S Luca

This place undoubtedly rocks. The flavours are exactly what they say on the tin (carton) and are absolutely exquisite! I love my gelato and these guys are top notch. If you notice a queue all summer long stand in it you won’t regret it I swear! There’s not much to add to that other than there is a quaint café at the back that serves decent food and sundaes galore! Oh and get a milkshake down you if you can manage it!

I have upped the rating to 5 Stars as I’ve been coming here for almost 3 years now.
The food, coffee and service is at such a standard you’d be hard press to find it elsewhere!

Well here it is! The famous S Luca! I went all the way to Musselburgh to sample this most well reputed of ice cream parlours with the self-​awarded title of the best ice cream in Scotland.
The lofty expectations I had were almost immediately deflated when I approached the rather run-​down looking exterior of the «S Luca Olympia Café».
Immediately inside, the entrance is perfectly adequate, with a decent display of ice cream and chocolate treats. Going into the café at the back, however, is a step back in time to a greasy-​spoon diner from the 1970s.
The décor is cheap and nasty, the tables are small and squashed together and the food looked alarmingly reminiscent of my school cafeteria. But who cares about the food, right? This is an ice cream parlour!
Ok, so this ice cream parlour has no list of available flavours on the menu. If you want to know what is available, your choices are either to walk back through to the entrance of the store to look at the display cases or get a large chalk-​board plonked on your table, with an incomplete list of a handful of quirky flavours listed.
I ordered three scoops: mint choc-​chip, malteser and the ultimate test of a serious ice cream maker: vanilla. All of them were bland and unremarkable. The texture was grainy and unpleasant. I have had far better ice cream from a tub from the supermarket. The vanilla flavour particularly was disappointing, weakly flavoured and very easy to better elsewhere. Furthermore, the thick glasses that the ice cream was served in were warm, so a lot of the ice cream had melted by the time it got to our table.
I really don’t understand the widespread praise for S Luca. I fail to see a single redeeming feature. From the uncomfortable interior, to the sub-​standard food, to the forgettable ice cream, to the remorselessly unsmiling staff, this is an experience that you can safely skip without missing much.

I’m gonna shoot it straight here: 2 stars for service. 4 stars for ice cream.
That’s brutal for me, because I try to look for the best in everything. Maybe my expectations let me down a bit. Granted, I think if I had just walked in for a wee cone and left about my business to enjoy some ice creams, I would have rated this place far higher. As it was, my partner and I decided to sit down and enjoy some quality time and coffee inside Luca’s. As far as I can tell, that’s something I wouldn’t hasten to do again!
First of all, the layout of the place made me a bit hesitant. We came inside, strode past eye-​catching displays of glorious gobs of goodies, chocolates and ice cream and more. Leaving all this behind to stand in a dark hallway to wait for a seats left me feeling rather uncertain: how would I know which ice creams to get when the display was so far away? (Ice cream-​aholic concerns.) Eventually we were escorted to two seats, and that’s when I got a good look around.
Luca’s is NOT a place for fine dining. In fact, it has the appearance of a pretty shabby diner. It looked like people’s meals were all standard stuff, sandwiches and the like, but the seats and tables themselves were rickety plastic affairs. It all seemed pretty hastily slapped together and crammed in, to boot. We were practically breathing down the necks of the people next of us, which makes for a kind of hushed dining experience.
We ordered coffees, a flat white and a hazelnut latte, which arrived promptly. Points for that. However, when we decided on our ice creams based on a little chalk board that a server presented us with when we asked what our options were (no printed list? strange!), we were surprised to be greeted with a wait of around 10 – 15 minutes for said goodies. I mean, it was a busy day for them, understandably. But … to scoop out some ice cream? How long does that take?
The ice cream, when it did show up, was delicious. At least mine was – the strawberry cheesecake in particular was delightfully sweet. I did end up rather confused by the flavors of my own ice cream though, unable to tell what I’d actually gotten in the end. Maybe that’s just me not knowing what «toffee fudgy wudgy» should taste like. But I was convinced I had actually gotten salted caramel.
In the end, if I ever spotted a Luca’s around in the future, I wouldn’t hesitate to stop in for a cone if need be. But I’d much rather go and sit down anywhere but to enjoy it.

You can’t get better icecream!
Lucas has always been my all time favourite icecream parlour, best in town.

There is no better ice cream in Edinburgh or its surrounds. S Luca is an institution and for good reason. There’s a tonne of ice cream flavours on offer here but nothing beats good old vanilla. Magic!

Standard good value fair, same for the ice cream
We stumbled upon The Stagg pub on a hat wearing walk-​about from Musselburgh races. The truth was I was really looking forward to a pistachio ice @ S. Luca’s before the no.26 bus back to Edinburgh. But in hindsight, am I glad we stumbled upon what some would call the volunteers arms? Yes!
Well, the week later we managed to drive, tram and bus it back to Musselburgh and S. Luca’s. So what to have? A takeaway ice cream cone, or food in the back restaurant. Well both, naturally.
It’s a bright modern affair and most people were tucking into Panini’s with sides of chips or pie and chips washed down with chocolate milkshakes. We just opted for cream scones — delicious! I have to say the prices are great. £1.90 for the scone and the main meals were super value too, although standard fair.
Now for that cone. A large queue had formed, but the staff were quick and soon it was our turn. No pistachio, so it was chocolate and nutella for me. Again, super value at £1.20 for 1 scoop and £1.90 for 2. However I was disappointed in the not so chocolaty flavours and there were ice crystals in the gelato :-\
So it’s probably worth a visit if you’re in the area for the great value and smiley service, but if it’s the creamy stuff you’re after then stick to Nardini’s in the west and Visocchi’s in Broughty Ferry.

Yes, this is probably the best place for ice cream in Edinburgh/​Mussleburgh but everything else they do is well, a bit… Meh! Inside they’ve gone for a retro black and white checkered theme. Ceiling is low, tables are cramped too close together, but the toilets are clean. We had an hour to kill while the car was at the garage so nipped in here, not wanting ice cream on a wet cold Sunday I opted for a hot cappuccino and carrot cake. The coffee was luke warm and the ‘healthy option’ carrot cake was so sweet I couldn’t finish it!
Our friends ordered burgers and they were served with plastic square cheese and white cheap rolls. Looked like something you’d get our of canteen or a fast food joint. I think the café is a little of an after thought and they should stick to what they do best, ice cream!
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Well I am currently a very happy girl as a visit to Lucas Musselburgh has just satisfied cravings I didn’t know I had .
Following a walk in nearby Newhailes I stopped off here with my family for a milkshake. On reading the menu however I realised that I wanted EVERYTHING. Now I have been a frequent visitor of Luca’s in Morningside through the years, and have always enjoyed the legendary praline parfaits irn bru sorbet and burgers. However I havent been much in the last couple of years as I feel the service has really gone downhill, which is a real shame.
Not the case here, the original Lucas. The menu seems to have had a few extras and options added on since my last visit around a year ago and I plumped for a red cola ice cream float (2 scoops of ice cream) and onion rings which were really fresh tasting and delicious. The atmosphere was busy and bustling but the staff friendly and efficient. Clearly most of the locals were out for the first sunny evening we have seen in a long time. As I was leaving I realised I couldn’t leave without some more of the yummy, home cooked comfort fare in my tummy. So after a look at their takeaway menu (almost the entire menu, pasta, pizza, full english breakfast) i decided on lasagne, salad and chips. About ten minutes later, it was ready. SO tasty, Not fancy food, but filling without being heavy and it such a treat.
Luca’s is really good value I think I couldn’t help noticing a takeaway flat white coffee was £1.50 and I know from previous visits that the coffee is really good. I think if I lived here I’d be in all the time. While I much prefer the atmosphere in this branch I’m certainly going to pop into the more «mums and toddlers» Morningside branch again soon.
Thank you Luca’s. Now if anyone wants to pick me up some green apple sorbet and rolo ice cream when they visit…

Residents & Visitors to Musselburgh alike are fortunate to have 2 superb ice cream parlours in very close proximity.
I enjoyed a double cone here today of Strawberry Cheesecake (complete with fruit pieces) and Toffee Fudgy Wudgy (with bits of scrumptious creamy fudge).
I must admit I lean toward the other place, but both are excellent and whichever you choose, I highly doubt you’ll be disappointed.

There is little to be said about this café and its ice cream that has not been said 100 times over before. It is legendary and with very good reason. The holiday makers from outside the Lothians who come with their cool boxes to stock up, the day trippers who queue round the block on a sunny day and the locals who are blessed with this on their doorstep all can testify why.
Better than the much feted Nardini’s in Largs. Yes, seriously, it is.

As I work opposite Lucas we have our coffee from here everyday, pretty much the highlight of our day especially when we have had a hectic morning! They have a fabulous choice for lunch too although slightly expensive to eat from here everyday.

Award winning ice cream that has been around for decades. Café experience cheap but ice-​cream 5-​star so I prefer the takeaway service. In summer the queue is massive and the car park is full. Tried the flavours but keep returning to the vanilla. Sadly now allergic to butter and can’t have this wonderful ice-​cream.

The best thing about Musselburgh. I love their ice cream (my favourite) but I was really surprised at how good the coffee is. I had a take away americano with a 3 scoop chocolate wafer. In the words of Agent Cooper it was a damn fine cup of coffee.

Wonderful first visit to Luca’s! Good variety of flavours on offer for ice-​cream, sorbet or frozen yoghurt and sizes to match all palates. Had lunch in the café upstairs food was tasty café grub with kiddie options. Prices reasonable and the children love it. Will definitely return when the weather is warmer!

Great ice cream! Coconut is amazing but any flavour there is good. Wasn’t a fan of the banana spilt though it’s got tonnes of cream and cocktail fruit in the bottom and hardly any ice cream. Their scones are so nice and all the food I’ve had there has been excellent. My only grumble is when you’re waiting to be seated it would be nice to be acknowledged even with a smile or I’ll be with you in a minute as you feel like a spare part standing there. So food and ice cream 5 stars, service 3.5.

Now this is what an ice cream parlor should be like! It’s so cool, so retro and so American!
They have all the old-​fashioned sweety jars and all the trendy seats to make this place a destination.
I fell in love with the Lucas in Bruntsfield so decided to check this out, after the staff recommended it to me. What a great place.
Gentlemen — be warned. This place is open till late, this is where you need yo take your sweetheart to make her fall in love with you. It will happen!

When I was a student studying near London, I discovered that my trusty barman, Andy, was an ex-​Loretto student. Loretto, being the private school (then, boys only) and relatively elitist with such alumni as Alistair Darling. Anyway, apart from avoiding being beaten up by the local kids (Note… Andy was about 15−20yrs older than me at the time. Nor myself or any of my friends were involved in such torments) for wearing the Loretto uniform, his favourite memories were of Luca’s ice cream. In fact, everytime I saw him drunk, he’d demand, once more, that I bring him some next time I went home. Sadly, I let him down everytime. Hopefully that didn’t leave too long a lasting scar.
Anyway, during the summer, queues flow out of the door. There is a café there whose menu has scarecly changed in 20 or more years — snowballs, sundaes and parfaits grace the menu. But if it ain’t broke? The only difference between now and when I was a child is there are more choices to pick from at the take-​away section — for years, t was limited to chocolate, strawberry and vanilla. Full fat Italian ice cream to die for… so rich it starts melting as soon as it hits room temperature. Creamy and sweet, it’s hard to compare other ice creams when few really meet the same high standards. I’ll be back in the café soon, and probably will continue to go until I am 100, still ordering the same chocolate nut sundae, with whipped cream from a can and chocolate sauce from a bottle.

Cheap and cheerful, their salad rolls are to die for! We went in one Sunday before christmas for a quick lunch and ended up having a Musselburgh favourite of pie and beans! «Fab! They do lots of pasta pizza and other proper meals but when it’s what you want!!!
Their ice cream is second to none!

You have got to love this place. The most amazing ice-​cream ever. All made fresh. Mmmm my tummy is a rumbly as i type.
No matter how old you are this place never changes and always gives great service and has a such a lovely warm and welcoming atmosphere. With the traditional flavours of ice-​cream or the bit more adventerous flavours. And of the course the scrummy Knickerbockerglorys, Banana Splits.
There is alot of history to this place and its not untill you look on there web page you realise this. I urge you to visit the web site and read the ‘about us’ section its very heartwarming.
They have a lovely child-​friendly café that serves some lovely snacks and light-​meals.
Not many people know this but they also hire out a beautiful vintage Rolls-​Royce for all occasions. Weddings, parties ect.
So go on and check them out you won’t be disappointed!