Monday 20 October 2014

Anteaques, Edinburgh - a Review

Antiques, fine teas and delicious cakes in this little gem of a place!

I like to eat cakes, that's no secret. But I especially like to eat cakes in unusual, unique and quirky places. I prefer 'one of a kind' places over large chains - especially if they have a vintage twist. 

Edinburgh is quite the treasure trove when it comes to fun, cute, interesting and unique cafes - if you know where to look! I'm enjoying seeking out new places to indulge in my cake eating and so last Saturday, Mr Dolly Cupcake and I went in search of a tea shop I'd heard about called 'Anteaques'.

On busy Clerk Street in the centre of Edinburgh, among various shops selling fabrics and knick-knacks and lots of restaurants, and a stone's throw from The Meadows, we found Anteaques. 
When we stepped inside, we were taken not only into a warm and cosy tea shop, but a treasure trove filled with antiques for sale, hundreds of teas in every flavour you can think of, locally made Edinburgh chocolate truffles and friendly welcoming staff. Opera music filled our ears and the scents of the bakes, jams and teas made our mouths water. I immediately began to lust over the gorgeous bone china tea sets displayed in the front of the shop. You can never have too many china teacups.

So many beautiful teacups!

There are only four tables in Anteaques (yes - four!) two large tables in the back, two smaller in the front. We decided to wait until a table in the back became available, as I really wanted to sit in the back room which looks like this:


Pretty trinkets everywhere


The lovely lady took my name and booked us a table for half an hour later. Mr Dolly Cupcake and I waited in the pub across the road (a cheeky glass of vino to pass the time) although there are plenty of shops on Clerk Street to look in, or a wander around The Meadows is lovely on a nice day. Otherwise I'd advise booking a table, as chances are you'll have to wait - there was a steady stream of visitors while we were there. 

Half an hour later, we were shown to our table and honestly, I have never been anywhere like this before. On every surface something caught my eye, from a pink teapot, to crystal dressing table items, a bowl full of walnuts, silver tankards. 


The menu listed hundreds and hundreds of teas in every flavour I could imagine and then some. There were black teas, green teas, seasonal teas, scented teas, Scottish tea and infusions. 


I chose the Violet Petal tea which smelled just like Parma Violets and tasted incredible. Mr Dolly Cupcake chose Cherry Almond tea and we shared them - both teas were delicious but as a big fan of anything violet, I did prefer mine!

Served on perfect china - we even got gold spoons!

We ordered a slice of Green Tea Cake each and we got a generous portion:

Green Tea Cake

Delicious cake, I'd never had tea cake before (apart from my own disastrous attempt at baking one) and it was such a unique flavour - very rich and filling. Although we did have room left for scones!

Fresh, soft, delicate scones with clotted cream and the option of various jams. Mr Dolly Cupcake chose strawberry jam and I chose Rose. Mmmmm - this was the nicest jam I've ever eaten. It tasted just like Turkish Delight. It was the perfect accompaniment to my scone and the very generous portion of clotted cream.

Delicious cakes, beautiful teas

We made sure that we took plenty of photos, and of course I had to look at everything a few more times before we left. 

Back in the front of the shop, we paid our bill - great value for money, with two pots of tea, two scones with clotted cream and jam and two slices of tea cake costing around £15. 
There are teas, crystallized violets and rose petals and pots of jam for sale, including (yay!) my new favourite rose jam. 

I am already looking forward to going back to Anteaques, as there are about 100 more teas that I want to try (Chocolate Cherry next, I think) plus some Edinburgh Chocolate Truffles and scones with violet jam with my name on them. Oh, and a few pots of rose jam to take home.

Laura Dolly Cupcake xxx

Monday 13 October 2014

Lipstick Lashes and Locks

A vintage inspired boutique salon in the heart of Edinburgh - I guarantee you will leave here feeling amazing!

Looking at my straggly over-bleached, under-loved tresses in the mirror, I counted back the weeks...and months since my last haircut. April! Oh dear, no wonder my hair was in such a sorry state. 

As a busy Mum, I'd usually head (no pun intended) to my local hairdressers for a quick wet cut, but not this time! I decided that I deserved a wee treat - and I knew the perfect salon that would transform my hair into something close to pin-up perfection: Lipstick Lashes and Locks.

I'd had huge victory rolls done by  the stylists from Lipstick Lashes and Locks at a pop-up event last year. Since then, stylist Tina had opened up her own salon in the Causewayside area of Edinburgh and I was excited to see it.

It didn't disappoint. In a street lined with vintage furniture stores and antique shops, a chalkboard stands boldly outside Lipstick Lashes and Locks not only displaying their price list - oh no! But also a quote from a Hollywood glamourpuss, from Marilyn Monroe to Elizabeth Taylor, changing daily. On my visit, the board read:
A friendly welcome and a much needed coffee served in a china teacup and saucer greeted me as I stepped into Lipstick Lashes and Locks - and also back in time (kind of).

Stylists Tina and Loretta as usual were lovely and friendly, putting me at ease and sweeping me off to have my hair washed in the beautiful back room of the salon, which looks like this:
My eyes were constantly wandering and lighting up at the sight of something adorably kitsch, pretty or retro. Tina told me that some of the items and furniture had been made for her or upcycled by friends and all the beautiful curios makes the salon so unique.

So, my hair was washed and both Tina and Loretta had a job combing through it! Next it was time for the chop, as I enjoyed coffee and biscuits.

For the amazing price of only £30 (my local...how do I say this nicely....err...boring (sorry) salons charge this much for a basic cut & blow dry) I'd had my hair washed, dried and cut in glamorous surroundings- and now it was time for it to be styled!

Tina asked me what I fancied having done - and I just couldn't decide! I eventually settled on a wet set, as I'm getting pretty good at doing my own victory rolls and beehives but I'm still not great at curls - especially the brushing-out process. I wanted to learn from the master :-)

Tina used a curling tong and pins with setting spray - then I headed under the dryer (my first time under one of these retro dryers!)

I listened to the music and gazed at the amazing trinkets and gadgets in this part of the salon - including the retro pink telephone and hairdryer. This was my view as my curls set:

When the curls were set, Tina got to work brushing out and styling my hair, as I took mental notes and learned a few techniques. 

The results? Amazing!




To say I was pleased with my new look is an understatement - my hair was totally transformed and I felt amazing! Bouncy, soft curls which lasted the rest of the day and still had some bounce in the morning (despite the Edinburgh wind!)

I would recommend this salon to any retro/rockabilly and vintage-loving girls and guys in Edinburgh - and those willing to travel. It's not just a hair cut, it's an experience - and I left feeling wonderful.

Lipstick Lashes and Locks style men and women, offer party packages, photo shoots and a wedding day service (mobile or salon-based) and they also have the amazing-sounding Beehive and Bun Bar which offers a range of services from a 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' pre-work wash and blow-dry (£15) to a Marilyn Makeover - a hair set, lips and flicks and a file and polish (£55), Betty Bangs (£8) and Lips and Flicks by their lovely make-up artist Loretta (£10).

I will not be leaving it so long to have my hair cut again, not when I know that there is a comfy seat, a china teacup of coffee and the oh so talented Tina and Loretta at Lipstick Lashes and Locks.



Laura Dolly Cupcake xxx