The Elephant House

Eight Elephants is such a fun spot — especially if you're into Harry Potter! The themed decor gives off serious Hogwarts vibes, and it’s perfect for snapping photos or just soaking in the magical atmosphere.

This one at victoria next to the context museum is open. The original one is still being repaired. The shop area here has the pictures and desk with notebook folks can write on and review JK items. As for the butterscotch beer, for those that appreciate it, it’s quite good. The kids had 2 as they were so good. For adults, the Boozy alcohol butterscotch one rocked. Totally enjoyed it. Got some croissants and caesar salad with it. All was good but bill was well over 100 pounds for the 5 of us. Regardless, everyone left satisfied with the food and drinks. Customer service was nice as well! Great place for tourists visiting and experiencing harry potter history and experience. The restrooms also came in very handy for us while walking through the busy victoria streets. Anyways, all in all - A great tourist stop

🪄 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 masterpiece 💫

It is a must see if you are a Harry Potter fan and there is something magical about the venue. However, it was rather expensive and service was long and not like I had experienced in other places in Scotland.

As huge fans of Harry Potter growing up, we were so excited to visit The Elephant House in Edinburgh during our trip in August 2024! Although the original location had burned down, we went to the new location along Victoria St, and the entire experience was truly magical. We had brunch there, and the highlight of our visit was definitely the butter beer! The atmosphere was cozy and filled with charm, and it felt like a true part of the Harry Potter legacy. A must-visit for fans and anyone looking for a unique, dining experience in Edinburgh!

Nice food and drinks. Sadly service is a bit weak. Ordering takes a while, tables are Bit sticky and some tables are for some reason empty but you have to wait long to get a table. Overall quite nice.

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!

Absolutely appalling service from this particular server — avoid him at all costs. I’ve been to Elephant House before and had a wonderful experience, but this time was a complete disaster thanks to this man (in the attached picture). From the start, his behaviour was racist, rude, and blatantly discriminatory. We asked for water while ordering. It never came, even after our food arrived and we waited 30 minutes. When we asked again, he rolled his eyes and begrudgingly gave us one glass despite there being two of us. Every other table had full jugs of water — except ours. When we asked for another glass, he made a face, was openly rude, and slammed it down. The food? Equally disappointing — the bread was so hard it could have chipped a tooth. This wasn’t just bad service; it was an insult. A complete tourist trap and a stain on what could otherwise be a great café. Avoid this server if you value basic respect and decency. (Regarding the owner's quick response to my comment: Just because the servers are from an Asian heritage doesn't mean they couldn't be a racist or a rude person. That's racist to even think anyone except asians are racists. Secondly I have stayed in Edinburgh for several years and I am from here and the other 1 star reviews for your rude behaviour validates my point. Thirdly the bread was hard as a rock regardless if it was freshly baked or not and lastly welcome to 'Our' festival. Have a good day.