Bella Italia - Edinburgh Northbridge

You're wandering down North Bridge between the Old Town and New Town, probably dodging tourists and trams, when the smell of garlic and basil hits you. Inside this reliably cheerful Italian chain, families are tucking into enormous bowls of carbonara whilst couples share tiramisu by the window overlooking the Waverley steps chaos below. The menu's exactly what you'd expect – classic pasta dishes, wood-fired pizzas, and generous portions that'll sort you right out after a day tramping around the Royal Mile. Yes, it's a chain, but the staff actually seem to care, the wine's drinkable, and when you need proper Italian comfort food without the pretension, this does the job brilliantly. The location's spot-on for meeting friends before hitting the pubs on Rose Street.