In response to ‘rising demand’, Edinburgh city-centre restaurant Divino is expanding its opening hours to seven days a week.
The Vittoria Group’s Old Town ‘hidden gem’ of contemporary Italian dining has reported sustained growth in customer demand, with average covers rising from 350 to more than 600 each week.
Operating at or near capacity across its current five trading days powered the venue to a strong financial performance over the past year, with revenue up by 35%.
As such, increasing those opening hours appears to be a ‘no-brainer’, allowing the Divino team to meet increasing demand while continuing to develop its events programming and private dining offering.
Looking at Divino’s trading uptick in detail, Vittoria Group reported that, alongside predictably busy weekends, the restaurant had also seen notable midweek growth, driven in part by regular programming like live Jazz Wednesdays and increasing demand for corporate dinners.
Sunday trading had also gained momentum, with the restaurant’s complimentary wine tasting experiences, led by head sommelier Troy Sides, proving particularly popular.
To support this ongoing growth, Divino has recently increased its workforce by 20%, creating additional roles and expanding team hours to strengthen service during busy weekends and peak seasonal periods.
The restaurant has also invested £30,000 into upgrading its Divino Suite, a fully enclosed and heated terrace space designed for private dining, events, and special occasions, including a retractable roof for warmer days.
Vittoria Group director Alberto Crolla said: “In the current climate, we’re very aware that many hospitality businesses are facing difficult conditions, so we don’t take this growth for granted.
“The decision to extend our opening hours has really been driven by demand from our guests and the hard work of the team behind the scenes.
“Managing that demand sustainably allows us to continue investing in our team and the overall guest experience,” said Crolla. “We’re looking forward to welcoming even more guests through our doors.”
Divino’s menu, created by Chef Simone Libanore, is described as ‘a love letter to Italian comfort food’, featuring dishes like traditional Roman carbonara and merlot-braised beef cheek.
The venue also claims to have one of Scotland’s most extensive wine lists, plus a unique self-serve wine machine.
