Shopping in Leith

Books, second-hand typewriters, craft beers, model railways, antiques, vintage clothing and musical instruments – no matter what’s on your shopping list, there’s a strong chance you’ll find it in Leith!

The area’s main shopping throughfare is Leith Walk, where shops of all sizes and type line both sides of the street. Progress down to ‘The Foot of the Walk’ and there are several streets that will take you down to the Shore, which is home to a lovely selection of gift shops and Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre.

Food & Drink

As well as all the usual supermarkets, Leith Walk has a mix of worldwide food shops, so whether your preparing Chinese, Polish, Indian or Mediterranean dishes, you’ll find all the ingredients here. If Italian delicacies gets your mouth watering, be sure to visit Valvona and Crolla, Scotland’s oldest Delicatessen and Italian Wine Merchant. One of Europe’s original specialist food shops, they were founded in 1934 and today have an extensive online shop as well as an inviting shop at the top of Leith Walk.

For a great range of fresh fruit & veg, as well as herbs, spices and dried goods, head to Tattie Shaws. If you’re trying to shop more sustainably, Weigh To Go are a plastic-free grocer where you can stock up on refills on all kinds of household goods, including dried fruit, nuts, pulses and washing up liquid, as well as natural shampoo bars and soaps. A firm weekend activity for many Leithers includes a visit to Leith Market. Taking place every Saturday from 10am to 4pm, stalls are laden with a tempting range of artisan cheese, bread, baked goods, fruit & veg, as well as a unique selection of handmade crafts.

A short distance away in neighbouring Newhaven is where Welch Fishmongers are located. For 60+ years, these seafood merchants have been serving Edinburgh with fresh and sustainable Scottish fish and shellfish. If you can’t make it along to their shop, they also provide local delivery.

Craft Beer lover? Leith has a selection of top-quality shops that you won’t want to miss. As well as offering all the latest craft beers, Beets Leith stock a range of spirits and wine, and will happily provide help with choosing, if required. Brewed from their distillery in Tower St, Moonwake Beer believe there’s a beer out there for everyone – discover more in their shop and taproom. As the name suggests, Cornelius Beer & Wine sell both beer and wine, while Majestic Wine specialise in wine by the case as well as bottles, beer & spirits. Stocking over 370 different worldwide beers and an extensive wine selection, award-winning Great Grog have two sites in Edinburgh – their warehouse can be found on Leith’s East Cromwell Street. One of the area’s newest beer & wine merchants is Leith Bottle Shop – located on Great Junction St they sell unique bottles that you don’t see on supermarket shelves.

Sweet-tooth fans are also well catered for – with old-fashioned sweets in a jar and retro goody bags at Canderson’s Sweet Shop, to a mouth-watering range of Italian gelato at Bon Bon Edinburgh and Crolla’s Gelateria. 

Not forgetting our furry friends, you can be sure that all your pet’s needs will be well catered for at Dofos – a family run business since its establishment in 1953, they know a thing or two about looking after man’s best friend.

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Boutique Fashion

From vintage tracksuits to bags & shoes of all designs, both Epoca Modern Era Vintage Clothing and Rhinestone Cowboys have some great stock to lift your wardrobe. Or find some exceptional vintage clothing, all of which have been lovingly restored in Pascal & Co.

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Crafts, Gifts & Books

If you’re looking to treat someone special (or yourself), Petals by the Shore have a beautiful range of affordable bespoke flowers, or if it’s the wee person in your life that you’re buying for, The Cat’s Miaou have a cute selection of baby clothes, as well as jewellery, cards and accessories. At Flux you can shop a wide range of books, gifts and their own brand candles, which smell divine, while interior and gift studio Destined for Home stock a delightful range of homewares that are sure to brighten up any home.

For the model railway enthusiast (and for one of the best toy shopping experiences in Edinburgh) a visit to Harburn Hobbies is a must.

If you’re looking for new reading material, you’ll find plenty of choice in Leith. Founded in 1957, McNaughtan’s Bookshop is Scotland’s oldest second-hand and antiquarian bookshop. As well as selling a huge variety of antique books, ranging from history, travel, literature and illustrated children’s books, they also buy old and rare books. Within the gallery space of McNaughtan’s you’ll find the gem that is Typewronger Books – selling new books and second-hand typewriters, they also offer a typewriter repair service, as well as poetry and open-mic nights. Hop across the road to Topping and Company Booksellers, who have 2 floors laden with new titles or take a trip to the bottom of Leith Walk and you’ll come across the area’s newest book store – Argonaut Books.

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Homewares

For something truly unique, Coburg House is a gallery and shop where you’ll find pieces crafted by more than 80 local artists, while Leith Collective within Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre supports over 300 talented craftspeople, all of whom create one-of-a-kind pieces using recycled materials. The Leith Walk Gallery have a diverse collection of Scottish contemporary art, from paintings & drawings to sculpture, glassware, jewellery & ceramics, or pick up a limited edition print to decorate your wall at Logan Malloch.

Leith is also home to a number of antique shops, including Georgian Antiques, whose vast 5 floor showroom houses one of Scotland’s largest selection of antiques, Edinburgh Antiques Centre who source and stock vintage furniture, art & jewellery and Folly Antiques, where you can browse an eclectic range of antique, vintage, period & retro items.

A treasure trove that should not be missed is second-hand book and record shop, Elvis Shakespeare. With almost 8,000 books online and featuring a whole range of cross-genre literature, rare vinyls and music memorabilia, a browse here will surely be rewarded with a great find. As the name suggests, Vinyl Villains specialise in vinyl, including every genre you can imagine, but they also stock new & used CDs, DVDs and t-shirts.

If playing rather than listening to music is more up your street, then Rikki’s Music have everything budding musicians need, from guitar picks to grand pianos. Fancy tickling the ivories? Rimmers Music have an exclusive stock of pianos and keyboards and even offer lessons if you need to improve your skills.

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