The Elephant House — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

We were there about three weeks ago, and only just returned from our vacation in the UK. Out of all the places we visited in Scotland, England, and Ireland, this was the biggest letdown and the rudest waitress experience we have ever had in a café. Being a huge Harry Potter fan, I was eagerly anticipating this visit. However, when we arrived 90 minutes before closing, the waitress who greeted us rudely at the door said, "Sorry, we are full and likely won’t have any space." We asked how long the wait would be, as we didn't mind waiting, but she replied that they wouldn't have any room until closing and told us to leave before walking away.

This seemed odd, so we stood there, confused, for a few minutes. During that time, at least two separate parties of three paid their bills and left. We asked the waitress again if they could accommodate us now, but she still said no, insisting they were very busy.

I then walked over to another waitress, who instantly said, "Sure, let me get the table cleaned up!" After we were seated, multiple people left, and at least five separate parties of three to four people were seated within the next 20 minutes. We were shocked and annoyed that we had been told to leave when they clearly could accommodate so many people after us. We told another waitress about our experience, and she apologized on the rude waitress’s behalf and didn't let us pay for our order. However, the waitress who had been rude and seemingly discriminated against us (I presume it was due to our brown skin) was standing behind her, scrolling on her phone with no remorse or apology. It made our whole experience really crappy and could not enjoy what we came for. For a cafe that makes $$$ cause of the HP fame, it is highly disappointing that they don’t have staff that show any kindness, respect or warmth towards...

🪄 The birthplace of Harry Potter — fyi, i'm huge fan of harry potter and the city that unexpectedly became one of my all-time favorites.

I didn’t know much about Edinburgh before arriving. Honestly, even on the day I landed, I couldn’t quite picture what this city would be like. The reason I came was simple: I’d read that this was where J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter — and that many of Edinburgh’s corners had inspired the magical world and its characters. Plus, the iconic Hogwarts Express-like train runs nearby through the Highlands. So, naturally, the very first place I visited was The Elephant House Café.

☕ At the entrance, a sign reads “Birthplace of Harry Potter,” and inside, photos of J.K. Rowling are proudly displayed. She used to sit here every day, writing Harry Potter while gazing out at the beauty of Edinburgh — all during her most difficult years.

I got there early in the morning and was lucky enough to enjoy the cozy, quiet vibe before it filled with tourists. I ordered a café latte — honestly, not the best coffee I’ve had in the UK, but who cares? I didn’t come here for the coffee 😅 Also, I ordered a large, and it came in a literal bowl. Be prepared!

📝 The restroom walls are covered with messages from Harry Potter fans around the world. There’s everything from magical spells, quotes, fan messages, even letters to J.K. Rowling. Two that stayed with me: “You taught me how to read, love and believe” and “Thank you, JK, always.” Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Even if you’re not a big fan of harrypotter, Edinburgh is simply incredible. Thank you, J.K. Rowling, for gifting us such a...

Sadly it seems like the management has taken to relying on the Harry Potter fan base to sustain them. The actual dining experience here is not enjoyable.

The food is a woefully overpriced version of what you would find in a university dormitory. The salmon wrap is literally a tortilla with cream cheese and a slick of salmon – that's it. The chutney-apple-cheese ciabatta tasted good enough, but there was hardly anything to it at all. I asked for malt vinegar for our chips but received a oily, sticky bottle of balsamic vinegar in a filthy holder.

I suggest you avoid what I'm dubbing the Awfulgatto (Affogato), as the espresso was clearly allowed to sit for a considerable amount of time before being served. It was bitter and flavorless, even with the ice cream.

The staff seemed to care about doing their jobs, but they clearly need more training and the management needs more systems in place to help them succeed. While it's understandable that in a European university town there would be some linguistic difficulties among the staff, the language barrier meant we still had to rework the check several times just to make sure everyone was paying for what they actually ordered.

The atmosphere is the best thing going for this place. It is well-decorated with lots to look at and enjoy. The fact that the Harry Potter novels were born there is a great draw for literary folks. But this can't be the best foot forward.

If you're hungry or looking for a great meal, I strongly suggest you avoid this place until their troubles...