Tried two diiferent single malt scotch whiskeys each at 46% abv - Loch Lomand 12 and Berry Bros &…read moreRudd. Both were very strong tasting whiskeys although I felt the Berry Bros was slightly smoother with a better aroma. This shop has a large humidor with a good selection of fine cigars and accessories. The owner was very nice and had an in depth understanding about whiskey and cigars. A display of classic smoking pipes were affixed to the wall across from the massive whiskey bottle inventory and sitting lounge.

During my recent trip to Europe I started to dabble with whiskey. So this whiskey shop was the…read moreperfect place to try some real strong stuff. I was on a food and drink tour that explained two of their whiskeys which were around 90 proof. They literally smelled like rubbing alcohol but tasted decent. This shop also had a humidor with an excellent selection of cigars. This was a great experience.

I used to make regular visits to The Paper Rack on my way between Edinburgh Uni buildings at George…read moreSquare and The Mound. I have some sort of messed up metabolism and need to eat about every 30 minutes. I don't like eating a lot of snacks and junk food so having a purveyor of some healthier alternative (a rare find) on my route is great. On my visits I would buy from their great selection of cereal and smoothie bars to fulfil my calorie needs. Having said this The Paper Rack does have a good selection of snacks and junk food as well as (for some reason) decent quality tinned biscuits. As has already been mentioned they also have a good selection of papers and magazines, a must for all newsagents. The staff serving me were always on the phone but managed to still be perfectly pleasant. They seemed to charge me something different every time for the same item, but it was always cheaper than the other nearby newsagent.

A newsagent's can only be so good I suppose, but with the rip-off haven of the Royal Mile just a…read morefew yards away, I really can't think of a better option round here for fags, chewing gum, scratchcards or gossip fuelled tabloids. With a selection of mags that almost rivals International Newsagents down the road, minus the foreign ones, it's very well stocked, and they also sell the fantastic Brannigan's crisps, the king of potato snacks and often annoyingly awkward to find.

When in Edinburgh - Pipe Smokers MUST go to this pipe shop. Great selection of pipes, lots of…read moretobaccos and the nicest, helpful staff you're going to find. Highly recommend

I'm not a smoker (got get that in first, my mum reads these) so you might see it as a little…read moreredundant me reviewing this place. Well maybe it is, but that won't stop me. It's a bit of a smack in the face walking in here. The music is REALLY loud (alright, alright old man) and the walls are stocked to the ceiling with glass fronted shelves full of cigars on the left and smoking paraphernalia on the right (yes that means pipes and bongs). The cigar collection was pretty extensive, as was their pipe arsenal. It did seem a little expensive, not to mention a little intimidating. Probably not somewhere you'd take your mum.

This place is excellent if you want to get some first hand information on pipes / cigars tobacco…read moreetc. I called in today to get my first (non budget) pipe, having only ever used a cheap one that was recommended to for for trying out. The assistant in the store talked me through what kind of pipes he would personally recommend, suggested a good aromatic tobacco to go with it and signposted me to an Edinburgh Pipe group that get together regularly. Couldn't have been any more helpful if he tried! I had to run out and get some cash, when I got back it was all packed up in a rather cool Cuban Box with some freebies thrown in for extra measure. Couldn't be happier with the level of service and will definitely be calling in again.

Not only are the cigars very over Priced they are not kept…read morewell in the humidor. I bought 2 partagas Cubans while on vacation and they both came apart while smoking. After sped of the equivalent of $160 USD that should never happen.

Find a rare whiskey or grab a nice cigar. They have a great selection of both. Some of the…read morecigars were pricey but I think that's how it is in Scotland. The whisky selection is good. And all the areas are represented with all the distilleries. Could be open a little longer but not bad. 1000-1800. Ben was awesome and answered all questions. Even provided a few recommendations. Will be back. A must stop for any whisky drinker in search of a bottle.

A disgrace of a company. Ordered a very expensive bottle of whisky and 10 days later no whisky…read moredelivered. Checked my account and order showing as refunded. No email to apologise, no email to say I was bring refunded and no refund received. Utter shambles and in this day and age where service is everything this company are amongst the worst. They don't deserve anyone's business or to be in business at all.

Doesn't even exist, walked from our hotel for some snacks and drinks and was bitterly disappointed…read moreto find there was no "mama saids" in sight. -3 stars of I could

Awful place, rude staff and over priced. Avoid, much nicer…read moreplaces around at much better value. Charged £18 for 2 bananas 1 coffee and 2 cokes. Gave £50 note and short changed by £7, guy refused to give proper change.or check. I called owner next day and he were very rude

I am not a cigar smoker, or a pipe smoker for that matter, but this wee shop in Leith is a real…read morefind. I love, love, love the smell of a pipe, because my Grandad used to smoke one. This store smells exactly like his front room used to! It's a family run shop selling pipes, cigars, lighters and tobacco, at reasonable prices. They also ship to anywhere in the world. I was surprised to see a lighter at £180, my jaw hit the floor! Why would anyone pay that for a lighter is beyond me, but there you go! A great shop if you want to get your fix, but otherwise just interesting for a wee look and maybe a flashback to your childhood!

I have bad news for Sam... They've obviously put the prices up since you were last in here. Despite…read morealready being ridiculous, it is in fact possible to charge even more for the most basic essentials. I made the (somewhat recurrent) mistake of overinduldging slightly the night beore my parents came to visit during my final term of uni, so on the way to meet them the next morning I was in dire need of something cold, fizzy and devoid of any semblance of booze. So imagine how pleased I was to look up and see the sign for this shop just ahead of me; I could almost taste my Diet Coke already. Maybe I'll get two, I thought, just to really make sure it sorts me out. Except then I get to the counter and the woman wants £2.40 for the two cans. When I stared at her in a mix of utter disbelief and panic at the thought that I might have to part with one of my lovely cans, the girl in the shop just laughed and said "Aye, a ken pet, it's a lot ey?". Er, yes shop lady, it is. It's ridiculous.

It's round about this McColls that you can tell you're leaving touristville and treading water into…read morethe real Edinburgh, where grinning foreigners with bumbags are make way for shifty looking youngsters, and trustafarian students share breathing space with the drunken tramps that appear to live on the benches in Nicholson Square. It's probably the best McColls I've been in, which may not be saying much, but they do go that extra mile with their stock, selling hot dogs and even (possibly) fresh cakes. On the flipside, on my past two visits here I've seen both an old woman try to pay with a fake 20, and a guy in a wheelchair buy a bottle of vodka. At 12pm. Welcome to Scotland.