The Elephant House has been on my list of places to visit for a long time. J.K. Rowling famously wrote parts of the Harry Potter series while sitting in this quaint little cafe near Edinburgh’s cemetery, Greyfriars Kirkyard. Scottish authors Ian Rankin and Alexander McCall Smith have also spent time writing in The Elephant House. Over the years it has become a destination for both authors and Harry Potter fans alike.
I visited as the latter, hoping to become the former. On our first visit I took in the views of the cafe, explored the shrine to J.K. Rowling, and spent a long time going over the menu. On our second visit, John and I had breakfast while overlooking the graveyard and Edinburgh Castle. John read through the real estate section of the paper to find our dream home (if only Brexit wasn’t making a move even more challenging), while I started officially writing my first novel. I’ve had the plans outlined for quite a bit but I wanted that first page to be written somewhere magical.
It’s easy to see why so many writers have camped out at The Elephant House hoping to pen the next New York Times Bestseller. The food is great, the tea is wonderful, it’s quiet and cozy, and the views are picturesque. If I lived in Edinburgh, this would definitely be my go to neighborhood cafe.
