The Beach House
- Telephone 0131 657 2636
- Food served Mon–Fri 9am–5pm; Sat/Sun 9am–5.30pm. [Drinks and cakes only after 3.30pm Mon–Fri or 4pm Sat/Sun]
- Average price £7.95 (set lunch)
- Website www.thebeachhousecafe.co.uk
Jump to articles or comments (7)
The 2013 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
This review is taken from the current (2013) edition.
Any Edinburgher knows the weather down Portobello beach can be changeable, but it’s always summer in this charming, family-run beachfront café which blends the simplicity of an old-fashioned seaside greasy spoon with a strong emphasis on quality and freshness. Set in a bright corner unit right on the promenade, with outdoor tables and chairs mere feet from the sand, the popularity of the Beach House with families of all ages is such that you turn up and take a chance on getting a seat. It’s worth it though: sandwiches and a signature ploughman’s lunch are served up with fresh artisan bread (the seaweed sourdough paired with tuna mayonnaise is particularly recommended), and there are some perfectly traditional seaside sweet treats including sundaes, banana splits and ice-cream milkshakes.
- High point: The beachfront location is unique for Edinburgh
- Low point: Take your chances getting a table in summer
- Provides: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Outdoor tables
- Capacity: 32
- Open since: 2008
Reviews & features
The rough guide to Portobello, Edinburgh's seaside
24 Mar 2011
Neighbourhood Watch: The best bits by the beach
What’s it like? An utterly charming, slightly wonky area of Edinburgh, characterised by the city’s only beach and a very distinct, anti-corporate local community ethos. Formerly the holiday destination of most Central Belters, a lack of investment in…
Comments & ratings
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7.
elbowging – 30 Dec 2012, 2:57am
The Beach House
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Lovely little cafe!! I was here with some friends in the spring 2011 (ages ago, I know) after an afternoon of playing on the beach.
I just wanted to post to say the staff here are awesome - so friendly and helpful and really cheerful. I asked about what type of flower was on their tables, and the lovely girl behind the counter was not sure, and even offered to find out for me! I left her contact details and she did just that :) Bit of a random thing, but it was so nice of her to go out of her way.If you are down Portobello way, I highly recommend popping into the Beach House for a treat or two.
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6.
foodiegal – 24 Aug 2011, 10:36pm
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Been here quite a few times as I live locally. The problem with this place is it doesn't have enough competition. The beach house is a lovely place to sit and enjoy a coffee and cake... The biggest let down is the service. I'm always surprised how long it can take to get served considering they never look under-staffed. last time I was there with a friend we were treated as an inconvenience because we had buggies and we had to clear our own table of dirty cups and plates... Staff need more training in customer service and take-away could be better organised...
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5.
Ian B – 18 Jan 2011, 4:00pm
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I just had a lovely bowl of soup in the Beach House and didn’t think it OTT at all. Nice surroundings, good ambience and quality tea were well worth it - it‘s nice to rise above a Greggs steak bake and a juice for lunch now and again.
It was a treat for us on a fairly mild day in the winter and turned a dull day into a much better one. Great cakes too (OMG!). And the situation is great - looking out at the sea from a cosy café is my idea of heaven. Place was near full but not busting at the seams (have had to wait before now) and the service was plenty good and attentive. Quality venue and well child friendly.
(Pssst! Loos especially posh and clean ;-D nice!).
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4.
Suzy G – 18 Dec 2010, 2:16am
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Over-priced, poor service and false claims.
I have been reading comments about this place and decided to visit since I moved to Portobello very recently.
The building is very new and at a busy corner of residential area. I went inside to take a seat on a Saturday afternoon after I had done some shopping. It is surprisingly small and only has 5-6 tables although it looked far larger from the outside, I found out why when I left, half the building is actually flats built within the building itself.
When I got in, it was very quiet, and I understood why. Having been told to just take a seat anywhere, as there was only 2 other customers, I picked up the menu and was staggered at the prices for what little choice they offered.
A cup of coffee for £3.00 and thier cakes were almost the same price! I gave them a try since they did look appealing and it did say they were homemade... both average to be honest but not exactly a deli or patisserie so what can I expect? The service was slow even though they were very quiet and the staff just kept chatting to each other. I guess when its over-priced and with little to offer, staff have nothing else to do.
Luckily, the music helped pass the time away. I sat for just over an hour and it seemed as if they either wanted me to leave or buy another drink as they asked me four times within the hour I was inside. I decided to leave and make way for home to cook dinner.
Walking up Bath Street, I saw a small delivery van with its driver walking into the delivery entrance for the cafe... surprisingly, it was a cake company, Italian name on the side, so their claims of "home-made" is just rubbish and extremely deceiving, both to the local community AND all thier reviews.
Honestly, if you want to do business, be up front, especially when it comes to the customer, lower your prices, you're not Starbucks, and get some proper staff.
- 3. Shocked – 16 Oct 2010, 11:37am Report
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Very poor, rude, flustered service.
On a busy Saturday morning I came into the Beach House and ordered a coffee and an ice cream for my 3 year old. Not wanting to sit in (it was a lovely day outside and there were no free tables in any case) we patiently waited for 10 minutes at which point I politley enquired as to the status of my coffee. I was told to be patient, that oter pople were eing served first. I suggested that if the wait was going to be that long for a take out I might have bee told that prior to ordering.
I WAS THEN TOLDTHAT IF I DIDN'T LIKE IT I COULD HAVE MY MONEY BACK AND LEAVE.
So I did. Feeling like a naughty child and very very unhappy.
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2.
CraigG – 10 Apr 2010, 3:21pm
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Over £19 for 3 simple sandwiches and 3 soft drinks to take out. Didnt find the staff helpful or accommodating maybe it was just a bad day..1 Star Rating as at least the bread was nice..
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1.
dress up doll – 7 Apr 2010, 9:46pm
The Beach House
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This is a lovely place to eat, relaxed and friendly and overlooking the sea. It is worth going for a stroll along the prom at Porty just to pop in here for a spot of lunch or tea and cake. The cakes are all home made and amazing. The staff are really helpful and accomodating. If it opened into the evening I would advocate a trip after work and then on to the Espy for a drink. It gives Portobello more of a village feel and makes me wish I lived there so that I could go in more often and make it my local.
Average rating /5 from 6 reviews of The Beach House.
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