Resident Advisors: James Clark, Sotto

This article is taken from the 2025 edition of The Skinny Guide to Edinburgh – a 116-page selection of some of our favourite things to do and places to go across the city. Pick up a copy at venues across Edinburgh this summer, or read it online via Issuu.

Who are you and what do you do?
I’m James, owner of Sotto Enoteca & Trattoria in Stockbridge. I live in the neighborhood and have worked in hospitality for 10 years, following a (very brief) spell working in politics!

What’s been a highlight of the last 12 months for you?
I opened Sotto in October 2024 – that was a pretty seminal moment in my life and the realisation of a long-held dream. We were in the Michelin guide before Christmas and that was probably the first moment I stopped to appreciate what the team had achieved. I also found out that I am going to be an uncle when I was visiting my sister in Australia in January, a very special moment, and Celtic won the league; not necessarily in that order of importance.

What’s coming up in the future for you?
We have an exciting project planned to expand Sotto into a new market, which I hope to be able to talk more about soon! Beyond work, I’d love to start travelling more again, and spending time in Italy.

Where do you recommend people go in Edinburgh?
Start at the Gallery of Modern Art, wander through Dean Village and the Water of Leith into Stockbridge, have lunch at Sotto, then stroll along the high street browsing the bookshops, charity shops, delis and boutiques. And a pint in the Baillie to finish - there’s a day out! Or go further afield to Fife for the day - go for a walk on the beach in Elie and lunch at The Kinneuchar Inn.

Favourite place to eat?
Edinburgh has blossomed so much in the last few years, and there are countless good places to eat now. But The Kebab Mahal on Nicholson Square is an eternal favourite, I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve probably eaten there 500 times in my life, and it's faultless every single time. My sister wrote an amazing ‘The Ten Commandments According to Peter Clark’ for my father's funeral, and one of them was ‘Thou Shalt make time for a swift pint when going to pick up the Kebab Mahal’. If I can get away from work for a couple of hours in the afternoon I’ll have lunch at Stockbridge Eating House, such a great place to relax and the food is so good. Lastly (purely because it isn’t informative to anyone at this point), The Palmerston cannot go unmentioned. I was lucky to work there before opening Sotto, and it was inspiring.

Favourite shop?
Valvona & Crolla, on Elm Row. Just the most amazing selection of Italian produce and wine. My mum lives near Portobello so I quite often go on the way to see her, usually making a mess of the car eating an arancini from the shop on the way!

Why do you like living here?
You can be on the beach, up in the hills walking, out golfing in the country or in a busy city centre all within half an hour of my door!

What annoys you about living here?
On my days off on Monday and Tuesday, a lot of the restaurants I really want to try are closed! Those in glass houses…

Do you have an Edinburgh festival survival tip?
[For venues], buy more credit card terminals, cutlery, uniform, and glassware! For everyone else, I’d maybe just say take it easy and see where the day takes you, don’t overplan. Book the stuff you really want to, and you’ll find something unexpected you never thought you would see in between.

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Sotto, 28 Deanhaugh St, Edinburgh, EH4 1LY
sottoedinburgh.com