City Cents Edinburgh

Here’s what Sarah Ewing got for €100 in Scotland’s funky capital

1 RETRO DRESS
Some of the best indie stores in Edinburgh are on the streets that fan out from the Royal Mile tourist mecca. Head down Cockburn Street to seek out trendy boutique Pie in the Sky, a treasure trove of jewellery and cult labels like Skunkfunk.€33

2 TARTAN NESS CLUTCH
Who needs the latest Prada or Gucci when tartan can be this cool? Ness (367 High Street) sells an array of funky tartan knitwear, accessories and footwear, with bright, bold colours and cool, duckegg blues.€33

3 THE LIST AND I-ON
The List is Edinburgh’s answer to Time Out – blink and you might miss some of the great bands like The Kills, who slip into the city’s bulging repertoire. IOn gives an alternative view on the people and places that keep Edinburgh buzzing.THE LIST, €2.80 AND I-ON, FREE

4 MORNING SMOOTH SMOOTHIE
After a night out on the tiles, head to Red Sugar (27b Raeburn Place) for a healthy organic smoothie to kickstart your day. This eco-friendly café specialises in raw foods, so even their cakes don’t seem sinful! €4.50

5 GHOST & GHOULS TOUR
Eschew the ubiquitous opentop buses and go underground, literally, to hidden vaults and darkened cobbled pathways, on a haunted tour. Exposing Edinburgh’s ghoulish underbelly, if these walks from Mercat don’t give you the creeps, nothing will! €11

6 DOG SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS
You can’t go back home without any wee gifts, so ditch the tacky tourist tat and head to the small, but perfectly formed, Pangolin (65 Raeburn), which specialises in ethical, Fairtrade and locally made crafts. €7.50

7 SUPPERTIME DAIQUIRI
The quality of Edinburgh’s cocktails has really picked up in recent years, and this rhubarb and orange daiquiri is no exception. Get yours from trendy hangout Tigerlily (125 George Street). Set in a huge converted Georgian house, this glam-yet-cosy boutique hotel/bar/restaurant is the place to see and be seen. €7.50

8 FREE LUNCH
There’s no such thing, as the saying goes, but one of the best ways to soak up the vibe of Edinburgh is to stretch out in the beautiful, leafy Princes Street Gardens, between the Royal Mile and the shopping action. The views of the castle are spectacular, and you can always find plenty of street performers to entertain you. FREE