What is it? A gothic vibe, Edinburgh institution
Who does it suit? Those who enjoy opoulence and celeb spotting
Location Castlehill, Roayl Mile
Website thewitchery.com
Owned by James Thomson OBE, the official classification is a restaurant-with-rooms. And when The Witchery by the Castle first opened its doors on Halloween 1979, it was to diners only. Such is the astounding success of the restaurant, Thomson has gone from a team of three to a team of almost 90. The offering includes the original restaurant, an adjacent second dining room called The Secret Garden, and 10 sumptuous suites created for visitors who simply didn’t want their Witchery experience to end when their meal did.
After a candlelit meal in the original restaurant, Oban oysters, Côte de boeuf of Ballindalloch beef and a bottle of punchy Malbec from the award-winning wine list , you won’t want to leave either. Opulent interiors, first class service, the finest food and wine, the luxury is all too easy to get used to. Being at The Witchery feels like being admitted into a secret club with exclusive access to the dramatic den. But this club is actually open to everybody.
