Babelon Cafe

Reviews

• Grahame G.

  star star star star_border star_border 2 June 2026

  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.

• R. F.

  star star star star_border star_border 25 May 2026

  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.

• Owen C.

  star star star star star_border 20 May 2026

  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.

• David G.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 14 May 2026

  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.

• Eleanor M.

  star star star star star 7 May 2026

  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.