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    Gaia

    4.1 (18 reviews)
    ModerateItalian, Delis
    Open 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Gaia Photos

    GAIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Proper Deli's are hard to find in Edinburgh, most are just the same cold cuts you can get in any supermarket, cheaply seasoned and pre-cut into slices thinner than your hair. Not here. What a rare question, I almost had a stroke when I was asked. "How much of a slice would you like?" Judging by first glance at the meat selection, a hell of a lot. I took home the thickest chunk of Salami I've ever seen and some unknown polish sausage I was recommended. Both cuts came to about £5, but trust me it's worth it. They also had a great selection cheese as well, try the Provolone when you visit!

    This Italian deli and coffee shop is the answer to my Yelping prayers, because wandering around the streets alone scouting out awesome places to go can be hungry work. And if you're anything like me, you like to go somewhere inconspicuous because its a bit embarrassing to sit alone. Nae pals, as they say. Serving coffees, pastries, wraps, paninis and pastas, the selection of lunches here are great, and the seating is cosy, and intimate, making it the perfect place for lunch for one. I had a lovely creamy coffee with a tuna melt panini, not very Italian but I just said the first thing that came to mind, and I'm glad I did. It was delicious. It also has a lovely deli counter at the back, and the smells are enough to entice you in for some cheesy or meaty goodness. A definite highlight in Leith!

    One of the many pasta of the day so good!
    Justin G.

    Mamma Mia! This place was excellent! Went in today because I have been on the hunt for an Italian Deli I can haunt and hangout at like a Mafioso. Anyways this place had almost everything I was looking for. First off let me state its more like a little cafe with a deli case thats not to big. It was busy when I went in and almost all the tables were full for such a small place. First thought to myself was " this place must be good" and it was. I ordered one of the daily pastas they have and for the amount of food for the price it was perfecto! The food came out real quick and I eagerly stuffed my face. Looking around the place it has a little cold case were you can buy soft drinks, cheese, pre-made paninis, and other italian goodies. On the opposite side there is the dry stock with olive, oil, pasta, and tons of other items I wish I had bought. After my pasta lunch I had an espresso which was good as well. Was not burnt and quite flavorful. The only problem I had was all the cooks and guys behind the deli were busy with a distributor who was showing them a full ham, slicing off pieces. GIVE ME SOME!!! haha no the problem was they were so busy with that they forgot to bring my espresso out to me and I had to remind them but otherwise a great place! I ended up going home with a big spicy salami and some ricotta cheese I plan on making pumpkin stuffed manicotti with but thats for another day. SO if you like your pasta and coffee and other italian goods this place is a good place to stop at. Don't expect everything there like gellato and a bakery but instead good homemade food, cheap prices, and decent espresso. I am a fan and as my quest for the best italian deli in Edinburgh continues I will be continuing to come here for the food and cheap prices.

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    Authentic Italian cappucinos, always from a friendly face. Great spot to pop in for your coffee if you live on/along Leith Walk.

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    16 years ago

    I love Italian delis. This is a good one. Beware the chilli paste in the panini - oof!

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    Gaia Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Gaia

    Gaia offers a superb selection of panini, antipasti snacks, Italian cured meats, cheeses, jarred vegetables and pasta dishes.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    The Edinburgh Larder - Scottish Breakfast

    The Edinburgh Larder

    4.5(347 reviews)
    1.0 miRoyal Mile, Old Town, Newington
    ££

    Wow... this was one of the best breakfast spots on our 2-month trip! We were there in early…read moreSeptember and had to wait only about 5-10 minutes for a table. The food was absolutely delicious! My porridge was so hearty and yummy, I wanted to lick the bowl. My spouse's eggs benedict dish was also fantastic, and you can tell they use very fresh, high quality ingredients. The way they serve the meals in little stainless steel lunch boxes is adorable. My chai tea latte with oat milk was fantastically spicy and not too sweet. The server was friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and always nearby, so it was easy to ask for our check when we were ready. And the inside of the restaurant had a warm, cozy feel. I would gladly eat every breakfast here the next time we're in Edinburgh!

    This place seems to be very popular and know it. At first glance, it's a cute, cozy, and humble…read morecafe. Everyone there was very nice; service was good. When it came to ordering, I got an Iced Latte and a Buttery Bap. The menu is a bit difficult to decipher, as it was confusing how much or how little can be added to it and at what cost. The menu said I could only pick one filling, but when I asked I was informed that I could pick an unlimited amount. I'm glad I trusted my instinct and went with just two: Veggie Haggis and Tattie Scones. Both of these were truly delicious. However, there was an extra charge for the second filling. Prices for additions are listed at the bottom of the menu as if they were sides you could order separately. On the receipt, I also saw that I was charged 0.50 extra for ice. I don't understand why places charge extra to make an iced drink when overall you're actually getting less of the drink. Overall, everything tasted good and I'm glad I was able to try numerous Scottish classics.

    Photos
    The Edinburgh Larder - Table service

    Table service

    The Edinburgh Larder
    The Edinburgh Larder - Latte and a husband

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    Latte and a husband

    Valvona And Crolla - Linguine with Chanterelles

    Valvona And Crolla

    4.2(65 reviews)
    0.4 miNew Town
    ££

    It's been a very long time since I've been into Valvona & Crolla, and even longer since I've…read moreactually eaten here. However, the opportunity arose when attending a musical jazz gig during the Fringe Festival. Few people realise how far back the shop extends past the delicatessen part at the front - there's a whole restaurant and a small performance space back there! I'm happy to report that the standard of food is as high as ever, and the menu choices are a cut above your 'standard' Italian restaurant, of which there are several in this part of Edinburgh. I started with the Salmone - thinly sliced Scottish salmon with pickled cucumber, shaved beetroot, dill, capers, EVOO and lemon juice. A perfect palate cleanser before the main event. I followed this with a nice veggie linguine with Chanterelle mushrooms (I can never resist a good Chanterelle, and these were VERY good), then a rather indulgent Torta de Chioccolato (sans creme fraiche), which had a few attendant boozy Amarena cherries - yum! They have a select wine list - not hugely extensive but featuring many unfamiliar vintages; I was also impressed with the Ichnusa unfiltered lager from Sardinia; I only had a sample taste of that as we'd already committed to a Trabocchetto Pecorino, a nice fruity white with plenty of body. All in all, a delicious feast. Great service too. I would recommend booking in advance as it can be very busy, particularly during lunch hour.

    Walking in and the space is chock full. Just about everything one needs, even excellent vegetables…read more Wonderful staff so friendly and helpful, and they know their stock.

    Photos
    Valvona And Crolla - Torta di Chioccolato - oh my!

    Torta di Chioccolato - oh my!

    Valvona And Crolla - Salmone

    Salmone

    Valvona And Crolla - Great food

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    Great food

    Deli Fresco

    Deli Fresco

    4.4(14 reviews)
    0.7 miNew Town
    £

    Don't miss this gem. The people who worked there were some of the most engaging and friendly people…read moreI have met. Truly great people, and not just one of them, all 3. It's the kind of place you feel like there is a positive vibe both from a service perspective and from an employment perspective that pervades the essence of the service. But also, these were just lovely people. The food was phenomenal. I had the hot italian panini toasted and my daughter had the millionaires shortbread (which means covered in caramel and chocolate!) Both were terrific. The sandwich was hot, both in temperature and spice levels, with a great texture, an herby pesto, gooey cheese, and delicious hot peppers. I was convinced to give the Irn Brew a shot. "As Scottish as haggis!" he said. I'm not sure I loved the Scottish soda but I was glad for the adventure and the Scottish experience! In an area popular with tourists there are often many places where the service is not amazing because they know you may never come back and their employers are focused on churning as many people through as possible. In those places it often seems more time is spent on the descriptions of the food and advertising than the food and experience itself. Or, there are chains, like the Starbucks literally right there. This was not the case. This place was special. The food and the people compete for excellence (although the people win in my opinion!) If you miss this, you are missing out. We are leaving the early tomorrow and I want to try and get there for breakfast! Just terrific.

    This is a nice little place to grab a bite to eat. The people who worked here were nice. The smoked…read moresalmon, cream cheese, and avocado sandwich was great. This is located across from St. James Centre on Leith Street.

    Photos
    Deli Fresco
    Deli Fresco
    Deli Fresco

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    Made In France

    Made In France

    4.4(7 reviews)
    1.8 miTollcross, West End
    £

    I have been coming here for years now and it never fails to deliver. The food is amazing and I…read moreposting this too close to lunch time and I am too far away to be thinking about how good there sandwiches are. I always opt for the soup and a goats cheese/peppers bagette. The bagettes are rustic and the cheese peppers are a perfect combo to this.My friend always grabs a Croque Madame, whcih here is bechamel and cheese done over a grill. She is never a big eater so I always fall air to half... yep she is the perfect lunch companion! The coffee is the main reason I keep coming back large cups of americano with swaths of "la crema". They really know there food and drinks here. The couple that own the place are the nicest people you could meet. Thumbs up from me.

    Made in France is far more than your average deli. The owners have sourced everything in the shop…read morethemselves from independent French suppliers to give the customers a far more authentic French experience. Real Toulouse sausages and Raclette cheese hang from the shelves between bottles of wine and vinegar. For me though one of the nicest things I discovered were the tiny pots of apple puree that you get in every French supermarket but are impossible to find over here. Basically it's baby food, mushed up apples in a squeezy pot, but wow it just tastes so good! It was only on my second or third visit here that I also discovered that Made in France hire out Fondue and Raclette sets too. Having never had the urge to hold a fondue party (I lie, I always have the urge but I fear it would be a habit I couldn't quit) I'm yet to try one of these sets out myself but I bet it would be a lot of fun. The shop prepares the cheese for you so all you have to do is melt it and dip stuff in. Cheesy deliciousness!

    Bona Deli

    Bona Deli

    4.2(18 reviews)
    1.6 miNewington
    ££

    Having just got back from my first trip to Poland, I am a little bit obsessed with the cuisine…read more Okay, so preparing it at home when the scottish rain is pelting down doesn't even come close to comparing to sitting outside one of the cafés lining the main square in Krakow's old town, it's as close as I'm going to get and Bona Deli stocks pretty much every Polish foodstuff there is. Unlike most delis, they don't feel the need to ridiculously overprice things just because they're "independent". And the value is matched not only by the authenticity but also by the friendly service, you'll always get a smile and a hello when you go in.

    Bona Deli is a fantastic delicatessen, selling predominately Polish food in the centre of busy…read moreNicolson Street. I go into this store quite a lot in the mornings for my breakfast on my way to classes to buy their pastries which are simply gorgeous. They have a good selection of different Polish foods such as gherkins, sausages and, of course, vodka! They also sell herbs and spices such as dill and caraway seeds which can sometimes be difficult to find in the larger food stores. Bona Deli sell the traditional deli food, with an excellent selection of meats, fish, cheese and fresh bread. However, with this wide range of food also come the usual expensive deli prices so I tend to think that many of their goods are overpriced. The staff are always smiling, polite and willing to help you find what you are looking for.

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    Bona Deli
    Bona Deli
    Bona Deli

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    Gaia - italian - Updated May 2026

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