These 5 Dalry restaurants saved me from cooking every night!
Fed up with dining spots with limited menus, bland dishes, and a lack of special diet options? That was me months ago. As a hands-on mum, I enjoy cooking for my family at home. But sometimes, I just don’t have the energy for it.
Once a week, I want to eat something fun and different—but still accessible in Dalry, where we live. This is why I scoured the internet to find the best spots and make reservations in advance. Even my 3 boys loved my top picks as we’ve tried them all!
So whether you’re a parent, date planner, professional, or tourist, you’re in for a real treat. My kids and I reviewed some of the top Dalry restaurants in Edinburgh below.
How We Chose The Best Dalry Restaurants
1. Locanda de Gusti
Address: 102 Dalry Rd, Edinburgh
Phone: +44 131 346 8800, [email protected]
Business hours:
- Mon-Wed: 5:30pm – 10:00pm
- Thu-Fri: 12:30pm – 3:30pm, 5:30pm – 10:00pm
- Sat: 12:30pm – 10:00pm
- Sun: Closed
Locanda de Gusti is a stylish Dalry restaurant known for its traditional Southern Italian or Naples-inspired cuisine.
Right off the bat, we liked its contemporary look with rustic accents, giving off a warm and cosy vibe for a date or a big family celebration.
For us, its star dishes are all’astice (lobster) and carne del giorno (slow-cooked meat of the day). And while there are a bunch of wines, we appreciate the non-alcoholic options, like sparkling water and soda.
We also love that there are many desserts! You can go for a classic vanilla panna cotta (sweetened cream, milk, and gelatin dessert) with pistachio cream topping or a crunchy cannolo (tubular pastry with ricotta and citrus).
It’s also great for us that this spot serves a good range of gluten-free dishes. Vegans can also be catered to, but we suggest notifying the staff in advance.
On the flip side, the maximum time to dine here is only 2 hours. This means you’ll need to be on time for your booking, and then leave at the required time.
If you’re browsing through its website menu in advance, also note that this is only a sample. There’s no guarantee that all these dishes will be available when you visit.
Had a Great Time
“Had a great time at this restaurant, the Pasta was beautiful, tasted just like it had been made especially for me. And I really have no idea where the tomatoes were from, but wow they were the best that I have ever tasted!”
– Mr. Timothy Turner, Google Review
Perfectly Seasoned and Cooked
“This does not look like the restaurant that you will fall in love with. It looks like a basic tratoria but the food is awesome, and the staff will do anything to help. We shared a grilled fish platter and it was the best fish course I have had in many years. Served with fresh salad and bread – perfectly seasoned and cooked. I will be back – if I can get a table!”
– Mr. Nick Shell, Google Review
2. First Coast
Address: 97-101 Dalry Rd, Edinburgh
Phone: +44 131 313 4404, [email protected]
Business hours:
- Mon-Tue: 5:00pm – 10:00pm
- Wed-Sat: 12:00pm – 10:00pm
- Sun: Closed
First Coast is a casual, bistro-style Scottish restaurant loved for its locally sourced ingredients and bold flavours.
Due to its inviting atmosphere, we believe it’s great for birthdays and special dates. You can book a private room here for you and your crew.
Depending on your budget, we appreciate that there are set menus or value deals too, as well as 2- to 3-course meals. So no worries if you have a big appetite.
As for the grub, we like the Scottish Aberdeen Angus sirloin steak. If you’re into seafood, we’re all for the fresh fish delivered here as well.
To end on a sweet note, we say try the classic sticky toffee pudding or something new (if you’re a tourist) with the jam roly-poly—this one’s a traditional British dessert made of suet or ‘shredded animal fat’ pastry spread with jam and custard.
Moreover, we believe many would love that this spot offers vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Besides regular menu items, there are some gluten-free desserts and bread baked in-house too!
What’s more, we’re stoked that this place is dog-friendly! No need to leave your pups alone at home.
Nevertheless, a customer we talked to mentioned that the cooking level for the steak here can be inconsistent. There are occasional order delays as well.
Pleasant Atmosphere
“Dishes prepared with fresh ingredients and meticulous attention to detail. The service is friendly and helpful, creating a pleasant atmosphere that makes you want to return. The soup of the day is excellent, the fries are perfectly crispy, and the breaded fish is well-done. I definitely recommend it.”
– P P.P, Google Review
Beautiful Food and Excellent Service
“Went on our last night in Edinburgh, they managed to sneak us in without a reservation which we are very thankful for! Beautiful food and excellent service! The Sticky Toffee Pudding with Ice Cream was fantastic! We will definitely be back!”
– Ms. Fernando Vieira, Google Review
3. Pizzeria 1926
Address: 85 Dalry Rd, Edinburgh
Phone: +44 131 337 5757, [email protected]
Business hours: Mon-Sun: 12:00pm – 10:00pm
Looking for a tasty, quick bite? Pizzeria 1926 is a laid-back, no-fuss restaurant serving traditional Napoli-inspired pizzas with lots of creative toppings. We’re a fan of its pizzas, known for their pillowy, chewy crust too.
It’s also the only pizzeria in Scotland to be a member of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN) or The True Neapolitan Pizza Association. For us, that’s a pretty impressive feat, making me trust its chef’s cooking even more.
There are many popular pizzas here too, but we recommend the Meret (Parma ham and burrata cheese), Maradona (salami, beef steak, pork sausage, and so on), and Lozano (porcini or edible mushroom cream, rocket, burrata, and so on).
And while there are a few desserts, we reckon you can’t go wrong with the classic tiramisu (espresso-soaked ladyfingers dessert). Or, you can always go for the torta ricotta e pistacchio (cake with ricotta cheese and pistachios).
Depending on your needs, this spot has dine-in, takeaway, and delivery options. We think you can never truly miss out on the pizzas here!
Nonetheless, we noticed that its menu lacks pictures. If you can’t speak or read Italian, it might take longer for you to order. We suggest studying the menu at home before visiting for a more efficient experience.
Worth It
“Delicious pizza, friendly staff Book in advance, when i went it was fully booked, had to walk home in the rain w/ my pizza, but worth it nonetheless 🤌🏻”
– Mr. Alwi, Google Review
Very Good
“Nice place with a good atmosphere. Had a good pizza and a very good affogato. Molto bene❤️”
– Mr. Christopher Kjær, Google Review
4. Kuzina
Address: 84 Dalry Rd, Edinburgh
Phone: +44 131 225 6066
Business hours: Mon-Sun: 12:00pm – 10:00pm
Want a good mix of taste and tradition? Kuzina is a Dalry dining spot that showcases street food from the streets of Greece.
For us, dining here is a great way to learn about Greece since you’ll get most of its classic staples. Think gyros (thinly cooked meat), souvlaki (little skewer), kebabs (roasted meat), and halloumi (semi-hard, unripened cheese).
Dessert-wise, we bet you’ll like either the classic baklava (phyllo or thin pastry dough layered dessert) or a vibrant portokalopita (orange cake). Alternatively, you can always go for ice cream.
We also believe these options are great for grabbing a quick takeaway for your Netflix binge or chill party with friends.
Plus, it’s handy for us that this restaurant provides voucher deals via itison (a Scottish daily deals and events site) if you want to save more.
But during peak hours, it can feel a tad cramped in here. We recommend booking in advance to prevent this.
Delicious, Fresh, and Fragrant Food
“A great, intimate restaurant with very good food. I enjoyed it. It was delicious, fresh, and fragrant. First of all, the waiter who served us had such a beautiful smell that it probably warms your heart when you know that you’re being served by a real person. Very clean and tidy. The food, getting back to the topic of food, was delicious. The chicken kebab was delicious, the whole plate that we ordered for £23 could easily have been eaten by three people because it was really big. The salads were delicious. I wholeheartedly recommend it.🫶”
– Ewidomi PoKra3105, Google Review
Excellent
“Excellent. Fresh food. The more traditional authentic dishes were particularly good. Will definitely go again.”
– Ms. Lizzy Smith, Google Review
5. The Clock Cafe
Address: 125 Dalry Rd, Edinburgh
Phone: +44 131 337 7643, [email protected]
Business hours: Mon-Sun: 8:00am – 9:00pm
The Clock Cafe is among the best brunch coffee shops or bistros in Dalry. We’re all for its broad selection of finger foods for casual bites.
It offers burgers, wraps, sandwiches, and paninis (an Italian grilled sandwich). Fitness buffs can find some vegetarian and vegan selections too! There are also several desserts, like ice cream, cakes, scones, and other tray bakes.
In our view, this dining spot feels very welcoming. This place might look small from the outside, but we love that there’s actually more space inside. You can go to the basement for more seats.
We also have to give it to this spot when it comes to accessibility—it’s open every day! Whether you’re craving a hearty meal or a pint throughout the day.
And if you plan to order online, we recommend checking its website. You can get a voucher to give you 10% off!
Despite that, some menu items aren’t always available. And though we think the sweets selection looks fairly decent, we feel there aren’t many signature or elaborate desserts here that stand out either.
Great Spot
“Nice, cozy spot for tasty scotish food. Grab a window table and watched edinburgh come to life. The traditional breakfast was cooked great, giving me . Try of both haggis and beans for breakfast. Great spot”
– Mr. Nathan Rains, Google Review
My Favourite
“The clock cafe is my favourite! The coffee is delicious, the food is amazing and affordable! One of the few cafes left which has great food and services. The staff are wonderful and welcoming. I always leave with a smile on my face!”
– Ms. Amelia Mackay, Google Review