Caffe Lucano

Was going to an event in the National Library and popped in for some after work sustenence. Now called Lucano’s Kitchen, this is a bustling late night café bistro (I think open til 10pm) that was very accommodating of the lone diner. My time was short, so plumped for dessert and coffee. My cheesecake was light and the dulce de leche sauce on the side was amazing. Service was very pleasant and all the mains I saw coming out of the kitchen smelled great. Will definitely come back to try out something a bit more substantial or for late night coffee.

I’m not that often in here, but it’s a good choice if you just want a simple pasta dish without the full Italian restaurant experience.
They do good lunch deals too, although there’s usually too much cheese or dairy in everything for my lactose-​intolerant taste so I just stick to the soup.
In the mornings it’s pleasant to sit in the window seats by the counter with a coffee and a sticky while you peruse the papers or watch the world go by.

Came here for an early dinner when it was nearly empty but quickly filled up shortly after we arrived. The server was very friendly and genuine, a breath of fresh air after a day of travel. I ordered the sweet potato stuffed with quinoa, spinach and other various goodies. The flavors together were amazing, I’ve tried re-​creating it at home and just can’t! My friend and I shared a simple brownie sundae which was tasty as well. They had a huge catering order going out that evening which didn’t seem to affect our food order.

Had a very good lunch here.
wife had spaghetti bolognese which was delicious and i had a panini which was also very good. very good prices vs. the quality of food/​service. very un-​assuming place so when we had our delicious meal we were very happy we chose to eat here.

So I had a not fantastic experience here a while ago but decided to give it another go recently.
I’ve been for coffee and a pastry a few times recently and found the cappuccino to be quite delicious, the pastries pleasant but the macchiato rather disappointing. I think the coffee beans used were maybe a little old or too much water had been allowed through the machine.
However, today I had a really fantastic lunch there. We started off with a cappuccino since we technically hadn’t had breakfast (it was as good as normal) then swiftly moved on to a pasta and wine lunch.
I ordered the cavatelli with roast pork ragu’ and it was completely to my taste. All of their pasta is homemade, so it was nice and thick and definitely not overcooked (al dente all the way please!) and the sauce was lovely. Really tomato-​y, seasoned well and obviously made with fresh herbs. And the portion was huge! Kept me going all day.
My partner opted for the scialatielli with fresh mussels. Again, homemade, thick pasta. Very yummy. The sauce was nice too. Not too strong tasting of mussels and the addition of tarragon was quite unique but it definitely worked.
We had the house wine which was inexpensive and perfectly acceptable. Service was good, they were friendly and, even though our waiter dropped one of our glasses, no big deal was made of it. I hate when people fuss and apologise 7 times. It’s a nice place to sit too. Not too big, but not so small that you feel everyone can hear your conversation. And I liked the Italian maps etc. scattered around the place.
Overall, I would recommend this place for a nice plate of pasta for lunch or a quick bite to eat after work. I had a bad experience of the pizza a while back but I’d be definitely be willing to give it another go after my good experience today.

One of the best cafes in edinburgh. I’ve been going there for years and years. The first non smoking café. Long ago when smoking was still allowed inside. Superb food. Beautifully presented, love the pasta dishes. I find the portions good for the money charged. Genuine staff. And I think they still do half price pasteries after a certain time in the afternoon. Scrumptious. Very European. Like visiting the continent. Enjoy!

Like other reviewers before me I find this place a bit hit or miss.
It’s just round the corner from work so it’s often a go-​to for a decent coffee. I’ve tried it for lunch a few times but I find the service slow & the food overpriced given the other venues round about.
The coffees are definitely the best thing on their menu.

Oh my yummity yum. Caffe Lucano, your milkshake brings Cressida to the yard. Lemony milkshake deliciousness that was so thick I could not resist blowing down my straw to see how long the bubbles would take to surface. Yes indeedy. I shall be returning for more of this.
I shall also be returning to try pretty much every single thing on the menu, since it took me the length of the Cretaceous period to decide on risotto calabrese because everything looked so good. And judging by the standard of my risotto calabrese (and of my friend’s extraordinary risotto with rabbit ragout), I won’t be disappointed.
From the outside, this looks just kind a standard café — a bit clinical and basic, with the usual sneeze-​guard counter of pleasant looking cakes and a list of hot drinks. But we fell in here sort of on a whim and found a menu of wonders (luckily we didn’t see the entire blackboard-​wall of specials or we would never have reached a decision).
So why only three stars? Well, when we arrived, the waiter lad had his head stuck in a cupboard, blocking our entry, and took a long time to move. He was pretty dilatory with all the service and didn’t ever actually check up on us or offer to bring us more drinks. He just sort of shuffled around in his trainers and jeans. We were in there for more than two hours, so you’d think he’d have at least said something, but each time we needed something we just had to kind of wave.
But whatever. The food was yumtastic and oh, the milkshake. And they have a nice range of hot chocolates too. And the ice cream sundaes sounded awesome, if a little pricey. So, like I said, I’ll be back, and I look forward to it.

I had a bit of a chocolate OD here and so felt a bit sick when I left but it was totally my own fault. I did after all have a hot chocolate (hot chocolate is always made perfectly by Italians) which came with marshmallows and cream and i ALSO had a slice of chocolate tiffin. Yes, I’m a greedy little chocolate freak and know I’ll have to give it up at some point if I want to stay a size 10! My mum had the empire buscuit and a black coffee! I wouldn’t scream about the place but it was pretty good!

Pizza here is not exactly edible, unless you are not Italian, in which case you might even like it.
Pizza is not extremely difficult to make, and it is ridiculously cheap. For this reasons it should be twice as big and half as expensive.
And the topping, good Lord… that was so scarse that I thought it was a joke.

First of all, I am very skeptical about caffé lucano’s cake (for more information on Edinburgh’s mysterious homogenous cake, please check out my review of the elephant house). Aside from this, it’s quite expensive, and the price only becomes reasonable after 3pm when all cakes become half price.
I have only ever tried the pizza here, which my non-​Italian and Italian friends and I concluded was more like a biscuit than pizza. It was kind of nice, if you didn’t think of it as pizza, though for the price it was very small, and the topping was too sparse. I have heard hit and miss reviews of the food here, some people have said it’s a great place to get breakfast whilst others have said the pasta is cooked to death and they could make better food at home. For the same price I would rather go to Victoria across the road where you can get homemade pasta.
The staff are usually attentive, though this is very hit and miss. I have had very pleasant and very poor experiences here, though I have decided to disregard the latter in this review as I haven’t seen the people involved working here since.
The coffee is this place’s saviour. As well as decent Italian espresso, cappuccinos etc, Caffe Lucano is one of the only coffee shops in town to provide us with affogato (which literally means drowned, and consists of a scoop of vanilla ice cream immersed in an espresso coffee). I have this in Italy when it’s hot and I need an energy boost… Try it! The coffees come with a little caramel biscuit, which is really quite a nice touch.
To sum up, this has a great location, right near the royal mile and the University of Edinburgh. I really like the coffee, the food not so much. I think this place could improve by making its own cakes, and offering locals and Italian expats with some Italian foods that you just don’t find in the UK, like cornetti alla crema, polenta, piadine and thick Italian hot chocolate.

Coffee is the best!
Very busy café, staff are very friendly and has a really nice homely vibe!
Recommend to all.
Kx

Oh dear .I have been here several times over the years and have always found this a pleasant if unremarkable café. However today’s first discovery was that the menu’s had been greatly reduced in size and increased in price. the waitress took our order fairly promptly but we then had to wait 15 minutes for a slice of cake and then a further 5 minutes for coffee. She also forgot the water we had ordered and we had to ask again. A few minutes later, crockery was whisked away before we could catch our breath .We felt pushed to leave straight away so went up to the counter to pay. We were overcharged and when I pointed this out to the waiter he said «oh yes, your right» with no apology.
I would very rarely write a 1 star review but was so disappointed with the service that I will certainly not be going back.

Great food, friendly staff, but you might want to bring your own chair. Why? I’m glad you asked.
Myself and two friends came here on a late, rainy Sunday afternoon for a wee cup of tea and a toastie. It’s a busy café, in the middle of George IV Bridge, in the heart of Old Town during Festival season. I was under no illusion that it was going to be quiet. I knew it would be busy, and jostling, and service wasn’t expected to be as great as normal. Goes without saying really.
And the staff were still really friendly. But they seemed quite obsessed with the chairs. To the point that for every new customers that came in, they reshuffled the tables and chairs. In a small space, to me it seemed a bit of a bizarre habit. So when we arrived and sat at a table with 4 chairs, knowing a fourth friend would be joining us in 5 minutes or so, we told them so.
So when one waitress asked to take the fourth chair, and we politely explained, that seemed ok. Then a second waiter asked the same thing a minute later. When the same waiter asked a third time, and our friend hadn’t yet arrived, we had to give it to them. So we were a chair down. And then a man up. And then we managed to get a chair from ANOTHER table. Phew. That was a bit irksome but at least we’re all here and seated now.
Until I went to the toilet. And left my bag and jacket on the chair. And when I came back I was told that the staff had come up and asked to take my chair, whilst they knew I was only using the facilities. Jeez louise, seriously?! That just blew my mind a little bit.
I haven’t even gotten to the menu or food yet, but that wee scenario really did leave me a little speechless — or rather, ranty.
The café itself is Italian with some nice looking pizzas, served by the slice, paninis, focaccia, cakes and pastries. And I imagine when it’s not the Festivals and its quieter, that it would be a lovely place to go and enjoy a late night one slice of pizza with a book, or friends.
Which is why I need to wait until the Festivals have finished to go back. But until then, that whole bizarre experience with trying to make my chair when I only went tot the toilet has left me a little confused. The staff were friendly, but just a little chair-​obsessed.
This review and rating is definitely still pending a return visit once Festival season has passed (meaning, August).

Popular café well situated and offering a good spot for people watching on George IV Bridge. Only consumed a pot of tea and a Danish pastry but it was pretty chilled and the service was prompt despite that fact that it was practically full. On this evidence I’d visit again.

I used to visit my friend here for coffee every week. that is how I came to be acquainted with Caffe Lucano. My friend may have left Edinburgh and I may have given up coffee, but I still enjoy sitting in Caffe Lucano with a friend, or reading the paper, drinking decaffeinated cappuccino (how low I have sunk) and occasionally eating lunch.
Caffe Lucano is an Italian café, if you hadn’t guessed, situated near George IV bridge and opposite the more famous Frankenstein. I’m not sure how some of the others managed to have such bad experiences, because every time I have had coffee here it has been lovely and the staff always friendly (admittedly they do warm up more the more you become a regular). The food is decent, although they are better at their light lunched, like their soup and sandwiches (I recommend the spinach and mozzarella focaccia) than their heavier pasta and pizza dishes– the former is better value. I also recommend their milkshakes!
As for price, Lucano is at its worst no more expensive than other Italians, considering their bigger main meals. Their lighter lunches, especially with salad or the soup, is good value for money. Furthermore everything at the counter including sandwiches and pastries is all half price after 3pm. On top of that they offer a student discount.
A convenient Italian café serving decent food for moderate prices.

On a dark, drizzly night, Stuart and I swung by Caffe Lucano for a hearty bite and a quick heat before braving the neverending winter outside.
Aside from being placed (bizarrely) at practically the same table as two high school boys by the waitress, we had a pleasant bite to eat. I’m pretty sure Stuart got some tasty spag bol while I opted for a mini pizza, complete with anchovies. I know, the majority of you guys probably hate them, but I could live off these wee salty dudes. They were especially tasty in here, and service was speedy considering it was fairly busy and I had thrown together a rather bizarre pizza.
I’m not sure how it would fair as a restaurant — we were sitting facing out towards the window in the café service area. But the food was nice, it was well priced, the staff were bright n breezy and for a quick bite it was rather lovely!

Set opposite the famous Frankenstein bar and birthplace of Harry Potter Elephant House, is this cute Italian café. The owners are truly Italian and their shop boasts their origin from Puglia everywhere. It’s one of those places that is true to itself, not trying to sell its authenticity or create an «italianess» ambience like a lot of restaurants try to in this City.
They have many tables inside although one could think have it as cheap furniture and not the most comfortable restaurant chairs, it sort of adds to the place. I have never been disappointed by their vast choice of sandwiches and cakes and I am a fan of their 10%discount for students, and their amazing after 3pm deal: all sandwiches and cakes in the counter go half price!
Unlike most cafes in Edinburgh, café Lucannos does seated service and one can pay after they have enjoyed their meal. In addition, their main courses range from pizzas to pastas as well as more hearty options of meat.
As for the coffee, well it is not the best in town, and I am rather more of a fan of their milkshakes (just the right amount of thickness). However who can beat half priced cake?
They are also one of the few cafes that stays open until 10pm and their huge glass walls allow plenty of light in– and a lot of sun if it’s out making the rather plain surroundings more pleasing, however this does sometimes make one feel like they are sitting very closely to the street and to passers by who can literally put their faces up to you! This though proves to be great for people watching on the street too! The service on all 6 times I have been over the past year have been very friendly and unlike some other cafes, was not asked to leave after I had finished my meal– a true Mediterranean gem!

Caffe Lucano tries its damned hardest to feel Italian — unfortunatly, the over all impression is of a sub-​standard coffe house masquarading as a traditional grind house and failing.
I dont mean to sound nasty as soon as I begin, but Caffe Lucano has few redeeming features — it is expensive, uninteresting, not particulary tasty and most annoying (for me at least) the coffee tastes weak and watery.
The only thing I can think that is a positive is the reduction of the cakes and stuff at 3pm — although by that point the feeling that the cakes are getting a bit past it anyway is over whelming.
Its a shame really, because this place could be so good — it has a prime spot on George IV Bridge and is large enough to hold a lot of people. Unfortunatly, a whole lot of things would have to be changed to make it worth it.

Caffe Lucano is a pretty standard Italian café on George IV bridge. Its only discerning feature is that the price of all the sandwiches and pastries is reduced by 50% after 3pm; this may sound like a great deal but neither the sandwiches nor the pastries are particularly memorable, and they’re pretty expensive to start off with. If you’re in need of fortification at this late stage in the afternoon, you’d be better off going to the pub for a pint.
The staff are rather cold towards the customers, and the warm friendly welcome that you would expect from an Italian café is nowhere to be found. They’re also really arsey about their student discount; when my boyfriend went to the counter to pay the bill, they only gave him the discount when he showed my student card too.
This is not somewhere I’ll be in any hurry to visit again.