of one wall. The kitchen serves from breakfast to dinner, mostly to an Edinburgh crowd.
Trofiette arrives with sausage, cremini mushrooms, dried porcini, cream, rocket and Parmesan. Rump of Highland lamb comes with cannellini purée, pan-fried puntarella and salsa verde. Sweet options include tiramisu, panettone al forno, gelati and sorbetti. The all-Italian wine list opens at £25.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
History
Quite the ace to have up your sleeve when you’re looking for somewhere casual, this dramatic double-height space, a former banking hall, houses a true urban eatery, an all-day Italian caffè . While busy and buzzy, the room feels classy: soaring pillars, ornate ceiling, grey walls, striking bright-pink dangling lampshades, massive central chandelier, and a lively baroque fresco covering part of one wall. It ‘feels special’ and feeds the mainly Edinburgh crowd from breakfast to dinner, whether snacking, just having a drink, enjoying one dish or more. Any time and any dish will do, whether it’s a plate of trofiette pasta with sausage, cremini mushrooms, dried porcini, fresh cream, rocket and Parmesan, or rump of Highland lamb with cannellini purée, pan-fried puntarella and salsa verde. If you’re into the sweet side of things, Contini’s tiramisu is the ultimate soothing treat, although other equally indulgent temptations beckon – from panettone al forno to gelati and sorbetti. Liquid refreshment covers all bases too, with the good-value all-Italian wine list opening at £25.
1 Forchetta
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