Gaia
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Gaia
Gaia is a family-run Italian Delicatessen and Cafe in the middle of Leith Walk, Edinburgh, offering Italian specialities, and healthy, freshly made panini, salads, cold meats, soup and refreshments. Italian Ham, Cheeses, Sausage, Cold Meat, Pasta, Biscuits and Pastries are stocked in the delicatessen, as well as a range of Italian soft drinks and fruit juice.

For the cafe, a range of appetising salads and sandwich fillings are on display, to eat in or take away, all made from freshly made, wholesome ingredients. Service is warm and friendly, and the coffee is recommended, by Gaia's own customers, as the best in town!
Services
All these have been selected by us as examples of the best our country has to offer and are perfect to take home to be enjoyed with a glass of Italian wine. We also have a wide range of dried pastas, sauces, oils, bread, biscuits and those hard to find specialty items, as well as coffee and selected soft drinks.
An absolute gem! Curiosity drove me in, but you could tell the place was well known as it was bustling. It's a deli but it does soups, sandwiches and more. I was a little dismayed at the prices of some of the bottled/packaged products, but seeing as it is a specialty store it really isn't out of the ordinary.
Reviews (21)
Luke McAdams
Luke McAdams
Jan 19, 2022
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More than just the takeaway cafe it appears to be from the outside. Definitely worth sitting in and having a more substantial lunch on occasion. Good value for hearty, tasty Italian home cooking. Arancini are a must if they have any left. Great coffee too!
Elton Tranchina
Elton Tranchina
Nov 29, 2021
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Amazing Sicilian experience, lovely food and great customer service. Gaia staff make you feel like you are part of their family
Seamus Mcloughlin
Seamus Mcloughlin
Oct 31, 2021
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Only a recent discovery, having lived in Leith for 10 years. Paninis are absolutely delicious! And great value too. I've been back numerous times since, as it's always so tasty!
Niki Moutsis
Niki Moutsis
Oct 29, 2021
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Seating available both inside and out, the coffee and salads here are delicious! I had the Mediterranea which was very filling and the freddo cappuccino (which is rare to find in Edinburgh).
Sophie Meadows
Sophie Meadows
Aug 28, 2021
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I have just got back from my first visit to Gaia and I couldn't be happier, the staff were so lovely (dealing with me having forgotten my mask and trying to negotiate the dog who is a cheese fiend). The panini was one of the best I have had, absolutely delicious and packed full. Thanks so much :) I will be back... Better prepared next time ha.
Monica Macias Jimenez
Monica Macias Jimenez
Aug 20, 2021
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This Sicilian cafe is amazing. A great coffee and an amazing food. It is good, it is very well-priced to be Edinburgh and the staff is very friendly. I cannot ask for more! I will go back many more times. The cannoli is absolutely gorgeous as well as all the cakes and pasta they made. Totally recommended.
Paula Ryans Stokes
Paula Ryans Stokes
Aug 17, 2021
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There's only a few seats inside and some outside but the atmosphere is welcoming. The pasta is delicious, the paninis huge and the pistachio cake is just amazing. They also sell Italian foods and Galvinini (sp?) drinks and do take out. Great place for a relaxed, enjoyable lunch.
Tom Pickles
Tom Pickles
Aug 11, 2021
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Highly recommended, try their fresh pasta dishes for lunch. Delicious!
Latoya Lautan
Latoya Lautan
Jan 09, 2018
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Nice deli just around the corner from where we stayed. The food is delicious and cheap, the people (the owners, staff) are very friendly towards everyone. The soup of the day is made everyday, so its all fresh.
Nicola C.
Nicola C.
Mar 18, 2016
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I'm basing this review on one stop and one coffee alone. After one visit, you can get an idea of whether or not you're going to want to be friends with a business. This visit made for one frothy, strong latte and a bustling, upbeat stay. This spot is a small one so be prepared to get friendly with your neighbours, like we did. We sat down at a table alongside strangers and spent twenty minutes indulging in back and forth chatter, which was really fun.

More of this please; this is so my cup of tea! I'm just as guilty as anybody but I say less of the smartphones and more of this
Pablo D.
Pablo D.
Aug 05, 2015
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Gaia is a real Sicilian Italian Deli run by the Dragotta family, from Palermo. Gaia offers a superb selection of panini, antipasti snacks, Italian cured meats, cheeses, jarred vegetables and pasta dishes. I ordered and devoured the Panino Gaia (Smoked Ham, Smoked Cheese, Mozzarella and Grilled Aubergine) plus a San Pellegrino sparkling mineral water, a 10/10 treat. Real Italian coffee is available and brewed the Italian way, as it should be. They have 7 tables inside and a couple more outside (weather permitting of course) and it could be rather busy so there might be a small waiting time till
Josefine B.
Josefine B.
Mar 25, 2015
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Gaia is a great place for a quick lunch - they serve a range of amazing freshly made pasta in a small but cosy café which is also a well-stocked Italian Deli: Cheese, Ham, pasta etc. all there for your pleasure. It's a cool family-run business and you'll recognise some of the faces at the counter in the caricatures on the wall. A presto.
John H.
John H.
Dec 19, 2013
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Back in Edinburgh again, had to stop by Gaia again. Maybe my last experience here-- which was mind-blowing-- was just a fluke. Nope. It was once again outstanding. I can't believe how fresh the food is. My only disappointment was that they weren't open for dinner.
Justin G.
Justin G.
Oct 18, 2013
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Mamma Mia! This place was excellent! Went in today because I have been on the hunt for an Italian Deli I can haunt and hangout at like a Mafioso. Anyways this place had almost everything I was looking for. First off let me state its more like a little cafe with a deli case thats not to big. It was busy when I went in and almost all the tables were full for such a small place. First thought to myself was " this place must be good" and it was. I ordered one of the daily pastas they have and for the amount of food for the price it was perfecto! The food came out real quick and I eagerly
Gillian L.
Gillian L.
Mar 08, 2012
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Gaia is just round the corner from me - so I walk past it all the time and have never gone in. I thought it was just another sandwich/ coffee place, and probably a bit hippy-dippy, given the name.

Today I found myself hanging about on Leith Walk, having to wait for a shop to open, so I popped in here for coffee - and what a revelation! Shelves of Italian produce, a huge range of properly-Italian-looking meats and cheese, and a fridge with fabulous pre-made sandwiches and salads. Wow. And they were playing Italian music with lyrics simple enough for even me to understand, so I sat and felt all
Qype User Ellyce
Qype User Ellyce
Sep 17, 2011
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An absolute gem!
Curiosity drove me in, but you could tell the place was well known as it was bustling.
It's a deli but it does soups, sandwiches and more.
I was a little dismayed at the prices of some of the bottled/packaged products, but seeing as it is a specialty store it really isn't out of the ordinary. I thought the deli selection was very well priced though.
The staff was also very friendly and efficient.
I hope to still frequent this shop even though I'm moving to the other side of town!
Michael B.
Michael B.
Jun 07, 2011
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I've came here a few times on a slightly hungover Saturday morning and the paninis are great for that post booze - cheese craving. It has a great vibe inside with a few seats for you to relax with some nice music on and a selection of papers to read -all good touches.


The best thing is the family who run the place. They are funny, flirty and most importantly, just plain happy which is infectious. I can't really think of anywhere thats similar in size and service that tops it on Leith Walk or even Leith.
Lindsey F.
Lindsey F.
May 10, 2011
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Authentic Italian cappucinos, always from a friendly face. Great spot to pop in for your coffee if you live on/along Leith Walk.
Neal W.
Neal W.
Aug 14, 2010
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With possibly the most ludicrously comfortable seats in Edinburgh (I mean that), Gaia is a nice little Italian deli/coffee shop on Leith Walk. Actually, it's better than nice. It's really really good.
The counter had the front has a great selection of cured Italian meats - prosciutto, bresaola, parma ham, salami to name a few. They've also got the usual cheese suspects - gorgonzola, dolcelatte, mozzarella and so forth. And a selection of mouth-watering cakey treats.

What I really liked (besides the unbelievably comfy seats) was the little salads in the fridge. They were more interesting
S. T.
S. T.
Jul 28, 2010
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This Italian deli and coffee shop is the answer to my Yelping prayers, because wandering around the streets alone scouting out awesome places to go can be hungry work. And if you're anything like me, you like to go somewhere inconspicuous because its a bit embarrassing to sit alone. Nae pals, as they say.

Serving coffees, pastries, wraps, paninis and pastas, the selection of lunches here are great, and the seating is cosy, and intimate, making it the perfect place for lunch for one. I had a lovely creamy coffee with a tuna melt panini, not very Italian but I just said the first thing that
Stuart B.
Stuart B.
May 09, 2010
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Proper Deli's are hard to find in Edinburgh, most are just the same cold cuts you can get in any supermarket, cheaply seasoned and pre-cut into slices thinner than your hair. Not here.

What a rare question, I almost had a stroke when I was asked.

"How much of a slice would you like?"

Judging by first glance at the meat selection, a hell of a lot.

I took home the thickest chunk of Salami I've ever seen and some unknown polish sausage I was recommended. Both cuts came to about £5, but trust me it's worth it. They also had a great selection cheese as well, try the Provolone