Best Shopping Malls in Strathaird Area

"If you need somewhere to get out of the rain, or perhaps your kids need some new shoes after running theirs ragged all over Edinburgh, Ocean Terminal Shopping Center is the place to go. In addition to have regular stores, it has plenty of restaurants so you can grab a family bite to eat, and you can treat the toddlers and younger kids to a stop at a specialty shop like Build – a – Bear while you’re there."

"We are going to explore Leith today, so we’ll hop on the bus towards Ocean Terminal and get off near Roseleaf Bar and Cafe. The dish to order here is the Yin or full Scottish breakfast with sausage, black pudding, bacon, and haggis."

"Avalanche Gapinski was born from a friendship between Avalanche Records owner Kevin Buckle and artist Gerry Gapinski, whose punk, dark, reimagined images of Edinburgh fitted perfectly with Kevin’s new vision for Avalanche. The shop also has prints and t-shirts from the Brazilian artist ‘Butcher Billy’ famous for his post-punk superheroes and photos with matching quotes from the award winning "Dark Edinburgh". Add in a fantastic range of vintage clothing from Armstrongs and upcycled clothing from Psychomoda, and their Waverley Mall store is a treasure trove of unique and interesting finds, spanning music, fashion, art and so much more."

"Waverley Mall is a shopping centre located at the east end of Princes Street in the heart of the city centre, next to Edinburgh Waverley railway station. Its prime location on the corner of Princes Street and Waverley Bridge means that it is ideal to escape the cold: you can browse in a variety of great clothing shops, pick up a souvenir or three before catching your train, or to grab a bite to eat in the food hall before catching the train. Waverley Mall, 3 Waverley Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1BQ"

"With direct access onto both Princes Street and into Edinburgh Waverley Train Station, Waverley Mall is an ideally located shopping destination. It's the perfect place to stop by for fashion, food and a last minute Scottish souvenir before catching your train."

"Located at the east end of Princes Street, you’ll find the newest edition to Edinburgh’s shopping centres – St James Quarter. From beauty to clothing, electronics to footwear, this 4-storey centre covers 1.7 million square feet and includes restaurants, cafés, bars, shops, public spaces and leisure venues. A Roomzzz aparthotel where guests can stay for one night, one week, or even up to a year, as well as Edinburgh’s first boutique Everyman cinema will open during future phases."

"When it comes to Chop Chop, you can’t get the food in your mouth fast enough. The brainchild of Jian Wang following her arrival in Edinburgh from Changchun (a region in North Eastern China renowned for its dumplings), Chop Chop came about after the success of her dumpling factory, which supplied dumplings all over the UK and then to cruises around the world. The no-fuss food is fresh, healthy and utterly delicious."

"Having won Gordon Ramsay’s approval a few years ago for having the best dumplings in Scotland, Chop Chop was high on my list of eateries I wanted to visit and when I did, I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, I’ve been back more times than I can count. Not much to look at from the outside, and by no means flashy or modern inside, the food speaks for itself and I love everything about it."

"Why: Fronting its tagline of ‘Can a billion people be wrong?. ’ on both its restaurant window and menus, Chop Chop prides itself on being dubbed Edinburgh’s best Chinese restaurant. This combined with lots of praise being received in the national press means Chop Chop has grown in popularity, and we can see why."

"It's by the sea – Newhaven Harbour is across the street – the interior looks like a well-appointed surf shack and it has ceviche, chowder, lobster, mussels and oysters on the menu. Meanwhile the specials board could bring scallops with black pudding, sea bream with potatoes, samphire and potted shrimp, and other simple, fresh dishes. Given the owners are Thai – and the premises used to house a Thai restaurant – there may be even be some Asian-inflected options at times."

"The Shanghai Club nestles in the basement of an upscale boutique hotel, Le Monde. It has recently been refurbished and boasts a state of the art sound system as well as a variety of areas to fit your mood. The dancefloor is ringed by more intimate booths suitable for smaller parties."

"The bathrooms are kept clean and the overall lighting of the club is impeccable. Their VIP booths are incredible too. On the downside, for people who are on a budget, this place may not be just for them."

"It’s clear that Bow Bar’s management cares about keeping the tradition of a proper pub alive at a time when so many are disappearing: You won’t find music blaring – or any music, for that matter – or TVs broadcasting the latest match. Instead, the focus is squarely on the details, from the polished wood bar to gleaming brass taps that date back to the 1920s. Although not many residents live close enough to the pub to make it there, it’s still a popular stop for Edinburghers meeting up for a pint."

"There is virtually no food at this very basic beer and spirits bar in a steep, curving street beneath Edinburgh Castle. There's no music or gaming machines either, and no TV (except on special match days). Mike Smith who manages Bow Bar does allow pies at lunch time (retailing at £4.50 each) but that's it."

"The Palace of Holyroodhouse — usually simply referred to as Holyrood Palace — is the Queen's official Edinburgh residence and has frequently been at the center of Scottish history. Built in 1678, it was where James II and James IV were each married, where James V and Charles I were crowned, and where "Bonnie Prince Charlie" held court in 1745. When the Queen is away (which is typically 51 weeks of the year, as she's only here for "Royal Week" each summer), public access is permitted to the stunning Historic Apartments (former home of Mary Queen of Scots) and the State Apartments, famous for their fine furnishings, tapestries, and plasterwork."

"Adjacent to Holyrood Palace are the ruins of Holyrood Abbey which are an important part of the Edinburgh landmarks list. The history of this church dates back to the 12th century. You gain access to the abbey with your Holyrood Palace ticket."