The Fest Directory: Orla O'Loughlin

Ciao Roma

64 South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1LS

I love Ciao Roma. I return year after year and I have a huge sentimental attachment to the place. It brims with Festival memories: nights spent celebrating, commiserating and dreaming. The food is always delicious and the welcome always warm. After a few glasses of wine, the décor makes me feel like I’m on holiday. There are usually a few interesting characters in situ and it’s great for people watching. And of course, there’s a Festival venue in the basement should you fancy some late night comedy.

Secret weapon: you MUST ask to be seated in the Hispaniola. It’s the room at the back. It is bedecked with life size skeletons dressed as pirates. Look out for the glass panel on the floor, beneath which lies treasure.

Fatal flaw: it can get busy. There are often queues out of the door.

Food 8

Drink 8

Atmosphere 9

Fringeyness 9

Mosque Kitchen

31 Nicolson Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9BX

This is a festival mainstay. Don’t be fooled by the lo-fi, bargain-priced and paper-plated set up. The portions here are generous, but more importantly, utterly delicious. I tend to drift here when I’m tired, or it’s raining. The food feels nourishing and wholesome, the community spirit driving the endeavour feels good and the bare bones ambiance offers a welcome respite from the bells and whistles elsewhere.

Secret weapon: Soul food.

Fatal flaw: Don’t expect an extensive choice.

Food 8

Drink 5 for the cans (no booze)

Atmosphere 7

Fringeyness 9

The Bon Vivant

55 Thistle St, Edinburgh, EH2 1DY

A candlelit haven, especially suited to wine lovers, tucked away on Thistle Street, The Bon Vivant is a dimly-lit bar with an awe inspiring selection of wines. The food ranges from small to large plates of all manner of tasty treats. It is the perfect place to kick back and take a breath, good for one-to-one conversations and hiding away. And the lighting is terribly flattering, after a long, hard Festival day.

Secret weapon: They own the lovely off licence next door.

Fatal flaw: Not for lovers of the light.

Food 8

Drink 10

Atmosphere 10

Fringeyness 5

The Traverse Bar

10 Cambridge St, Edinburgh, EH1 2ED

What can I say? The Traverse Bar is the best place to be during the Festival. Operating almost 24 hours a day, you can kick things off with our award winning breakfast plays first thing and end your evening with a nightcap in the wee small hours after a late night show.

We have no VIP area, so artists and audience mingle. It’s a place to debate, celebrate and be inspired. Underground with no clocks or windows we tend, like Vegas, to run on our own time. An embodiment of the feverish, surreal and joyous celebration that is the Fringe.

Secret weapon: It's the Traverse!

Fatal flaw: The theatre on offer may lure you from the bar…

Food 10

Drink 10

Atmosphere 10

Fringeyness 10 (But then I would say that!)

Lovecrumbs

155 West Port, Edinburgh, EH3 9DP

Lovecrumbs is a real Edinburgh classic. An irresistibly eccentric proposition offering an eclectic variety of cake and hot drinks. The wondrous home-baked goods spill out of what looks like a big wardrobe. And the delicately scented teas are served up with grace and care. The ambiance is jolly. The place will charm you. Going there is like giving yourself a lovely present.

Secret weapon: The scones.

Fatal flaw: Cakes only. Don’t ask for a sandwich. Or soup.

Food 8

Drink 10

Atmosphere 10

Fringeyness 5

Orla O'Loughlin is the artistic director of the Traverse Theatre