Meet the local: Sarah Wood González

Sarah Wood González is a style and culture writer based between New York and Edinburgh by way of Barcelona and Michigan. She has written for the likes of The New York Times, Vogue, Financial Times, Elle, Architectural Digest, The Cut, Refinery29, Condé Nast Traveler, and more. She writes about surprising cultural phenomena and aesthetic trends, delighting in what they say about the world we live in.

1. How has living in Scotland inspired your writing?

Living in Scotland has transformed my world-view and I have loved writing about the world of craft and hyper-seasonal food, two things that Scotland does extraordinarily well. And my recent piece about medieval fashion in The Times was absolutely influenced by my surroundings.

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2. Which area do you love within Edinburgh the most?

Stockbridge! By the luck of the universe, when my husband and I moved from Spain to Scotland we rented a flat on Royal Circus, right on the cusp of New Town and Stockbridge. We didn't know anything about the areas – I had asked a friend of a friend for her advice and took it at face value. What great advice it was! Stockbridge is my absolute favourite place in Edinburgh. It feels like a village, and I've absolutely loved shopping hyper-locally, if that’s dressing with clothes from sustainable boutique, Treen or buying my produce at the Stockbridge Market.

3. Where would you go to have dinner, brunch, a coffee and a drink?

For a special dinner, I love to bring friends to SKUA. I am always thinking about their fried chicken. For more everyday meals, our household is fueled by Civierno’s. My husband and I eat the chicken pesto mushroom pizza at least twice a week. 

For coffee, Two Children’s is perfect after a jog through Inverleith Park, or my go-to cafes are Cowan & Son’s, Twelve Triangles, Fortitude, Artisan’s Roast, and the Pastry Section. I am incredibly well-caffeinated.  

Brunch at Two Children is a delight - you can find me there at least once on the weekend - or the ham & cheese croissant at Cowan & Son’s is a trusted favourite. It fueled the entirety of our flat renovation. I also love the “Sunshine on Stockbridge” dish at The Pantry - for its name, and flavours. And I cannot fail to mention Lannan Bakery in all its glory. I’m in absolute awe of Darcie Maher, founder of Lannan, and was so delighted to profile her for Vogue.

For drinks, I spent New Year’s Eve at The Bailie.

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4. Where is best for a walk and a wander near or within Stockbridge ?

I have what I believe to be a perfect itinerary for a mooch. 

I put on a Kiltane cashmere sweater and rainproof jacket (pocketing my necktie in case the weather changes) and head to Soderberg, my go-to cafe. I get a coconut latte and cheese sandwich and head across the street to Rare Birds, a bookstore where all the books are written by women. If it's a Sunday, I'll stop by the Stockbridge market to pick up some local fruit and veg and if it's a weekday, I'll try my luck in the Lannan queue to see if I might time it just right. Then I'll head through St. Stephen Street, to my favorite clothing boutique, Treen, that sources the best sustainable and Scandi designers. Then I'll pop-up over to Aetla to dream about Grainne Morten jewels, swing by Golden Hare, another bookstore, get some great smells in at Jorum, flip through the vintage at Skinny Pig, and then head up the hill towards cheesemonger J.G. Mellis and then to 6A Howe Street, always coming home with some stunning oil painting or knick-knack even though I told my husband we were done decorating the flat. 

You can spend an entire day in Stockbridge ambling through bookstores and charity shops or getting your nature fix in on the Water of Leith that leads to Dean Village. When we're feeling particular sporty, I love playing tennis at the Dean Tennis Club (it overlooks the gorgeous Ann Street) or playing pádel at The Grange Club. 

And for any home renovators, Stockbridge is a paradise. The combination of a conveniently located Farrow & Ball flagship store, the perfect curation of antiques at Howe 6A, and the great selection of contemporary and Danish furniture brands at Catalog are a match made in interiors heaven

5. Outwith Stockbridge - what else do you like to do in Edinburgh?

I’m obsessed with the great walks that are within thirty minutes of the city center. When my friends visit, I like to go to the Pentlands, Holyrood Park, or Roseberry Estate to be in nature and yap on a long walk.