All my research said that IJ Mellis was a must and I understand why. This tiny cheese shop located…read moreon Victoria Street is booming with business. Likely for the cheese, but also for the service! Even though crowded and busy, the staff was so delightful and friendly! They let us sample some cheeses before we made our selections. We went with all Scottish cheeses, because when in Scotland. They were fabulous!! We got a mix of cheddar, Gouda and blue that we can't wait to enjoy on our upcoming train ride. Prices are fair and by weight. Yum!

Fantastic! If you're a cheese lover, you must stop by. The staff member was so unbelievably kind…read moreand knowledgeable. I got an aged Scottish cheddar and it was amazing. They even suggested the proper cracker to go nicely with it. They'll give you a sample, so just ask! It's a small place but so cozy and welcoming.

I heard that George Mews was opening and was looking forward to it. I've been to the Glasgow shop…read moreand they had a great range if cheeses and it was consistent here in Edinburgh. Samples are plentiful and this place is cheese lovers heaven. They also do a great range of charcuterie, smoked fish, bread, oatcakes and chutneys. Many of their products stocked are local and if not, sourced from small independent Scottish producers. I picked up angelic oatcakes and I'll pop down before new year to get a range of cheese for my visitors. Well worth a visit!

Great local cheese shop with an assortment of local cheeses. Staff is very friendly and…read moreknowledgeable. Great place.

I always enjoy checking out the local cheeses and bringing some home to share with my friends, as…read moresome cheeses are hard to find back home or are very expensive compared to the local prices. My friend who lives in Glasgow recommended this place, which is not far from the University, and on a main street with plenty of eateries. Not going to lie, walking in I was a bit disappointed at how small the store is. One side of the store has wine, jams and other things that go with cheeses (or a fine life), so it's really a small cooler for soft cheeses and a long counter for the aged ones, quarters and half wheels stacked neatly on top of full wheels. The staff is nice and knowledgeable about their cheeses. They have a plate of samples going on, and they also gladly cut samples off other cheeses we asked about. I ended up getting a few cheeses: Blue Murder is a blue cheese made by the Highland Cheese company, at the family farm at Blarliath near Tain. The cheese is rich and buttery and wonderfully balanced in savory and sweetness. Isle of Mull is a delicious aged cheddar. Their secret - the cows are fed fermented grains from a local whisky distillery!! Ticklemore - it's hard to find in the US so I'm glad to find it here. A beautiful goat cheese that is mild, lemony and creamy, and not overly goaty. The prices are very reasonable when compared to what I would have paid for in the US. It's more expensive than your average supermarket cheeses, but shopping here allow you to support small businesses and artisanal cheesemakers!

If you like cheese it doesn't get much better than a visit to George Mewes. First tried George's…read morewares a few Christmases back and I've been going ever since. Doesn't matter what time of day you go in or how busy it is, you'll still get the same immense and consistent service. The people that work here know their cheese and are unbelievably passionate about their products. Wandered passed the other day and the smell pulled me in and I had to purchase some Stilton. The guy working that day pointed out that the Stilton is at an all time high, he cut a piece off and gave me it to prove it. He wasn't wrong, the Stilton here is probably the best thing I've ever eaten, hands down. My girlfriend who apparently didn't like blue cheese has now been converted. It isn't just the Stilton that is good, it goes for every type I've tried or bought here. The prices are a little higher than supermarkets but that doesn't matter as the product here isn't even comparable. Once you start shopping here you'll never look at generic supermarket cheese in the same way again. If you like cheese, don't go anywhere else!

Anster Connage Crowdie…read moreCriffel Cromarty Dunsyre Blue Grimbister Farm Lanark Blue Loch Arthur Cheddar Lochnagar St Duthus & Strathdon Blue If you're looking to take home some Scottish cheese, this I.J. Mellis is a great starting place. The staff are friendly and knowledgable and happy to recommend cheeses to suit each customer's palette and tastebuds. More importantly, they're happy to dish out free samples! Based in Morningside, this branch also stocks a cracking selection of fresh bread, fruit and veg, ham, fish, salami, oat crackers, olives, chutneys, olive oil, vinegar, honey, jam and coffee. In fact, if I lived in the area and had a bigger disposable income, I'd probably do most of my shopping here!

I was very impressed by Clark's, another cheese store located in Bruntsfield. However, Mellis,…read morewhich is just a few minutes away in Morningside is probably the cheeselovers heaven. It's one of many Mellis stores in Edinburgh, the most famous one being located in Old Town, but certainly doesn't disappoint. Dutch, Italian, Spanish, French and of course Scottish cheese can be bought here, but it's more than just a cheese shop; all sorts of bread, antipasto and olives can be bought as well as eggs, ham and even baking ingredients of the more wholesome variety. Naturally, it isn't cheap, but definitely a fair price for good cheese, and fresh food. If I keep discovering places like this in addition to Valvona and Crolla, I may just stop going to the supermarkets altogether.. or at least until I can't afford to anymore.

Of course only good things to say about a good experience with great selections and service!read more

Quite literally the best thing we did in Scotland. Okay, I may be biased as a cheese-lover, but I…read morewould come here every day if I could. A wonderful and diverse selection is available, and we focused on Scottish and local. They had a cheese available that only five cows could produce - be sure to ask the staff and they'll point you to the most interesting selections! And we couldn't leave without a baguette to sample them all on. My only regret is that I didn't buy more - and we walked out with nine cheeses and some other snacks. Put this on the list especially if you're a visitor - we never get to enjoy unpasteurized cheese over here in the US especially - and if you're lucky enough to live nearby I'd go daily.

Hollipop is the newest addition to the retro/American candy shops that have been popping up all…read moreover Edinburgh recently. I've not been in the other stores so unfortunately can't compare, but I'll admit I felt a bit underwhelmed by Holipop. The store feels a bit under stocked, and of what it does have it carries some sweets that you can get in most stores here. They certainly do have some retro-ish things and some American candies but I guess I was expecting a more old-fashioned funky feel to the place. The kind of place where you could get £1 worth soor plooms or something. That being said, the staff were nice and accommodating. I got the impression that they would happily at least try to order in what you're looking for. So, overall I found it to be a bit less than I was expecting but still A-OK.

So I leave Melbourne. Fly away, halfway across the world, snug in my little village that is…read moreStockbridge. Then, Smith and Gertrude arrives. I've had my suspicions about the name for a while and tonight, my suspicions were confirmed- this idea was formulated in Melbourne, the bright light-bulb flashing into the owners mind whilst sipping a glass of wine on the iconic corner of Smith Street and Gertrude Streets in Melbourne. The hipster trend is spreading globally people! And you know what? I'm on board! The service, ambiance and style so reminds me of my hometown (whats that I feel...pride?) This might just become the place for meat, wine and cheese. For the past year Henri's of Stockbridge has been my go-to for my Sunday wine and charcuterie but Smith and Gertrude will closely rival this. So lets talk wine. The list is extensive and impressive. I'm actually not too much for Australian wine myself, but the list of Australian wines available almost made me want to yell out 'woo! represent!' but I didn't do that because I'm a grown up of course. I instead ordered a lovely Argentinian wine at the recommendation of our very helpful server which paired the meal nicely. Meats and cheese. Well. I feel like there could have been more on the board (or maybe have smaller boards so it looks fuller?) Nonetheless, whilst it looked simple to begin with, the mixed board was more than enough for two people, though I did add the gorgonzola cheese along with bread with oil with dukkah. All delicious but not foreign to me. The cheese is sourced locally and I buy it all weekly so I essentially paid to have it plated and to eat it somewhere with better lighting. If you don't know cheese, then you might enjoy the ever-changing cheeses to try until you find a favourite. Then you can go buy it in bulk from the local cheesemongers if you so wish. The interior is very trendy and Melbourne-like. The atmosphere, quality of food and service was nothing short of great. . If you're really just wanting the meat and cheese without the ooze of hipster-mess, I would suggest the buying the cheese and meats from local stockists. Thy also stock wines which I will certainly return to purchase. I give five stars as a fellow Melburnian seething with pride for this new local business. They've taken a simple concept and done it well, using local product and supporting other small businesses which I highly commend. Highly recommended for a place to just sit, eat, chill and plain enjoy, whether alone or with company. The only thing that was missing was the excellent barista-made coffee I have come to adore from Melbourne (read: its the minimum standard I expect.) Steampunk in a french press guys, really? I'll keep an eye out on this development and will probably move in when this changes.

I'm surprised that no one has snapped up this FTR, seeing as this place seems to be more or less…read morehopping around the clock (or at the very least, most days after 5pm). Tucked in the space of the old cat cafe, I didn't even realize this place was there until Julie G suggested we meet there for a glass. If you had visited the cat cafe previously, this new venture has more or less gutted the place and it's unrecognizable. They've done a great job with the room, with lots of wood detailing, vintage inspired knick knacks and communal seating... it's basically a hipster coffee shop, but with wine. Eye roll all you want, that's a damn good combination of trendy. I only had two glasses on my first trip here, so I can't speak to the food or the flights, but the wine (though pricey... ack!) was interesting and the wine flights that went past us, with four little glasses and the option to pair with cheese almost had us falling off our seats to get a better look. Well worth heading back for more investigation. So far, I deem this place a cute little addition the the neighbourhood. Welcome Smith & Gertrude!

It's getting to that time of year again, when the queues stretch literally for two blocks outside…read moreJ. Mellis. You won't find a better cheesemonger in town, and doesn't Mr Mellis know it. I never really noticed just how big a deal cheese becomes at Xmas until I saw the queues here, and it prompted me to give it a try myself. I went for the unusual combination of French saucisson and a nice bit of Wensleydale, and after it I can safely say that despite the sometimes stomach turning smell, I'll definitely be back.

Cheese, glorious cheese! With few true cheesemongers in Glasgow a stop at I J Mellis is always a…read morepleasure. Friendly, extremely knowledgeable staff who are generous with their samples and expertise. There's also a small meats section and a few other odds and ends in shop to put together a lovely charcuterie board. Take their advice for pairings and you won't be disappointed!

Great selection of cheese from all over the UK and Europe with a very knowledgeable owner who has…read morespent AGES helping me discover some new favourites. I would say that the selection of cheese is very varied, though the cheeses stocked do vary according to the seasons. You can be sure that whatever is carried here will be guaranteed to be at its peak. Try the 4year gouda, the bleu d'auvergne, the stilcheton and the delice triple cream... some of my absolute favourites!

Fantastic discovery of a place, seemingly newly sprung-up! Not only does it sell a delicious…read moreselection of locally-produced cheese, but its cafe serves the tastiest of home-made soup and omlette varieties. If you're looking for the perfect light lunchtime snack, then this is the place! As a bonus you are given (literally) a window into the cheese-making process, and presentations are also periodically given on this