Shopping: When?
Shops tend to close earlier than our European counterparts. Normal hours are 0900-1800. Thursday is late shopping till 2000. Most department stores and shops are open on Sundays too. 24 hr supermarkets are commonplace but be aware that licensing laws in Scotland allow for the purchase of alcohol only after 1000. ( i.e. Have your breakfast first!!!! )
Food: Where ?
Yes you CAN get a deep-fried Mars Bar....
( top of Broughton St ( Cafe Piccante) )
Further down Broughton St is 'Cafe Nom de Plume ' where you can get some of the cheapest
'Haggis (you don't wanna know) , Neeps ( mashed turnip) and Tatties (mashed potatoes)' in town. (don''t panic , they do vegetarian haggis too!) .
The poor sods who run this restaurant/ cafe are the ones who have kindly agreed for us to invade the pub they run on Friday night and are adapting their music policy accordingly... ;o))
( would've happily booked us all in here but they don't take bookings over 12 folk)
Edinburgh has a HUGE student population, so there an excellent variety of lunchtime 'eateries' / independent cafes etc . just south of the Royal Mile ( There is no need to settle for a watery, overpriced Starbucks. ;o) )
If you're awake on Saturday morning there's a farmer's market on Johnston Terrace. The setting under the castle is pretty cool . The fresh produce is good too but most folk go to perv the farmers. ;o))
As for supermarkets / restaurants, email me when you know where you're staying and I'll point you in the direction of the places you'll be able to access easily.
