Elephant House in Edinburgh, City of

What a cool place to stop as a Harry Potter fan! We were lucky and walked right in, but as we left there was a long line. Be prepared to wait in busy times, but it's definitely worth it.

We were officially kicked out of the cafe where we came with big dreams and wanted to spend time. The brunette waitress treated me so badly that I had a hard time not crying. I was waiting for my sister to come because she was old and walking slowly, I took a photo while waiting. He came and told me that if you are not a customer you cannot take pictures. I told him that I was waiting for my sister to come and that we would decide to sit down when she came. He told me to wait outside. But in the meantime, he told the two Spanish men that you could take photos if you wanted. Last time I was looking at the menu while waiting at the door, even there he yelled at me to take a step back and then laughed behind me as I finally left. I couldn't understand what his problem was with me. A really bad person, I will remember this cafe very badly, which was a big disappointment for us. And I heard you scolding another woman. I think he has trouble with women. Because she treats men well. My advice to anyone coming here is this woman is terrible, never come here. He belittles you, dismisses you and laughs behind your back. I think he has psychological problems, you never know what he will do to you.

We got left sitting at a window for nearly 15 minutes. Two different waitresses came into the area where we were seated and never approached us. The girl at the main door has a bad attitude as well and based on the food being served around us, I don't think we missed much. We ended up walking out as a table of four came in after us and were served - there are plenty of other lovely cafes around the area with nicer staff.

It has closed and moved to Victoria Street.

We ordered salted caramel brownies and hot chocolate. Hot chocolate was mostly milk and brownies were not good. Everything was overpriced and the portions were really small. Bad experience overall, wouldn’t recommend. Just because J. K. Rowling sat there once doesn’t mean they can sell over priced low quality food👎

I was there one month ago with husband and his sister. I didn’t want to give bad opinion but still when I think about out visit in Edinburgh I remember this place and bad feeling at that time. We wanted to order coffee with whiskey but waitress said it was too early but it was almost 1pm and we are adults so there is no need to discipline us. Situation was awkward because at the same time waitress went to someone with glass of wine, but coffee with whiskey isn’t ok? Drip coffe disgusting. And during payment woman said I can choose a tip for them if I want, but for what? Ridiculous place and service. I will never go to this place again. Im sad I chose this place and fell for a hype. A lot of better places to have a coffe and spend time in this city than this.

Excellent place if you love HP, even is not the original place , still really nice. Butter beer are excellent, and baked potatoes too !

Me and my partner visited this cafe in December time. We specifically went as we were aware this is where JK Rowling wrote her novels. We were greeted by a male staff member who was a bit short with us, however we didn’t think much of it. As a female member of staff was about to take us to our table, my partner spotted JK Rowlings desk and asked if we could see it first. As we were doing this we overhead a male staff member rudely saying not to show people as they just leave after looking at it. Im sure it can be annoying if people come and go just to see the desk, however overhearing that made us feel unwelcome. We stayed for a whisky. The food menu wasn’t overly enticing. The window seats overlooking the street are quite charming though.

A great little find. The ice cream went down well with my son and the latte enjoyed by myself. The atmosphere created here is just fabulous with the links to famous writers.

The place is new and not the intended original Kufi. The Kufi is opposite it and is now closed after the fire in 2021. The writer and novelist Harry Potter used to write most of her novels in it, and for this reason the place has become a tourist attraction for people to visit. Post a picture of the original kufi

Nice atmosphere, but touristy cafe. Tasteless and expensive hot chocolates (6 pounds each), and the hygiene of the toilets leaves something to be desired. The facade is nice, but it's not at all the best place to drink chocolate in Edinburgh.

Nice place for coffee with a nice view of Victoria St., but the cakes here are average.

Has been closed for a long time due to a fire. Unfortunately this is not stated on the website.

I decided to try the viral butterscotch beer during my visit, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite match my expectations in terms of taste. That said, the overall experience at this place was truly enjoyable and made up for it. The ambiance was welcoming and cozy, and the staff were friendly and attentive, which added a lot to the charm of the visit. While the butterscotch beer wasn’t my favorite. However my friend loved it. I’m looking forward to coming back and trying some of their other offerings. This place definitely has a great vibe, and I’d still recommend it for anyone looking for a fun and unique experience!

History is great. The cafe is closed now due to fire in August 24

It’s worthy it because of JK Rowling. It’s pricey but you can admire Victoria Street from above.

We went to have a coffee and I won't come back again, I don't know how anyone can say that they serve delicious coffee there, the experience was horrible, we couldn't even finish it

Cozy place, the coffee is terrible, if you can call it coffee

Quite disappointed with the experience. Long queue to get in (which is understandable given the fame of the café so not so serious), but we were surprised to see tables free for more than 15 minutes while people waited in the queue ( even more surprising with 3 to 5 servers present (I no longer know the precise number). We ordered a butterbeer, a surprising and disappointing drink, and an ice tea which unfortunately never arrived. The atmosphere in the café is still pleasant and raises the bill, despite a slight coolness in the room (especially when the table is against the window), and the fact of feeling observed and rushed by the people waiting in turn their table.

once probably quite friendly, nice and welcoming however now mold infested cafe with a crushing feeling of dread complete with clientele and groups of tourists that gather and seem to have 1930s brainroted talking points taken from your faveroute british figures such as oswald mosley and enoch powell

I had high expectations for The Elephant House in Edinburgh, given its reputation as a "Harry Potter" landmark, but sadly, the experience fell flat. The café was overcrowded and felt more like a tourist trap than a cozy spot to relax. The service was slow, and the staff seemed overwhelmed and inattentive. To make matters worse, the food and drinks were overpriced for the quality offered. My coffee was lukewarm, and the cake I ordered tasted stale. The overall ambiance was underwhelming, with dated décor that seemed neglected rather than charming. While it’s understandable that a place with such fame attracts crowds, it felt like the focus was more on capitalizing on the Harry Potter connection than providing a memorable café experience. I wouldn't go back and wouldn't recommend it unless you're just there for the photo op.

Grab a quick Butterbeer at the takeaway 💫

Busy, but therefore very pleasant. We had a delicious baked potato and halloumi fries, really tasty. And butterscotch beer, which was very sweet! The service was good, they really made an effort for us despite the crowds.

What rubbish service. Does not come anywhere near the hype at all. Terrible attitude, especially the woman in charge

This is not the original cafe where Harry Potter was written. The original one is closed. However, JK Rowling's desk where she wrote the Harry Potter book is still there. I don't know if it was real

写在前面，区别对待，态度很恶劣，故意针对亚洲长相，别去。I was treated horribly by an employee with really bad attitude at this store. Firstly, I don’t why an employee can have her phone on her working desk, having a WhatsApp phone call, wearing on her AirPods with noise reduction function, speaking loudly in a language other than English or French while I was making an order. She made the drink impatiently and perfunctorily, 15 seconds: open the bottle, put the drink in the bottle, put the cream. No talking with me but of course with her phone friend. Funny here, then she used her eye signal to tell me get one straw from the bottle on the desk . They all put together and I saw only one red straw left, I said to my friend “I want the red one.” She suddenly spoke to me “NO！！you can’t take the red, you touch this, take this” RUDE and FOUSED. “You touch this this and this what what you make them dirty.” Hello?? How can I just get one specific straw from so many straws in the same bottle?? I’m dirty ?? I only want that straw and move the ones in front of it slightly aside. I don’t even grasp or pinch or what, and I also didn’t touch any of tops of the straws, only the middle part. I’m educated, I know how to respect others and I definitely did do anything impolite. In addition, if you have such a strict health requirement, you can tell me first instead of answering a phone, I would obey.

It's a mediocre place. Despite this mediocrity, it is incredibly crowded and expensive. Of course, this is because it is the birthplace of a very famous fantasy novel. Irish coffee is 8 pounds and cakes are 4-5 pounds on average. But neither the cakes nor the coffee are above average.

The coffee is good, the cafe is cosy & it’s cool to be inside the birthplace of Harry Potter, but there’s really not more to it. The service is slow & the staff are stressed. I wanted a relaxing drink, but the atmosphere isn’t really relaxing.

Went here to get the famed butter beer and the service was wonderful. We really had a great time and would come back for a meal if we had more time in our day.

Our first stop in Edinburgh was the elephant cafe . Upon arrival at the cafe we were totally surprised that it is opened and that there was no queue . Waited excitedly to be seated and a young lady ushered us to a lovely window seats overlooking the street. Just as we were getting ourselves comfortable, another lady by the name Samiha came by and questioned “who gave you the table “ Honestly we were quite taken aback. Being a well travelled person of my age this was totally not acceptable and plain rude. The second episode was when I went to the cashier to ask if I should order at the counter , the same staff exaggeratedly commented in Spanish (I think) that I was impatient. The episode didn’t end here. Later the same lady, Samiha, found out that I was trying to get her name. She came back and challenged me lecturing me throughout that cafe is very “crowded” ; customers need to wait to be seated. The whole issue is we were ushered to the seats by the window! We did not just barged in! Honestly this kind of behaviour is totally not acceptable . To my worst horror i later found out she is the supervisor of the cafe ! A junior staff who had witnessed all this and was so sweet that she apologised profusely on behalf of the rude supervisor for my bad experience! Fine cafe but be warned of ill mannered supervisor !

Previously an opportunity for poor people to write books and now a tourist cash grab. Those responsible are morally ruined.

Good choice for a quick warm up and have a cup of coffee

Was seated next to the kitchen where the staff were arguing and stressed. Was seated then ignored for several minutes till I flagged someone down. Service from the new server was unfriendly. Was served broken shortbread. Was so excited to visit this place but was very disappointed with the service.

Driven by the fame of being the bar where Harry Potter was written, it is located in Victoria Street, one of the most beautiful streets in Edinburgh, as well as famous because it recalls Diagon Halley (also Harry Potter) we went for breakfast, excellent cappuccino, delicious cakes and perfect scones! Normal prices.

The perfect spot for Harry Potter fans ! As a fan myself living in Scotland I have been wanting to stop by for years. Unfortunately the original shop is closed due to a fire but I would recommend having a look at the original building as it is just up from Victoria Street and around the corner. I didn't go up the stairs as i was short on time but i got a hot chocolate to take away and it was incredible ! Reasonably priced considering how hot of an attraction it is for Harry Potter fans and tourists alike. The only negative was the wait time for my order, I waited around 20 minutes outside in the cold but i understand it is a busy shop. Highly recommended!

Extremely long waiting time (around ten minutes to get a seat, around ten minutes for us to pick up our order...), waiters who are not very smiling, food and teas not very good... Even if I am Harry Potter fan, this disappointed me. I should have passed my turn!

Nice little cafe. However, it has moved and is located at 30 Victoria Street.

A very nice café, quite a must for Harry Potter fans. So of course it is not the real café where the famous series of books was born, but it apparently retains the same furniture and the same spirit. I went there at rather odd hours (just before lunch and just after lunch) to drink hot chocolate so there weren't that many people. I didn't have to wait long in line both times and I was seated in less than 10 minutes but I think that at certain times you will have to be patient. The staff is quite friendly, I don't have any particularly negative feedback on it. The menu is quite extensive and the prices are a little high but not exaggerated either. I went back twice to have the hot chocolate, which I found good. The second time I even ordered a millionaire shortbread which, without being exceptional, was nice. It’s a place where you feel really good. I was lucky enough to be placed in front of the window both times, and the place is quite peaceful. However, I think there are rooms with many more tables that may be less pleasant. Overall, though, I had a great time. We don't necessarily receive 4G well in places, however. But it allows you to take the time to find yourself with yourself and observe future authors at work. In summary? A nice place, to see at least once if you are a Harry Potter fan. Expect a little wait to be seated.

Pure bliss for Harry Potter fans, this is the cafe where JK Rowling wrote her book in Edinburgh, the have the famous butter beer and nice selection of alcoholic & non alcoholic beverages, the cheese platter was great and some of the items in the menu are nice as well.

Magical place. Please note that the original location at 21 Victoria Street is currently closed for refurbishment and a new location in 30 Victoria Street has been opened.

Meh. - I wouldn’t recommend this place for the butter beer or the atmosphere, it felt overrated and there was a problem with the bill, they added a third person accidentally and there was a huge mix up with that.

this is not the place where harry potter was written, this is the new place that has been moved!!! the staff is trying to patronize everyone with the mentality that harry potter fans will come anyway. the inside is dirty and the prices are high. the staff is very rude! obviously a tourist trap I would never recommend 💔💔💔

As a Harry Potter fan (but really, who isn’t), @elephanthousecafe simply is a must visit because it’s the “birthplace” of Harry Potter, where J.K. Rowling used to spend her time writing the novels. Other than that, I wouldn’t really recommend it because the drink was bad and expensive and it took forever to get seated even when there were plenty of available seats and staff.

Enjoyed going here for a butter beer, the drink did not disappoint.

Long queues despite empty tables, slow staff, left without ordering. A classic tourist trap. Avoid!

I wish I could be able to see original Elephant House place. However, the place was a good location to drink something and take a breath during your Edinburgh trip. It is perfect to see J.K. Rowling table and chair.

Great to imagine yourself in the world of HP

A must do for Harry Potter fanatics. Sit at the table where JK wrote the first novels and sign your name in the book!

The place is beautiful, and the staff very kind and friendly. I would recommend it, and I will even return before leaving this beautiful city! I loved it!

The place is incredible, and Samia the waitress is charming! I take with me a beautiful memory of the days I went. Very cozy and the scones delicious. Butterbeer is a must! Thank you Samia for your sympathy and good vibes! 😊

Poor service, the staff are clearly bothered by the large amounts of tourists. The worst tasting coffee I have had all week, an instant nescafe would have beat the coffee I got served here. The window sill seats are very nice and atmospheric, though.

Tourist trap. Nothing to write home about. Mediocre menu that you can find anywhere. Nice and clean environment inside but that's it.

The Elephant House Good food and great service. Also if you’re a Harry Potter fan, try their delicious Butter Beer! This is the current store front for the famous Elephant House where JK Rowling spent time working on her Harry Potter novels. You’ll love the atmosphere and surroundings that gave inspiration for Diagon Alley.

The butterscotch beer was ok but I wouldn’t get it again. Not a lot of good food options. Inside was cool albeit hectic.

Decent butter bear. Great view.

Im following to this cafe because of JK Rolling. The cafe is really cute. The staffs are really nice.

A tiny cafe. It was later moved to Diagon Alley, its current location. The original cafe is closed due to fire. Butterbeer is not very good. The butterbeer at WB tour London was better.

Great spot for a quick coffee and pastry!! The wait wasn’t too long and the views of Victoria Street were just lovely! The coffee (I had an Elephant’s Treat) was delicious and the fruit scone with jam and butter was soft and delicious!

The Elephant House Café, known as the birthplace of J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series, is a must-visit for fans and food lovers alike. It’s where Rowling penned the initial chapters of her famous books. The café offers a unique menu, and their non-alcoholic Butterbeer is an absolute must-try—rich, delicious, and wonderfully creative. Their selection of cakes and pastries is equally delightful, perfect for pairing with your beverage. The café often has a queue, but it’s worth the wait, and they also offer takeaway options for those on the go. The interior is charmingly old-fashioned, adding to the cozy atmosphere. If you can, grab a seat by the wall windows for the best street views. The staff are friendly and attentive, enhancing the overall experience. Additionally, they sell Harry Potter-themed chocolates like frogs , making it a great spot to pick up souvenirs. Whether you’re a fan of the series or just looking for a great place to enjoy a treat, The Elephant House Café is a fantastic choice!

A favorite destination for tourists, mainly to take pictures of places related to Harry Potter. Hope was reopened after the fire last year.

I visited The Elephant House in Edinburgh for a taste of local butterscotch beer, and it didn’t disappoint! The atmosphere of the café is charming, with a relaxed vibe and historic character. They have a decent selection of Scottish beers, which were flavorful and a great way to experience local brews. It’s a wonderful spot to unwind and enjoy a drink, especially for fans of Harry Potter, given its literary connection. Highly recommend stopping by for both the ambiance and the local beer experience!

Came all this way and it’s bloody closed because of a fire three years ago?? It’s April 2024 refurbish this icon please

All great if you're a Harry Potter fan and it's very relaxing except that they make you wait half an hour to order because the waitresses think about talking to each other, and to receive your order you have to wait another 20 minutes. I don't think I'll ever return!

Unfortunately, the place is riding the wave of Harry Potter popularity. A very average butterbeer, with a very artificial taste. Good cakes, good service, very pleasant atmosphere with a nice view.

I got some soup but it wasn't that great. Quick service. Large place but the tables are too close together

As Harry Potter fans, we of course had to make a pilgrimage to the birthplace of the books. Unfortunately the cafe burned down a few years ago and is now located on Victoria Street. Unfortunately, it doesn't give the impression that the original location is being repaired. However, the café on Victoria Street is also very nicely done and the Butterbeer for adults was quite an experience. However, you get a bit of the impression that this place only serves tourism and has lost some of its magic...

The original Elephant House is closed.

We had some superb whiskies and tasted the delicious carrot cake and Elephant house shortbread. The staff are very friendly and good fun, especially with my attempts to pronounce the whisky names. 😃 A must visit location if you are a Harry Potter fan. Right on Diagonalley Victoria street.

My wife is a fan of Harry Potter, so we went to this cafe, where the author wrote part of the work. We tried the famous butter coffee, famous in the film series. I didn't particularly like it, and as for the service, it was a little slow. But the atmosphere is interesting, it's worth a visit on Victoria Street, and if you're choosing a cafe, this could be an option.

As a Harry Potter fan, this place was pure magic! While it’s a shame I couldn’t visit the original location because of the fire, this spot was a wonderful alternative. The staff were super friendly, even though the café was always busy. We were lucky enough to find a table upstairs, where we enjoyed some butterscotch beer and the adorable elephant-shaped Scottish shortbread. Upstairs, they also have J.K. Rowling’s desk and a few other items she used while writing the books, which was such a cool touch. Overall, we had a fantastic time and loved every minute of it!

Fun little cafe with lots of Harry Potter themes. The butter beer was delicious. Cheese plate was good too. Fun vibes and a good spot for a quick bite after walking around.

They want you to believe this is where JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter so they can charge you ridiculous prices for horrible food! JK said herself she went to their original cafe in George IV (not this one) a couple of times and didn’t even recall writing there - anyway took my sister here who’s a die hard HP fan but felt cheated because really they’re trying to hop on tourists who don’t know better - service was not great either, food pretty much glob that you can do yourself but you need to pay over the top for the privilege- I do not recommend because really is false advertising

Great brownie, one of the best I've eaten, and great chocolate! Fast and welcoming service. This cafe deserves much more than 3.7 stars, don't listen to the reviews about the boss, those are 5 years old.

The cakes very good. Cheesecake, purple cake, brownie +++. Canned beers for a slightly average price. Great tea. Perfect hot chocolate.

I would give zero stars if I could. There is a sign instructing customers to wait by/on the stairwell. We were never acknowledged nor told anything. No matter how busy a shop is, I would expect to be told be told something at the very least.

Very good atmosphere, we tried several cakes and they were all excellent, like the breakfasts and the fries!

Ate at the temporary location on Victoria St, which still has J.K. Rowling's desk where she wrote some of the Harry Potter books! Impressive atmosphere

We went because my daughter wanted to try the butterbeer. It was quite disappointing, we went up a staircase where it said to wait to be assigned a table but there was no one, if you didn't look out and look for someone no one would come. The beer seemed expensive, the table was sticky (I saw several comments saying the same thing, take note!) and the bathroom was very dirty, the dirtiest bathroom I was in in Scotland! It's not worth it, I wouldn't go back. If you want to try the beer they have take away downstairs, I recommend that, it's not worth sitting down.

Very bad service. The waitress (girl with brown hair and Italian accent) didn’t allow us to see the place first, before we decide if we want to sit. She directly told us to go to another place. Because of her rude and unprofessional behaviour we actually went to another place and will not recommend anyone to back to the elephant cafe.

Small nice cafe on Victory Street. A must for Harry Potter fans. This is probably where it all started.

A legendary place, the food is quite good. However, the 'boss' who yells at the waitresses in front of customers, our charming waitress who runs crying into the toilets, ruined our moment. This young girl was adorable and professional, we were heartbroken to see her in this state. Management through shouting and nastiness, sorry but for me it's no way and I denounce it!!!!!!!

Is The Elephant House worth visiting? Well the answer is YES. Just because it is the place where JK Rowling created Harry Potter, and that would be reason enough for it to be included in any tourist guide, the place alone gives you moments of tranquility having a tea and chatting with friends. For chronic readers, sit at their tables and dream that one day, right between those walls, a story was born that has proven to be one of the most beautiful and intense in the world of magic for children (and not so children ;-) Keep reading my reviews about Scotland, I hope you like them

Not really Harry Potter themed. Just a small rather crowded Cafe with high prices. The butterbeer is rather expensive and without the Harry Potter feeling it just doesn't work...

Food was terrible, eg no chocolate in hot chocolate - just sweetened milk. Toilets super dirty. But the service is nice and the place is atmospheric. Maybe pass for drinks (wine, tea or something you can’t spoil) but that’s it

Butterbeer 🔥 but the Caesar salad was disappointing: a full plate of grass and a few pieces of chicken. No oil, no balsamic vinegar... Purple corduroy isn't bad, but it's not corduroy either. We had to wait a long time for the order.

ordered a beer and the glass that came with it was very very dirty, had spots and stains all over it. Had to ask for a new glass with less stains...and cleaned it myself. food was average. I asked the Chinese waitress for a glass of water twice and nothing was given. the table was very sticky.

An excellent coffee and a romantic place to spend a pleasant time. Potter sucks it.

Amazing atmosphere! Butterscotch Beer is better then York one

What to say! there is so much about Harry Potter, in addition to the fantastic location I was amazed by my cappuccino, really very made in Italy! I spoke to a girl from the staff, super nice and everyone was very kind

I am a Harry Potter fan. So, I had to go there! JK Rowling wrote the first few Harry potter books from this cafe. They have a desk where she used to sit with some of her pictures. We ordered some Nachos, shortbread, and cappuccino. Everything was delicious and the staff here was very polite. This cafe is close to the royal mile.

The Harry Potter books were written here. Has become a busy attraction.

I recommend it especially if you’re a Harry Potter’s fan.It’s a good experience.the food was delicious , the staff were friendly but the service was too slow even though the café wasn’t crowded.

The store has been closed for several years and now has a new location in the West Bow of Victoria Street

Went here as HP fans. We came early to get a seat. The menu on the website isn’t up to date and they only offered baked potato to my mother who is gluten free which is poor. My sister and I ordered food while my mum just had a coffee. My mum then went to get herself breakfast as she was hungry so she paid the bill whilst my sister and I finished eating. As we left my sister confirmed my mother had paid the bill which the waitress acknowledged. Next thing the waitress shouts at my sister that we haven’t paid and rudely accuses her of trying to leave without paying. My sister explained my mother had paid but perhaps it hadn’t gone through so was prepared to pay again. The waitress was really rude and publicly humiliated my sister repeatedly shouting she was leaving without paying and getting her staff to stand there and say the same. My mother returned and proved she had paid - turns out the waitress had charged the wrong amount. The waitress was extremely rude and not apologetic in the slightest. It was disgusting behaviour. I hope she ashamed of herself and I will be telling everyone to avoid this place. Appalling behaviour and we will be writing to the manager. Edit in response to the owner’s response. The woman stated she had not accused my sister. This is not an apology. She also initially accused my mother of not paying when my mother had evidence on her phone of payment. I stand by the fact that the staff were unkind towards my sister without sufficient cause as we proved with our payments.

A famous café in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, one of the most famous cafés in the Old City. The Harry Potter novel was written in this café.

Their coffee is delicious. I tried the cappuccino 😋

Didn't wait much to be seated upstairs. A quite busy place that's why the service was a little bit slow for someone to come and take our order, yet all staff working there are smiling and welcoming everyone. Their Victoria sponge cake is amazing, so soft and tastes so good. Their teapot was good for 2, if you like to take a small cup then it will be ok to order just one. Their Butterscotch beer is a must try with its whipped cream on top that adds a delicious creamy taste. Overall a nice visit while watching the Victoria street from the window while it was raining outside.

It is a famous place because it is the cafe where most of Harry Potter was written. It is a place to both relax and eat and drink in a pleasant atmosphere.

Very cosy place. Had a drink and a starter. Wasn’t too busy.

The coffee is excellent and the building itself is a fun space to be in. However, the food isn't anything particularly amazing and the service is quite slow. If you are visiting the café, stick to the coffee menu only.