Eden seems to be a bizarre mix of wooden furniture and Edward Monkton cards…read more If wooden furniture is your thing then you could pick up some bargains in here as many of the items are very reasonably priced and one off pieces too. This kind of stuff doesn't really float my kind of boat but I did see a really pretty dark wood table at £95 that I quite liked. They stock lots of little accessories such as crystals, jewellery and candles and the staff are really helpful too. The whole shop has a really laid back atmosphere and great for a browse without feeling pressured to buy anything.

Eden is quite deceptive - it looks like it's going to have hordes of hippy dippy gifts, which might…read moreinterest some people but not so much me. Upon entering, there was certainly that free spirited vibe - they were playing the Cocteau Twins and the shop keeper was really relaxed. But that only made for a better browsing experience (and I LOVE the Cocteau Twins so I was happy). Yes, there are loads of carved wooden ornaments and chairs, hanging beads and dream catchers, but there are also some lovely rustic homewares, trendy candles and some truly gorgeous ornate wrapping paper. They have a range of cards and some lovely stuff for the kitchen, including plaid patterned coat hangers and pretty ornaments. So even though it has the 90s hippy vibe, there is more variety than you may think if you care to enter. The shop assistant was absolutely lovely and her laid back approach left me free to browse to my heart's content. I came out with cactus candles which are awesome but too nice to burn!

Another baffling, huge monster of a pound store to be found in this area of Edinburgh…read more It sells everything. I could expand on everything that it sells, but we would be here for a while. I might invent an updated version of the Only Fools and Horses song that plays during the end credits, since they list off their many bargain wares. For a wide range of products, this place isn't bad. Aside from selling the tourist tat that most bargain stores in Edinburgh display, they've got some imitation brands, garden equipment and cheap as chips electrics, just to give you an idea of the broad spectrum. I wouldn't trust any electrics from a pound shop, but for things like earphones you can be pleasantly surprised for a short lived period of time. Needs must in these purse pinching days of the recession, but it's a bit too much of a tacky overload for me. I'm sure if you rake through this place with a fine toothed comb you'll find something of use, but mostly it's a bit much! But since they bear the Only Fools ethos of bargain selling, it's a guarantee you'll find "cut prices at a stroke!"

Certainly not the most glamorous shop, Pound Savers stocks all manner of tat and this place is so…read morebig it really does seem to have everything but the kitchen sink. I could have spent hours in here browsing at all the wares, finding bizarre reasons why I would ever need half of the stuff in here. I was tempted by the colourful clay as it's been so long that I've made any clay people but decided it wasn't a very wise purchase. This place does seem to have everything but to be honest, none of it seems all that useful but if you're looking for a tiny screwdriver, a crazy soap dish or a garden gnome you will be able to take your pick in here.

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.

Since the last time I've been in person, Black Moon Botanica has a) started shipping…read moreinternationally via their online store and b) opened up a second location in New Town that's... 1. bigger, 2. seems to have even more options available, 3. and has *much* nicer staff. I know this location in particular is of significance to the owner, but I'd rather visit the location on Thistle Street.

Absolutely incredible customer service, such a friendly bunch of people! The selection of books…read moreabout Celtic and Scottish lore is phenomenal and reasonably priced. When I asked about a particular book I was looking for they were kind enough to direct me to the bookstore next-door when they realized they were out of that particular copy.

I love this shop, full of funny, quirky, unique gifts. However it is a bit pricey so I only manage…read moreto shop on occasion but definately worth a look.

This is a great shop, however, there are so many shops like this around, they're kind of a dime a…read moredozen kind of shop.. To be honest, when I first saw the name, it was an instant picture taken and sent to my brother. He has a dog he loves so much, and it just seemed like a funny thing to do. I wasn't sure then what type of store this was as it was dark and I didn't look in to the shop (I thought it was a pet store), but later came back during the day and realised it's a mix all kind of shop. Loads of ideas for gifts for various people in your life, or if you prefer, gifts for yourself. There is a huge rack of bath bomb products and a huge wall of christmas ornaments which caught the eye of one of our friends who was with us. There's a lot to look at and like Cat C. said not exactly cheap, but if you're looking for a good gift of a cool card, this could be your shop!

Black Moon Botanica is a magical shop with two locations in Edinburgh (as well as an online shop…read morethat ships internationally!). They are "candlemakers and purveyors of esoteric and magickal goods" offering loads of artisanally crafted jewelry, books, art, tarot, and more. Their soy candles and wax melts really are their specialty though (some of my favorite in the world; and, also, I can't get scents like what they make anywhere else). They've done an exceptional job describing the fragrances and uses for each of them online if you want to look. My favorites: 1) Mercury Retrograde (patchouli, bergamot, jasmine, white gardenia, vetiver; designed to "keep you grounded and supported while lifting your mood when things are going awry!") 2) Witch Wood (pine, cedar wood, cypress, sandalwood, eucalyptus, fir; "perfect for grounding, rituals working with nature, and when in need of the forest in your own home. Ideal for Yule and winter solstice, this smells of a grove of Christmas trees.") 3) Cabin In The Woods (... I think? this was a holiday scent and it smelled like wood smoke and fir and ash and fresh air!) I appreciate that the staff doesn't rush my experience browsing, touching, smelling everything. They are knowledgeable about their products; and, they also seem excited about what they're currently doing and what they hope to do in the space in the future (I've been here when an artist was inquiring about how to get their tarot featured; I've been here when an older man was inquiring about what tarot even was because his granddaughter was asking about it and he wanted to "buy her some" - in both situations, the staff was lovely, engaging, and friendly). See you soon for more candles soon, friends!

Cute and tiny Christmas ornament place but a lot of the ornaments are made in china. I wanted…read moreornaments made in Scotland. It seemed hard to find that.

Now this is what I call a Christmas shop!…read more From the second you walk in the store, your greeted by a friendly "Merry Christmas" from the staff on hand! A nice touch in the middle of Spring! The smell of cinnamon wafting through the air brings me back to my parents home around Christmas time and I'm instantly happy. We were in town with some friends who were visiting us and because one of them is such a huge fan of Christmas (and on vacation in Scotland), it was a must that we stop for some ornaments she could take home for friends and family. This is one of the better shops in the area as everything is nicely presented in various sections, some color coded, some grouped together by genre. There were Scottish ornaments, I even managed to spot an American Flag ornament. Ha! We walked around this shop a bit longer than the others we went to just because it just felt so magical in here with the music playing, the smell of cinnamon and the joy that Christmas time brings out of some people. The guys with us weren't as impressed as they're a little bit more bah humbug, but that didn't stop us from really having a great time!

In my opinion, Carnivàle Vintage is the best vintage shop in Edinburgh! All the dresses are in good…read morecondition. And they are reasonably priced. The owner knows a lot about vintage fashion, she will help you find the best dress! I also like that there are TWO fitting rooms in this shop! I highly recommend this shop, I will definitely go back.

From the owner: Carnivàle specialises in vintage clothing from the 1940s-1970s. We have both menswear and…read morewomenswear as well as furniture, jewellery and accessories. We are passionate about bringing old things back to life and clean and mend items so they can be enjoyed for several more decades to come.

One of my favorite spots to grab local Scottish souvenirs is Isle of Skye Candle Co. on the Royal…read moreMile. This family run business features natural candles hand poured in the Scottish Highlands on the Isle of Skye! My favorite scent was Chamomile & Cedar! Reed diffusers and skincare also available! The staff were very friendly and helpful with product selection and knowledgeable of available options! I am always willing to pay more for high quality products and to support small family owned businesses.

This was my favorite shopping experience in Edinburgh. Their staff is exceptionally friendly and…read morefun to talk to, and their candles smell amazing! I'm sitting halfway around the world enjoying the lovely smell and planning my next trip to restock...cause that makes so much more sense than ordering online!

With rows of tawny-coloured tenements, massive student population, a surfeit of artsy cafés and…read moreindependent grocery stores, Marchmont's vibe falls somewhere between bohemian and genteel. It's bordered by the Meadows on one side, and the wealthy mansions of the Grange on the other, and has its own character as a fairly sleepy residential neighbourhood, disturbed only by the occasional blaring music of student flat parties. When I lived here, I loved its smallness, and the village-like quality - the fact that, whenever I left my flat, I'd meet someone I knew, and could survive for days at a time without ever venturing across the Meadows, getting all I needed from the cornershop, having a pint in the Argyle down the road, renting DVDs from Alphabet, and generally shying away from the outside world. Now that I've moved away, I feel slightly relieved to have escaped this insular community. Still, I'll always have a soft spot for Marchmont's leafy streets and turreted tenements.

Marchmont Hardware is a great handy business in Marchmont which provides a good range of cooking…read moreutensils, tools and even mini vacuum cleaners for hoovering up crumbs on the tabletop - an amazing invention. The guys who run it are pleasant, helpful and offer to find any products which they don't have in stock or recommend where you might find them. My only criticism is that some of the things which they sell are a bit gimmicky and pointless. For example, they were displaying an electronic rotating ice cream cone! Does that appeal to anyone? Possibly, but I can't help but feel that they'd benefit from specialising in stuff which people actually need. Nevertheless, Marchmont Hardware offers top service and a great range of products at good prices.