I have been to Edinburgh many times, and have always heard good things about The Witchery (apparently it's where all the celebs eat when they're up there).
In January, I was taken to The Witchery as a birthday treat, in a very out-of-character fit of romance by my grumpy yorkshire boyfriend!
Atmosphere
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Located in an historic sixteenth century building at the gates of Edinburgh Castle James ... more
Thomson's Witchery is the most atmospheric and spectacular dining destination in the city A unique location stunning interiors and superlative food wine and service create memorable and magical dining experiences for locals visitors and celebrities alike Ewan MacGregor Michael Douglas Catherine Zeta Jones Jack Nicholson and Clarissa Dickson Wright have all succumbed to its charms with Andrew Lloyd Webber calling it the prettiest restaurant ever! Originally built for an Edinburgh merchant in 1595 this historic building on the Royal Mile now includes the jewel like Witchery diningroom the spectacular Secret Garden and a collection of totally indulgent and opulent suites
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
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Advantages: Beautiful restaurant, magical atmosphere, very extensive wine list. Disadvantages: Overly chatty waitress, pricey, food not amazing
...always heard good things about The Witchery (apparently it's where all the celebs eat when they're up there).
In January, I was taken to The Witchery as a birthday treat, in a very out-of-character fit of romance by my grumpy yorkshire boyfriend!
Atmosphere
I have to say, the Witchery is THE most romantic restaurant I've ever been to; low ceilings, gothic furniture and artwork, dark antiques, a small cosy dining ... ...good at advising us on the menu and obviously knew what she was talking about. On the whole, the staff were very professional and made us feel very welcome and well looked-after.
The Grub:
Our food arrived pretty quickly with not much waiting around. From the dishes my boyfriend and I chose, all meat does tend to be cooked on the rare side, if you don't ask otherwise. There is a wide choice of seafood dishes available.
... more
I have been to Edinburgh many times, and have always heard good things about The Witchery (apparently it's where all the celebs eat when they're up there).
In January, I was taken to The Witchery as a birthday treat, in a very out-of-character fit of romance by my grumpy yorkshire boyfriend!
Atmosphere I have to say, the Witchery is THE most romantic restaurant I've ever been to; low ceilings, gothic furniture and artwork, dark antiques, a small cosy dining area and flickering candles. It sounds so corny to say, but it really is a magical place to spend your evening.
Service So, on arrival we were greeted by our cheery Aussie waitress. I hate to say it, but she was quite annoying. She was really overly-chatty and 'matey-matey' with us. I've waited tables myself so I can't really complain too much; I don't mind a friendly chat, but she just did not leave us alone! Having said that, we never had to sit around waiting trying to get her attention, she was very good at advising us on the menu and obviously knew what she was talking about. On the whole, the staff were very professional and made us feel very welcome and well looked-after.
The Grub: Our food arrived pretty quickly with not much waiting around. From the dishes my boyfriend and I chose, all meat does tend to be cooked on the rare side, if you don't ask otherwise. There is a wide choice of seafood dishes available. Prices for starters range from £7 for a simple fish bisque to £50 for a seafood platter (which includes whole lobster). Main course prices range from £13 to £50 (if you want another seafod platter!). I didn't have room for dessert, but again, there was quite a good choice, ranging between £7 - £10. Be warned, the menu is not very veggie-friendly, there was only one vegetarian dish on the menu. There may be alternatives if you ask. On the whole, the food was of a very good standard, but I wouldn't say absolutely outstanding.
The Wine The wine list at the Witchery has to be seen to be believed. It's a huge tome, containing a list of around 1000 wines. Apparently, the owner has a team of wine experts who constantly taste, source and buy the wines to add to the list. They're also able to give you detailed advice on what to choose. You'd be hard pressed to not find something to your taste; but they might just hurt your pocket!
Value for money As far as the price goes, we both said that it's the experience that people pay for, not necessarily the food. That may depend on what we chose of course. (However being a chef, my boyfriend considers himself a self-proclaimed "expert" on fine dining!) The a la carte menu is available all day, aswell as a 2-course lunch costing £13 (which I want to go back and try next time!)
Booking We had booked in advance, but even though it was a weekend when we were there, the restaurant was pretty quiet (having said that, it was just after New Year when everybody's skint, so maybe that explains it.) Given the relatively small size of the restaurant you would definitely have to book during the holiday season; maybe even a few weeks in advance during the Festival in July/ August when the city is absolutely heaving with tourists.
Family friendly? As for taking children to the restaurant, I'm not sure if the Witchery would really be the right place to take them. There didn't appear to be a children's menu, but this may be different at lunchtimes. Having worked in Restaurants, most places do not object to preparing smaller portions. But it really does seem a quiet, couply type place; somewhere to go for a romantic dinner or for a treat with a few friends. I'm sure you wouldn't be turned away if you turned up for dinner with the kids, it just depends if you can stand the looks from fellow diners when they start kicking off!!
The location The Restaurant is well located to carry on the rest of your night. It's right at the top of the Royal Mile, not far from the Castle: a great place for a smoochy midnight stroll. Or - if you're boyfriend's from Yorkshire - to go for a pint down the road in Grassmarket...! We also took a Witchery ghost tour the following night: a storyteller and two performers take you around Edinburgh's creepy alleyways and do there best to scare the living daylights out of you. It costs around £7. Good fun.
...and terrible night's stay at The Witchery. For a 'restaurant with rooms' it's laughable that we managed to neither eat or sleep there!
We sat for over 15 mins with no menus, then once we were served (by a slow and disinterested waiter) the menu contained nothing seasonal and clearly hadn't changed in months (if not years) - not the sign of a good restaurant. The choices were limited and there were really only one or two things I fancied, you would ... ...materialised (after reminding twice).
The wild salmon ceviche was very small and while the fish was excellent quality, it was totally bland and tasteless. The langoustine and scallop tian was gritty and bland.
We both ordered fillet of beef for main course (having had this here 3 years ago and it was superb then). It was very leathery and tough and mine was so overcooked that I sent it back. When the second lot arrived they were burnt and tough ...
CrazyCatLadyLondon 29.08.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Witchery, Edinburgh
Advantages: The ambience,history and the food Disadvantages: Expensive
THE WITCHERY BY THE CASTLE The Witchery is located in an historic building a few steps from the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Royal Mile. We used to dine there a lot but hadn't been for quite a few years and decided to have a meal there recently. The restaurant opened around 1980 and has changed quite a bit but not, I hasten to add, for the worse. It used to be rather bohemian but has since went a bit more upmarket. **************
... ...you are immediately seduced by the warm, velvety ambience. The dining room is draped in tapestries and carvings and soft candlelight sparkles gently, reflected around the room by the many mirrors. It creates a lovely effect. Apparently some of the panelling on the walls was rescued from St. Giles cathederal and some from a French chateau. Antique screens add to a sense of privacy. ********
The Food ********
The food tends towards a blend of French ...
proxam 14.06.2002 (15.06.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Witchery, Edinburgh
Advantages: Beautiful setting with magical ambience. Excellent service Disadvantages: On the pricier side but I believe you get what you pay for
...with an amazing evening at The Witchery By the Castle restaurant.
All I had been told was to dress smart, I had no idea where we were going. But as the cab pulled up on the Royal Mile, with the castle in the distance and we walked through the archway to the restaurant, I knew it was somewhere very special.
Our table had been booked in the Secret Garden, a stunning part of the restaurant through the courtyard and downstairs. On entering the room ... ...onto the side of a turret with leaded windows lit by candlelight. Every table was adorned with a brass candlestick, fairy lights were hung from the ceiling, and two walls were windows looking into the gardens. We were shown to our table and brought the wine list and menu. My boyfriend chose a bottle of red, brought to the table by our waiter, who introduced himself and served. We were then brought a basket of warm bread and butter while we decided ...
Stizzy1980 13.05.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Witchery, Edinburgh
...me that he had trawled the internet, found and found and booked a recommended restaurant. We had a table reserved for a two hour slot at lunch time, and following lunch we were going to do a bit of shopping. Was I looking forward to it? Just a lot!
WHERE IS IT?
From our hotel in Festival Square, it was about a 15 minute brisk walk through the food and drink market and up Royal Mile, so all very picturesque. Right at the top of the Royal Mile and ... ...It was instantly noticeable by the heraldic sign marking its entrance and when we walked through the narrow passage to get to the restaurant, I was ready to admit that hubby had made a good choice.
THE RESTAURANT
Having read nothing about the restaurant, I didn't know what to expect, so was pleasantly surprised by the décor and the whole "feel" of the place. There is a small entrance lit by candles and the atmosphere inside the restaurant is truly ...
danielalong 15.12.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Witchery, Edinburgh
Advantages: Stunning surroundings, attentive service. Disadvantages: Food is good, but not good enough to justify the prices. Wine list, though extensive, is pricey
The Witchery has long been regarded as one of the top restaurants in Edinburgh, but in my opinion this is down to the overall experience it offers, rather than simply the food. In fact my visit to the Witchery didn't really meet my expectations in terms of culinary delights.
The place itself is absolutely gorgeous - intimate and other-worldly, with candles lighting the rooms and low ceilings providing a cosy atmosphere. The view into the Secret ... ...faultless; the cutlery twinkles and reflects in the fine crystal. Yes, I'm making it sound absolutely perfect, but as a setting for a intimate dinner it is! The attention to detail and luxury are worthy of a visit in themselves.
Sadly I didn't really think the food was good value for money. The ingredients were fresh and of a high quality, but when I'm paying £40 a head I expect to be presented with something that I couldn't cook equally well myself. ...
vasquita 24.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Witchery, Edinburgh
Value for Money
Standard of Menu
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TO STAY IN EDINBURGHEdinburgh is a great place to stay in, the best place to get a house or flat will be outside the the city centre, areas in the South or East of the city centre, there are many shopping complexes to get all of your household and personal needs, cameron toll, st james centre, the fort, will get you everything you need, as well a a big IKEA store just outside the south of the city.
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