All airports need some kind of mini-supermarket or convenience store in arrivals. It's the ideal…read moreplace for one. Think about it - you've landed, got through security and grabbed your bags, you're tired, quite possibly hungry and you just need things to be easy for ten minutes. Convenience is king. This is especially true when the options available include M&S so you can feel like, even though the holiday is over and you're back too late to cook a real meal, at least it'll be a nice ready meal that you're buying. Sure, it's pricey, but you're not quite ready to quit holiday mode just yet. This branch is pretty tiny, but it has all the essentials. The staff are pretty great too and get through the queues rapidly. I'll definitely remember that it's here for the next time I travel.

This has been a great addition to Edinburgh Airport. Located 'landside' near the new exit leading…read moreto the trams and rental cars, it's easy to stop in before or after a flight. Before a flight, of course you can't buy liquids but I was thrilled to see they have my favorite breakfast - boiled eggs with fresh spinach!! I've grabbed these at Pret at other airports - but sadly the Eats in Edinburgh airport don't have them - but I can now get it at M&S before going through security. When arriving back in Edinburgh, it's great for grabbing some essentials so you don't have to go to the grocery store on your first day back. Missing star is because there isn't much fresh produce (mostly sandwiches, milk. crisps, drinks...) but it has so much more than was ever at the airport before.

Scotmid at the loan is the bigger Scotmids of the two in South Queensferry. You should be able to…read morefind almost everything you would need for everyday living, although I think you may find that some items are much cheaper elsewhere. The local post office can be found up the back of the shop, which can be a bit of a pain if it is very busy for example on pension day as the queue can sometimes get out of hand. Fresh bread is available most days, and there is always a wide variety of offers available. Staff are nice and helpful and there is always a familiar face serving at the tills.

What a fantastic sized Farm Shop on Hopetoun Estate. I have…read morebeen going there a few times. Sometimes just for browsing. Their meat, pies, fish, cheese are all fresh. You can get good quality cakes, assortment of chutneys, sauces, jams, biscuits, sweets, fruits in season, wines, craft beers, gins, eggs etc. The staff is really friendly. This is also where you can get a temporary access pass for "lallybroch" when visiting the film site for Outlander. When at the Hopetoun estate or nearby, definitely worth a visit.

I really, really wish I lived closer to this little shop! I walked past it today and couldn't…read morebelieve my luck, it looks like a tiny little village shop selling produce from all the local farmers at really good-value prices, until you realise that you're actually only about 2 minutes walk away from George Street. Location aside, that description is true. They stock everything from fairy liquid to fresh fruit and free range eggs, ad not only was it really cheap but it was also really good quality. Let me elaborate... Tesco: 4 "ripen at home" (aka totally unripe) nectarines for £1 and apparently that's them giving you a special offer. Here, I got a punnet of 10 perfectly ripe ones for only £1.79. Moreover, the guy who served me in here didn't look like he hated his job so much he was about to kill himself. I even got a smile and a hello, followed by him telling me to enjoy my day on my way out. We need more little shops like these!

I don't enjoy this Tesco, it has a weird layout and a very random stock selection. I only ever pop…read morein if I'm at the retail park for something else, and tonight was no exception. Things they didn't have tonight included a jar of mincemeat and individual foil cases. Given the size of the store this really surprised me. I was in at around 8pm and wandered aimlessly for ages (genuinely about 10 minutes) trying to find a member of staff to ask about the above items. Eventually when I tracked someone down they had no idea where I'd get either of the things, so I gave up and went to another supermarket! Not good enough Tesco, I dread to think what it would be like nearer Christmas!

Don't go shopping when hungry!…read more Its a convenient size store and you can pretty much get anything you need: from food to clothing! Nearby you can get some Krispy Kreme doughnuts , but there is still a long queue.

This Asda holds surprise a inside. We were actually visiting the Edinburgh Corn Exchange next door…read morebut parked up in the Asda car park. So we popped into Asda to get a couple of items. Lo and behold there sits an actual McDonald's Restaurant behind the cash desks. I couldn't believe it!!! I have never came across a McDonald's in a supermarket before and an Asda at that. It was absolutely mobbed, due to the event at the Corn Exchange, so we weren't able to stop in. Well, it's good to know it's there if we are ever out that way again. It was a good sized Asda and we found everything that we needed OK and paid at the self checkout. A store with a good sized car park, everything you need and a bonus McDonald's Restaurant for when you have the munchies or get hangry. Hehe!

LARGE, SPACIOUS, 24h OPENING TIME, WELL STOCKED…read more..... I have not been to Asda a lot of times, as normally it is too big for me and crowded. However, recently I made the discovery of 24h shopping and it is so convenient to go there after 10 clock at night and shop what you need without being disturbed. This Asda is massive and you can get food, clothing, appliances, pharmacy, coffee shop, electronics, toilets....and not to mention all the offers! Asda is well known for offering the best price amongst all the supermarkets! Ample space of parking is available. If you do not have a car the 35 bus will take you close to the location.

We stayed out by the airport and got breakfast here most days - it's actually pretty good for the…read moreprice and we really enjoyed the Scottish breakfast. If you want a cheap, filling breakfast, would recommend. The mushrooms we got the 4th time we were there were a bit watery which was sad but we'd still go back.

This is a fairly large Mozzers at the arse end of the Gyle. I mean, it's well stocked and the staff…read moreare cheerful enough but it does feel depressingly empty in the aisles near the back. Since it used to be a Safeway a very long time ago, it still has that 70s dated charm to it but in here it doesn't really work well and it just comes across as run down. There is a cafe at the front which just looked like a standard supermarket cafeteria but the toilets next to it were stinking. Not to mention that they are horrid and small. At least they have a family butcher, a bakery, a pizza counter and a deli along the back wall which makes up for the run down feel of the place. But the place always feels dead because everyone that shops in the Gyle is off at the other end doing their grocery shop at the epic M&S superstore and not here in the dingy Morrisons. I will only be in here if Starbucks, Costa and the M&S Café are full. If they give it a state of the art refurbishment, I will return.

Nestled in amongst all the tourist tat on The Royal Mile, Supermarket is what it says it is... a…read morevery small supermarket. Rather than selling purely Scottish items, it's more of a British supermarket as it stocks solely British produce. Walkers crisps, Marmite, HP, Heinz, Pot Noodles, Tetley teabags etc. It's really cool and it mad me realise how much I love all of the above items. When I was living in Germany I couldn't get any of the above things and boy, I missed them so badly. I don't even like Pot Noodles but I found myself craving a Chicken and Mushroom probably just because I couldn't get one. I came home for Christmas and went back with a suitcase full of Walker Crisps. I need my crisps, I usually eat about five bags a day, I know that's terrible but I actually couldn't survive without crisps. Unfortunately, when I moved away I realised that Britain is the only country in the world where crisps are a HUGE thing, the only flavour of crisps available to me in Germany were Paprika... not great. Interesting for tourists to see various condiments and other food produce that us Brit's just can't get enough of.

It was a Sunday evening, nothing else around was open, and that's how I ended up here. By the time…read moreI'd reached the back of the shop, the owner was in a shouting match with someone at the counter and if I thought I could have managed a quick escape then, I'd have done that, but I had a suspicion that he'd call me out on not buying anything. The shelves weren't particularly well-stocked that evening. It might have been the time of day, day of the week, who knows. I picked up a couple of things and headed to the front where the owner proceeded to shout at me about Scottish independence (this was before the vote). After I paid, I said "Thank you" and he picked up on my accent immediately. "Which of the f***ing colonies are you from?" he asked. "Oklahoma," I responded. He went on ranting about politics and I somehow managed to exit the store without incurring any more of his wrath.

This place scares me…read more I don't often shop at big stores like this. No, it's not a hipster thing (ok... it's kind of a hipster thing) but ever since moving into Stockbridge, my favourite Sunday activity is visiting all the little local spots to grab groceries for the week. There's something charming about swinging into the butchers and then down to the bakery for tonight's dinner. But not everything can be found at a little haunt and sometimes, my bank account gets mad at me and I have to venture into a big spot like this. The thing I will point out (as many before me have) is that the quality of their store brand here is excellent. Much better than the Tesco stuff I found my first few weeks (that's the extent of my big box groceries though, so take this with a grain of salt I suppose). From the produce, to the pre-made salads (the beetroot and quinoa is excellent! Oh gosh, I AM a hipster!), to the interesting pre-made meal finds - it's a nice step up from your normal big box selection. Plus, they stock three different kinds of Yamazaki whisky. Coming from Canada where you can't find this in the MOST exclusive shops - this tickles me. So I would be a huge fan of this place, if it didn't give me complete and utter anxiety every time I set foot in the place. It is SO DAMN BUSY. ALL THE TIME! I don't know if it's because there's a online pick up area right at the front (which is handy), or because i'm too used to my Sunday shop strolls, but this place seems like a bit of a zoo every time i've been in. Which would be ok I suppose if the lines moved a bit quicker at check out and there were more people to lead this lost Canadian to the right aisle, but as it stands - though useful, it's a rather unpleasant shopping experience. I'll keep coming here for big ticket items and when I get my arse in gear to do a big shop, but I doubt it will make it on the regular rotation any time soon.

When I moved from Surrey to Scotland one of the very few things I missed was Waitrose. Living in…read moreFalkirk, we didn't even have a Sainsbury's but my Waitrose withdrawal ended when we moved to Edinburgh - where there is not only one - but TWO Waitroses to meet the foodie needs of North and South. I would never consider Waitrose to be my regular grocery store - I suppose that's where the missing star goes. It's more of a treat - like going to a food hall of a posh department store. The cleaning supplies and toiletries are a bit more than at other shops and the selection isn't as good - but they are there in case of emergency. The true delight comes in the more interesting selection of fresh fruit and veg - far more greens that any other supermarket - and even most independent grocers. Bok Choi, kales (whole not shredded), chard.... perfect for green juices! Great cheeses, meats, fresh baked breads and the amazing dessert aisle!! The salted caramel brownies from Maison Blanc are incredible!! The Strockbridge/Comely Bank location is ideal for when you have other things to do in town and the free parking garage is a great bonus. Another bonus - free tea and coffee if you have a 'My Waitrose' card. Ah, Waitrose - you do spoil us!!