As a student at the University of Edinburgh, I really appreciate Olly Bongo's. It's very convenient for those frequently in the area of campus, the portions are sizable, especially for the price, and the set up makes it a good place to meet people. It's also quite an interesting menu, some unusual combinations of things. I usually just use the university wi-fi, but I think they have their own. I think there is like a £5 credit card minimum. read more

Olly Bongo's - Full English - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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I love Olly Bongo's. This inconspicuous little cafe on the corner of Teviot Place is one of the city's fun and quirky places to sit down, have a chat and enjoy a great plate of food. You'd walk right past it and write it off as it doesn't look like much from the outside, but if you step through the doors it's likely you'll get a different impression entirely. The cafe is decorated in a Turkish/middle eastern theme and I always opt for their dishes from the region. Mezze plate for the win! (See my photo as evidence backing up that excited statement.) The food is really tasty, portioned generously and served with a smile. Haven't gotten around to the cakes yet. Another excuse to visit some time soon! BTW, they also do student discount so remember to flash the matriculation card to get 10% off. read more

Olly Bongo's - Small meze plate for £6.50. Yum. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The newest of the two Olly Bongo's branches in Edinburgh, this cosy café is a great spot for eating out whilst still eating food that tastes home-cooked. There are always three different soups on every day - two of which are veggie - but the lentil and bacon never fails. I have eaten here several times, both for breakfast and for lunch, and i would struggle to say which one is better as both are consistently tasty and good value for money. For breakfast, for those with larger appetites i'd recommend the Breakfast Bagel (£5.95) which comes stacked high with crispy bacon, beans and a fried egg; or for those wanting a slightly healthier start to the day then the Light Bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese, or the generous portion of granola with fresh fruit and yogurt is definitely worth trying. Despite it's location right next to the University campus, this café is popular with students and non-students alike, and its easy to see why. Don't miss... the Multi-Vit Smoothie (£2.95) with kiwi, strawberry, banana and pineapple; extremely effective for curing flu and hangovers alike! read more

Olly Bongo's - photo courtesy of www.ollybongos.com - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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This is a lovely little cafe that is very traditional. As Fiona said, it is very traditional and has a strong sense of home-cooking about it. Their bagels are to die for. There's no other way to put it. They are amazing, but their prices aren't. Yeah it's probably one of the best bagels I've ever had, but also one of the most expensive. Their smoothies too are really good, this is probably what I buy most from here. They have a variety to choose from, and if you tell the people behind the counter what you need - i.e. either energy boost or something to lift you up, they will provide. read more

Olly Bongo's - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Popped into what used to be Blunt a couple of weeks ago for a cuppa and a bite to eat in the evening. Service was considerate & swift and pot of tea for two was a very good size. The potato wedges were well cooked and served with more than one dip so that was a pleasant touch. The tuna salad was well presented and filling so all in all a decent dining experience that didn't cost the earth. read more

Olly Bongo's - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Had awesome breakfast here! This cafe was selected on the morning of. And we were glad we found this place :) We were the first customer so it was quiet. The owner of the store was very nice. It's a cute little local shop. The food was cooked to order so they were piping hot when we received them. The food was delicious! I has the Turkish sausage with eggs and hubby had the full English. Definitely recommend. read more

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Excellent food, excellent service, great prices. Family owned restaurant to hang out. Had great coffee and suck!

Stuck for somewhere to eat in that breakfast/brunch/lunch post drinking stupor now that Freemans has closed. I remembered that we had been wanting to try the food at Olly Bongos for far too long. Quick check of the menu before entering and we opted for a sharing meze plate. We were greeted by a friendly waiter on arrival, who gave us a choice of seats even though the place was quite busy. I always like getting the option rather than being told where to sit, so thumbs up from the start. We ordered there and then, mainly due to the hunger that only a hangover gives you. Looking around the decor was nice - mediterranean feel and posters advertising music nights. This looks good so far. The coffee appeared and it was rather good, not brilliant but better than most. The food was with us quite quickly and we had a Smörgåsbord board of amazing treats. The tzatziki and roasted aubergine dishes were excellent. There was so much we couldn't finish. for the price this is a bargain. It's always a good sign when you leave somewhere and you are think why haven't I eaten here before. It's in my 'hood, the food caters for both of us and service is great. I will be back many times over. read more

Hungry and tired buskers need food and fast! So after a stint of busking in the midst of the Fringe, we headed to the nearest food joint which happened to be Olly Bongo's! With no expectations but just hungry bellies, we ventured inside. The exterior is quaint and homely and we were met by lovely aromas and friendly, welcoming staff. We went for chilli nachos to share and thought it would be something that would just do the job. - Something moderately priced, share-able and that would keep us busking in to the night. We were given a generous portion of nachos with humous, guacamole, creme fraiche, salsa and chilli. It was full of flavour and certainly hit the spot! If in need of food when in the area, I'll be back! read more

This is a great, cozy place to pop in for a hearty, filling breakfast or lunch. The Turkish influence is evident in the decor - colorful wall hangings and squashy throw pillows abound - and subtly influences the menu, while its proximity to the university ensures that prices are low and value is excellent. If the weather's decent, the big front windows will be thrown open - we weathered the beginning of Hurricane Katia in one of the window seats, fortifying ourselves with the full breakfast and hot, strong coffee. And a great option for hangover breakfast, if you're so inclined... read more

I went to Olly Bongo's to use a voucher for a turkish dinner for 2. Started off with a shared meze platter, which was delicious. It came with houmous, cous cous, stuffed vine leaves, olives and roasted vegetables plus some toasted pitta bread. It was all good, great flavours and the plate was finished quickly. For main course I chose a mixed kebab (chicken and lamb). What was offered was about 3 pieces of chicken and 2 small minced lamb patties. Again, it was all very flavourful - but I cannot help but wonder if this was a 'voucher portion'. The price you would pay for this dish is £8.90 and I think you can get a bit more for your money's worth elsewhere (quantity wise). The wine (merlot) that we drank with this meal was very nice and we asked for more wine.. large glass. Now the drinks seem more reasonable. Large glass of red for £3.50. The meal was finished with a turkish coffee, which was nice but nothing exceptional. However, I think I would come here again, maybe for a lunch time snack as the food is tasty. read more

One of the last days of this voucher, so we booked a visit and were able to sit in the opened window when arrived. I like this outside-but-inside tent like feeling they've created. A nice selection of scatter cushions and enough space between tables. The menu was supplied and we were advised what we could order. A sharing mezze starter with a pitta bread each was very tasty and I like the fresh yoghurt sauce. However main course my chicken shish-kebab surprised me as it was smaller than I expected it to be. It wasn't shish-kebabed - it was 6 loose pieces of (very tasty and moist) chicken and some Pitta bread. I felt more like a tiny taster / starter portion than an actual main course. The 'included' wine was supplied in small sampling glasses - you know those that fit 2 bowls of icecream and that is it. But when asked for medium size of the same whine we got some proper sized glasses. - was it because we actually paid proper prices for that instead of a groupon voucher? Service was attentive and efficient enough seeing how busy it was and the waitress was by herself. - Although bringing out a main BEFORE you clear the starters is in every restaurant a 'no, no'. We got a nice Turkish coffee afterwards. In all it was not bad, nice enough but nothing special. read more

Spent an hour or so there this afternoon reading a book after a day out in the cold air and sunshine. It was incredibly comfortable and the guy serving me was great, friendly and quick. Comfy seats and warm atmosphere only spoilt every so often by some guy outside testing the bass in his car!! The Coffee blend was good but not quite to my taste. Flat white was not really a flat white, more a latte with less milk, but the cappuccino was very drinkable. However the coffee was hot, well priced and hit the spot so I shouldn't complain! I also got a slice of cheese cake which was good but not amazing - it was a bit chewy which was a little odd however not unpleasant! Anyway a good place to spend a few hours chilling out or hanging out with friends and I will definitely be going back to try the food which looked great. read more

This was previously Glen Has Cafe and when it closed I was gutted! Fortunately it reincarnated with the same menu , same friendly staff, just different decor and so it remains one of my favourite cafes. This is partly to do with the proximity to Edinburgh University and my flat but mainly to do with the friendly staff, great coffee and even better bacon butties! On the few days that weather is nice here in the grim North the windows are thrown open and you can sit in the window on cushions and feel like you are sitting outside. When it's cold (which is more likely) they have cosy sofas to snuggle on with a bowl of soup or cup of coffee. Other than staple breakfast and lunch items (paninis, soup, full English/Scottish breakfasts) they also do some really tasty mezze platters that are great for sharing. read more

The Glenhas has a special place in my heart as it was where an award wining comedian bought me a hot chocolate for my birthday at 2am. Ideal for late night cakes and coffees during the festival; the Glenhas Bistro is much more of a continental café than a bistro. Sandwiches and the like are quite expensive for what they are but a lovely place to sit in the big windows and watch Edinburgh burble along with a big cup of tea warming your hands. read more

I've been coming her quite frequently for coffee and to do work between classes (I'm a student at U of E) and I love it! The decorations are really fun and the coffee is excellent. The service is always very fast and courteous as well. The place has never been to crowded when I've gone (surprisingly) so it's been a great place to get stuff done. Update: I was really craving a bagel so I stopped here and ordered the House Bagel. It's your basic egg, bacon, cheese bagel but it really hit the spot. It was perfectly made with the egg just a tad runny in the center. Now I can attest to both the food and the coffee! read more

Olly's is a stylishly-finished Greek cafe, very friendly and central. I've been here a good few times to meet friends for lunch and I really enjoy it. It tends to fill up each day by 1:30 so always good to stay just ahead of that rush. For some reason, they overcrowd their menu with greasy-spoon Brit dishes but as long as you stick to the Greek options you can forgive them. The mezze platter is fantastic, and pork or chicken kabab is just the right amount for lunch. They do excellent Turkish coffee to finish. I feel strangely stimulated to keep going back. Hmmm? read more

I have gone there previously and always had great food. However today while I was taking a bite to some chicken kebab I felt the consistency weird. I cut open another of the pieces and found it raw in the middle. I went to the counter and showed it to the chef which replied annoyed that it was cooked. The cashier lady was clearly ashamed but didn't say much. They took 10% off from the bill which is something but they should not have charged for the dish at all. Stay away unless you are not afraid of salmonella. read more

I love this place! The atmosphere is unique for the area with an excellent, economical menu and great service.

I come to study here a lot, and it is excellent. The food is delicious, the service is great, and the restaurant itself is very cute. My normal meal is the British Breakfast with a pot of tea, and it always hits the spot. I have also had their soup which is great. My friend has tried the salads and loved them. The service is quick and courteous. One of my favorite places around here. read more

I was on a businss trip to Scotland and found this place. Terrific sandwiches, pretty good hot chocolate, and free internet vs the expensive conference center across the street. Wish I had tried more of the other great things on the menu, but they are only open until 5 PM. read more

Nice wee cafe this. It's just a shame it took them more than 20 minutes to make two paninis. Eve. Then they only arrived after prompting. The three points are for the good cup of coffee, tasty hommus and pleasant surroundings. Don't think I'll be returning if I'm ever in a hurry though. read more

Probably the finest late night alternative to a messy boozeup. Nab a comfy couch or curl up on the cushioned window seat, order that slice of chocolate cake heaven and kick back over your beverage of choice. Then there is of course always the option of throwing a shot of whisky/baileys into the mix. Hmmmmmm. read more

I'm currently sitting in Ollys after trying it for the first time. It a stylish Greek cafe serving a weird mixture of Greek and British food. I popped in for a late breakfast. I had scrambled egg on toast which was very rubbery but the bread was lovely. Others were having Greek food which looked miles better than mine. The smoothies are fab and I recommend the 'go coconut' one. Olly's isn't cheap but it's cute and useful for students as it's right next to the Edinburgh uni campus. Might come again but more likely to try other cafes in the area due to price. read more

Have the homemade tomato soup! Nicest I've ever had (sorry mum) Coffee's good too, good music/atmosphere.. A li'l pricey but after I had my soup I didn't care read more

Went in for a look late morning with a view to going back for dinner after we had been to a show at the Fringe. Got two teas two scones got the bill. £10.20. I queried the amount and was told "it's the festival" What a rip off. Neadless to say we went elsewhere for dinner read more

Very disappointing. As a previous reviewer remarked..... the chicken wasn't as described and the salad looked as if it had been thrown on as an afterthought. The staff looked bored and a couple of them in what may've been the kitchen area spent time on their mobiles or eating; there just seemed to be an air of indifference & boredom. I was also very unimpressed with what appeared to be quite unnecessary comments and asides made by the staff about a couple of the customers, one of whom had a genuine complaint. I wasn't convinced that all of the food had been freshly cooked and I'd be very surprised if any of the desserts had been made by the restaurant. We just felt that they were taking the piss....all very unprofessional. No chance of us returning or recommending. read more

There's a new cafe that took over Glenhas. I dont know if it's under the same management,I hope so since I really enjoyed the food and drinks at Glenhas read more

Extremely disappointing. I don't understand why this place is so popular as I have never had a good meal here. My parents like to meet here for convenience; it's in a central location for university and the cafe itself is quite a nice place. The food really lets it down though - green (!) minestrone soup containing rotten broccoli and tagliatelle, tomato soup that tasted exactly the same as the (bitter, overpowering) salsa on the nachos, just diluted and dry and tasteless scones. I don't think the chefs can taste their own dishes!! read more

I had an awful experience in this cramped cafe, the service was rude and obnoxious. I was eating alone, sat at a table for two while behind me sat a family, the children pushing into my chair. Then the waitress kept pushing into me as she was attending to them. A table at the front became available so I moved there to finish off the rest of my coffee. Another family arrived, and as the table where I was sitting had extra seats (it was still a small space) the waiter insisted I move. I explained why I had moved in the first place and that I was near leaving anyway and he just insisted I get up there and then and go. I totally understand the logistics, but there are ways of handling such a situation. In America, where they know about customer service, that waiter would have offered not to charge for my coffee. In fact, he would not have asked me to move. I had the whole of the cafe looking at me and I do think that it's because I was a lone female that he felt he could embarrass me in this way. Also, coffee not great and apple pie overpriced. read more