Locanda de Gusti on Dalry Road, just around the corner from Haymarket station, is the UK’s top ‘Hidden Gem’ and 20th in the world.
10:33, 27 Sep 2025Updated 10:34, 27 Sep 2025
One Edinburgh restaurant has been named a top hidden gem in TripAdvisor’s 2025 Best of the Best Restaurants awards.(Image: Locanda De Gusti)
The TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Restaurants have been announced for 2025, with one Edinburgh restaurant ranked as one of the world’s greatest hidden gems.
Locanda de Gusti on Dalry Road, just around the corner from Haymarket station, is the UK’s top ‘Hidden Gem’ and 20th in the world. It is regularly hailed as the best Italian restaurant in the Scottish capital… but this isn’t one of those posh joints where you need a bank loan to pay for a meal
Chef Rosario Sartore grew up in a large family in a poor neighbourhood in Naples and after moving to Scotland, he has spent his working life trying to recreate the authentic, family-friendly Neapolitan dining experience he grew up with.
Now 51, he was recently awarded one of Italy’s highest honours – the Order of Merit for Labour – and given the title Cavaliere, the equivalent of a knighthood in the UK.
Locanda de Gusti, a highly rated Italian restaurant, is located near Haymarket
Speaking in a video on his website, called ‘Why I Love Food’, he said: “My love of food started back home… coming from a big family.
“We lived for about 22 years in this huge apartment, so you can just imagine the amount of food that was prepared and consumed on a daily basis, with all these kids and adults.”, reports the Scottish Daily Express.
Chef Rosario Sartore, who grew up in Naples, has recreated his family-friendly Neapolitan dining in Scotland and was recently awarded Italy’s Order of Merit for Labour.
Describing his neighbourhood in Naples, he went on: “You go downstairs and you start to smell the vegetables, and then you go the fishmonger and then you go the butcher, it’s all there, the colours and the smells, that’s how it starts, the love of food.
“Eighty per cent of what I cook in my restaurant is Scottish. Meat, root vegetables, an abundance of fish. Obviously, you need your oils, your fresh pastas, your cheeses such as mozzarella… I come from the region of mozzarella… but 80% is local, Scotland has got a lot of food to offer.”
A three-course lunch at Locanda de Gusti is priced at £28 and could commence with ravioli tossed in butter, fresh sage and nutmeg with a daily filling, followed by monkfish tail accompanied by Italian cannellini beans, Vesuvian Piennolo tomatoes, garlic and fresh herbs, and concluded with hazelnut ice cream.
Alternatively, patrons can opt for the renowned Fa Tui tasting menu (Italian for ‘you pick’ or ‘you choose’) where a vast buffet is served at £55, £65 or £80 per person, including hot and cold starters, pasta dishes and main courses featuring meat, fish and vegetarian options.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you’re on mobile, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in!
If you’re on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click ‘Join Community’.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’.
If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Dishes from the a la carte menu include:
Gatto – A savoury potato mash ‘gateau’, oven-baked, with Burrata cheese from Puglia (mozzarella with a creamy centre), mortadella (cured ham from Bologna) and pistachio £13.
Agnello – Charcoal grilled Organic Scottish lamb chops, marinated with lemon, white wine and fresh herbs. Finished with mixed mushroom infused creme, served with roasted vegetables and potatoes £29.
Formaggi – A selection of cheeses (taleggio, fontina, pecorino, provolone piccante) served with biscuits or fresh bread £15.
Rosario, originally from Naples, moved to Edinburgh at the tender age of 15 to chase his culinary dreams following the death of his father. He later tied the knot with Maria, a native of Edinburgh, and together they’ve established one of the city’s most cherished establishments.
This weekend – September 27-28 – the restaurant is honouring the finest Italian salumi (cured meats) with special dishes, a complimentary aperitif, and a keepsake courtesy of the Italian Trade Agency.
Dining and Cooking