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.

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.

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.

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.

Hatches, Matches and Dispatches is very much in fitting with the elite of Bruntsfield's finest…read morestores. A showcase to stationery designer Jeffrey Gardner, it would be my first stop for personalised invitations if I had a wedding or Christening to plan. It is very much aimed at this market, with gorgeous, pretty and tasteful cards and notebooks to be found across the store. It also doubles up as a stockist of Steiff bears, which are the creme de la creme of teddies amongst collectors. This range, teamed with with dainty, ornate stationary, gives the shop an air of innocence, like the days of Winnie the Pooh and friends. It's got that twee vibe, but in a good way. Classic would be the best way to describe it. Although I would say this shop's forte is suppling specialised stationery for momentous occasions, it's worth a look if you're just browsing for an elegant gift.

Hatches, Matches and Dispatches is one of the best little shops in Bruntsfield, with its unique…read morestock and quaint shop. They sell handmade stationary and gorgeous gifts which are different from those which you would normally come across. This store stocks the stationary designs of Jeffrey Gardner, which includes beautiful writing paper and personalised notes. My favourite aspect of Hatches, Matches and Dispatches is the lovely Steiff Bear Collection which they have available. With the little yellow tags which the bears have in their ears, it is easy to recognise a Steiff bear, and although they are a rather pricey, they are absolutely gorgeous and this store sells a huge range of different bear designs including Winnie the Pooh, Rupert the Bear and Panda's. My dad bought me a Steiff bear from Hatches, Matches and Dispatches a few years which is gorgeous and currently sits on my desk! Hatches, Matches and Dispatches is the perfect little shop to pop into to buy cards, stationary or gifts for someone which are of excellent quality. They frequently have sales of their stock which is a great chance to grab a bargain gift.

I always say this about shops of this nature, but fairy ornaments etc remind me of the wicca craze…read morethat hit in the mid to late 90s. Perhaps Charmed and Buffy saw that trend flying into my high school, and I distinctly remember my then best friend's room looking not unlike this shop. Shops like Enchantment are becoming fewer and further between, but it's nice that this one still does well. There are little pewter ornaments of delicate garden sprites, elves and fairies lining the shelves of this place, and dangling from the ceiling in abundance. If you're into pixies, healing stones and a touch of magic, then you'll like it. My mum likes ornaments like these and it's a great wee resource not too far from the Royal Mile if you're looking for an impish wee pressie. It's a nice change from seeing green ornaments in the shape of Loch dwelling monsters.

Enchantment is very enchanting indeed and as soon as you walk in you are surrounded by fairy…read morefigurines, crystals and various other magic related items. I can imagine this place would be ideal for people who are into alternative healing therapies with their range of crystals on offer and the whole shop has a very peaceful, tranquil feel to it. It's a little bit different to your average shop and I can't see myself ever needing anything from it but if fairy's float your boat, then why not?

This is a sweet little boutique, with lovely gifts and a selection of toys and accessories for…read morechildren. I noticed they're also started selling clothes - some of them vintage! - on one rail outside the shop and another inside. There's a great selection of candles, cards and other lovely things that would make an excellent gift or treat for yourself. There's an abundance of gift shops to to choose from in the area and, whilst this isn't my first choice, I really enjoy popping in as its a pleasant wee shop to browse and staff always say hello and offer help if you need it. I also like having a peek in their ever-changing window displays!

What a sweet little shop!…read more This place caught my eye a few weeks ago, when I stopped dead in my tracks and found myself wandering in to utter: "How much is that Dalek in the window?!" I'm such an adult. The Dalek turned out to be the coolest bubble bath that ever there was and was a sweet price of £7.50. Unfortunately, I hate baths and not even the super cute container could justify my purchase. So I left, knowing that soon, the universe would give me the necessary excuse to buy nerd soap. Enter #SocialMediaSanta. If you're not familiar, this is a very nifty initiative run by Shelter Scotland to give families that otherwise could not afford them, presents for the holiday season. They ask for unwrapped toys and then distribute them throughout the city. You know what is an unwrapped toy? DALEK BUBBLE BATH! Yes, just a week after my window love fest, I found myself gleefully skipping back to this spot to take a Dalek to a nerdy kid in need. Along the way, I realized they stock a ton of other amazing toys - from neat craft kits (paint your own trucks!) to super cute baby bath gloves (the hungry caterpillar! nostalgia bonus!) and everything in between. What started as a one toy purchase turned into fifteen and I swear, I had more fun buying them then the kids who will soon receive them. This place gets a little bonus love from me because the lovely lady behind the till threw in some soap and lotions (for Moms!) free of charge to pay it forward to the folks in Edinburgh. I am the Evil Auntie to two little ones back home, so I dare say i'll be popping back here again to find them unique toys and nerdy giftables, even if it'll cost me a bomb to get them back across the point. But if you have local little ones (or ones on the way!), you should definitely poke your head in here. The prices might be a bit higher then your big box options but the cool factor is worth the price tag.

I'm addicted to scented candles…read more I know, I know... anyone who read my candle review is raising their eyebrows at this statement: "But Jody, don't you have accidental and extremely flammable cats?!" I do. But i'm still addicted to scented candles (and if I position them correctly in the house, I can monitor cat vs. candle fairly well. This cute little gift shop in the heart of Stockbridge is my go-to for what I call "the fancy pants scented candle". Usually, i'm a waitrose branded £3 candle sort of gal, but on very special occasions, I get the fancy pants £10 ones from here. At Christmas, I got a cinnamon candle. It was delightful. Why do I come here? Do they have the best selection? The most reasonable prices? Nah. It is because it's a mere block away from my house? Yup. But just because my familiarity with this little space is due to laziness, doesn't mean it doesn't boast an ok selection at pretty reasonable prices. They've got a ton of other interesting doodads... none of which i've bought, but i've often peeped in the window at. Would it be a destination shop for folks outside the neighborhood? No. But is it a great spot for a quick gift/house warming for those of us in Stockbridge? Yes. Yes it is.

I always have a great experience visiting Gifted - it's my favourite shop in Stockbridge! They have…read morea great range of products and there is always new stock coming in which I am always eager to investigate ;o) The staff are always really helpful, they really went out of their way recently to help me choose gifts for my bridesmaids, which I love. Love love love!

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.

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.