Standard Ortak stuff. Not my cup of tea but seems very popular…read more Nice shopfront for a reasonably small store.

Loved this cute shop!! As a Texas girlie, I felt at home here. Good prices and unique finds!read more

This shop fills me with joy, with so much colour and patterns and warmth and amazing quirky Mexican…read morepieces. You can't help but get excited about purchasing something that is quite unique, fun and quirky and surprisingly low cost. I'd buy everything in the shop if I could.

I won't be setting foot inside this shop ever again! The owner was quite irritable and unpleasant…read moresimply because I asked if she stocked hoop earrings (which I required for a flamenco performance). She answered in a snooty, condescending manner that no, they "do not stock any type of "fashion" lines". Rather presumptuous!

This is a treasure trove of a place. Run a by a lovely man who always makes sure to say hi, ask how…read moreyou are and check whether you need help. Equally he will happily let you browse for as long as you like, which is good because you'll need a while. Organized haphazardly don't go in here with a specific object in mind, come in here to be inspired. This is always the first place I visit when looking for presents and never leave empty handed!! There is a great range of cards and postcards for all occasions, a random selection of books and loads of gorgeous stationary. They also have jewellery and a few arts and crafts sets for kids and adults alike.

City Vintage is a fantastic furniture store which stocks a great mix of retro and vintage…read morefurniture, home accessories and jewellery. It is only open part-time though so have a look at the opening hours I've posted if you're planning on visiting the store. If you are interesting in collecting some truly unusual items for your home then City Vintage is an absolute must. This isn't a shop full of a load of broken crap which is piled high and sold cheap. In fact a lot of the stuff is pretty expensive but it is in mint condition and is the genuine article. Recently I have bought a fantastic retro wall clock for just under £50 and an amazing green glass bottle which used to belong to a chemist but now sits on my make-up stand as a perfume bottle! I'm not sure how safe that is put screw it, it looks fabulous! I am lusting after a stunning French bakelite telephone but at £250 it is more than a little out of my budget! The selection of jewellery is the best I have ever seen in a vintage store and I don't think I have ever visited City Vintage without leaving with one of their gorgeous brooches! City Vintage does have a small collection of clothing and bags but the real stars of this store are without doubt are the home accessories and jewellery.

City Vintage is a gorgeous little store that I stumbled across during a wander through Morningside,…read morehidden away on Colinton Road. I was enticed inside by the gorgeous ornate mirrors in the window and I couldn't help but take a peek inside. Inside there are pretty little pigeon holes filled with vintage treasures from retro coca cola merchandise to antique jewellery and home furnishings. You can expect to pay up to around £200 for one of their big beautiful mirrors, however at the other end of the spending spectrum you will find nice little ribbon tied bunches of lavender for around £1 each and unique and interesting cushions for around £5 each. The whole place has a quirky kooky feel that you might expect to find in any vintage store, however it manages to sieve through the tat to bring its customers the very best vintage treasures in this beautiful boutique.

We stopped in just before closing looking for a few things to take back home. We had already been…read morethrough many other gift shops, seeing all of the same things repeatedly. While you will still see some of the same items here, they have some more unique items as well. What we really liked about this shop was the proprietor. She didn't get cranky because we settled in just before closing. She didn't simply stand behind her counter. She had much to say without us feeling that she was interfering. It was enjoyable to have a nice chat while looking around. We made some purchases as her prices were a bit more reasonable than some of the other places. It was a nice little place that we would certainly stop into again.

A gift shop with a difference…read more The clue to the first difference is one word on the outside: weaponry. To any man, this is going to spark interest. They have a small range of different swords of varying sizes and types. According to the DO NOT TOUCH signs, they were battle-ready and sharp (this just makes me want to touch them all the more, but I did manage to resist the temptation). The quality of the items in this shop is a bit higher than in many of the others in the city, and there was also a small range of teddy bears, which is something that you don't often see. I was also welcomed into the shop by the owner, greeting me with a smile and a hello. This is so rarely seen in shops these days, and it's good to see that they're interested in everyone that comes through the doors. On the whole, I would recommend a visit to Neanie Scott if you're looking for a gift or trinket to give to a friend or relative.

Those looking to unleash the interior designer within themselves can do no better than to come…read morehere. It's not particularly cheap, but if it's modern and slightly more unique items you are after then this is the place you are looking for. However, it should be noted that this place does not deal exclusively in lights and also offers other interior items generally including some sort of relationship to light in one form or another such as a number of items of furniture consisting of mirrors as their external surface. IF you do want something a bit more specific and have the money to spend then a visit here might be in order.

I was a little confused as I walked up to Cotterell Lighting store in the Newington area. I was…read morepresented with what appeared to be a beautiful old church but the "Sale now on" said something different. Then, I noticed the huge signs for "Cotterell Lighting" and I decided to pop in. I was still really confused and wondered if I was entering some kind of bizarre lighting cult. As soon as I entered I realised that it was indeed a shop, and it sold lighting, all kinds of lighting, in every design you could think of. There were two friendly staff members working who just told me to give them a shout if I needed any help so I decided to browse. I couldn't believe how many different lighting styles they had and if you're looking for a new lampshade or light then you will find exactly what you're looking for here. In addition to lighting they also do a small amount of furniture. I noticed a really cool mirror ball light, a lampshade on a stand that was designed to look like a fish bone and a huge mirror that I like instantly as it made me look better than I actually do. I have to admit, it was a little odd walking around an old church and it was pretty much intact apart from the missing pews. When I looked up I could see that the upper seating of the church was still there and if that area was still accessible you could have taken a seat and looked down at the now lighting shop. The creaking floor boards were still there as were the stained glass window and painted high ceiling. It seems a waste that such a beautiful church is now just a shop and even stranger that it hasn't been disguised as a shop. I'd recommend visiting under the guise that you need a new lightbulb, as it really is an experience.

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.

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.