As students we are all creatures of habit. We know the small area around campus and exactly where to shop, which bars to pre-drink in and where the best clubs are. As a result of this, we often miss the best unknown parts of the city. These hidden gems are well worth a visit if you fancy trying something new.
First of all, although this one is not so hidden, if you’ve not been you really need to go. Cup on Little Belmont Street is a charming little café – it is so dinky and cute! They serve a selection of breakfast and lunch dishes and lots of homemade baked goodies. My favourite dish is the sandwich, mini soup and salad combo as it means you can taste a few different things from the menu! I would particularly recommend the spiced bean soup with tortillas- totally yummy! The one downside at Cup is the service – the waitresses aren’t the friendliest of people. However, it’s the perfect place to go for a break if you are out shopping with friends and getting a little tired, cold or hungry! Oh and it’s the perfect place to take your Mum!
If you’re anything like me and love to eat out but find that your meagre student budget can’t always stretch to nice fancy restaurants, I have a little secret to share with you. There’s a little tapas restaurant called Josephine’s on Holburn Street which fits the student budget. While it doesn’t have the nicest décor in town (their sign is a poster stuck to the window…), they don’t disappoint when it comes to flavour. The Tapas is delicious, priced at around £5 per dish and it’s a BYOB restaurant too – perfect for a girls’ night out on the cheap.
One of my most recent discoveries is a little shop called Juniper on Belmont Street. I went here for the first time whilst Christmas shopping and got so excited that I almost bought the whole shop myself. There’s a perfect selection of gifts, jewellery and home war, all at a fairly reasonable price. It’s definitely worth a peak if you’re looking for a present for someone… or just fancy treating yourself.
If you’re a bit more into fashion than trinkets and enjoy a vintage treasure, then The Closet on Jopps Lane is somewhere you definitely need to go. This is a really special wee vintage shop where you need to ring a bell to be let in! If you want to stand out on campus then The Closet is definitely worth a visit for some hidden gems of the clothing variety!
If you’re looking for a bit of a classier bar than your usual pre-bar, then head to The Tippling House on Belmont Street. This lovely bar is hidden behind an inconspicuous door and shop front hosting a wee chair. The staff are attentive and the cocktail and spirits selection incredible. If you’re a bit of a gin connoisseur you should try The Botanist gin there or one of their unique cocktails which are mixed right in front of you. They also offer a tasty dinner menu and offer lovely bar snacks up until closing! This is definitely somewhere you can both take the parents and go on a date, because you aren’t going to find your usual 69p vodka mixers here.
Speaking of dates, if you want to go somewhere a little different, go and see a film at The Belmont Picturehouse on – yes, you guessed it – Belmont Street. It’s becoming a little bit of a theme in this article! This is a traditional little cinema with smaller, more intimate theatres. Despite its size there’s still a good selection of the latest films shown regularly. It’s slightly more expensive than the other cinemas but they still do 2-for-1 tickets on Wednesdays. This cinema makes a date feel that little bit extra special.
Finally, if you’re in to the outdoors and fancy braving Aberdeen’s temperamental weather; take a trip to Balmedie beach. You’ll need a car as it’s about 7 miles from campus but on a sunny day, or even a blustery one if you’re wrapped up, it is spectacular. It’s also the perfect place to watch the northern lights if you’re lucky enough to catch them. The beach seems to stretch on forever and the sand is as white as it is abroad – if only the water and weather were as warm too!
Photo credit:
1) STV News http://nfs.stvfiles.com/imagebase/186/master/186496-cakes-inside-cup-aberdeen.jpg
2) Hannah Fuller
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k4lsiQaj3iA/TqGnnclFAYI/AAAAAAAAAMY/XMVmPKVDxZg/s1600/The+Closet+3.JPG
3) STV News http://files.stv.tv/imagebase/182/623×349/182841-the-tippling-house-adrian-gomes.jpg
4) Jonty Barron