Quick info
About Sir Walter's Cafe in the Gardens
Sir Walter's Cafe in the Gardens is an outdoor cafe kiosk in Edinburgh, listed at Kiosk 4c, with seating set around it among greenery and flowers and wide views across the city. The kitchen keeps to Scottish lunches and teas, and orders run from waffles, often with fresh fruit, to crepes turned out at the kiosk with toppings such as banana and chocolate. Fish and chips sit on the menu alongside hot chocolate and coffee. Everything is cooked to order, so a short wait comes with it. There are no bookings here, so you order at the counter and take a table outside, which makes it a spot for eating in the open air. Dogs are welcome. It opens daily, and summer brings the busiest stretches, though a seat can usually be found. Music plays at the kiosk while you wait.
Good to know
- AccessibilityWheelchair: seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids
Menu & Prices
17 dishes- Cheese
- Onions
- Tea
- Decaf Tea
- Herbal Tea
- Espresso / Macchiato
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention waffles, coffee, crepes and hot chocolate.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention waffles, coffee, crepes and hot chocolate.
Customer Review Summary
The caveats carry real weight. Several reviewers describe rude service, including one who says the crepe maker answered "that's a lot" when collecting an order, and another who says a request for extra chocolate on a banana crepe drew a remark about being more polite. Food draws mixed verdicts: one calls the crepes poorly made, and another finds a plain waffle overpriced and full of lumps of sugar. One reviewer found hot dogs sold out one day and the fryer off the next, so no chips were served.
Customer Review Summary
The caveats carry real weight. Several reviewers describe rude service, including one who says the crepe maker answered "that's a lot" when collecting an order, and another who says a request for extra chocolate on a banana crepe drew a remark about being more polite. Food draws mixed verdicts: one calls the crepes poorly made, and another finds a plain waffle overpriced and full of lumps of sugar. One reviewer found hot dogs sold out one day and the fryer off the next, so no chips were served.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“Great coffee, friendly staff, amazing atmosphere, a place to stop by! The flowers are stunning! 🤩🌺”
- Google user
“Beautiful views, greenery and flowers all around the kiosk, lovely atmosphere whatever the weather, sunny or foggy. Friendly and welcoming staff! Very tasty coffee and food, made with good quality produce. Such a peaceful little spot in the middle of the city! 🌸☕️”
- Google user
“Great food horrible service. The person making the crepes had a serious attitude issue. When I went to get my order he said that's a lot. I asked him what do you mean. Absolutely rude and disrespectful. If you are looking for respectful service this is not the place. That same person was disrespectful to my entire family.”
- Google user
“Great location with lovely views of Princes Street Gardens, but the food was disappointing. The crepes were honestly a joke — poorly made, not worth the price, and not what you expect from a place serving a simple classic like a crepe. The setting does a lot of the heavy lifting here. Coffee and the view may be fine for a quick stop, but I wouldn’t come back for the food.”
- Google user
“Extremely rude staff, totally explains the low google rating. And when he found out I’m going to leave a bad review, he had some wonderful hospitality on display 😁”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Scottish lunches and teas in old-fashioned style in souvenir shop tearoom, with striking city views.”
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Takeout
- Dine-in
- Good for kids
Show more amenities
- Cozy
- Onsite services
- Coffee
- Quick bite
- Dessert
- Solo dining
- Dining options· 4
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Seating
- Highlights· 1
- Great tea selection
- Crowd· 1
- Tourists
- Atmosphere· 1
- Casual
Location
Cafes near Sir Walter's Cafe in the Gardens
- Coffee 'N' More4.26480.2 miOutdoor seatingVegetarian optionsVegan options
whiskey hot chocolate, chai latte, latte
- Southern Cross Cafe4.52,4580.3 mi£10–20Outdoor seatingVegetarian optionsVegan options
full scottish breakfast, cappuccino, homemade cakes
- Pirlous4.56310.3 miOutdoor seatingVegetarian optionsDelivery
biscoff bun, persian latte, breakfast burrito
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir Walter's Cafe in the GardensOutdoor seating | 3.9406 | — | £1–10 | waffles, coffee, crepes |
| Coffee 'N' MoreOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Vegan options | 4.2648 | 0.2 mi | — | whiskey hot chocolate, chai latte, latte |
| Southern Cross CafeOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Vegan options | 4.52,458 | 0.3 mi | £10–20 | full scottish breakfast, cappuccino, homemade cakes |
| PirlousOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Delivery | 4.5631 | 0.3 mi | — | biscoff bun, persian latte, breakfast burrito |
The 3 nearest cafes by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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