Witchery by the Castle

This is a really lovely restaurant and the food was very good! We came shortly after Christmas after a day of wandering around town. We booked the reservation kind of far in advance because it does get quite busy. We started with the scallops which were really tasty and then ordered the lamb Wellington for two. This was some of the best I've ever had and they had cooked the lamb perfectly! It's also served with sides of spinach and mashed potatoes, which were both very good. The service was prompt and attentive and they even accommodated us a bit early too, which was nice because we were able to head back to our hotel early after a very full day. Would definitely come back for the lamb Wellington!

The Witchery really is a beautiful spot for a fancy dinner in old town Edinburgh. It is a classy dark and dim spot to have dinner. The service was solid, the menu is simple and the setup inside. The scallops were great. The drinks were fun and memorable as well. I would definitely get a reservation in the original dining room for the ambiance. The prices are fair but if you are going for a fancy dinner then it won't matter what you are going to spend but be prepared for a little sticker shock. It is also right next to the scotch experience if you want to get your tour and a before drink dinner in that way as well.

This was our second time here. The first being two years ago. So we knew what to expect. What to expect is a great meal, excellent service and a dark and unique space. My wife started with the shellfish bisque and it was spectacular. Thick. Then when the Gruyère was added, dang! Cheesy thickness. When you added some of the garlicky rouille to the toast and dipped? An absolutely wonderful bite. I started with the oysters on the half shell. Super fresh. I had them with both the Bloody Mary and mignonette. Perfect. Mains were for me the pan fried sole topped with a dollop of caviar. Perfect cook. Silky smooth sauce with lemon and capers. I had mine served on the bone. You can opt for boneless if you wish. Delicate and flaky. Delicious. It came with no side, so I added the new season potatoes. Those were cooked well, but lacked seasoning. My wife ordered the aged scotch beef tartare. Wonderful. The egg yolk added needed richness. It needs to come with more than one toastette though. It also came with chips (fries) and a salad that wasn't really necessary. Dark chocolate torte to finish. A great way to end. A great meal (you do pay a premium) excellent service. Great space. The pros definitely outweigh the cons. So if we get back to Edinburgh, we will stop back in!

I was a sucker for the magical greenhouse ambiance. The beef Wellington is delicious, however the sides were a bit bland. Overall, a solid dining experience but felt overhyped for me.

This historic spot is full of romantic charm. I ate in the dining room and you absolutely must have a reservation to have a chance of seating on most days. I would discourage large groups as the area is small and it seems best for couples and small parties. The espresso martini was lovely.

Welcome to the Witchery, Where I'm sure Dracula, The Wolfman, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Monster from the Black Lagoon, and Alice Cooper all had an amazing meal but also they aren't know for their recommendations. We came in with reservation for course for an early dinner on a Sunday night and were quickly seated in the main dining room. Our waitress then bought us menus and of course we ordered drinks. I will say drinks were well priced 10 to 13 pounds for an Old Fashioned with 3 different whiskey options. I went with the Maker's Mark Old Fashioned for what I believe was 12 pounds. For apps we went with the Burrata and the Divers Scallops. The Burrata was just just alright and comes with just the Burrata Pesto and Olive Oil. For 17 pounds though that's much better then the 28 pounds for 3 smaller size Sea Scallops 1 of which was way over cooked. I will say we were not at all impressed with the apps. Our waitress wasn't very helpful either and didn't seem to know where was going on either. Not off to a good start. For my entrée I went with the Roast Rump of Borders Lamb. We also had other at our table to had the Grilled Lemon Sole, Arancini, and the 30 Day Dry Dry-Aged Fillet of Scotch Beef. Once our entrees came out there were mixed feelings around the table. Like I said I got the Roast Rump of Borders Lamb. This was amazing what I believe was the best dish at the table. It was cold perfectly medium rare (not options were asked). Though at the other side of things the $75 7oz fillet the was supposed to be cooked medium rare was cooked medium at best, extremely underwhelming. This was the highs and lows and lows from dinner. I was told the Lemon Sole was also very good but was bone in and when asked to have the bone taken out which our waitress said they would they ended up not doing it. We found out when it arrived to the table. The Witchery was so hit or miss for us. For the price the only way for it to make sense is for everything to be prefect. But if you want to live the life eating in the dark thinking you are fancy vampire then The Witchery is for you!

Great, attentive service in an incredible setting. I was surprised to learn that the restaurant has only been around for about 40 years, but the furnishings, tapestries, and ceilings were taken from a Bordeaux castle. Portions are small and prices are high, but it is truly an experience to remember for ambiance alone. It was even more special with Christmas decor. I really enjoyed the haggis appetizer. Do book out in advance, especially for dinner.

This was a truly beautiful restaurant on the Royal Mile near Edinburgh castle. We came for lunch and it was delicious. I was impressed by their mocktails. Service was excellent. This was a beautiful dining experience.

We were luckily seated in the Secret Garden Room which was so cute and pleasant to be in especially with the rain. Definitely make a reservation before going. Our first attempt we arrived around 5pm and got a reservation for 9pm but came back and changed it for later in the week and got a lunch reservation in the Garden Room rather than the main dining room. We started with a couple of cocktails and the beef tartar. The cocktails were good but nothing special. The beef tartar was flavorful, tender and very enjoyable. For lunch I ordered off of the lunch menu where you could pick a starter and a main. For my starter I got the cured salmon and my main was the seafood pie. My brother got the pigeon for a starter and the wild mushroom lasagne. The salmon and the mushroom lasagne for me were good but again nothing out of the ordinary for me. The pigeon was tasty, a bit tough but flavorful and the sauce paired with it complimented it well. Lastly the seafood pie was delicious! The seafood was all cooked well, not overdone and chewy, the potatoes were light and fluffy, and the whole thing was creamy and not fishy at all. Overall it's a bit pricey and touristy but it was still a very pleasant experience and worth going to if you're visiting Edinburgh.

Ambience: on point. Everything was beautiful from the exterior into the interior. Romantic, classy, intimate, just lovely. Service: exceptional, I'm a big supporter of empty dishes being removed promptly and drinks refilled. Our serving staff was also on point the entire time. Food: we ordered the meal for two, COTE DE BOEUF With Roscoff onion, celeriac gratin and Bordelaise sauce. The beef was amazing, cooked to our personal liking. The potatoes were ok, there was some type of flavor that wasn't my favorite, but this is just my personal taste. For dessert we had the Chocolate tarte, and it had every flavor it described. Did not disappoint. We both had a glass of wine with dinner and dessert cocktails. I would like to give a 4.5, only part I thought was lacking was the main meal for the price should have included a vegetable or something else and the potato wasn't my favorite. Overall, we were still pleased. *** The menu is also seasonal, go to their website to view the current menu. ***

Bland and RUDE! This was one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had. The waitstaff were rude, rushing us to order, eat, and leave like they couldn't wait to get rid of us. The food? Completely bland, lacking any seasoning or flavor, and to top it off, the portions were tiny and outrageously overpriced. If you're looking for bad service, tasteless food, and a total rip-off, this is the place for you. Otherwise, do yourself a favor and go literally anywhere else.

You walk in and the ambiance is stellar. It's beautiful, it's eerie, and it definitely feeds into the name. You're greeted by someone asking to take your coat. That's nice. You're seated in a very upscale set up. All of that was fabulous. Nothing negative to say there. Then, you start getting served these dishes that were, in my opinion, overpriced and not up to par for what you'd expect. I understand you're paying for ambiance and upscale, but have the food match that price if you are. The steaks were chewy and cold and the green beans were raw. The appetizers were fabulous. Overall, if you have money to burn and don't care about quality of food then this place is for you! Oh but great Espresso Martinis! Go bartender.

Overpriced, tasteless food and very rude waiting staff. The venue has a nice aesthetic, but the service was frankly quite embarrassing.

We didn't have a reservation, and I'm told that this place is incredibly difficult to get into without one. However, we were very sweet to the hostess and told her we simply wanted to stop in for a glass of wine and so she accommodated us, and let us sit on the patio for a glass of bliss. What a cool place! Definitely one to come back to if ever in Scotland again. It looked like a high roller's spot for sure. You can tell that it would be worth the price tag. Someone let me know!

Beautiful atmosphere in a historic building just steps from Edinburgh Castle. The food was fantastic, and the service was impeccable.

The Witchery is all about the magnificent period rooms, location to Edinburgh Castle, the tremendous restaurants, and a charming staff. So if great history, food and people are your thing, welcome! Our Library room (pictured) was exquisite. It felt like stepping back 250 years in time. Hidden doors, dark nights, spiral staircase, and creaking floors. It's like living in Ebenezer Scrooge's house! The food was fantastic all during our stay (see separate review). We would pop out of our room and there we were at The Castle or St Giles. Just amazing. Can't say enough. And it always comes down to the people who were just so great to us all. Tremendous good time.

Honestly this place is overhyped. The food is good but not worth the price in my opinion. Our breadsticks were cold when they came out and they were flavorless. The main course was good but I ate mine in 4 bites.

I was so excited to go to The Witchery, we were able to get a table for six which was shocking because tables are not easy to get. The restaurant is beautiful, both areas are magical. The staff is European friendly, they came and checked on us but weren't overly welcoming. I actually don't really mind this but I know some people put high stakes in the restaurant staff. The reason for a three star rating because this restaurant is wayyyy too expensive for the quality of food you get. For my entree I got the Arancini which was one big ball and somewhere around £30 we also paid for bread so it was just the one ball. It was good but nothing to write home about. My father in law got the filet and really didn't like it however my husband got the rump roast lamb dish which he loved. All together I would say coming for a tea or something would be a great idea because the vibes are incredible but maybe skip dinner and go somewhere else. I am glad for the experience.

The Witchery is beautiful and elegant. The light is low and perfect for a dinner for two. Or if you are traveling solo, it's a lovely place to dine alone to admire the decorations and ambience. I ate in the secret garden dining room (see pictures), but you can't go wrong with either dining room. The Witchery is definitely expensive, but I cannot say the cost wasn't worth it. For the experience and delicious foods, this restaurant was a delightful visit. Not to mention, the service is prompt, attentive, and kind. Also--the Valrhona Bitter Chocolate Torte is a must if you stay for pudding.

We made reservations about 4-5 months in advance - when we arrived we were told they had us down but not for the correct amount of people. This was incorrect as our reservation record showed we had made the reservation for the correct amount of people. We had even noted on the reservation it was for our daughter's birthday. Which the hostess said they had record of. Yet they only had us down for 2 people not 3, they made no sense. They said because of this error they didn't have a table for us and wouldn't be able to accommodate us. POOR customer service - Shame On You! Fortunately, my relative, had actually come here the week prior to us and when we told him what happened - he told us we actually lucked out, he said the food was so, so but nothing to write home about and way to expensive for what it was. On another note - we were able to find another restaurant about 5 mins away and it was really good.

The witchery is a VIBE it's fancy and fun. I highly recommend just for the atmosphere alone. The food was pretty good also. It is pricier but nothing crazy.

I didn't get to try the food. But the location and the drinks were awesome!! Service was great and the ambiance was magical. So was my drink. I had the Skye ice tea and it was off the hook. Could really taste the talisker whisky. Coming back for dinner.

Beautiful accommodations and a very good breakfast plus wonderful customer service! Thank you Blair for a great meal before leaving Edinburgh... great memories made!

This spot had such a unique vibe. All the staff members were very friendly. The service was phenomenal. I had the buckie brown crab as the appetizer then the grilled lemon sole as my main dish. I enjoyed the, but it would have been nice to be paired with some sort of side. The fish was honestly the best fish I've ever had. However, this also should have come with sides. At least over mashed potatoes or broccolini. I'm giving it four stars because the portion sizes are small, and the prices are extremely high. The toilet was clogged in the bathroom, and I found a piece of hair on my fish. This is not acceptable for a meal that is almost $100.

This review is two parts: The Hotel and The restaurant The Hotel- We booked one night at the Witchery for our final night in Scotland, a way to end the trip with a big Wow. And boy did we get it. We had reserved the Library room. Choosing a room is difficult, as all of them look incredible but the Library was an excellent choice. When we arrived, way before check in, to drop our luggage, we were greeted warmly and our luggage was whisked away. We completed check in procedures and by the (short) time we were done, our room was ready and we were taken across the street to see it. Words cannot even express the impressiveness of this room. The entire atmosphere of the walk to it, the apartment-ness of it, and every inch of the room was highly detailed, well-appointed, thought out, thoughtful and exquisite. We continued to find surprising details during our short stay and while expensive, we were completely and utterly spoiled by our hosts. If you can afford it, 10/10 recommend staying here. The Restaurant- Again, completely spoiled. First, make sure to get a reservation way in advance. We booked ours at least six months out I think, because I wasn't missing it. We dined in The Witchery section, and it was just as dark, gothic and dramatic as I had hoped. Our server was kind, attentive, and had perfect timing. Everything we ate was delightful. The Halibut was the best main at our table for sure, but everything was YUM. I can't wait to return to Edinburgh just for this experience again. The Witchery is a magical place in so many ways and was one of the absolute highlights of our time in Scotland!

I really wanted to love this place because it looked so fancy, but the quality and portion size of the food just didn't cut it. We ordered the mushroom lasagna which was the smallest amount of food and seemed more like a starter. Also, the halibut was good but also was a very small portion. Service was slow, and we really didn't have enough water; I expected much more for these expensive prices. The interior was nice, I guess but not worth the price. We went to Bread Street Kitchen last night for dinner and enjoyed our experience there way more. Do yourself a favor and find another, more inexpensive place.

Service: 1 (being generous) Value: 1 Food: 2.5 Ambience: 4 Very poor service! Our starters were bland and room temperature. My risotto was very good; my husband's steak was very good. Even though I made our reservation over six months ago, we were seated in a very poor area where it was easy for our server to ignore us, and that he did!!! It was almost as though our server dismissed us! He never asked my husband if he wanted another glass of wine, never checked on our water, how things were, etc. I was so excited to have a special retirement dinner at the Witchery but was sorely disappointed! High Recommendation: MUSSELS & STEAK BAR!!!

The location is beautiful and the decor is amazing. We were able to get a reservation about one month out. We were very excited to try, as this restaurant came highly recommended. We were also staying at the sister property the Prestonfield which is also stunning. The food was mediocre but the service was stellar. Rhubarb in my opinion had much better food in comparison. Definitely worth a visit

A great five star experience! Found this gem on Instagram and figured we'd give it a shot. Can be a bit pricey but for white table linen service- you pay for what you get. Food was well designed and we enjoyed the scallops! It's a must!

What a lovely restaurant. I had lunch. I selected the "lite lunch" and it was more than enough food. Highly recommend the "Fish Pie" menu. In addition, the Paris Brest dessert was over the top! Absolutely recommend!

I need to just take a moment for how incredible the duck breast was. I mean, probably one of the most well prepared duck breast I've ever had. It was tender, melt in your mouth delicious. The cherry sauce was a luscious complement and just hit the spot. The Shellfish Bisque was wowza! So flavorful! Some of the best soup ever! Beautiful ambiance. Haunting. Moody. Exquisite. Leave the bread off the order, it wasn't anything special, as I was expecting it to be some epic homemade carb fest - but it was actually quite hard and stale...

THE BEST restaurant we've been to as avid world travelers! An enchanting atmosphere like no other! You enter through a whimsical garden alley right up to the entrance. The food was impeccable with incredibly delicate details. Our best memory from our shared time in the UK. Edinburgh is magic around every corner. We brought our baby with us who was sleeping and did not disturb others but reading other reviews it looks they don't allow children anymore.

Came here to try the aged steak. It does have a very fancy name but I forgot it. This steak was amazing, perfectly cooked, properly aged, and tender. all you needed was a fork (knife optional) to eat this steak. But the sides were meh. That potato thing in pic was too salty. Peas weren't seasoned The service was awesome and the vibe in the garden room is magical. Remember to look up at the ceiling.

Right next the castle entrance you will find the Witchery. Small and cozy with impeccable service. Lamb Wellington usually only for two was available to me as a single dish. Very nice meal. A little pricey but the food, atmosphere and service were great.

This place lives up to its name. Not only is the atmosphere "witchy", it is also by Edinburgh Castle. The staff were very helpful. The food was amazing.

The Secret Garden is a lovely romantic spot. We were a table of three women in a cozy corner, with couples sprinkled around us. Service was exceptional. They catered to special requirements and made sure that we had a cab home at the end of the night. I enjoyed the asparagus and the halibut. I feel like there was some champagne too. Too full of delicious food for dessert. Reserve well in advance. It is busy and worth it.

Wow! I really dug this place. First off, the garden dining room is pretty swanky with candle light which takes on a great ambiance as the sun sets. The service was excellent, neither rushed nor aloof; impeccable timing. Then there's the food. Halibut for my wife which was done beautifully with a wonderful delicate flavor. I had the venison, a bit more hardy but equally delicious. We finished off with the Tart Tatin and it was AMAZING! If you want a nice quiet and intimate dinner in Edinburgh then this is a place to consider.

I treated myself to a Valentine's Day afternoon tea. I treat myself to everything but on with the review. I knew I'd be in town and thought it would be a special time. If you know me, you know I adore an afternoon tea. I chose the secret garden dining room and I'm so glad that I did. I later peeked into the original dining room and while it is very cool the secret garden was much more my speed for this trip. It's brighter, filled with flowers, cherubs, and candles, all the things I love. The tea offering itself was satisfactory in my opinion. I've had some really incredible afternoon teas, but when in Edinburgh I'd say this is a nice choice if you're wanting to check the place out. I'd met a group of girls in Dublin who had suggested the Dome. I'm not certain I would have canceled my booking here but the other was not available on my dates so I'm unable to compare the two. I really enjoyed myself and will probably try to drag a friend here upon my return to experience the place again. Lovely time!

I booked for lunch a few weeks before we visited Edinburgh and we had their set lunch menu. They advertise it as a light lunch, but we were so full afterwards we didn't have room for pudding. The service was top notch and very happy we came here. I chose the dining room instead of their garden area. If we ever come back again I would go to the garden area to eat. Both were lovely, but very different.

My mom got burned during our time here. That's not even the worst of it, as the manager was incredibly rude and unreasonable. We had ordered the lamb Wellington, and the gravy on the side was delivered scalding. We were unable to touch it. We tried pouring it whilst holding it with a napkin, as there was no other pouring method, and it slipped, spilling on my mom and burning her hand. The staff was attentive, but the manager refused to acknowledge their fault in the burn, as seen in the negligence of how hot to the touch (without warning, without handle) the ceramic dish was. At the end of our meal, the manager refused to compensate any part of the £500 the bill, as is customary when something goes awry on the restaurant's end. He totally dodged responsibility. This part was the most off putting, as he barely had much to say in retort to our criticism of our actions, as if he knew he was in the wrong. The food itself was not even that outstanding, especially in comparison to their prices. Combined with the interactions here (besides our server Joseph, he was very kind) and the food itself, this was a quite terrible experience that genuinely ruined the end of our time in Edinburgh. You are much better going elsewhere and saving your money.

Cool place - we ate in the original restaurant - dark but fun! Lots of candles. We checked out the other side and it was lovely and pretty and bright! Food was really good - hubby had sole and loved it! Big portion. I had halibut and loved it. Service was very good!

The ambience was great! The staff was very attentive and the food was really good. We enjoyed the evening. We would definitely recommend.

We were touring the UK for my husband's 60th birthday! After our visit to the Edinburgh Castle,, lunch at the witchery can only top off this experience. The ambiance is so wonderful! Service was very high end! We made reservations in advance online and chose the light lunch menu. He chose a charcuterie plate as his first course and his second course was deer with mashed potatoes, which he loved!!! I had the salmon as my first course, and my second course was a pumpkin or squash risotto, very filling. We did have a bottle of wine which made this a very special and fun lunch. Prices are a bit high however, the location cannot be beat when visiting the Edinburgh Castle.

This is fine dining for people who can only tolerate / enjoy bland, flavorless food. The establishment itself is ornate and well designed. Their service style aligns with an elite dining experience. The actual server was just okay. There were four of us. One couple shared the chateaubriand (serves two). The quality of the meat seemed pretty good but there was literally no seasoning. You couldn't even detect the presence of salt. Just really bland. The other couple ordered the lamb wellington (also serves two). The flavor was actually pretty good. I love lamb so I order it whenever it's on offer (not found commonly in the U.S.). This was far from the best lamb dish I've ever had and for £95 I honestly expected it would be. The sides that came with it were baby potatoes and ratatouille. The potatoes were literally just boiled and thrown in a fancy serving dish. Not roasted. No seasoning. Just a plain boiled potato. The ratatouille I had never eaten anywhere else prior. Though I do enjoy all of the ingredients it felt like the execution was lacking. It really just tasted like a canned tomato puree was added to the top of the beautifully sliced veg. I hate leaving negative reviews. I really do. The Witchery is charging very high end prices for mediocre food. I live in Los Angeles. We have excellent restaurants there. I am more than happy to pay a premium rate but I do expect to also receive a premium experience. This is not it. OHHHH, THE BEEF TARTAR was actually really good and I would recommend it if you still want to eat here.

Baby's not welcome at this restaurant & hotel !!! It was a very unprofessional and unpleasant reaction from the staff being there to say hi to someone in the restaurant. Their reaction was very unfriendly to the baby. If you have baby or children don't stay here or try to eat here.

The witchery was and is a very good place to eat I would recommend it to anyone who wants good food and drinks,the service was amazing and I would come back, And the outside has a good selection of food and drinks out side

This place is amazing. I booked a table for a birthday celebration for our last night in Edinburgh, and it was such a great way to end the trip. The ambiance is like being in a storybook, just like a fantasy fairy tale. The food is even better than the atmosphere if you can believe. We started with the scallops and pistachio parfait, went into the halibut and filet with bearnaise for mains, and ended with the tarte tatin for two, which was by far the standout of the night. All of our food was seasoned and cooked to perfection. Service was impeccable as well as cocktails and wine. Pricey? Yes, but very well worth it. A word to the wise: this is a very lovely and romantic place. If you are looking for a party place, you may want to head to a pub on the Royal Mile. We were seated next to a table of 6 and had to deal with loud talking and a lot of super loud guffaws and yukkity-yuks, very distracting. But I say go to the Witchery by the Castle; we will be talking about it forever.

What a fun and fancy place to get to experience! 5/5 for sure. It's nearby the Edinburgh castle that you likely just walked out of. And, if you planned appropriately you are (hopefully) going to plan on coming here! Everything was cooked perfectly to preference and temp - the fish pie was the best we have ever had (and probably ever will have). The inside and atmosphere in the different areas you can go were formal with a twist (a weird and yet fun one i thought). The staff was top notch and attentive down to the glass of water. If we are ever back this way again, WE WILL BE BACK! GO if you are there or plan to go to Edinburgh.

Was fortunate to snag reservations for tea. My teen son and I had a wonderful time. There was so much food and SO tasty. Worth the cost. Staff is very friendly.