Welcome!

“The Jolly Restaurant is Edinburgh’s home-from-home Italian eatery. We are delighted to serve you traditional Italian food that reminds us of home.

All of our pizzas are cooked in a wood-fired oven (the oldest in Edinburgh), for that extra-special taste. We also serve mouth-watering pasta, risotto, steak, salads and Scottish seafood.

And for afters, our generously-portioned desserts are heavenly.

See you soon!”

Vito Alongi

Jolly‘s pizzas are renowned for their authentic flavour and character. Some say that the voice of ‘The Singing Chef‘ adds magic to his creations while he cooks. But others put it all down to the family oven, the oldest traditional pizza oven in Edinburgh. Built by Vito’s parents, it has been imparting that renowned smokey taste to every single pizza created here for the last 50 years.

Born in Ischia to a family of traditional Italian chefs, Vito first moved to Edinburgh with his parents in 1968. Long-standing members of Edinburgh’s Italian community will remember his parent’s first restaurant, ‘The Caprice’, which they established in Musselburgh the year before Vito’s arrival in Edinburgh…

…In 1972 ‘The Jolly Restaurant’ opened it’s doors to it’s first eager customers, and Vito took it under his wing in 1980. His mother still lives (and cooks!) in Edinburgh. Inspired by her recipes and love of cooking, Vito is proud to continue the family tradition.