We liked it because it wasn't like all the souvenir shops - we are flying out tomorrow and wanted…read moresouvenirs that felt more personal. They had unique items including coin purses, jewelry, scarves, some mugs that didn't look like all the rest .. just a lot of great things in a tiny space.

Hello! When did this wee gem spring up?…read more It's not really wee, and it looks new - I'm guessing it's only been on Cockburn Street under a month. Old Town Context is a refreshing, traditional store on Cockburn Street, steering away from the style of the tourist traps on the Royal Mile to offer alternative gift ideas. They have some old English, French and American advert poster art, cards, stationery, gifts, mugs with pin ups on them, clocks made out of recycled glass drinks bottles - a very eclectic and classy selection. Its inspiration is clearly from bygone era's, and I was very impressed with their postcard range. They also have some cracking cards and original prints with cats on them. These cats are wearing kilts and rugby shifrts, quoting Burns and other Scottish poets within the print. It's a very odd idea but entirely up my alley. Overall a very enjoyable shop for the family. It's difficult to walk out of here without buying anything.

I am glad that my 200th review is on this hidden gem... actually it isn't that hidden, but I have a…read morefeeling that lots of people just walk right on by. In a very different and almost vintage way, it is a souvenir shop. I say that because there were lots of prints, cards, coffee mugs of the city and various British 'things', but they are not the types of souvenirs that you would find in the every single store on the Royal Mile... yeah, you know what I mean. I loved the different prints of the city, my favourite was a very art deco-ish print highlighting the castle in a yellowy-orangish hue against a dark background. They had it as a large print, a card, and a coffee mug. I am now kicking myself that I did not buy it. If you love globes or tin signs, they have loads of them! If you are looking for a different kind of souvenir for someone... or just something for yourself, stop in here because they have some really wonderful items.

An independent gift shop on the Royal Mile, extremely friendly and very helpful. I was able to ask…read morefor a particular clean tartan that they keep in storage so that they have stock. ​​

The Real Scot Shop is slightly less garish than a lot of the tourist shops in Edinburgh. Selling…read morewhat looks like real tartan kilts as well as sporrans, it seems like it makes an attempt to get the traditional culture of Scotland just right in its stock. As Steph said, they stock some classier gifts that would be fitting for a formal present, or something tasteful for your gran. But they also have a range of slightly tackier souvenirs if that's what you're looking for.

This business is in the road to Edinburgh Castle that so many tourist trek to. There is nothing…read morewrong with this establishment per se. It's one of the many businesses that cater to tourists with Scottish themed merchandise, not locally made. The locals miss the prior local business. The prices were okay, but not great.

Obviously this shop is made for tourists (like me) and has some of the best real estate in…read moreEdinburgh on the Royal Mile. Even though it is touristy, it has an extensive selection of quality scarves and other wool/cashmere products. I purchased a scarf that cost something like £30 and i absolutely love it. The wool is great quality and warm but breathable and the perfect length. There is a wide range of tartan scarves at various price points. I contemplated visiting Johnstons of Elgin but their scarves are more than I'm willing to pay since I don't get to wear it more than a few times a year in Southern California. My little scarf has gone with me to the beautiful Highlands and goes with me on every trip to Scotland or colder climates now and I'm very happy with it. Service was efficient and polite as it tends to be there.

Small but perfectly formed, Curiouser is my favourite shop in Brunsfield because it has an awesome…read moreselection of stationery and cards, really trendy home wear, beautiful jewellery and they even have a framing service, (which I am yet to take advantage of!) I pop in quite often (I have a stationery problem) and I rarely leave empty handed. They're really great for getting in new stock and are fantastic at sourcing cool stuff I've never seen before, which makes it ideal for buying gifts (even for one's self...) This is actually their sister shop, the original shop is called Curious & Curiouser is based at the bottom of Broughton Street and it's just as great!

From the owner: We are an independently run gift and framing shop based in Bruntsfield. We stock a wide range of…read moreproducts including gift cards, art prints, stationery, books, jewellery and homewares. We also offer a comprehensive framing service. You can find our sister store at 93 Broughton Street.

I've recently been checking out and reviewing some of Edinburgh's many gift shops. I came across…read morethis one today, situated at the top of the High Street, and popped in. If there was a scale of gift shops, this would be at the upmarket end. There is a wealth of cashmere items along with a great deal of tartan, amongst a small range of other clothes. I would imagine the prices would reflect the high quality of the offered product. Thankfully, this shop is not full of any of the mass-produced tourist rubbish that you find in so many gift shops. This shop is for the more discerning shopper, looking for that high-quality memento of their visit to Edinburgh. If you love cashmere, and let's face it, even the name sounds comfortable, then this place may well be one of your first ports of call. Prime location for prime merchandise. Definitely worth a look.

This review is for two shops : Spektakular and Lilla. They are sister shops that sell a range of…read moreScandinavian products, the former geared more for adults and the latter for children. I stopped in here today because they had Moomins in the window. The fact that they sell Moomin mugs would be enough for 5 stars in my mind, but that is not the only endearing quality. They sell a great selection of products and the staff are kind and friendly. Emma was very nice and helpful to me today, and patient while I squeaked with joy over the merchandise. They have a great selection of holiday ornaments and gifts. You should definitely visit them for any gifts you may need this upcoming season!

Little independant shops are so much nicer than big chain stores and this place is no exception as…read moreit brightens up the street. I often go in when im buying gifts for people but of course I always come out with something for myself too :) The best thing about this shop is that the goods are very affordable but the quality is not compromised..a combination that is hard to find!I'm slowly building up a Spektakular collection and when I move flat in a couple of months i'll be making space especially (and i'll have to arrange a party so I can buy the gorgeous martini glasses I have my eye on too). definitely worth a look, particularly if you are looking for gifts.

This gift shop and emporium of pretty items for the home is like a little treasure cavern of things…read moreto look at and go "awww", while whatever male you're with rolls his eyes and lurks at the side of the shop uncomfortably. Sorry to stereotype, I'm sure lots of boys secretly, or not so secretly, enjoy a scented candle or fluffy baby slipper as much as most females do. I'm somewhere in between, I like loveliness and items of a girly nature, but I'm not outrageously emotional over such things either. I'd say Flux and its multitude of goods is also somewhere in between, mixing pretty and practicality. Considering that the shop space isn't too huge, they've managed to fit countless cute little bits around it, so your eyes are always darting about looking at some other colour or miniature item that catches them. There are some great dinosaur lamps and wine bottle accessories, those little Japanese dolls which look amazingly cute, but I'm not entirely sure what their function is, plus some really pretty jewellery from local designers, lots of greetings cards, colourful glasses and a wee corner of baby clothes.

Positioned in the ever "up and coming" part of town, The Shore, it might be the only gift shop in…read moreEdinburgh that doesn't have 40 similar shops in a one mile radius. But in typical of our city's style, it's so overpriced, but pretty things fills itself and the brunette behind the counter is always really helpful, even when you're just looking aimlessly without the intention of buying anything. Surprisingly, it has a great collection of dirty cards and as I used to work round the corner, it was perfect for important clients birthdays which my boss would wince at. Hurrah!

This is a great shop selling a lot of items made locally. Crammed full of quirky items such as…read morecandles, tea towels, and jewellery. The cove supports local artists and craft makers by promoting and selling their work, many items could be commissioned and personalised.

Completely underwhelming. Was looking for a gift for my niece and nothing was really that…read moreinteresting - wanted to support a local shop but was disappointed by their products. Customer service was also not great. Spoke with a woman named Libby(?) and she was more interested in being on her phone than helping customers. Would not recommend if in the Porty area.

I presume the name Out of the Blue is meant to send the message that this shop is full of assorted…read moreitems that will surprise you and come across as a bit different, and I would agree that in this case, the shop pretty much deserves the name. There is a wide selection of most gift related genres here, so if you're in a rush to buy someone a present and this shop is nearby, I'd definitely recommend having a peep inside, because you're sure to find something. There are some quirkier items to choose from, like a cheese door wedge (who wouldn't laugh if they saw that in someone's house...no...just me?) and other novelty gifts like a clock, bottle stopper or lip gloss complete with crazy design of some kind. If novelty doesn't do it for you, then there are also plenty of play it safe, people pleasing options, with some pretty trendsome accessories for the home and some awesome women's Irregular Choice bags. There are also office accessories and other manly items like cufflinks, Top Gear and Superman merchandise, plus the eternally can't go wrong option of a good old scented candle for the ladies.

Wow. There are so many gift shops in this area, in fact, there are loads in the whole of Edinburgh…read morebut am I tired of them? Absolutely not. I am an absolute sucker for gift shops, even if the purchase I end up buying is a gift for myself rather than someone else. Out Of The Blue stocks what you would expect from such a store; handmade cards, gift wrap, candles, cuddly toys, home accessories, toiletries and other quirky little keepsakes that make perfect presents and are also good fun to browse. As an avid gardener I was immediately drawn to the cute gardening tools on offer and had to resist temptation as I was actually on a mission to get a gift for a friend. I ended up leaving with a little set of cupcake shaped lip glosses that I'm sure my friend will love, they were very reasonably priced and the staff were really friendly and helpful too.