I'm not sure if I'm in awe, or just a little disturbed by what I saw at this food store…read more I wouldn't quite call it a deli, although a lot of the food is quite fresh and especially "unique". Outside, there're fruits and vegetables, and anything else that's on sale at the moment. When I was there last, there were actual pots of curry (just the sauce ofcourse!) going for £1. Everything else out there looked pretty tempting, but it was quite a hot day so I'm a bit worried the food will have that sun baked taste, which sounds nicer than it tastes as I write it. Inside, however, was the BIGGEST surprise is inside the store on the shelves. They're ready made meals, in jars, including duck confit and most bizarrely wild boar. This may be normal to some of you, but I've never seen a wild boar let alone eaten one, so...I stared at it for a little while before I left.

Excellent family run shop selling some fancy bits and bobs. Like the previous reviewer I cant quite…read morecall this a deli. They sell some really interesting foods you don't see around the area. The guys that run the shop are great - always chatty and friendly. My main draw for here is the lunch time rolls for a little over a pound. Considering the chain places and coops etc can charge almost three pounds for a disappointing dry sandwich, this is a bargain. Nothing fancy just white rolls salad and whatever tempts you. They have bargain bins outside the shop which are always worth a browse. If you are passing pop in for a browse and a chat, you wont be disappointed.

I visited and fell in love with their food hall at Elm Row. I'd walked past what had initially felt…read morelike a mediocre street only to discover the most impressive deli I've seen in Edinburgh! They had all sorts of cheeses, olive oil, cold cut meats, pasta, sauces, and many more deliciously delectable things. I had great hopes for this Valvona and Crolla, situated in THE department store of the city centre, Jenners. I was sadly disappointed to find it has much less character than the rustic and homey store on Elm Row. You will still find great food that I was impressed by the other store, and perhaps even more as they have an American Food section, with the popular staples such as Pop Tarts and Aunt Jemima mixes and syrups. There is an adjoining restaurant with fantastic views over and beyond Princes Street, and two smaller cafes, one in the food hall, and another on a lower floor by the men's clothes section. The food here is a little pricier than going to a supermarket as would be expected, but for a foodie like me, it's well worth it. Just go to the Elm Row one instead. Nuff said.

Not bad at all, which I guess means good to more optimistic folk…read more Had a coffee, a delicious but slightly over-salty quiche and a slice of Baileys cheesecake for my breakfast (cheesecake is so a breakfast food! Shutup!) We sat in the cafe overlooking Princes Street and I must say it is a nice place to have some food when the sun is shining but the wind is blowing. Lovely view of Scott's Monument and the surrounding area, with the hustle and bustle of the main street while you sit above it all! The service was a bit slow, which I am a tad unforgiving about as there was two people serving and they were slowed down by chatting to a third employee. It's a pet peeve of mine. Apart from that the staff were smiley and cheerful. The price was ok, about £7.50 for what I ordered, which I can live with. A lovely place for a tea or coffee and a quick bite while you shop in the lavishness that is Jenners.

What a great shop it has everything you need and cheep booze…read more Staff are very friendly and very good prices

Pinkie Mains farm shop is exactly that! a shop that originally started out on the land of the farm!…read moreIt has grown massive over the years and is now more like a mini supermarket, you can buy absolutely everything here from proper butcher meat , to dairy products and frozen foods to wine, the staff are very friendly and tend to have worked there for years which is always a good thing!

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.

Wow! A butcher that specialises in exotic meats... who knew?!…read more Zebra and camel and impala and alpaca. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Okay okay, no lions or tigers or bears, oh my. But still an impressive array of fresh and frozen goods. Only quibble is.... £37.50 for 2 camel steaks, 2 zebra steaks and 2 alpaca steaks. Thirty-eight quid? Really? Suppose I'll be in a better position to decide on value for money AFTER I've made a tried my zebra burger....

This place gets real busy! What strikes me while waiting is the basket size; its like three people…read morein a row have bought +£70 of meat! Great prices, prices to rival Tesco and Morissons. Well worth a trip if you're havin a bbq or want to fill your freezer. And if its on your way, you WILL save on your weekly shop.

My local butchers which I have walked past a million times without entering until today…read more Crap, generally damp and dank weather has made me crave comfort food. Not ideal when about to cross the pond and hit humidity and bare casper the friendly ghost pale skin to the world, but sometimes comfort grub is just what a girl needs. Mince and tatties was on the agenda so a wander to the butchers was in order. A lovely, bright clean shop, friendly staff with some amazing looking meat. There was so much temptation and some purchases were made as well as the mince. Got to love a shop which makes you buy more than you want, even if it is butcher meat rather than pretty dresses. The mince was great. Proper beef mince and there was virtually no fat running out of it as it cooked. It looked and tasted great and as a result I'm off buying supermarket meat and sticking with my local butchers. Well worth a visit for food that tastes as it should :-)

HOT HOT HOT CHOCOLATE for ALL chocolate LOVERS! The…read morechocolate tree is located on a busy road and still it's easy to find car parking nearby, especially on a Sunday. Also conveniently accessible by bus. There is not much sitting space, such best to book in advance. We got a lovely table at the front window (which by the way is the only table in the front of the shop). I believe there is a very small sitting area in the back. You can find lots of chocolate variations on display on cupboard shelves. At the moment they offer 10% off chocolate bars before a certain time of the day. There are also macaroons, ice cream a (not gelato), pralines and little "cakes". Above the main entrance you see the drink menu written on huge chalk boards: Traditional chocolate, one for kids and one for adults, white chocolate, milky chocolate, dark chocolate and much more. They do coffee too. I ordered salted caramel ice cream and milk chocolate, which was the best hot milk chocolate in Edinburgh so far, and not to mention I got served plenty of it in a big mug. Definitely worth the money. Must confess, my eyes were bigger than my stomach and next time a hot chocolate will be plenty :-) They are also present with stalls at various Edinburgh markets, like Stockbridge. Its an ideal place to take away and enjoy the "pleasures" somewhere else.

For those 'in the know', the chocolate tree has been an online business for quite some time, but…read moredecided to open up their own shop in our very own city, Edinburgh. If you like chocolate, you will LOVE The Chocolate Tree. Located in the trendy Bruntsfield area, it is in the perfect position to sit in and gorge or sit out and gorge. Their chocolates are all organic (so at least your conscious feels good about eating copious amounts of chocolate...) The decor is very chic, trendy and indulgent. Indeed, I think Indulgence is a theme in the cafe. My first visit was under sad circumstances - recently single and feeling vulnerable, my friend took me and ordered me the 'Spanish Hot Chocolate' (see picture). Oh My God. Where I was feeling despairing, distraught and dismayed I was overcome with delight, deliriousness and felt thoroughly delectable!! It was perfect...perhaps a bit rich, but the first few sips were to die for. It even came with a little dough cake-thing to dip into the thick, gloopy chocolate, like fondue! It would have been ideal for two to share. To be honest, I'm not what you would call a choc-a-holic - especially now that Cadbury's is no longer considered 'chocolate'. But there is something for everyone to enjoy, whether its a slice of their GLORIOUS chocolate cake (it was delicious, after a while I felt I should find a mirror to check if my pupils had dilated) or one of their mini chocolate bites. If you can't make it to the shop they sell online and they're much cheaper than their competition ( it's one of their ethical principles, woohoo!). It really is worth visiting, on a warm summer day to lounge and indulge yourself, or on a cold winter evening to keep yourself warm. It's the sort of place I imagine Harry Potter would sit in...