Century General Store

Having been open since April 2014, I had heard tales of a curious little shop in Marchmont called the Century General Store and had been urged to visit. I made good on that with a recent Sunday visit.

Selling the “essentials for tenement life”, rarely have I seen such a diverse selection of whatnots. From stationery and greetings cards, to pot plants, bags, huge glass jars, chocolate and preserves, to coffee, cakes and fresh bread, it’s a little treasure trove of wonders.

Their coffee, including a selection of retail beans, is from Steampunk. The current blend is absolutely first rate; I had two excellent espressos on my visit.

Their food selection is predominantly sweet treats to accompany the coffee, but there was a reasonably savoury sounding peanut butter booster bar on offer, so I tried that.

Made by Caroline at Archipelago, it was really good. It was like a deluxe trail bar, with a lovely blend of chewy and crisp, with a really good mix of seeds. Given I’m in training for another charity walk, this was exactly what I required.

So overall, Century General Store is an absolute gem. It’s packed with charm and does what it does with class and style. Owner Stephen is a veteran of many of Edinburgh’s most treasured restaurants and eateries, so is applying his considerable nous to great effect. Make sure to visit this true Edinburgh classic soon.

Scores
Blythe scores Century General Store
4.5/5 for food
4/5 for presentation
4.5/5 for setting
4/5 for service
giving an overall 17/20

I ate: peanut butter booster bar

I drank: espresso

I wore: blue jumper

Total bill: £6.50