This cafe is obviously popular, as people came by just to look at what magic did JK Rowling brought here when she first wrote her book. But, overall it’s really a warm place to taste for something sweet.
Since I’m a huge fan of Harry Potter, I had to meet The Elephant House. Cosy and original place, no wonder J. K. Rowling picked it to spend her time writing with the amazing view for the castle. Really nice.
My Zomato Gold code: BEAT4459 😘
Birthplace of harry potter... What else do u need to get a 5 star? ☺️
We tried the hot chocolate which was nice. Also the Victorian Sponge Cake was delicious. Surprisingly for such a famous cafe, it isn't very costly.
No wonder Rowling loved it when she wasn't famous...
We went there due to the fact of being the birth place of Harry Potter and we wanted to have a nice cup of hot chocolate. We ended up with Apple pie and anotjer nice cake. The hot chocolates were amazing and the place and the view are really inspiring.
Well known as the place of birth of Harry Potter, we gave this place a try in a cold Edinburgh's night. A cup of hot chocolate never goes wrong. A hot cranachan with vanilla ice cream was heartwarming too. Kitchen closes at 7pm, so you could only order drinks and cakes later. But they have great selection of cakes too!
Had visited the elephant house in Edinburgh and its was an nice place, explore some of their cuisine, chicken liver brandy and herb pate was awesome chicken and bacon pizza was delicious and soo perfect haathi ki tarah inka khaana b ek dum dumdaar tha
Very friendly staff. Breakfast menu catered for all tastes, was well cooked and delivered with only a short wait. Coffee was very good. Definitely recommended.
Breakfast at The Elephant House was a tasty and very efficient experience.
Our party of 5 were lead straight to a table. Within 5 minutes our orders were taken for food and drink, within 10 minutes our hot breakfasts were being devoured. Followed closely by the bill. No muss, no fuss.
Beautiful place and it's not just the location or the view from the windows or even the fact that Harry Potter was written here but the feel of the place itself is beautiful.....Staff is very friendly and the coffee and muffins are just WOW !! If in Edinburgh then a must visit place to enjoy that cup of coffee with a magical feel 😊 !!!
My propose to go this restaurant is because of the Harry Potter. The first time J.K Rowling got her inspiration about HP and she’s wrote in here peacefully.
I think it’s just commercialized, but when I arrived there, we got the good view (although we should wait about 30min in line).
The view is really good, we can see the castle while enjoy the hot chocolate.
The service is standard and the taste is really good.
The portion of the food is huge (2 person for 1 portion for me).
From breakfast to light snacks. Beer cocktails or coffee its one hell a place to be. Very nice cozy and a gd place to spend some peacefull time. I really enjoy it everytime
Good place.. Fully decorated with the famous pictures and articles of J. K. Rowling. Is always crowded but thankfully managed to get a seat early than usual. Friendly staff. Sells personalised badges, tees, and other accessories in the name of cafe.
Must touristy visit to do..
A must visit if you are a Harry Potter fan. Good food and great selection of cakes. A nice photo ops and kids will love it especially those who are into potter books
We visited Edinburgh last September and we made sure to try The elephant house, as it was on our bucket list! It was very easy to find it. We were seated right away. The space is very nice and its ambience is chill for an afternoon coffee. We ordered some hot chocolate and apple pie. It was one of the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had. The pie was delicious as well. The service there was a bit annoying but other than that It’s a must try when u’re in town!
Hot chocolate is the perfect beverage for Edinburgh's chilly winters. I tried their "Hot Chocolate Orange". It's basically warm chocolate with a hint of orange essence and whipped cream. It reminded me vaguely of Lindt Orange. Although to be honest, it wasn't mentioned on the menu that there would be whipped cream. It was a disappointment that the milk was warm and not hot. The menu is decent and light with very limited food options. A bit of cramped ambience.
For all the Harry Potter fans, it's worth a visit. You can tick off one thing from your checklist.
Place whr j k rowlling started writng harry potter while looking at the Edinburgh castle view from the glass window. Amazing ambience. Amazing coffee with raspberry white choc dry cake.
The Elephant House is not only popular for being the 'birthplace' of the Harry Potter series but also for their food and drinks.
The cafe is always packed and there is easily a waiting time of 10-15 minutes for being seated. The ambience is lovely and quite true to its name - there are many pictures and small unique statues of elephants all around the restaurant.
We decided to try the Haggis Balls and Fleur's Fantasy Drink. The fried Haggis Balls were tasty however it did not go very well with the jelly offered along with the dish. The drink was absolutely delish and it was topped with cream and cocoa powder.
The Elephant House is a bustling cafe and it can be difficult to get the server's attention. However, the cafe has a vibrant energy and nice food. After all, which fan wouldn't want to visit the birthplace of Harry Potter?
Jedna z typowych knajpek ze świetną obsługą (polską ;-) doskonała whisky i przyjemna atmosfera. Wystrój mocno lata 90' co w tym przypadku jest dużym atutem. Można fatalnie trafić, kolejki bywają koszmarne i co prawda nie uważam, żeby warto było stać w niej pół godziny - ale to w końcu TO miejsce. Trochę drażni duży napis obwieszczający, że to tu Rowling pisała Pottera, poza tym ok. Cenowo też do przejścia.
The Birthplace of Harry Potter ! This cafe is a must if you are a Potterhead like me.
The chilled out relaxed vibe of the cafe is delightful. There were people reading, writing and a group discussing their upcoming play! You can totally see how R.K Rowling got her inspiration to write the legendary series from here.
There are lots of food choices. And their coffee is fresh. Despite the touristy vibes, this place deserves a visit on your Edinburgh travel !
Keep gobbling xxx
We visited the Elephant House twice and on the first occasion, the service was fairly good, even though the restaurant was busy, but on the second occasion the service was very slow and it took over 20 minutes to attract someone to ask for the bill. There is a good atmosphere with lots of people going because of the J.K.Rowling connection. The toilets are covered in graffitti. We tried the casserole, vegetable chilli and on the second occasion the haggis - all of which were good and tasty.
We chose to stop here just because it was known for being the restaurant where J K Rowling is known to have written part of her early Harry Potter books. Choose the back room, where there are pictures and clippings. Be sure to check out the girls bathroom and read some of the Harry Potter graffiti. I chose to have tea and a shortbread cookie. It seemed like others who chose to go for meals seemed to be enjoying their meals. The service was good and the restaurant was quite busy. A short walk from The Elephant House and just beyond Greyfriar 's Bobby Restaurant is a grave yard where J K Rowling got some of the names she used for characters.
Visited this place purely for the Harry Potter connection. I had a tomato and cheese croissant which was fine but not noteworthy. You need to visit the bathroom if you're a Harry Potter fan
Okay, I admit it... I really only went here because it's the cafe where J.K. Rowling penned most of the first novels in the Harry Potter series.
Situated in the Old Town, the cafe is quite big but I'd recommend heading down to the cosier back room with windows overlooking Greyfriars Churchyard and Edinburgh Castle.
I only stopped here for a coffee. It's one of those places that doesn't serve skim milk (I like my milk watery, dammit!) but other than that, the coffee was well made.
The service wasn't exactly friendly but then they are probably sick of hoards of Harry Potter fans taking over the cafe and ordering nothing but coffee... oops.
If you are an Harry Potter fan, then make sure you stop by. If you're not, you can skip this one. The place is nice and looks fine , well decorated and cosy, for surr it was once the ideal spot to study all day long ( and even write an Harry Potter book 😁). Now it's a tourist trap since its quite expensive and the staff is always trying to make you leave since there's always a queue for sitting. As soon as We finished ouro coffee, the staff picked uo our cups cleaned the table without even asking for permition.
Few of my friends hyped me about this "Harry Potter Cafe" which I didn't want to miss during my visit to Edinburgh.This place has some serious connection for the story of Harry Potter which you can get to know from the cafe stewards.The interior décor is very much pleasing and it's a good place for hangout.I was a bit confused to choose among their good looking pastry.The steward suggested me to try Red Velvet cake and surprisingly I fell in love with it.Chicken liver with Brandy and Herb pite wasn't a bad option for a meal platter.Overall I had a nice time out here
Jadine Arnold - The Punk Rock Princess
+3.5
Lovely little place, I have been there for various meetings, its a small cute little place in the afternoon the sun shines right through from the graveyard and its a mystical moment, during the FRINGE its lines to get in (Obviously) but normally throughout the year, a comforting and easy going place. The lattes are so good!
For a tourist it doesn't look much from outside . The name was catchy and I noticed it when we were there in Edinburgh but didn't think of going there.
Fortunately on the last day of my trip we were looking for place for breakfast and we were out of options as I had a flight in no time and we were not able to find a desirable place to eat in.
Just then I noticed the elephant house and decided to try the standard breakfast and it was amazing. I then got to know the whole J K Rowling and Harry Potter mythos attached to the place and the food was just delicious. Spread of haggis, sausages , ham , scrambled eggs and toast n butter.
It was sufficient and satisfying . Aishwarya Saxena would agree
I didn't find a single reason to give this place anything less than 5. The food quality is great and the view is awesome. If you get a place near the window then you can see the Edinburgh Castle. They don't do reservation so make sure you go when it's less crowded.
Even if you are not a huge Harry Potter fan, The Elephant House is a good spot to eat or have a nice cup of tea. They make good hot chocolate, tasty cakes and lots of dishes to suit all tastes. But, the very best, are the views from their back room. Grab a table by a window and enjoy!
This hands down the best long mac in town, coffee is like back home. Magic service and great to relax read a book and chill.. No wifi then again just nice.. I see why voted one of the best
Tourist Trap. I've always walked past due to the permanent queue out the door. After a 10 min wait I took my latte and headed to the fabled back room with the view. Had to squeeze onto a table but I have to admit it's nicely done. The coffee was no more than average but the views and ambience made up for it.
Chic little place. Though exclusively staffed by students which means an expectedly slack service this place is definitely worth a visit if you like a relaxed atmosphere and something a bit different.
The food is prepared with care and has a lovely homely yet bohemian quality to it. I can highly recommend the home made pizzas!
The views of the castle from the rear of the restaurant are fantastic!
This is the “birthplace” of Harry Potter. The story goes that JK Rowling was really poor when she wrote the first three novels and so instead of paying for lighting and heating in her own home, she would buy a cup of tea at this particular cafe and write her novels the whole day here. She was influenced by what was around her in Edinburgh and when you visit this place, you will recognise many influences. Walking down the Royal Mile reminds you of Diagon Alley and Edinburgh castle appears like it is floating, much like Hogwarts.
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As a HP fan, I had to make it to the Elephant House. I passed by it very often when I lived in Edinburgh and it was always always super full so I never stopped. Yesterday I decided I had time and we stopped to grab some hot chocolate. The sandwiches and all the bites looked delicious but we didn't eat. The hot chocolate were very good - although they didn't ask us if we wanted anything on them (i.e. marshmallows or whipped cream) so it felt a bit rushed.
The service was very slow - partly because of all the tourists, but also partly because a lot of the staff seemed to stop and just talk to people they knew. Or perhaps they were just being friendly - but to my eyes we waited a long while to even order even though there was only 2 people in front of us.
I liked the fact that you get seated after you order - it allows not to have the madness of finding a seat in that place. But we were asked to share a table with people and we were therefore not super comfortable because they kept leaning over the table and so the table was jerking up and down, so we quickly drank our hot chocolates to leave asap.
I don't think I would ever go back to just have a drink again, but if I was with a small group and didn't mind waiting a bit I think I would definitely go for cake or sandwich and tea.
The view from the back was really amazing over the castle and the cafe was decorated with HP stuff and many many elephants, which I absolutely loved. And of course I had been warned about the toilets - so I quickly went in there before leaving. It was amazing - some people ruined it by only signing their names - but mostly it was messages for JK Rowling and about HP and I was super enchanted. For half a second I imagined it being a bathroom in Hogwarts were students wrote.
I've wanted to go here one say since I heard that J K Rowling wrote Harry Potter here. Today after going ice skating with my friends we decided to pop here for some lunch to reheat and grab a bite to eat. I had a bacon, brie and mango panini and it was amazing but a bit small. Most of my friends also had paninis and everyone enjoyed them. Marked them down a bit however as I found their staff to be quite rude. I'm not sure if it was because we were a big ish group but they were very blunt and condescending.
My motivation for visiting the Elephant House was of course the fact that J.K Rowling spent a lot of her time there when writing the awesomeness that is Harry Potter. And I can see her reasoning behind that, as it has a great vibe, friendly staff and comfortable seating.
I had been walking around Edinburgh for the whole day by the time I found this cafe, and so it was a welcome sight when I finally stepped into the warmth and was immediately seated in a cozy corner.
This location was also the first time that I braved to try the Scottish delicates that is Haggis. The food was tasty, but I felt it was a little cold, which was my only drawback of my experience here.
But if you are a Harry Potter fan and you enjoy places with a unique decor then this is the place for you. The coffee is excellent and they have a lot of both traditional Scottish and continental options on the menu.
Great view. We sat on the circular table in the middle of the room, from where we could see the castle. We had to wait a little because we went during lunch time (near university so lots of students in for lunch), but the place is organised and is able to accommodate customers quickly. It's also famous for being where J.k. Rowling wrote part of the Harry Potter series, so many tourists visit as well - probably doesn't get a quiet moment. But we only waited 5 minutes to be seated. You can write your name or a message on the walls of the toilet.
I went here only because of the birth of harry potter is in this cafe or to be exact the place where JK rowling wrote her first debut of harry potter books.
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If you’re a Harry Potter enthusiast, you’ll be delighted to know that the Elephant House is the notorious coffee bar where J.K. Rowling started writing the series. If you’re not, you’ll still get decent warm food, and a cosy spot to get some rest between one trek and the next.
Fortunately, there's more to The Elephant House than just a long past connection with an award-winning writer. Its unusual decor earned this Old Town cafe a spot in my most vivid memories of Edinburgh: thanks to the tens of elephant memorabilia lying around (including an elephant-shaped armchair!), there’s no doubt the place will impress you too.
The food is much more appetising and fulfilling than I expected from such a tourist favourite, although still a tad too bland for my taste; however wide, the range of quiches, sandwiches and English breakfast staples on offer isn't quite the game-changer that makes The Elephant House stand out from the tens of other cafes that provide very similar dishes (who needs groundbreaking recipes, when there's elephant-shaped furniture and J.K. Rowling?). While the menu on display outside the venue advertises more exotic options, make sure you devise a backup plan, to avoid the disappointment I felt upon discovering that some of the main dishes are not to be served at lunchtime.
I wonder how many locals are regulars of The Elephant House; I wouldn't be surprised to find that the vast majority of the people patiently queuing up outside the door are tourists, wishing to retrace Rowling's steps, or simply keen to try one of the popular spots on their mainstream travel guide. Be as it may, I've yet to meet a sightseer who doesn't delight in discovering a friendly, lively cafe with food nice enough to put a smile upon their exhausted holidaymaker's face; and as far as making a traveller's day goes, The Elephant House does a more than honest job.
More Edinburgh travel tips on: http://whatevergetsyouthroughtheday.wordpress.com/2013/10/25/edinburgh-travel-tips/
My first trip down to Edinburgh, Scotland. Couldn't wait to just get a coffee at the place J.K.Rowling came up with Harry Potter. The Elephant House has a great ambiance and very friendly staff. Ended up ordering coffee, veg chilly ( asked to make it extra spicy, since we like it that way ) and some garlic bread .. since one could always do with some good garlic bread. Great food in conclusion and coffee. Definitely recommended.
This is one of 2 outlets of The Elephant House, but this outlet that overlooks the Edinburgh Castle from the inside windows is where J K Rowling sat and conceptualised and wrote the early drafts of "Harry Potter".
As the name suggests - Elephants of all shapes, sizes and materials are strewn all across the cafe.
Our coffees (latte & cappucino were strong and good) The ham and cheese sandwich was great, but the baked potato with brie and bacon was amazing.
Don't miss out on their cakes. We had the hazelnut + nutella + cinnamon cake and the lavender cream cake. The lavender cake is milder, but both the cakes were brilliant.
http://on.fb.me/Kims-Recipes-n-Reviews
Sad to see it closed, but that obviously not their fault due to a devastating fire so I’m not leaving a bad review like some of these people. A great stop to look at all the same, and will definitely have to come back when they open back up. Very cool location and surrounding area as well. Worth a visit for both Harry Potter fans and people close by.
glad to have chance to visit this amazing place where harry potter was created by JK Rowling
Magical place for Harry Potter fans! The coffee shop is actually quite lovely, they have beautiful views by the windows. Hot drinks and cakes were good. Harry Potter fans have written tons of messages all over toilet's doors and walls. Liked the place and our waiter, I believe his name was Aitor, made the experience much better. He was lovely and allowed us to seat in when it was close to closing time, and overall, he was super nice and helpful. It can get really busy, so if you are not a Harry Potter fan, there might be other coffee shops as good as this one, but it's definetely a charming one!
A really cool spot!! Definitely would recommend stopping by to visit if you're in Edinburgh!
Not sure why many bad reviews. Food was amazing (had the Scottish pancakes with bacon and syrup and the scone with clotted cream and jam). Super fresh, tasty and good size! Prices are reasonable. And I got JKR’s same table with lovely views and peaceful around. I just loved it! Yes, you’ll have to bear the stares from the rest of the people around that will just want you gone to have the table
Currently closed for renovation after a fire. Was here a couple of years ago while in Edinburgh. Great cappucino and sandwiches. Also has a spectacular view of the castle. Highly recommend it for anyone visiting Edinburgh.
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We were lucky to stop when we did. It was about 11 a.m. and the lunch crowds had not descended yet. Usually when we walked past, the place was crowded. We decided to stop for an early bite to eat. I knew a bit about the history of the place; how J.K. Rowling had started writing Harry Potter here. The waitress asked if we wanted front or back, we chose back. The view of Greyfriars Kirk and Edinburgh castle and the university is visible from back there. We chose a small table by the window. The lunch menu was not out yet, so we had hot chocolate and porridge. The porridge came with honey and milk. The hot chocolate was the perfect size, not too big and not too small. The waitress was very chatty and when we asked where Ms. Rowling sat when she wrote, she said, "Right here at this window." Couldn't believe our luck! You have to visit the bathrooms. People leave their mark and devotion to Harry Potter in there. The place was warm and cosy and the view was fantastic. Perfect views of Edinburgh castle and the graveyard. Definitely stop in early before the crowds start coming.
Good elephant cappuccino and a huge homemade muffin I had there. This cafe seems be very famous for tourists and was busy even around 11am on Monday.
It was a bit challenge that I stayed there with relaxed feeling as JK Rowling said, but it’s worth visiting to taste good coffee and cakes, and see the atmosphere where she wrote the Harry Potter!
I was lucky to visit during the early evening, we stayed until they were closing because the ambiance was so perfect. The alleged birthplace of Harry Potter was enchanting. Great coffee, I would suggest the whiskey coffee & victoria sponge (pictured).
Thank you for a lovely experience :)
Nice place, famous for being one of the location where J.K. Rowling has written Harry Potter. Quite crowdy so you have to wait for a table first and for the meal afterwards. Overall there is a cosy atmosphere, good food and if you go in the toilet, people used to write up messages and draws, quite impressive.
Very crowded. Line is long. They sell merchandise there but not Harry Potter merchandise. This was the birth place of Harry Potter. Need inspiration, come here and have a coffee and start writing!
The staff was nice enough to help me choose a cake but I didn't like the Peaches and Cream cake that I ended up with. I might have expected more about their food which is not that bad but not really excellent either. I like the place though, bright and cozy just as I expected cafes to be.
I visited here today and really enjoyed pretty much everything ,the good food, I had the haggis it was seriously good,the ambience and the view of the castle from the windows. It clearly has a great reputation as the long queue testified, but is worth standing in line for. Also a word about the staff who're always helpful despite being very busy.
The line gets pretty long during lunch - the hot drinks are really good and so is most of the food. The service is a bit slow, but as you can imagine the staff are constantly overwhelmed with Potter fans. In reality this isn't JK Rowling's first choice cafe, but she did spend a lot of time here creating the beloved Harry Potter series. The best seats are in the back, if you are lucky like us then you'll get good seats too. It's worth visiting just to say you were here !
Long waits and always busy. Coffee and cakes we're good, but menu is small. Good view of castle. Overall good experience if you are a fan of Harry Potter. If not, check out the other similar cafes around town.
If you are going for the Harry Potter experience like I did it is worth a stop in. Male sure you use the rest room as that's where some of the best scenes are. Good drinks and food. We had the nachos for two and it was enough food.
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