Blackwells

Three floors brimming with every species of literature from chart-topping chick lit to bespoke texts for courses at the nearby University of Edinburgh. Bright, airy and peopled by ever-informative staff, Blackwells' numerous squashy armchairs and book-lined alcoves will revive the most jaded of readers, while for those who like to use their ears more than their eyes there's a fantastic music, audiobook and DVD section. There's also a branch of Café Nero in the basement in which to while away the hours between the pages of your newly-purchased hardback.