Valvona & Crolla Caffè Bar
- Telephone 0131 556 6066
- Bar open Shop: Mon–Thu 8.30am–6.00pm; Fri/Sat 8am–6.30pm; Sun 10.30am–4.30pm.
- Food served Mon–Thu 8.30am–5.30pm; Fri/Sat 8am–6pm; Sun 10.30am–3.30pm. [Extended in Festival]
- Average price £17.50 (lunch)
- Website www.valvonacrolla.co.uk
Jump to times, articles or comments (1)
The 2013 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
This review is taken from the current (2013) edition.
An Edinburgh institution for many years now, the Contini family's Valvona & Crolla shows no sign of letting its standards slip. Of course, whether you can make it through to the fresh but rustic-styled dining area in the back depends on whether you can successfully navigate the supremely well-stocked deli area out front, which boasts meats, cheeses, wines and more, many of which are delivered from Italy once a week. The popular cafe offers plenty of opportunity to try the same produce in its ultimate form, with a range of V&C's own pizzas, pasta dishes including an elegant, olive oil-drizzled linguini with white crab meat and some traditional main meals, as well as hard-to-decide-from antipasti and dessert selections.
- High point: The whole experience chimes with a sense of well-established quality
- Low point: An expensive treat
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 12
- Provides: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Gluten-free options, Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Live music, Free wi-fi
- Music on stereo: Italian classics, Rat Pack songs.
- Capacity: 60
- Largest group: 10
- Open since: 1996
- House wine: £15.99 per bottle
Event times
There are 10 events at this location
Sorted by title / date & time
David Vernon and Dick Lee
David Vernon and Dick Lee Musical high jinks for accordion and clarinet. This brilliant duo perform their eclectic worldwide musical mix and also pay tribute to the giants of British Trad jazz: Ball, Barber and Bilk. 'They combine wonderfully, superb musicianship' (Scotsman). 'Around the world in 80 minutes; a…
Mon 5 Aug
£10 (£8) / 0131 226 0000
Tue 6 Aug
£10 (£8) / 0131 226 0000
Fri 9 Aug
£10 (£8) / 0131 226 0000
Dick Lee and Brian Kellock: The History of Jazz
Dick Lee and Brian Kellock: The Story of Jazz. Reedsman and raconteur Dick Lee teams up with world class pianist Brian Kellock to present a vivid illustrated account. 'Dick Lee is a talented musician and a very knowledgeable man. He's also highly entertaining!' (Luise Valentiner). 1. An Overview 2. Early Days: The Turn of…
Fri 9 Aug
£10 (£8) / 0131 226 0000
Tue 20 Aug
£10 (£8) / 0131 226 0000
Wed 21 Aug
£10 (£8) / 0131 226 0000
Dick Lee's Swingtet featuring Ali Affleck
Dick Lee's Swingtet featuring Ali Affleck. Dick Lee: saxes, clarinets and recorders. Tom Davis: electric guitar. Marcus Ford: acoustic guitar. Owen MacDonald: double bass. Ali Affleck: vocals. Classic tunes from the likes of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Django and other giants of the Swing era, played con brio by masters…
Sat 3 Aug
£10 (£8) / 0131 226 0000
Sat 10 Aug
£10 (£8) / 0131 226 0000
Sun 11 Aug
£10 (£8) / 0131 226 0000
Funny Valentine
Mike Maran Productions. The life and music of Chet Baker told by Mike Maran with Colin Steele (trumpet) and Dave Milligan (piano). A story with hero, heroin and cool jazz of the very highest quality from the Great American Songbook. Ages 14+.
Mon 5 Aug
£12 (£10) / 0131 226 0000
Wed 7 Aug
£12 (£10) / 0131 226 0000
Thu 8 Aug
£12 (£10) / 0131 226 0000
Guitarecital
Luca Villani. Italian-estabilished concertist Luca Villani plays a breathtaking guitar recital spanning three centuries. Luca will play a rare set of variations on Amidst the Flat Valley by the Russian virtuoso Andrei Sychra (1773-1850). Follows the rare opportunity to hear two great works recently found in the Segovia…
Thu 15 Aug
£10 (£8) / 0131 226 0000
Sat 17 Aug
£10 (£8) / 0131 226 0000
Mon 19 Aug
£10 (£8) / 0131 226 0000
Indian Peter's Coffee House
Mike Maran Productions. Kidnapped in 18th-century Aberdeen, enslaved in America, then captured by Indians, Peter Williamson returns to tell his incredible story with music by Rona Wilkie and Morag Brown (fiddle). All ages.
Sat 3 Aug
£12 (£10) / 0131 226 0000
Sun 4 Aug
£12 (£10) / 0131 226 0000
Mon 5 Aug
£12 (£10) / 0131 226 0000
Irish in Scotland: Songs of Robert Tannahill
Five Freens. Morran, Weatherby, Brechin, Duff and Freeman perform Tannahill's captivating lyrics and haunting Irish melodies written in defence of 19th-century immigrants to Scotland. An enduring contribution to changing perceptions of downtrodden people. Ages 12+.
Thu 22 Aug
£10 (£8) / 0131 226 0000
Sun 25 Aug
£10 (£8) / 0131 226 0000
Italia 'n' Caledonia
Mike Maran Productions. By Mike Maran and Philip Contini with music by David Vernon (accordion). The joyful, tearful, and hugely successful heart-warming story about Alfonso Crolla, founder of Valvona & Crolla, and the Italian community in Scotland. Meraviglioso! All ages.
Wed 7 Aug
£12 (£10) / 0131 226 0000
Mon 12 Aug
£12 (£10) / 0131 226 0000
Fri 16 Aug
£12 (£10) / 0131 226 0000
King of the Swingers
Philip Contini and his Be Happy Band. Philip and The Band celebrate 20 years (!) at the Fringe. Join the party with all your favorites, featuring Dean Martin, Cole Porter, Louis Prima, Francesco Tosti, Roberto Murolo as well as Italian and Neapolitan songs. All ages.
Tue 6 Aug
£12 (£10) / 0131 226 0000
Mon 12 Aug
£12 (£10) / 0131 226 0000
Tue 13 Aug
£12 (£10) / 0131 226 0000
Robert Burns Votes for Scotland
Gill Bowman and Mark Stephen. On the eve of the 2014 independence referendum, singer Gill Bowman and broadcaster Mark Stephen use the songs and poems of our national poet to try and explore how Burns might have voted, and why… All ages.
Fri 9 Aug
£10 (£8) / 0131 226 0000
Sat 10 Aug
£10 (£8) / 0131 226 0000
Fri 16 Aug
£10 (£8) / 0131 226 0000
Reviews & features
Ice cream days: growing up in an old school ice cream parlour
1 May 2009
Mary Contini of Valvonna & Crolla describes her enviable upbringing
It took two men, my father and Tommy Dougal, to lift up each milk churn and tip it into the stainless-steel vat. It could be four or five churns at a time – even more in July and August when the factory was working at full capacity. Once the 20-gallon…
Take Three: Delis-cum-Cafés
19 Jun 2008Valvona & Crolla Caffè Bar, Grassroots Café and Herbie of Edinburgh.
Comments & ratings
- 1. For the real Italian experience.. – 25 Aug 2008, 3:14pm Report
-
I was very disappointed by my visit to Valvona & Crolla after what I had heard and read about the place. Being Italian I was looking forward to it so the opportunity arose when I visited the Edinburgh festival. I have to admit that it is very difficult to find a proper Italian deli in the UK. I am used to buy my wines and a few more products online but no more than that so this time I made sure I had plenty of space in the car, I was hoping to come back with plenty of Italian food and wine, the one I drink and eat when visiting my family, and set off to my Italian discovery shopping experience. All my hopes disappeared when I entered the Valvona & Crolla shop, when I started reading the label and found that the product on sale were all average Italian supermarkets products with a very dear price, and not the one I would buy. The Valvona & Crolla branded products were made by big Italian companies and the only few good wines they had, but nothing more than the ones available from supermarkets, had an excessive high price. As this was not enough, we decided to stay for a coffee, it was 4pm and when reading the menu we found the “affogato” and ordered it. Again, another big disappointment.. The affogato we received and we paid £3.95 was not more than a ball of vanilla lost in a poor espresso… Luckily, for us Italians looking for something to remind us about our country, there are other places that I would recommend to try. Examples are the Tavasso delicatessen in Newcastle where I used to live and Italyabroad.com a website specialised in Italian food and wine by small producers.
To post a comment you'll first need to sign in:
Not registered?
Sign up – it only takes a minute.
Forgotten your password?