Edinburgh is a great place to visit if you love a bookish city. I’ve written a blog post in the past about the Scottish capital’s museums and bookshops but wanted to dedicate a post to one very walkable part where you can browse to your heart’s content.
First on the list is Rare Birds Bookshop on Raeburn Place. I’ve been getting a book subscription from here for about four years now. It’s my favourite but I had never visited before this trip. My expectations were high and they were exceeded when I walked through the purple door. The walls are coloured in bright pinks and purples, with pretty flowers in vases on all the tables. They have a ‘blind date with a book’ section where you can purchase a book based on a small description without seeing the cover or author. I liked that they have a leaderboard of the staff’s favourite books and recommendations. They’re a shop that focusses sorely on women’s fiction which I love as women don’t always get the same recognition as male authors. They have everything from fiction to non-fiction and when I asked for a specific book that they didn’t have in stock, they were more than happy to order it in for me. If you’re looking for a book you’ve never heard of before or want a very specific recommendation, I think this is the shop to go to. I’ve found so many of my favourite authors thanks to this shop. It has so many events with authors and a lot of the books on the shelves are signed, which is a huge perk if you love collecting them. They also have their own tote bags and a selection of unique bookmarks to purchase too.
Step outside Rare Birds onto Raeburn Place, bustling with cafes, restaurants, art shops and Georgian stone buildings. There’s an Oxfam shop nearby for those who want to look for more books, or alternatively cross the road to Books N’ Cup, where you can sit and read, draw or work. The relaxing space felt perfect for creatives who want a new surrounding to get to work. Among the selection of books to purchase in the middle of the cafe, there are cosy armchairs, sofas and coffee tables in a tan brown colour. Everything in the shop is laid out to create the cosiest setting. This shop is also dog friendly which is great if you want to pop in before or after a long dog walk in a nearby park. The book selection varies including some beautiful classic hardbacks. The room is warmly lit with dim lights and the music is quiet and relaxing. On the menu there are a selection of hot drinks, including honey lavender lattes, chai lattes and iced teas, as well as the regular coffee shop staples. For food you can indulge in toasties, or avocado on toast, and the sweet treat station looks incredible with a selection of brownies, scones, cakes, cookies, cardamom rolls and more. It’s a great spot to hang out with friends or go alone to read. The books they sell are in partnership with other local bookshops which I think is great too.
After heading out of the book cafe, it was time for a short stroll to Golden Hare Books on St Stephen Street. While it’s not on the same street, it’s not far to go at all and is a good addition to this book crawl. I’ve been here before and loved it. They always seem to have what you’re looking for. The staff were friendly and welcoming as soon as we entered. On one wall, they have a shelf for ‘blind date with a book’, where staff have curated surprise books for the reader with just a short description. These seem to be really popular right now and I can see why as it’s like getting yourself a little gift to open when you get home. The orange-red coloured walls are lined with fiction and non-fiction, new and old. The selection is great. They have a fireplace which makes the room feel extra cosy and above that is a range of audiobook gift cards you can purchase. They also have a display of popular books as well as staff recommendations. Through a small archway is a cosy area with lots of children’s books, with bright colours and cosy chairs. It felt like a really inviting space. Near the till there’s also chocolate, bookmarks and various other things you can buy which also looked great too.
There are other bookshops I’m eager to visit next time I’m in Edinburgh. This includes the first ever romance brick and mortar bookshop to open in the UK – Book Lovers Bookshop. It was a fly-in visit and it was a bit further out from where I needed to be during this trip but it’s definitely on my radar to do next time.
What’s your favourite Edinburgh bookshop? Let me know in the comments. I’m also on Instagram, Twitter and Threads – @bookwormgirl_24
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