The Witchery near the Castle is arguably Edinburgh’s most expensive restaurant. At £45 for a single cognac and £90 for a house bottle of champagne it’s not difficult to see why the price of enjoying a meal here can quickly escalate. But is the service worth the cost and how does the food shape up?
On arrival we were met at reception where our coats were taken, and then invited to go down the stairs into the Secret Garden Dining Room. We were met by the Maître d’hôtel and our waitress, Jorjia, who would provide us with superb services from the moment we sat down until the time we left.
We had booked well in advance (many people were being turned away for not booking) and were given a 2-hour time slot to dine. After ordering a bottle of The Witchery 1er Cru Brut N.V. (described as a “finely balanced & elegant Champagne is crafted especially for The Witchery” and costing £90 a bottle) we took to ordering our food from the a la carte menu: scallops with Romesco sauce, black olives & sea herbs for £36 to start and loin of Glenfeshie Red Dear with confit of Hispi cabbage, pomme dauphine for £55. And some sides of green vegetables and cauliflower cheese for £6.95 each.
Of course, all the food was of great quality and the silver service provided was top notch. This was the first time I had ever experienced such amazing service and I could definitely get used to it!
We paired our main dishes with a Sauvignon Blanc at £75 (our budget couldn’t quite stretch to the £6000 Château Petrus!).
The dessert menu was, as you would imagine, extensive. However, I opted for the cheese board with Scottish homemade oatcakes, walnut bread & prune chutney (£17.95) and the recommended port for £15 which my sister finished her experience with a glass of Hennessy XO in a wonderfully warmed glass for £45.
The Witchery offer a fine dining experience but theatre as well. The venue is stunning and gothic.
Businessman, camping enthusiast, Formula One fan and Real Ale drinker.
