The Babylon (he's finally corrected the typo on the sign!) is the very archetype of the greasy spoon cafe, and is an absolute lifesaver when you have an early start at the Festival Theatre and are desperate for a good breakfast to see you through the morning. Don't expect any fancy eggs Florentine or cappuccinos here, it's an unpretentious basic fry-up and mug of tea job. Think more transport cafe, less Starbucks. The veggie breakfast is the cheapest you'll find anywhere at £4.50; and for that you get 2 eggs, tattie scone, one (count 'em) mushroom, one veggie sausage, a hash brown, beans and... chips? For breakfast? plus toast and a mug of coffee. Well, you certainly can't complain about quantity or value for money. This baby will keep you going right through to dinner time and doesn't put too much of a dent in your pocket unlike most other places in town. Contrary to what you would expect, the food is actually less greasy than a more popular establishment across the street. Get in early (they open at 08.15) before it gets too crowded. read more

A proper greasy spoon. I was looking for a bacon flavoured hangover cure and I got one. And a proper builders mug of tea. Cheap as chips as well. read more

Being quite oblivious to most things I didn't notice the school boy spelling error that Marj mentions in her review but that is pretty funny. Although the spelling may not be up to scratch and the place could do with a bit of a make-over and a lick of paint wouldn't go amiss but that's kind of what I like about it. I guess one word to sum up Babelon Cafe is honest. Not trying to be something it's not, not trying to attract a certain crowd, it's just there to offer top notch breakfast and lunchtime rolls and personally, I think it's pretty darn good. The breakfast rolls are great and I was in dire need of a sarnie one morning and just happened to stumble across old Babelon and boy was I glad I did. The bacon roll I opted for was as good as any greasy spoon cafe I've visited and it was exactly what I was after in my food moment in need. Don't expect too much, but if you're just looking for a quick bite to eat and a juice box, Babelon is perfect. read more

Babelon Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Babelon Cafe didn't exactly have me from hello. A big bugbear of mine is poor spelling - not that I'm the patron saint of great grammar, or anything - but at the very least I would expect a cafe to be able to spell its own name correctly, or at least consistently! Babylon (or Babelon as she is known at the weekends) has two signs out from with different spellings on them! Unless they breeched some bizarre copyright rule, I think this is just a comedy of error. It's an absolute fail in sign making and its carelessness is a bit too Carry On for real life! But if you can look beyond Babylon's poorly executed signage fail and shabby interior, it's actually nae bad. It's greasier than your gran's cake tin but it doesn't pretend to be anything else. Its heavily wood panelled interior makes it look like you're in 1985 when you enter, but it's cosy and strangely comforting. I opted for a a very greasy breakfast and I've got to admit, I'm with Gavin and wouldn't brave the healthier options. But there is a family heartiness to this place which is evident in the healthy amount of custom it gets. And even though it's stuck in its own 80s timewarp, the prices are 20 years cheaper than most places in Edinburgh, too. read more

Babelon Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The owner of Babelon Cafe messed up big time with the sign, but we could all forgive this if the food and service inside were great. It's not. I only came here once and it was about two months ago after an exam with some friends. Inside if feels quite nice with a friendly atmosphere. Unfortunately, the service isn't the best as I ordered a cheese and ham panini and it seemed to take forever to arrive. It was barely busy which made it even more frustrating. When it finally arrived it tasted fine and the service was friendly enough, although slow. I doubt I'll be coming back here, but it seems busy during the week so you may think differently. read more

Babelon Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

It is difficult not to notice that the sign above this cafe reads 'Babelon', and it could be easy to accept that this is what the owners intended the shop to be called, but then you notice the smaller sign in the window calling it 'Babylon' cafe and it seems pretty clear that the owner's don't know how to spell Babylon. Despite these shortcomings, the prices in this cafe would be difficult to beat with a take away roll costing just one pound - a complete bargain in Edinburgh. Babelon Cafe serves the typical cafe food such as cooked breakfasts, sandwiches, hot and cold rolls and baked potato's as well as tea and coffee. The menu is varied and so there is something on it to suit everyone and the prices are excellent. I had a baked potato with tuna for my lunch which was tasty, but nothing special, but it was very cheap so I would definitely go back. There are a few tables and chairs inside, but it can get very cramped in the cafe, especially during the lunch time rush, so most customers opt to take their food away. The outside of the shop is very inviting, with the surroundings painted a bright green, but I find the contradictory spellings of babylon quite off putting. read more

Babelon Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Wow I was amazed it was much better than I expected. I don't normally review things but this had to be an exception. I'll start of by saying that this place is stupidly cheap for the quality of its food!! £4 for a large breakfast and you get a cup of coffee or tea for free with it absolutely amazing some times i feel these prices are too cheap for the owner to be making profit! I have been in babylon 4-5 times in the past 2 months and I have never been let down once the speed they bring the food at Is insane I really don't know how they do it. They're is usually only 2 people working at once. Babylon cafe is really the experience every time I come in i drool at the Scottish breakfast they make! And yes they finally fixed they sign now it reads "babylon cafe sit in or takeaway" If you're having an off day or just want to experience it for yourself come right in and bring your friends with you! read more

Babelon Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

As long as you know what to order, contrary to the barrage of abuse below there is absolutely nothing wrong with this grubby little greasy spoon. In fact there is pretty much everything right with it, apart from the poor spelling. Like a proper greasy spoon should be, Babelon looks unhealthy, smells unhealthy and tastes unhealthy, but that's the whole point. I had a full breakfast, piled high with sausage egg, black pudding, bacon, hash brown, toast and potato scone. It was around a hundred times nicer than the shite they charge £6.95 for up the Royal Mile, very well cooked and not actually overly greasy at all. It was easily worth double the £4.35 it cost. I probably wouldn't risk a sandwich or a baked potato, but for a health-sapping fry up, it's perfect. read more

I think everyone who judges this place on looks can suck an egg, My girlfriend and I eat here most weekends and the food never disappoints, sure the sign says babelon but you get the jist, all in all foods good, it's cheap and the breakfast is excellent Highly recommended read more

From the outside this looks like a pretty decent cafe, but as soon as you walk in you want to walk right back out. Its dingy and in need of an extreme makeover! I was disappointed by the food too and the staff seemed just as miserable as the decor! read more

Upon approaching Babelon Cafe, I spotted something that frankly made me decide there and then how this review was going to go. Babelon Cafe cannot spell its own name correctly - yes, thats right, the two signs outside the cafe read 'Babylon Cafe' and 'Babelon Cafe'. Im going to go with Babelon because thats the biggest sign. Anyway, once inside I really wasnt impressed - in fact I was a bit nausious. I know that greasy spoon cafe's are supposed to smell like fried food, but Babelon is over poweringly so, and its really off putting. I soon found out why though, I ordered a sandwich and chips and it was covered in oily greasy stuff and tasted of fat. I didnt finish it, nor will I be coming back to Babelon (or is it Babylon?). read more

Babelon Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

It doesn't look like much from the outset, but if you know what you want and how you want it then it's fine. Prices aren't too bad, and the food is ok, nothing special but alright. There are some good places around here that are better than Babelon, but if you're in a rush then it's good! read more

Poor choice for lunch. So many great options around here, but this isn't one. What style of cooking is "open can and dump here"?? Had a Tuna salad hoping for a nice light lunch. They opened a can of Tuna, brine and all, dumped it on a plate. Added a few pieces of iceberg lettuce, slices of tomato and some French fries. Everything was sitting in the canned tuna juice. My family was equally let down on their choices too. read more

Don't expect fancy. It is not fancy. It is not hip, not even a little. There is no pretense here. But I have returned more than once. The place reminds me of a diner that my dad used to take me to in our downtown (small town New England). The kind of place that the same blue collar folks have been going to for years. The kind of place where, as a child it is extremely frightening to go down the steep dark stairs into the basement, where you make your way into an even darker corner and have to fumble for the light switch outside the WC, but somehow the light doesn't make it any less creepy. I have a soft spot in my heart for this kind of place. It is basically a one man show. Sometimes he has a young woman employee who serves, but if you go early when he first opens, he is cooking, pouring tea, serving, busing. I find it charming. Maybe that is the nostalgia talking, but the food is exactly what you would expect. Diner breakfast, cooked to order. Standard full breakfast is standard quality and flavour. Quality is good for a diner breakfast. If you want a full Scottish breakfast and a cuppa with no frills, this is your place. Bring your newspaper along to make it the perfect scene. read more

Great team with old values very freindy.ive visited from my teenage years and am now 40 lol worth a visit to all