I can see why JK ended up writing 7 books. She was probably up to the final draft of Deathly Hallows before she got served! We came here in off season and it was a situation of more staff than customers. Seven of us walked in wanting something hot. It took at good half an hour before all seven of us had out drinks and were sitting down to drink them. The service was so abysmally s-l-o-w! So many staff members but our orders were taken and made one by one by the same gentleman while the rest of us just stood there. Hot chocolate was pretty overpriced but still hit the spot! read more

I came here because JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series spent her time in this cafe. Yup! There's where the magic began, so to speak. This place is rather crowded and the service was rather slow. I ordered coffee, sandwiches and desserts. It was nice but not great. Good points is that it's located in the Old district with a nice view of Edinburgh castle. I expected the food to be better. More of a place to grab a cup of latte and cookies. read more

As Mrs Rach has reported, I did indeed used to work here. Prior to working here I was something of a groupie - the boys behind the counter were flirty and gave me free stuff and the boss let me bring in my computer and sit around for hours while I worked on my MSc. When I finally earned my degree I realised I needed a job in the real world - so promptly begged for employment here. Working here rocked - mostly. The cool stuff: The staff, the really awesome selection of tea, french press coffee and tray bakes (I gained so much weight working here because I pretty much lived off of chicken sandwiches, brownie milkshakes and chocolate topped flapjacks...mmmmm). We were also incredibly inappropriate with each other and customers - best night was when the cook decorated a dessert I needed to take out to a customer with a chocolate syrup penis. Amazing. Oh and it's also open late - not many coffee places in Edinburgh are which makes this place a wee gem (and there's booze too if you fancy a Bailey's coffee) The less cool stuff: the food's microwaved and while that works most of the time, sometimes it REALLY doesn't. It's also full of stupid dirty crappy tourists far too often and as a result, in the afternoons it's nearly impossible to get a table. Oh and the music - it used to be good but just before I quit it had become a soul destroying loop of horribleness (I won't mention specific band names here because I'll probably offend someone horribly but OMYGODIFIEVERHEARJACKJOHNSONAGAINIMIGHTKILLMYSELF... oops) read more

As most people, I searched for this coffee shop out of curiosity to see where the whole Harry Potter series started... It's not a bad place, but just a regular coffee shop. I was expecting more Harry Potter themed decor or history as I am sure many other visitors also would expect. read more

They charged me £2 for wi-fi! Any place who charge for bread, water and or wi-fi will get a bad review. And food is average, average prices, average service. It used to be such an amasing place ( 5 yrs ago) - what did happen? £2 to use the wi-fi.... read more

I went here because I'm a massIve HP fan and had to see the birth place. It was great! The service was really fast and I had the lasagna which was delicious. I also had a Scottish coffee and it was so yummy! read more

If you like Costco cakes served with a grumpy frown, this is the place for you. Trading entirely on their tenuous-at-best Harry Potter connection, the place is cramped, grubby and over-priced. The tea was fine, but dry, synthetic cakes were a waste of money. Also, we are in 2015, and they don't have wifi. Definitely would not recommend, or return. There are so many other better options around, don't waste your money on this abomination. read more

On a list of Top 5 Harry Potter fan things to do in Edinburgh, my friends and I decided to check out The Elephant House, where JK Rowling spent time whilst writing HP. The food was standard for a café though the portions were not big enough for the money. What disappointed me most was the low level of service; no smile; no wifi in 2015; no flexibility for my friend with vegan options; a feeling of being an inconvenience when placing our order. Plus the use of the 'Harry Potter' label to push cheaply made, overpriced gimmick gifts detracts from what could be genuine charm on account of the elephant theme and views from the back out to the cityscape. read more

I didn't decide to go here because of the whole "birthplace of Harry Potter" thing, but if you're into the books, that's probably pretty cool. I met friends there, and I'm told we were sitting at the same table where J.K. Rowling used to sit and write. It's kind of neat, but not enough to make me love the place. The place itself is okay. Not great, but okay.The food doesn't suck, but it's not all that great, either, especially at those prices. Things that'd make the experience better: 1. Coffee that's actually hot, instead of lukewarm 2. Dressing on the salad instead of dry greens, or at least other options for sides instead of a dry salad 3. Lower prices. If you go, go because you're a Harry Potter fan or because you like the view of the castle. That way, you're getting a little more for your money because you're getting a tourist attraction as well as something to eat. If you go just because you're wandering around Edinburgh in search of a bite to eat, move on. You can do a lot better. read more

Not worth the trip. Absolute tourist trap that is insanely over priced and the food is sub par

Back in her days on the dole queue, hatchet faced old misery guts JK Rowling would (supposedly) come in here to spend a few quid of taxpayers money on a fancy coffee, while she penned an enchanting story about a boy wizard who could magically print £50 notes. Lots of them. Elephant House rams their tenuous link to the world's most miserable billionaire down our throats at every turn, and to be honest it doesn't seem to me that they have much else up their sleeve. It looks a lot nicer from the outside than it does when you actually go in, and the standard of grub is far closer to school canteen levels than the fairly hefty price tags would suggest. It does seem that the owners charge some sort of supplement for their customers to have the priviledge of sitting on the same seats that the loathsome old cow did in the late 90s. My slice of rocky road was tasty, but not enough so to merit the 50% price hike compared to other cafes nearby. Nothing special, and a bit irritating. read more

The only reason we decided to eat at the Elephant House was because it's the place where JK Rowling supposedly wrote some of the early Harry Potter books. Based on the signs and articles posted in the restaurant, they knew that was a drawing point for many customers. Even though it was crowded, we managed to get a table easily in the back room during lunch time. You could see the same views JK had as she was writing the book. Outside of that, the restaurant didn't really offer much more. The food was ok. I had a £4.50 ham & cheese baguette that included a small side salad. My suggestion would be to stop by for a quick photo, but go eat someplace else if you want a better meal. For the price of a basic sandwich, you don't get very much. read more

I like the atmosphere of this place and I like the look of the cafe and all the big tables. The toilets aren't the cleanest looking, though the HP fan graffiti doesn't help with this. Yes I am a Harry Potter fan which might have been the reason I went in originally, but I still like to go now and again. It's nice to see all these really excited people in the cafe taking photos of the cafe and its views of the castle. Although having read other reviews of this cafe, it turns out it's not the actual cafe JK Rowling wrote her books in!! I'm not sure how they can use this claim to fame and it is a bit disappointing. It's always incredibly busy and there's often big queues so I avoid it for that reason, but I went in the other day with a friend. They have a sign saying you need to wait to be seated. I was a little reluctant to buy coffee and then find there was no seat but when I asked the waiter he said there would be. I presumed he or someone anyway would show us to a seat, but after we bought our coffees it seemed to be a case of find seats yourself, although my friend ended up asking. I think if they're going to have this sign they should follow through and be there to seat people, rather than letting them stand there aimlessly wondering if they can sit at a table with other people they don't know. read more

I read a JK Rowling bibliography and found out that she had written most of her first HP book in a place called Nicolson's Cafe. I thought it was this one considering how much they advertise it exploiting the image of JK Rowling. Well, I found out that the Nicolson's is actually (and predictably) in Nicolson Street, opposite the University, and it does not use the writer image to make profit. Let alone the annoying fact that the place is always packed with annoying tourists taking picture of every single square inch as if it were a museum, the quality is absolutely disproportionate to the prices. This is a way too expensive cafe with nothing special about it, except for the cheesy "Birthplace of Harry Potter" banner. The birth place of HP was JK Rowling's mind, I think they should focus more on coffee and food quality rather than marketing. read more

Don't bother. I ordered a hot chocolate, a relatively simple affair and it tasted like hot water. I've experienced much better at Starbucks, the AMT stand at Haymarket and (gasp) Costa. That's pretty bad if all of them can beat an independent. It clearly relies on the Harry Potter tourism and doesn't need to make much of an effort. It clearly shows in the end product and service. Such a pity, as it's a lovely place inside and would be nice to sit in. But why bother giving them business with such an attitude? read more

This large and famous cafe, known for the fact the J.K. Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter book here, is certainly worth checking out if you're in Edinburgh. The atmosphere is quite lovely. There's a small area up front with seating, but also a large and open space in the back with high ceilings, more seating including some sofas, and plenty of elephant decorations. The girl's bathroom is amazing since it is literally a shrine to Harry Potter, which every single surface (walls, mirrors, soap dispensers) covered in words and scribbles dedicated to HP. The boys' bathroom is not nearly as graffiti'ied...sorry lads. They've also got some interesting HP/J.K. Rowling articles and drawings on one wall. The food at this cafe is mediocre. Fills you up, but nothing particularly flavorful. My vegetarian chili and my friend's steak pie was decent. My other friend mostly liked the pulled pork focaccia. The coffee and tea drinks were better though and worth trying. read more

I am a Harry Potter fan and when we were planning on visiting Edinburgh, i knew we had to include a stop at The Elephant House. also known as the birthplace of Harry Potter. It's a cozy cafe and I would have walked right by it if it wasn't for the tourists taking pictures at the front. I ordered a cup of tea (turns out I ordered a small pot) so I could sit and take in the cafe. It's filled with elephant artwork (hence the name) and plenty of places to sit. There are great views of Edinburgh castle if you sit near the window. My tea was good and staff was friendly. Just mind the crowds. read more

The only reason to visit The Elephant House is to claim that you visited somewhere that J.K. Rowling has been. I give 2 star reviews with a heavy heart, but I was extremely disappointed in my experience here. The food was lacking in flavor and taste. Maybe it was because I like to have a strong flavor in my food, but there was almost nothing in mine. Maybe splurge for one of their desserts and you will be more pleased. The crowd seemed to be predominantly tourists that believed the gimmicky use of Rowling's name and fame. As a struggling writer that she used to be, I could see it as a fitting place to get some work done and have a cheap meal. I would not return. read more

The birthplace of Harry Potter! One of the highlights of our trip. We went expecting to get just coffee and ending up eating lunch there. Mom and I were both more than a little impressed. I had a cafe mocha, lemon muffin, baked potato and a side salad (yes i am still greedy). Nothing disappointed. It was all tasty. Best of all, all of this stuff cost only 11 pounds. Not bad at all. Inside they have a lot of articles about the coffee house in general and about JK Rowling. It's such a cool - can't miss - place if you ever visit Edinburough. The staff is very nice, friendly and helpful. It reminds me of a place in Berkeley - kind of hippyish. I can see why JK spent so much time there. read more

The Elephant House is a restaurant that should be visited for any Harry Potter fans. History says that it is the "birthplace of Harry Potter," where J.K. Rowling began the first book of Harry Potter hence why the café is filled with Harry Potter decorum. If that is not enough to grab your attention, the café is also very loud in terms of display as it is covered in red paint from the outside perspective. In addition to the Harry Potter ambience, the café was also filled with Elephant pictures hanged on the wall. Although the restaurant was a place for writers and readers, it most certainly did not feel like it due to the countless number of tourists who visit the café because of its history, making the place very loud and crowded. I, for one, am not a Harry Potter fan so I was not blinded by the trap that entices Harry Potter readers to like the place so much. I was merely dragged by my sister who is a diehard Harry Potter fan. However, I did enjoy my experience there. Once we went inside, we were immediately seated in the back of the room, past the couches, and unto the hard-wooden table. Then, were immediately taken care of by our waitress. The service was quick and easy in the beginning, however, due to the large amount of customers that they get, the waitress did not come back for a service. Instead, after getting our food, we immediately got our receipt so we were not able to order dessert nor get the waitress's attention for a complaint or a second order. Other than that, the food fulfilled my goal of trying traditional foods in a foreign country. I got the Haggis, neeps, and tatties, which were very rich in flavor. The Haggis, I have to say, is one of my most favorite foreign food I had ever had to try. It is a savory pudding that contains a sheep's heart, liver, and lungs minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt mixed with stock. The price was also fairly average as it was not overpriced. For my haggis, neeps, and tatties, the price only came to about 14 pounds, which I don't believe is overpriced. Along with my order, I got the full Scottish experience by ordering a Scottish coffee, mind you that it is perfectly legal to have a drink at the age of 18 there, which is about 5.50 pounds. Overall, my order came to 21.50 pounds alone, which is perfectly okay because I got to have a full stomach. For the most part, I enjoyed my experience because I was able to hit two birds in one stone. First, I got to eat my foreign dish, whilst being in a 'historic' place that inspired the writing for a famous book series. The only thing I had a problem with was the service, which is understandable because it is a tourist trap spot as the restaurant takes advantage of said tourists, by selling them merchandises that are related to J.K. Rowling and other famous authors who set foot in the place. If you are not a Harry Potter fan nor a tourist, I don't encourage you to go to this place as it is very crowded and loud. [552 wds.] read more

The Elephant House - Haggis, neeps, and tatties with Scottish coffee - Scottish Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Crowded and noisy, the staff is way overworked and the service is terrible. Expect long waits to be seated, waited on and served. They ran out of potatoes (!!!) so we had to change our order. Errors made in order and bill had to be corrected. Food is mediocre. Prices, however, are low. If you are not a Harry Potter fan there is no reason to go. If you are, there is nothing that will keep you away... read more

Oh that touristy crowd! Little did I know that this is where JK Rowling supposedly birthed HP. In afterthought, I cringe at my naiveness to walk into that obvious tourist trap. But at least... Good cappuccinos & lattes were enjoyed with prudent cake. And... Lovely is the view, what with that castle and all. Just these two aforementioned points warrant the 3 stars. And maybe the fact I would reluctantly bring out of town-ers for the experience at being at one of those listed popular cafes.. But ohh that crowd. ohh the line. OH me, oh my the hectic rush & clatter and "please wait to be seated" AFTER your order rule. With heavy duty bus boys/servers/hostesses swooping in to and fro 360, tight elbow space on rickety chairs and being given the hawk eye to finish off and move along.. It should be renamed, Tourist Cafeteria. read more

The Elephant House is a coffee house that I tend to visit rarely. I am not a massive Harry Potter fan and have only come here to meet up with friends. The place is very nice inside with a warm décor which as has already been stated with a running theme of elephant influenced décor. The seating area at the back is pretty small to be honest, especially for it catering to the many thousands of tourists who flock to this place every year. Each time I have come here I have had the hot chocolate, every time it has been brilliant. However, every time I have had to wait quite a long time for it, due to its fame, the Elephant House always has queues and is extremely busy. A far cry I would imagine from before the Harry Potter craze. Worth a visit, but be patient and watch out for the tourists! read more

Yes, the Elephant House is lovely, and yes, it has a good atmosphere, but listen up: do not attempt to go in on a rainy Wednesday afternoon after 5. It's so crowded it took 20 minutes just to get a seat! (My partner in coffee crime had suggested we meet there and I was loathe to hop back out into the rain again). Having said that, nomnomnom, good coffee. There are several ways to get me happy and not burning the coffee or milk it comes with, is definitely one of them. I was pleasantly surprised as I really didn't expect anything too impressive coffee-wise, mainly because of the touristy nature of the place. Boy was I wrong. It's lovely, and cozy, and good for conversations that last for hours, and, yes, on a rainy afternoon I fully understand why half of Edinburgh wants to hide within these four walls. It's just too popular for it's own good, that's all. read more

I visited here since it's called "the birth place of Harry Potter." Their espresso was great and the staff were very friendly. It's a great place to come with friends to relax in the afternoon and chat read more

The Elephant House - Espresso over ice - Scottish Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

A friend recommended this place to me as a coffee house with a character. So far her recommendations were on the spot. I went, I saw, I conquered. With the view of the castle and their specialty drinks, it was a great way to warm up on a chilly Edinburgh day (hot chocolate involving Baileys or Scotch works for me just fine). If only I had enough talent, I could write here the whole novel or, perhaps, short stories involving elephants? - Very writing friendly surrounding ... Well - you just need occasionally phase out the tourists. The other day I met a couple of them - they were studying their maps and guides very carefully, keeping their voices down. I wasn't sure - I thought I heard some German word here or there, but if they were Germans indeed, I would have heard them loud and clear. I guessed Swiss, whose frustration around the world is being mistaken for Germans or being hardly noticeable at all. I couldn't resist approaching them. It turned out they were Swiss from Zurich, a couple of days in Edinburgh on their way to Highlands. After a long chat, they had a few very useful suggestions for me, who still knows zilch about the city.... Sometimes it pays off to come across some organized tourists ... As opposed to the one writing these words - a disorganized, ignorant me .... One star down for lack of wireless. They have their own internet stations, if you need a quick check. Also, avoid the place if you do not like crowds - it has become too popular for its own good ... read more

Coffee is a 4.5 star Food was a 3.0 star but very generous portions. Ambiance is quite loud. Bathroom is worth a look. read more

Since I reach Edinburgh for few months, I seldom having my meals outside. But I went for Elephant house for 2 times. I will go another 3, 4 or 5 times if I going out for dinner/ lunch. The reason make me be a return customer is their food. I order Nanchos, pizza, homemade beef burger, salad. I would highly recommend Nanchos and salads. But 1 thing I don't like is their services. Maybe that time is peak hour and they are not able to provide good services. Overall, you can go for this restaurant.Experience yourself. read more

Despite its reputation, the Elephant House has failed to impress me over the years. Long queues, slow service, disappointing food and cakes. I guess you get good views on the castle if sit at the back and the toilets are worth a visit just for all the Harry Potter messages on the wall. But sorry Elephant House, plenty of other places in town offer a much experience. read more

Sadly this place will probably stay in business for the foreseeable future riding off its Harry Potter fame. We attempted to come here three different times, twice their card machine was out and they were only taking cash. Third time was supposed to be the charm. It was incredibly disappointing. The food, service and decor were mediocre at best, and the castle was obscured by trees and poor positioning of tables. This place has so much potential and they aren't taking advantage of it. There are way to many tables and chairs, making the place feel crowded. I can't imagine a writer coming here to get much work done. You get the sense the place is all tourists and no locals. read more

As previous reviewers have mentioned, it's rather ridiculous that Elephant House seems to milk all it can out of the fact that J.K Rowling wrote Harry Potter here. She probably wrote one page or something and it's pretty ridiculous the prices that this place charges just because they know Harry Potter fanatics will pay them just because they want to say they've been here. I agree with many of the other reviewers, unless you're really really into Harry Potter then give this place a miss, everything about it is standard... apart from the prices which are extortionate. Elephant House overlooks Greyfriars graveyard and I went on a ghost walk there once only to be informed, yet again that Elephant House was the birth place of Harry Potter. Enough already! read more

...borderline 5star review. I just read about their issues with cleanliness in a local Edinburgh paper. Also, it has become so intensely commercialized it overwhelms the value of the place. Be that as it may, I had a wonderful time and I could feel the presence of magic in the place. You can feel almost a calm, soothing vibe which would be perfect for writing. And if you ever got stuck, you just look out the window at the Edinburgh Castle, standing guard over the city. Beautiful place. read more

I love the Elephant House, mainly for its Harry Potter connections (Harry Potter geek right here!) and have been a few times since I moved to Edinburgh. The decor is cool, with all the elephant related things and again, it is one of those cafes where you can just sit and look at everything (even in the toilets with all the Harry Potter related graffiti) as there is just so much to look at. They also have a really old George IV Bridge Street sign on the wall and have amazing views over the castle. The menu is wide and varied, with a good selection of snacks, sandwiches and cakes and hot/cold drinks. I was there for breakfast a few weeks ago and had a delicious hot croissant filled with cheese and ham - yum! So far, so good, so why the 3 stars? Unfortunately service is always really slow...As I went for breakfast on a Saturday, you had to queue at the bar to order (no problem there) but there was a huge queue so I had to wait around 10 minutes to be served. Very slow. The staff also did not really seem to want to be there and were complaining about it being busy - surely that's a good thing? As the cafe extends around a corner, you also cannot see if there are seats so could end up buying a coffee and there not being a seat which is a pain. So it's a shame as I love this place, but 3 stars is fair given the slow service and queues. Sadly, even with the Harry Potter connections there are better cafes around. read more

I enjoyed coming to Elephant House. Being a massive Harry Potter fan this was on staple on my tourist agenda. The food is decent, nothing special but perfectly edible. Order the cheesecake and make sure you head into the bathrooms. Afterwards go to the cemetery and try to find Tom Riddle's grave. read more

The main attraction of elephant house is that JK Rowling wrote a good portion of Harry Potter at the café. It was enjoyable to sit in the back room where she had sat and see the view she had seen while writing the book. The cappuccino was delicious as was the Earl Grey tea. We also had a brownie and a salted caramel brownie - - both gluten-free and delicious. However, the service was not good. We had a wait time of over 10 minutes even though we could see several clean tables. The waitress, working in a tea shop, didn't know what Earl Grey was. An extra item also was added to our bill. They removed it fairly quickly, but it took forever to get the bill in the first place. They also messed up the order. Very cool bathroom with tons of Harry Potter graffiti Decour. Nice decor--love the elephants! Also - - they could not except credit cards at the time we went, so make sure you have cash! read more

The Elephant House - Scottish Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The Elephant House was a student staple for years, before it began to trade on its reputation as one of the birthplaces of Harry Potter. I have no complaints with them doing that, but I feel sorry for the tourists that must visit and wonder why on earth they bothered. Having not been there for years (since I was a student, in fact), we stopped by for a quick breakfast. Almost everything about experience was poor, without being actually bad - ultra slow drinks service, ambivalent staff who appeared to treat customers as an irritant (also, my pet hate: drinking and eating their own food behind the counter), really average coffee, and a dreary cooked breakfast, served on a cold plate. The staff showed a lack of interest in changes to advertised food - I asked for an extra sausage, and was told that I needed to order a sausage roll, almost doubling the price of the meal. Such a shame - the place has bags of charm, but because it makes money hand over fist, there's no need for them to change anything. And they charge for wifi - presumably to dissuade buddy JK Rowlings from camping out all day. My advice? Take your photo and keep walking. Or if you are near the uni, visit Elephant and Bagel - much better food, and less of an attitude. read more

Full disclosure: this review is 5 stars because of the extremely emotional reaction I had as it relates to Harry Potter, and hey, I liked my spiked coffee, too. So we'd just passed through Victoria Street, and I was already primed for more Harry Potter. (Victoria Street is believed to have been of some inspiration to Rowling for Diagon Alley.) It was around American dinnertime (7pm). They're very proud of their Harry Potter heritage, and they seem to also take liberties with that association. The very front of the café, before you even enter, has a banner along the glass outside: "Birthplace of Harry Potter," in curly yellow letters, stylized after the Harry Potter font. Yeah, I'm sure Rowling thought of the idea while sitting in a booth in your café... We were seated in about 5 minutes, despite the fact that the place was packed, and I was immediately thrown that they had waiter service. I guess, in my mind, I was seeing a café where you ordered at the counter and picked up your food there, but this was more like a restaurant/café mashup. Maybe at one time that was how you ordered, but because of the volume of customers, they decided to streamline the ordering service. Not only is Rowling a known patron, but so is Ian Rankin and Alexander McCall-Smith. It has a huge variety of foods and drinks, from nachos and brushetta, to salad bowls, pizza, lasagna, haggis, bread, potatoes, and a whole lot of other food. Seriously, they are so prepared to cater to everyone. I gotta admit, though, I could totally see me being a frequent patron if I lived here, gazing out towards the Kirkyard as I sip my coffee. I like elephants, I like coffee, and I like cemeteries. Sounds like a trifecta of inspiration to me. I opted for the coffee with whiskey ("Irish coffee"). It came out in a surprisingly huge glass, when I was just expecting a mug. Delightfully, I could actually taste the whiskey, so it wasn't a drink that was particularly watered down. It was enjoyable, hanging out with my traveling companion, basking in the warmth of a café where one of my favorite authors once wrote parts of one of my favorite book series. And of course I made a stop into the bathrooms. What's so special about them, you ask? People from all over the world come here and mark up the bathroom. It's not just some common graffiti, but you'll find quotes, sketches, notes to Rowling, personal stories, etc. on every conceivable surface. And when I saw every conceivable surface, I am being literal. Light bulbs, hand dryers, soap dispensers, corners of the doors, the ceiling, the glass of wall art (rude!), even the bloody ceiling and ceiling lights! It was pretty impressive to think that someone was so into leaving their mark, they chose to do it on the lightbulb on the ceiling. I legitimately felt a lump forming in my throat, and I can honestly say I don't recall ever almost crying in a bathroom before. It really pulls the fandom together for me. It's one thing to know millions of people have read the books and been touched by them, but it's another thing to see the proof--in hundreds of people's handwriting (likely even thousands). I felt very involved in the whole experience, on a very real, visceral level. And I know how cheesy it sounds to say this, but for the first time in a long time... I felt like I was part of something; part of a community. To a weirdo like me, I rarely ever feel like I'm a part of anything, but when I went back just now and checked out a video I took, I felt tears in my eyes, MONTHS after my visit. It's absolutely cheesy, I know, but when I felt that way, it was a bit overwhelming, in a good way. So no, maybe the food isn't the best, and the drinks are expensive, but I couldn't help but feel the magic when I was in that bathroom, completely blinding me to any other flaws that the café might have. It made me feel a part of something... more. And that's definitely worth 5 stars. read more

Sigh. Birthplace of Harry Potter..... using this as the only tag-line to draw people in I was pretty safe in the assumption i was going to hate it. And don't I love it when I am right. A chum of mine who studies english literature and is a complete potter-nutter came through to visit me on my first week in Edinburgh and she was pretty keen to give this a go. Knowing that I hated it I smiled and nodded hoping it wouldn't be too cliche, and that they might at least have some good coffee. Once we arrived it didn't seem too potter-mad, and we joined what was a reasonable sized queue for what felt like forever!?!? They had several members of staff but only the ONE taking orders, making drinks, plating up cakes, and doing the till. Hence, a very long wait. Once we had finally been served I ordered a cappuccino and a piece of carrot cake. We then found ourselves some seats near the front. This is another thing I do not like - had it been anywhere else I would have ordered and got my friend to grab some seats. But no not here, this is not 'allowed'...... well I don't want to end up buying your poor coffee and average cake to find I have nowhere to sit!? Surely I deserve that at least. The rant continues - the toilets- SORT THEM OUT. They are covered in graffiti about how harry potter has changed lives....... yawn. Its a book, and to be honest it just makes the toilets seem filthy. Even my over excited friend said, and I quote - that's just weird. Even I love Harry Potter, but that is just too far. Think it sums it all up pretty nicely. read more

Made famous only by the Harry Potter phenomenon, the Elephant House is somewhere you use the bathroom, as oppose to good food. Our sandwiches were really disappointing (oily, way too much cheese), the floors in the main dining hall were slanted in a non-hipster unflattering way. The bathroom trip saved me from giving out a 1 star review - the entire bathroom (for the ladies anyway that I can vouch for) is completely covered with Harry Potter fan notes, if the toilets weren't made out of porcelain, I can bet that it would be completely ink-covered as well. read more

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I am going to be completely honest. With that birthplace of Harry Potter sign in the front, I thought this place would be a tourist trap. Especially with that beautifully pretentious 'we only serve arabica not robusta beans' sign on their menu. I love Elephant House though. And in my four years at Edinburgh it is easily one of my favorite cafes. Their breakfasts are reasonably priced and delicious, and the coffee.. so rich (thank you for only using arabica). This place is definitely not a tourist trap, and with that view of the castle, I can see why JK Rowling went here to write her novels. read more

The Elephant House - Shortbread and Cappucino - Scottish Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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