A polished George Street Italian with a beautiful historic room, strong breakfasts and pasta, and genuinely standout service—but the bill can climb fast and consistency is not perfect.
Contini George Street delivers solid food quality anchored by reliably praised pasta, tiramisu, and breakfasts, paired with attentive service in a striking former-bank setting on George Street. Inconsistent execution across visits, with occasional cold or bland plates, prevents a stronger grade. The venue's architectural appeal and central location create genuine destination draw, but variable consistency keeps it from approaching grade A territory.
Contini George Street feels like a polished city-center occasion spot wrapped inside a showpiece room: the old bank interior, tall ceilings, and elegant decor are repeatedly mentioned for good reason. When it’s on form, the place has a lovely hum to it—“classy but unpretentious” is a fair shorthand—and several diners singled out attentive, friendly service that made birthdays, pre-theatre dinners, and Edinburgh visits feel special. That said, the room can get echoey, chilly, or a bit flat, and the experience clearly depends on timing and how busy the floor is. The cooking leans toward modern Italian rather than rigidly traditional, with homemade pasta, arancini, burrata, chicken Milanese, and tiramisu doing most of the heavy lifting. The best reports are genuinely enthusiastic, especially about pasta dishes, breakfasts, and desserts, but there are enough complaints about blandness, salt, small portions, and the occasional off-night to keep expectations grounded. In short: come for the atmosphere, the pasta, and a confident service-led experience; don’t expect a cheap or ultra-classic trattoria. For families, it looks broadly suitable and actually better than many upscale city-center Italian spots: reviewers mention children eating meatballs, arancini, pasta, and a Bambini menu, and the dining room seems welcoming to groups. Still, the menu is more grown-up than kiddie-centric, so picky eaters may do best with familiar pasta or chicken options rather than anything adventurous. The kid-friendly verdict is yes, with the caveat that this is a proper restaurant, not a pizza-and-chips safety net.
Area vibe: Elegant, historic commercial district with high-street shopping and dining
Safety: Generally safe with good lighting and steady foot traffic into the evening
What's nearby: Near Princes Street, St. Andrew Square, Scott Monument, major tram/bus links and multiple restaurants