In winter, indoor shopping centres and easy parking has an undoubted appeal, but a ramble along Rosemount Place will unearth a hoard of retail treasures and a rediscovery of the joy of shopping. Rosemount offers some of the city’s most eclectic shopping opportunities, with a slightly bohemian vibe…
Turn left onto Rosemount Place at the top of Mount Street and pop into the Richmond Street Deli for a refreshing cup of loose leaf tea, snacks and home bakes or something to read. Next door is Wool for Ewe, an award winning store that’s a riot of colour and heaven for knitters and those who crochet or want to learn at classes.
As you wander along, you’ll find that Rosemount has an astonishing number of hairdressers and beauty salons, suggesting the residents must all be immaculately groomed. In the next block, Past Plus is good for Italian delicacies and turns into a tiny bistro at night. It’s a good idea to book ahead.
On the corner, Rosie’s Café is a social enterprise that serves up delicious treats. The menu is pretty simple, but the veggie breakfast comes recommended. On opposite sides of the street, CloudyBlue and Peapod both specialise in quirky cards, gifts and cute stuff. Peapod is good for vintage furniture finds and clothing and is packed with unusual and unique pieces.
A few doors up from CloudyBlue is Dancefit – the tutu capital of Aberdeen – then Four Seasons, which has been one of the city’s most innovative and gorgeous florists for forty years now. They always have stunning blooms on show.
Next door you’ll find Humbug, the city’s best old-fashioned sweetshop. Jars full of treats line the shelves and you’ll find everything from artisan chocolate with haggis to old-fashioned boilings. Pass a couple more hair and beauty places and you’llfind Cake, which is a lovely artisan cake maker and café. As well as producing drool-worthy occasion cakes, they have some tasty gluten free offerings.
Further along, the racks of Scottesque and Rosehip and Tutu abound with designer creations in silks, tartans and tweeds. The new well-draped frock coats are worth a peek. Next door is Mellis, where you’ll find over fifty varieties of cheese in peak condition. The staff’s enthusiasm and knowledge is a joy, as is the bread and selection of deli goodies.
Cross the street for Pebble which offers a thoughtful selection of gifts, majoring on Scottish designer-makers. Brian Melvin Lighting offers more interesting design-led lights than the big DIY sheds.
In the next block, you’ll find the Belvedere Gallery – perfect for bespoke frames. On the corner, Oddbins has an outstanding selection of well annotated wines, artisan beers and an extensive champagne and sparkling wine section. Bollinger and Veuve Cliquot were bargains – ideal for celebrations – as is You Are Invited, which offers wedding and event stationary and accessories.
Next up is Herd’s the Butcher, which is a carnivore’s delight, with much of the meat sourced from the owner’s farm and an excellent selection of deli and bakery lines. Fifi’s may sound like yet another of Rosemount’s many salons, but it’s an appealing little café and bistro. Lastly, the windows of decorators and interiors specialists Kynoch and Robertson on the other side of the street will almost certainly inspire some redecoration plans, with their huge range of wallpapers and paints from Farrow and Ball, Morris & Co and eco-friendly Earthborn. Better yet, they’ll come and do the job for you while you head off to get your hair done!