THE Edinburgh cafe known as the “birthplace of Harry Potter” is opening a second site – in China.
The Elephant House Cafe in the Scottish capital – which is where author JK Rowling is said to have penned some of the early Harry Potter books in the 1990s – confirmed its plans to open a site in Suzhou, west of Shanghai.
Edinburgh lord provost Robert Aldridge and Chinese consul general Zhang Biao cut the ribbon on the formal relaunch of the Scottish cafe on Thursday evening, where the expansion plan was announced.
Bosses said the Chinese outlet is being “designed to feel deeply, unmistakably Edinburgh, with plans to showcase the city locations most closely associated with JK Rowling’s writing journey”.
Construction was said to be “in its final stages”.
Elephant House co-owner Andrew McRae said the reopening marked the beginning of a new chapter for the business
“The Elephant House has always been rooted in Edinburgh, but its story has travelled far beyond our city,” he said.
“China has been asking for this for years, and the demand from fans there has been extraordinary.
“Our first franchise will celebrate JK Rowling’s connection to Edinburgh and bring the iconic streets and buildings that shaped her imagination to a whole new audience.”
He added that the attendance of both the lord provost and the Chinese consul general “highlighted the cultural significance of the cafe and the strength of Edinburgh’s creative influence internationally”.
The Edinburgh cafe was forced to close in August 2021 after a fire on George IV Bridge. It reopened to the public in December 2025.
David Taylor, who has owned the site for more than three decades, said it had become “a Mecca for Harry Potter fans”.
He said Rowling was a regular customer in the 1990s, telling the BBC: "I was only introduced to her when her first book was published. We knew her but she wasn't famous at that point.”
