Our hotel referred us to this restaurant within walking distance. They even called and made a reservation just in case they were busy. What a find! Food came out hot and delicious. I had lasagna and my friend had a chicken dish. Both were full of flavor. Then we decided to treat ourselves to dessert since they are famous fir their gelato. Wow! Dessert was even better than the meal. Not sure when I will be back to Edinburgh but I will definitely return here if so. read more

We went here for dessert as they were noted for their gelato based desserts. The guy behind the dessert counter was nice but the rest of the crew seemed rushed and not to happy to have us eat in with just desserts. I ordered the Haggis Ravioli as it was on my list of delicacies to eat in Edinburgh but the rest of our orders were the sweet stuff. We got the Affogato served with espresso in a moka pot which was a first time for us. The crepe and the chocolate caked served with gelato were even better. The main restaurant has Italian caricatures and murals which was a nice touch. The secondary dining area (The Hispaniola) had feels of a Spanish pirate ship which was odd for an Italian themed restaurant. The latter was the site of the Rutherford's Bar (1834-2007) frequented by famous clientele and then was transformed into a Treasure Island themed restaurant. Food was really good. I'll even come back when in Edinburgh. Service could use a little work though. read more

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so damn good hagis and whiskey italian food?!!! cmon do u need more of a review?! so good dear god read more

Ciao Roma - haggis - Italian Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

We did walk past Ciao Roma a while ago and had (excellent) gelato. We decided to book. Seated in the upstairs "Treasure Island" area the service is friendly, the atmosphere is good and the food and wine are excellent. We had a variety of nice starters, amazing mains and some great desserts, mainly gelato based. An excellent Italian and worth coming back to. read more

Giuseppe Arcimboldo's work decorates CIAO ROMA, an Italian cafe that was perfect for getting dessert for the kiddo on a frosty night in Edinburgh. My daughter loved choosing an authentic Italian dessert and I loved the art. A memorable mural wraps around the restaurant. The food options served looked delicious. This little taste of Italy in Scotland was relaxing and fun. read more

Ciao Roma - Fabulous mural! - Italian Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Apparently, Robert Louis Stevenson, used to visit a bar on this property. As a result, the whole restaurant has a Treasure Island/pirate theme. Also, the Italian food is surprisingly good! We had bruschetta, burrata, chicken diavolo, and several pasta dishes. It was all good. Desserts were also a highlight and interesting the the reviews photos are all about the desserts! They make a big deal about birthdays, so the atmosphere is warm and fun. We were expecting a weird theme restaurant with crappy food. Instead, we got a theme restaurant with solidly good and authentic food. I would definitely return with a group for another fun night. read more

Ciao Roma - Theme: Robert Louis Stevenson with decent Italian food - Italian Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The food is amazing and the restaurant is lovely. It was one of the top places we dined at. I highly recommend it! read more

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Very nice! I had the special as did MC. It tasted great but a few shells were not opened which I didn't think they should be served to us. Other than that the wine was great as well as the service. I'd give it another try. read more

First timer (Edinburgh, Scotland). A-M-A-Z-I-N-G I forgot the name of what I had (look at the pics) but I asked if all the ice cream could be rum-raisin and they said YES!!! I have never called a pastry this before but it was sultry. Also, the sell code with liquor. And I had the one with rum. I am not a coffee person but I will start doing it if I get the recipe!!! The service was great as well. read more

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Visiting from the USA and staying at the Scotsmen Hotel, we asked for a dinner recommendation and we were given the Ciao Roma. At the restaurant, the service was very good and the food was fantastic. The owners take great pride in serving A+ quality food and a very nice variety. I give the restaurant 10 out of 10. read more

Fantastic great food. Service incredible. Do not miss this venue. Be certain to find Antwan

I'm surprised that Ciao Roma doesn't have better reviews. The sticky toffee pudding I had here was probably one of my favorite things I ate in my five days in Edinburgh, and they had hands-down the best latte out of the many coffees I drank while I was there. The sticky toffee pudding is amazing, perfectly sweet with not too much overpowering flavor. The caramel and the ice cream complement it perfectly and I wish I could eat it more often. We also got the Oreo Delight, which is a parfait/sundae with chocolate and vanilla ice cream and an Oreo-like cookie. It was also great - I loved the Belgian chocolate ice cream especially. As mentioned above, I got a latte that was wonderful. The milk was steamed just right and the coffee ended up being a perfect complement to the sweet desserts we got. Service was a little slow, I will say that, but overall I had a great experience at Ciao Roma. read more

Ciao Roma - Oreo Delight - Italian Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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This is my dependable 'go-to' Italian restaurant when I'm in the area, and over the years I have visited often. The prices are reasonable, the food is always good, and the service is friendly and efficient. I usually opt for a pasta dish, garlic bread on the side and a bottle of Peroni. This time, the waiter suggested I try a new local lager that they had in, an Edinburgh brew called Paolozzi (after the sculptor). Jolly nice it was too. The garlic bread wasn't quite as nice as I remembered - in my mind it was crusty slices and not the limp thick white slice that turned up, but no matter. It was tasty enough, as was the fettucine vongole (gotta love those vongoles!). While you're eating, check out the mural on the wall and try to identify all the famous faces. read more

ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! We booked an apartment across the street and stopped in for dinner. We were a party of 6 and they were very accommodating and friendly. Every staff member was straight from Italy. This place has won awards for being the best Italian in Edinburgh and they certainly deserve all the awards. We have tried several items on their menu and everything was delicious and made perfectly! And please do not skip their desserts! read more

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Orders: pasta& pineapple juice Fee: £ 10.57 Waiting time: 5mins Taste: it was my birthday. In China, eating noodle is a traditional celebration,which signs healthy and live longer. I intended to have a sitting dinner. Because of the next music show, I have to take away and got changes. Thus, it took 2 hours that I had my pasta. I forgot the pasta's name, but it was a long and flat form. It was not too soft or hard to chew. I think it looks like north Chinese noodle. Then, I choose tomato source , which totally mixed into the pasta. The taste is fresh for me , cuz it different other pasta. Sorry I don't know why. I guess it is because of the source. Atmosphere: I got there early, so only me sitting there for dinner. The tablecloth is yellow and red spot on it. I celebrated my birthday alone and waited my dinner. A guy was painting on the wall. Suddenly, I thought I was just like carrier( the role of sex and the city) who was waiting her friend to come that Italian restaurant for celebrating her 35th birthday. You know, that feeling. Hoping someone can show up but finally not. Then, I felt happy. Cuz I maybe act my favorite book ' s main role. I think this experience will leave in the mind.cuz it was movie style and special. Marks: I gave 5 star. Cuz that day was meaning to me. So I have to do good to my day. BTW, love the Italian style. Ciao, ciao. My last me! read more

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I came here because I was looking for something sweet to end my day, and I'd seen the gelato in the window. The problem here was the attitude of the woman who was working the counter, or the restaurant's policy, or both. There were a few flavors that sounded potentially interesting, and so as is typical of EVERY other gelateria I've been to, I asked if I could sample them. Nope. No samples. Why not? No reason I was given, but the server clearly didn't care. I ended up caving and buying a small gelato--I honestly don't remember what it was at this point--and it was OK. Not even close to being in the league of Prime Gelato in London or Capogiro in Philly (still the best), both of which will let you sample whatever you'd like, so that you know you'll be happy with your purchase. Ciao Roma, sorry, but there are far too many better and friendlier options to return here if I'm in Edinburgh. read more

Around Southbridge can seem like Italian restaurant central. However this isn't a bad thing at all. Edinburgh might not be as well known for its Italians, compared to the likes of Glasgow, but it still has a few gems. They might not be world renowned but some remain very memorable. Keep this in mind when you visit Ciao Roma. Ciao Roma is decorated in a pseudo classical motif. "Roman" statues and figures adorn the walls and corners of this large restaurant. Whilst not original, this theme does give the restaurant a distinct aesthetic, if not somewhat taken away by some more out of place paintings and wall decorations. Despite its size Ciao Roma is a touch crowded, with a lot of tables packed in. This reveals what is at its heart, a reasonable, family friendly, unpretentious restaurant. The staff are typically not only friendly but carry a chatty Italian charm. It's sometimes hard to tell whether they are genuine or if they are in fact displaying well develop stage personas! One of the restaraunt's greatest charms is the upper level, called the Hispania. This part of the restaraunt is no different in what its serves but is decorated differently. Instead of the naked classical forms displayed in the main part, this section of the restaurant has a seven-seas, 18thc century pirate theme (presumably Spanish). It's really quite odd, but all the better for it. Pirate skeletons sit at tables and gazing sinisterly over the land lubber diners. Hanging up above you notice a cage, imprisoned inside another skeleton, peering down. This is clearly a favourite for children and those with child at heart. Keeping with its less flashy feel, Ciao Roma sells Italian standards, with a range of pasta and pizzas, as well as a few more original dishes. Prices are reasonable and a student discount is offered. A distinct restaurant, great for a family meal, student treat or just for some comforting Italian food. read more

Ciao Roma - Italian Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I Love Ciao Roma!! I have been coming here for years with my family, and most recently came here last month for my graduation meal. There is always a really great atmosphere inside the restaurant, with really authentic Italian decor inside, and Italian music playing in the background. Ciao Roma's menu offers a huge selection of authentic Italian meals including pizzas, pastas, risotto and meat dishes. I really adore their pizzas as they have a super thin base that is always perfectly cooked with no burnt bits, and they are a really good size and will fill you up. They offer a huge selection of different pizza toppings, and they don't skimp on the toppings or cheese which is always a bonus. The last time I came here I ordered a pasta dish, gnocchi with pesto and asparagus, and it was utterly beautiful - really well cooked and there was plenty of it, but not too much to make you feel stodgy. Ciao Roma also serves delicious starters, their roasted peppers are especially amazing, and their desert menu looks very mouth watering and enticing. The prices are really reasonable here, with most main meals costing around £8. The staff are all Italian and highly friendly and welcoming. If you are in the mood for a great Italian meal, Ciao Roma is the place to go. read more

Ciao Roma - Italian Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Probably a 4-4.5 star establishment but I want to counteract some of the unfair reviews. The pasta was good--bordering on excellent-- but I like my noodles a bit more al dente. Pizza is obviously doppo zero flour and delicious. Plenty of gluten free options. I don't think the gelato is house made anymore-- the flavor is just not there. Lacks that vibrancy of flavor of other gelaterias. I've had better in Edinburgh-- but it's definitely more than passable. Service is better than most in The U.K. They're certainly attentive and don't rush to get you out the door. We had a large party last time and never felt neglected even though the restaurant was packed. I've also come in during quiet times when I've been in a rush and was served very quickly and courteously with just one other person. The thing that I love most about this restaurant is the atmosphere. The pirate themed Hispaniola room is a hoot and the lively Italian conversations are captivating. Definitely don't get a seat in that particular room after visiting Surgeon's Hall because at least one of the skeletons seems a bit too lifelike. read more

Everyone else got their meals first, even though we came and were seated before them. Ravioli was firm and not very good (and probably was the cause of a stomach ache for me and my son later in the evening). I really felt we were being treated differently and felt sorry for my son to have to experience that. read more

I have to confess, I'm still on a hunt for that perfect local Italian restaurant that everyone has - the one you go to when you can't be bothered to cook but can't justify going out for a swanky meal, or just where you go because you know it's always so good. Although I haven't found it yet in Edinburgh, Ciao Roma is definitely leading the pack after 4 years of living here. I ate here for a friend's birthday recently and I'd absolutely recommend it. For one thing, the service was excellent. You got the impression from the efficiency of it that they are used to handling big groups of girls with copious amounts of wine, and yet they were also very patient with us and didn't rush us at all. The menu isn't just the usual tired pizza/pasta list that you so often see; obviously they do offer all of these things but what struck me was how many risotto dishes on offer, as well and chicken/steak-based dishes. I went for a risotto with scallops, brandy, a good helping of garlic and roast peppers (£9.95), and it really was lovely. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is the price of the house wine, although it wasn't by any means extortionate it was more than you'd expect in a cheap-and-cheerful italian. That said, if you're looking for an Italian place in this neck of the woods, then you could do an awful lot worse than go here. read more

Ciao Roma - Italian Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I have been going to Ciao Roma for years, to this one and the other branch in Perth. The service is always great, the staff are helpful and good at recommending dishes. It is good for a girly lunch or an evening meal. The menu is quite extensive and includes the usual pizza and pasta as well as salads, chicken dishes, seafood, steak and risotto. There is a good choice of starters as well, my problem is I can never decide what to have because everything looks so good. The pizzas are tasty, with delicious crispy crust. I also have enjoyed a sausage pasta dish and the gnocchi here. I never manage to finish though as the portions are quite generous. Great little Italian offering a wide range of delicious dishes at very good prices. read more

Ciao Roma - Courtesy of Ciao roma Website - Italian Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The server had a bad attitude. He was fired from multiple jobs in Italy and ended up in an Italian Restaurant in Edinburgh. The pasta was supposed to be homemade. I'm not sure. It wasn't cooked properly, very gummy and mushy. I think it was the owner sitting on a thrown in the center of the restaurant looking over his kingdom. The place is decorated by painted pictures of well know Italian. I understand Pavarotti but next to him was Al Capone. Give me a break. I heard Rigatoni's after the fact was better but didn't have time to check it out. One star says it all. read more

I had the spaghetti bolognese for lunch. The food was not bad at all and was enjoyable. Unfortunately, it took 30 minutes just to get my food delivered. It took another 15 minutes to get the check back. The staff were also not very attentive as I kept trying to wave them down for water. Overall, food was good but the wait can be long and service is lacking. read more

We wanted to like this place, but from the start that just wasnt going to happen. We had made a reservation, but when we walked in the place was already quite busy and it was clear that they hadnt reserved any particular table for us. We were put in a completely uncomfortable space which was wedged into a corner, RIGHT in front of a cold entrance door and backed up against another table. It was so awkward we eventually asked to move, which I dont think they were too pleased with. The atmosphere at this place is also quite strange. One room is sort of gaudy faux Italian while the other is pirate-themed. I think this is the entrance for 'Hispanola', which is also apparently the same place. Weird. I kept staring at this poor couple next to us who were sharing their table with full-sized pirate figures. Did I say weird? Add to that it seemed they were a bit understaffed and the staff wasnt particularly friendly. Also they seemed a bit stressed based on the fact that they were very busy with the pre-theatre rush. Sadly, the food was also underwhelming. I am not joking when I say that our main courses came out to the table in less than a minute after we ordered them. LESS THAN A MINUTE. Something is wrong with that. I get that they were probably pumping out food fast for the theatre crowd, but it should not take 30 second to make, plate and serve your food. Thats a bad sign. My homemade pasta had clearly been sitting out a while and the seafood sauce was really underwhelming, as was my partners lasagne. It was just... blah. In the end we just wrote up the experience to another bad British Italian. Disappointing as some of the YELPers here seem to like it so much, but based on this experience we will not be back or recommend it. read more

I've only had ice cream from here... apparently the winners of "Best Ice Cream in Scotland" from the Highland Show.. they don't disappoint! Their ice cream is all made in house and they are happy to let you have tasters before you make your final choice. Definitely pop in for a scoop or two!! read more

My girlfriend and I stopped in because we were on our way out of town after Hogmanay and looking for lunch. I was happy with the food, but she thought it was the best place ever. I thought the service was great...the people were so friendly, considerate and helpful! However, if you're used to London or the US (like I am), any service in Edinburgh seems friendly and helpful...so take this as you wish. I thought the food was great, the atmosphere was decent and the people were so nice. Price wasn't bad either. She had the spaghetti bolognese (I had half of that) and we both loved it. I had something I can't remember, but I think it was more of a white sauce. It was tasty, but I liked hers better. The traditional Bruschetta was VERY good. read more

Okay, I know, I know, three stars, not exactly conclusive, but hear me out here. Firstly: the food was amazing, my pasta al forno was so good in fact that I have had several dreams about it that were sexier than my Josh Holloway dreams. And that's saying something. So, why the three stars? One word: service. I had reserved a table at 6 o'clock for me, my best friend and her ten year old son. Now, I had mentioned that we needed a quiet table, preferably somewhere at the back, out of the way, since we had someone with autism in our party. Upon arrival, the girl who seated us was extremely uncooperative. She took 15 minutes to discuss (or rather debate) with me on where we wanted to be seated. Despite the restaurant being very empty, and it being a Tuesday, she still gave me what I can only describe as a hard time getting seated. Eventually she placed us right next to the kitchen, in everyone's way, with people constantly buzzing by. Very, very poor service. The other problem was the general inattentivess of the staff. I understand, it's 6 o'clock, you're just getting started, and you wish you were somewhere else, anywhere. That, however, is NOT something the customer should notice! Would I recommend this restaurant as a result? No, no I would not. I would however to tell you to get their take-out pasta al forno. It's delicious. read more

Great meal, wine, and service. Staff was friendly and prompt. This was very good for the price. I had the Ribeye with peppercorn sauce as well as traditional sides...there's more to Italian than just pasta. Suggest hitting this place at OPT (old people time) 4-6 pm. Ciao read more

This scratches an itch. We came here for dinner before a show downstairs. It felt rather factory-like, with a lot of patrons and food whizzing out at a remarkable pace. Yes, it's good to have food quickly when you're in a rush but I guess you can't expect it to be lovingly crafted. The food was fine. I had carbonara, my boyfriend had some sort of risotto - I mean, totally acceptable, just totally forgettable too. I'd probably give it 3 stars if it wasn't for the off-putting decor. I don't mind the dodgy classical-style statues. It's more things like the tablecloths, which look so tacky that the entire restaurant looks like it isn't even presenting itself as mid-range. read more

This used to be my favorite production line Italian. It has recently expanded to take over premises in Drummond Street. I don't know if it is this or something else but the quality has gone through the floor. This is based not on one but three visits all of which were disappointing. We won't be back in a hurry - pity. read more

I always feel I am taking a big risk when I go to Italian restaurants as I often feel I am paying more than what the food is actually worth. This was no exception. I visited this place with a party of 6 for my flatmate's 21st birthday party as Italian food was the only food all of us liked. They actually have a pirate-themed section of the restaurant and asked to be seated there. The atmosphere of this area was pretty cool. There was a cage with a skeleton dangling from the ceiling and pirate statues all round. This might sound somewhat gimmicky - maybe it is but we loved it. The food was generally ok, but not amazing. We shared a selection of starters including garlic bread and mozzarella, pan delizio (breadsticks and bread with olive oil, garlic and chili dips) and bruschetta classica (bread with chopped tomatoes and herbs). The starters were downright disappointing - expensive for what you got. The bread with mozzarella did not even have garlic on it - it was just bread. We should have complained about it but didn't want to kick up a fuss. For my main course, I had 'Gnocchi Gorgonzola e Spinaci which was rather nice and I wolfed it down, being so hungry. I also tried my friend's 'Cannelloni' and it was rather tasty. It was nothing special though. I've had better Italian food elsewhere. Dessert was something I'd been looking forward to all night. I was going to get a sundae but instead opted for profiteroles. Biggest mistake. The profiteroles are not what I expected. These weren't filled with Chantilly cream as I expected but some weird sweet doughy stuff. Just didn't taste right and there was so little chocolate sauce. Yet again, I should have complained. The only reason I didn't was because my friend shared her sundae as she was too full. Even the sundae wasn't up to much. I was thoroughly disappointed. The service that night did not even redeem the food situation. My friend asked for a glass of water to go with her wine and must have asked for it at least 4 times until she actually got it. It was the same for 2 drinks we ordered later in the night. The restaurant wasn't that busy but the service was slow. You felt a little bit invisible after a while. The guy that served us was nice enough but wasn't that attentive. We were just very thankful that we were obtaining a student discount of 20% for the meal, otherwise I'd have been extremely cheated. We didn't leave much of a tip though as my friend rightfully pointed out the service was rubbish. read more

Came to visit Edinburgh this week and was referred to come eat at this restaurant. Brought my family of 6 and made a reservation and was delighted to eat here. The walls are painted of iconic Italian movie stars with surrounding Italian artifacts. The food was fantastic! All 6 of us to include our picky children loved it. From the chicken, ravioli, and spaghetti to the desserts was amazing. If your near by definitely pop your head in and have a meal! read more

A disaster. Don't get me wrong, the ice-cream is great and the coffee good. But the staff is terrible. They got so stressed when the six of us entered yo sit down for a quick coffee and ice-cream. MAYBE, I'll go here again for a take out. read more

Very delicious and great vegan options. Best Pizza we ate so far! The waiters were very nice and friendly. Greetings from Germany

fine little restaurant. We were there around 14 for dessert so not many people inside. The home made roasted hazelnut ice cream was so good! Totally a taste of hazelnut and milk. And the mocha, well tasted like choco but totally what I wanted. And service there was fast and always patient and polite. Wanna try all flavors of ice cream! read more

Admittedly we were here during the Festival, so service and quality is not expected to be high. This place is simply a place for people who never have decent Italian food, and are happy with something in the neighborhood of Italian. I'd suggest a tattie or chips in a local pub for your money. read more

This one is basically two restaurants joined together, Ciao Roma an Italian restaurant entered via South Bridge, and Hispaniola a pirate ship-themed restaurant entered via Drummond Street (completed with dummies of what look like undead pirates, Pirates Of The Carribean style). Both share the same staff and menus. The serving staff were nice enough but seemed to keep forgetting the names of the food they were serving and who ordered it. That would have been forgivable though, if the food was good. However, my gnocchi with seafood came with much of it still in shells, including scallops slammed shut (indicating that they may not have even been cooked properly). The ice cream was actually quite good (apparently it won awards) but the hit and miss (at best) starters and mains mean that, as a complete dining experience, this is somewhat lacking. For good Italian, go to La Favorita on Leith Walk instead. read more

Outstanding! Who knew we would find one of the best Italian meals we have ever had in Scotland! Service was terrific. The special tuna was fantastic. The bruschetta to start was amazing. They take their food seriously and the decor is fun and casual. Thank you! (Cleanest restrooms I've ever seen, too). read more

Contrary to its outside appearance, this restaurant is fairly large, spanning two floors. It is situated opposite the festival theatre, and definitely the best aspect is the prices - lunch is especially good value for money. Nice place to go, but not quite as good quality food as Ti Amo (very close by) which is a bit more expensive. read more