Contini

Our story starts over a hundred years ago when our families arrived here as immigrants from rural Italy. They had been farmers but, without any land, they decided to make a living from the other thing they knew and loved – good food. From ice cream and fish and chip shops, to an Italian delicatessen, our family have been honoured to serve our customers on the east coast of Scotland for over a century. We use the very best local produce and a huge helping of Italian passion for hospitality, sourcing, quality and simplicity.

In 2004 we started a new chapter when we opened Contini George Street in a converted banking hall. From day one, it has delivered fresh, seasonal and authentic Italian cooking.

We’re proud to call ourselves Italian Scots and the best way to prove this is by having somewhere to serve great food. In 2009, we opened The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant at the Scottish National Gallery on Edinburgh’s bustling Princes Street, which has recently reopened, following a full refurbishment. Here we’re passionately committed to sustainable practices and buy direct from a trusted network of over 70 Scottish artisan suppliers. We’re proud to be a hard working family business blessed with wonderful staff and suppliers. In fact we still buy from some of the producers our grandparents worked with. Tradition and taste really make our business what it is.

We change our menus to reflect the seasons across all our venues to keep them fresh and exciting. These are supplemented by produce from our own one-acre Kitchen Garden on the outskirts of Edinburgh which provides us with herbs, vegetables and berry fruit.

In 2014 we embarked on a new food adventure with Cannonball House at the very top of the Royal Mile. Here we have created a real destination Scottish restaurant with an iconic backdrop that serves the best Scottish food with stunning views of the Edinburgh skyline and our next door neighbour Edinburgh Castle. Cannonball was quickly named winner of the Eating & Drinking Guide “Newcomer of the Year” and “Best Restaurant Experience” as part of the Visit Scotland Taste Our Best Awards. Cannonball Bar, serving over 150 Scotch whiskies, opened in May 2016 and has become a firm favourite whisky bar for locals as well as visitors from further afield.

For private dining and exclusive hire of our venues, please contact Contini Events.