A Day Trip to Perth - Part 1

view of the river tay from kinnoull hill in perth scotland
If you’re planning a trip to Quince & Cook and would love to know the best spot in town for coffee & cake, the ideal place for indie fashion plus much more, this is the guide for you.
No.1

Perth

Our sweet little home City has so much to offer, we have an amazing independent shopping scene as well as some of the best artisan food producers you can find. Set in the heart of Scotland, the gateway to the Highlands, Perth is ideally placed for day trips from Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and further afield. You can happily spend the day leisurely strolling around our town centre, dropping into shops and picking up a bite to eat. We also have beautiful scenic walks, lush parks (the Inches) and historic landmarks just a short drive from the town centre.

view over the river tay from kinnoull hill perth scotland

Image via @perthcitycentre

No. 2

Quince & Cook

Well, this is us! If you’re here you’ll know all about our story. I’m Sophie and I run Quince & Cook with my husband Neil and our fantastic team. Our shop opened mid pandemic and has flourished thanks so the amazing support that we have found right here on social media. Our unique shop offers a collection of handpicked interiors, cookware, gifts, plastic free refills and so much more. We’re also Scottish premier stockists of range cookers by Aga, Everhot, Lacanche, Bertazzoni, Esse & Rayburn. So, if you time your visit well you’ll pop by on one of our demo days when we’ll treat you to freshly cooked cakes, savouries and whatever we have on the menu!

quince and cook shop front on princes street perth

Image via @quinceandcook

 

No. 3

Precious Sparkle

Fellow interiors addict Dawn runs the lovely Precious Sparkle. An Aladdin's cave for beautiful interiors, fashion accessories, jewellery and gifts. You’ll be spoiled for choice. Precious Sparkle is located in the Theatre Quarter of Perth and looks over the Perth Concert hall, Perth Museum is also less than a 30 second walk from the front door! Brew Dog & Perth coffee favourites The Bean Shop are just around the corner from here too. A great spot for pizza and a pick me up after some retail therapy.

shop front of precious and sparkle in perth city centre scotland

No. 4

Boo Vake

I have shopped in Boo Vake for what feels like decades. It is always on my must visit list when I’m in the City. Arlene’s beautiful shop showcases the very best of independent Scottish design, with fun designs from Donna Wilson to beautiful ceramic art works by Hilke Macintyre. I think Neil has bought me a pair of earring from Boo Vake every Christmas since we met (15 years ago!). Boo Vake is a must visit!

boo vake shop front in perthshire scotland

Image via @boo_vake

 

No. 5

Eva Lucia

I absolutely love this shop! Lori opened Eve Lucia in 2009 and in recent years moved to her big beautiful new shop (next to one of our fave cafes, Little Bird), in her new shop she has created such a welcoming and bright space to browse her hand picked collection from designers such as French Connection, Connock London, ICHI and NU Denmark (plus much more!).

inside womens clothes shop eva lucia in perth scotland

Image via @evaluciaboutique

 

No. 6

The Bean Shop

If you love coffee then this has to be on your list. Lorna and John roast their very own specialty coffee in Perth. Pick your favourite from their vast selection of coffees (and teas), choose your grind and take a bag of pure coffee magic home. You can also browse their collection of coffee essentials including Aeropress, Espresso makers and cafeterias.

street view of the bean shop store front in perth city centre

Image via @thebeanshopuk

 

No. 7

Artisan

Perfect for a cake & coffee stop, Artisan is a Sicilian Artisan coffee house placed right in the City Centre. Their cannolis are divine and the coffee is mighty fine too.

shop front of artisan store in perth scotland

Image via @artisanperth

 

No. 8

Provender Brown

Diane and her team are full on foodies! Provender Brown is a firm favourite with locals for all things artisan food and drink. Specialising in cheese, cold meats, gin, local produce and soooo much more. This place is heaven on earth. If you like olives be sure to pick up a tin, along with some local gin, cheese and crackers then head to our local park, the North Inch for a picnic in the sun.

deli sharing platter from provender brown delicatessen in perth scotland

No. 9

Mhor Coffee

Newly opened Mhor Coffee is the perfect pit stop for a caffeine hit and some sugar goodness! I can highly recommend their Lemon & Elderflower cake!

hand holding up a plate of quiche with salad from mhor coffee in perth scotland

Image via @mhorcoffeeperth

 

No. 10

Blend

Blend is another firm favourite with locals, total pros when it comes to serving the perfect coffee, we love this homely café with the friendliest team. You can grab a panini and cake too.

street view of blend perth cafe

Image via @blend_perth

 

No. 11

Casella & Polegato

Our very own award winning City Centre artisan bakers. This place is AMAZING. You’ll often find a queue of locals eagerly awaiting their freshly baked bread, but I promise you it’s always worth the wait. Especially their sourdough! Why not pick up a loaf and team it with your cheese from their neighbours Provender Brown and head for that picnic.

shop front of casella and polegato in perthshire scotland

No. 12

Byers & Co

Linda is next door to Casella and Polegato, her beautiful shop Byers & Co also doubles as her studio where she creates stunning, unique jewellery using handpicked stones and precious metals. She also does bespoke jewellery design so you can create the jewellery piece of your dreams.

shop front of byers and co in perth city centre with woman jumping in the doorway

Image via @byersandco

 

No. 13

Black Watch Castle & Museum

The perfect stop for a history fix and great cake. The Black Watch Museum sits right on the edge of the North Inch and is just a short walk from the City Centre. Spend time walking in their gardens, touring the castle and learning all about the Black Watch Regiment. They also have a beautiful on site café.

black watch castle and museum in perthshire scotland

No. 14

Plus so much more!

This really is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to shopping and eating independent in Perth. Keep your eyes peeled for our Day Trip to Perth ‑ Part 2, featuring @underneaththearches the ultimate vintage emporium, @littlebirdperth1 for coffee in a beautiful bright setting and @deansrestaurant for a seriously special lunch spot complete with cocktails.