Dined at The Witchery in Edinburgh and came away a bit mixed. This is definitely a higher-end spot with a limited menu. We both had the salmon--it was good, but not particularly memorable. Dessert was similar. Overall, I'd describe the food as "okay," which stands out more given the price point--you go in expecting something outstanding. We also have a long list of dietary restrictions, and the staff handled that well. My wife has gluten and dairy allergies, and I have a tree nut allergy, Alpha-Gal, and diabetes, so we're not exactly a low-maintenance table. They were accommodating and helpful, and service overall was very good. We had to shuffle our reservation the same day, and the staff were understanding and easy to work with, which was appreciated. We had to shuffle our reservation the same day, and the staff were understanding and helpful, which was appreciated. Where this place really shines is the ambiance. The setting is exceptional--especially the Secret Garden dining room, with great views and beautifully over-the-top décor. It's one of those places that feels like an experience as much as a meal. Good for: dates Not ideal for: small kids, business meals Worth it for the atmosphere, but the food didn't quite live up to the setting. read more

Food was very good - a bit over-smoked. Building/architecture is lovely. Customer service was atrocious. They added 18 pounds (about $25) to our lunch bill without consent. They add a "discretionary" 12.5% fee -- I guess like a tip. But they just add it, apparently to all bills, without notice until you go to pay. They added another 1 pound King Fee - whatever that is. They also charged 4 pounds for a bottle of filtered water that they brought while I was in the bathroom and only my kid was at the table. On top of that, we got there early and asked to sit at a bench inside. They said that was for hotel guests and made us sit in the cold for 30 minutes. No one used the bench inside the entry area. All that is bad enough anywhere, but especially bad for a place that charges prices as high as this place. read more

The food was good but didn't live up to the prices. Service was ok but No one smiled except the girls at the reception desk. The real attraction is the decor of the place. It's very elaborate and loved that part of it. The whole process of having to sign a legal waiver to get a "doggy bag" was ridiculous. I've eaten all over the world and I've never had to sign a legal document in a restaurant. A real turn off!! Money would have been better spent elsewhere. read more

Lovely afternoon tea spread complete with unlimited tea refills! They let you try 2 different types of tea which is nice if you're undecided. It is a little on the pricey side but for what you're getting and the aesthetic, it's worth it. You can upgrade to a glass of champagne if you'd like for an additional cost. Service was alright. read more

The Witchery By The Castle - Witchery Haggis - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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The original dining room was amazing to experience. We made reservations well in advance for our anniversary to secure a table. The food was excellent and the service was everything we expected. We enjoyed the beef for 2 which was perfect portions for both of us. We also had the mousse and the cheese cake. I highly recommend it if you are looking for something special. read more

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The haggis was wonderful as was there 3 times cooked chips - a must. The service very attentive. read more

We were attending the Fringe Festival so felt lucky we got a reservation at all, although we had hoped for the terrace seating. Inside was as others have described it -- deep brown wood, low ceilings and doorways. Cozy, historic, just wonderful -- as was our server. Our reservation was for lunch, and so we didn't really order that much food! My partner had the lobster, and I'm pretty sure she ate the shell. I had the burrata salad, which was creamy, fresh and delicious. We were too full for dessert, but they brought over small lemon meringue tarts. As others have shared, they do charge for everything -- including bread. I don't recall being charged for tap water, but I wouldn't be surprised if that were the practice. But the food quality and flavor really made those minor things worth a visit. read more

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We were advised to make reservations in April for our dinner in August. I read reviews and couldn't believe the reviews were correct in that they charge for still water!!!! I heard the other tables complain and even gave the other table their leftover water We knew this and just decided one night for a great expensive dinner would be worth it. We were definitely correct. We all ordered the salmon which melted in my mouth! We ordered rolls which they charge per person. The butter is WONDERFUL! We ordered a side of cheesy cauliflower and it was also delicious. The staff, ambience and food was a great way to spend our night before visiting The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Event. read more

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The ambiance alone is worth the five stars. The interior is a gorgeous piece of rustic flare complete with beautifully-decorated wooden walls, accented with tasteful faux foliage, and red velvet tablecloths. The staff is friendly and as professional as you would expect to find in any fine dining restaurant. The menu offers different selections throughout the day, but if you play your cards right, you'll start off the day at the Edinburgh Castle right next door and reserve a space here for an early dinner. The prices will be higher than most other establishments in the area, but trust me the experience is worth it. In case you're interested, I got the Beef Tartare - uncooked beef - which comes with the most delicious chips / fries I've tasted yet, (and I'm American), and a simple salad to round it all out. They have an extensive wine list, but the cocktails leave a bit to be desired. While whiskey-heavy, the balance just doesn't seem to be there. If any place is worth the splurge in Edinburgh, this is it. read more

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The restaurant is located near Edinburgh Castle. The ambiance is elegant, with a dark and beautiful atmosphere. It's an expensive restaurant, known for being upscale and fancy. Be aware that they charge for tap water. We chose the light lunch menu, which was a 2-course meal for 34 pounds. The food tastes great, but the portions are small. The staff is attentive, professional, and kind. I recommend making a reservation, although we managed a walk-in. Overall, visit for the beautiful ambiance. The restaurant is highly regarded with quality food, but I don't think it's worth the cost for the portion size. read more

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Booked the Witchery on a recommendation of a friend and we enjoyed the experience. I reserve the garden which I recommend as it's very airy and has a great view of Edinburgh. We were promptly seated for our reservation and cocktails arrived quickly. I opted for the oysters to start which came with a wonderful mignonette. I then had the steak tartar which was prepared fantastically, and I was able to pair it with a nice glass of pinot as there are quite a few wine-by-the-glass options. Service was excellent and very attentive. read more

We weren't planning on eating here, but we heard about the unique environment and the delicious food. We decided to try our luck. Thankfully, there was an opening. I love that they take you coat at the hostess stand. The ambiance in the original dining room was dark and cozy and the staff was a little stuffy and snobby. The halibut was pure perfection. It was was so tender and the sauce was amazing. I could done without the sea help style garnish beneath the halibut. I also got the truffle mash, which were good, but they were just a little bit dry and starchy. My spouse got the filet which was good but not worth the price. It was worth the experience and I'm glad we ate here, but next time I'd like to dine in the garden room. read more

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Very popular spot due to the location being right near the castle so absolutely make a reservation if you're interested. It is an upscale dining experience, including an asterisk on the menu noting that each patron must order at least one item from the 'mains' section so come hungry! As noted in most of the reviews, the interior of the restaurant is quite beautiful and elegant. The Baragoule of Mammola Artichoke didn't blow me away but between the shellfish bisque, burrata, North Sea halibut, ambiance and service, the the overall dining experience was very memorable! read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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Being in town and snagged a table. The setting is so beautiful, as you walk in. Pleasant greeting, stunning room. The menu is so interesting, the dishes so complex. Oysters of course. And scallops. Wonderful wines, gracious service. Pricey but a wonderful treat. Enjoy! read more

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! read more

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On a weekday the week of March 17, 2025, I was walking past The Witchery around 2 p.m. and decided to see if I could get a seat. I was able to walk in and get a table for myself since it's not the "season". Everyone else has described the lovely interior and such, so I won't go into great detail. I ordered the two-course lunch and started with the smoked trout, which was out of this world, if small in size. I then had the Scotch beef, which was a very rare and tiny portion, making me wish I had taken the fish pie which I had been informed (but ignored) was a larger helping. In addition to my lunch, I had a glass of wine and some dessert, although the latter was apparently so unremarkable that I cannot remember what it was. The gentleman who checked me in and brought me to my table also ended up being the person to take my order. He was very kind, and was able to answer all my questions about the food, the restaurant, etc. My food was brought by a man in a suit who was also very kind and checked in on me a couple times. A different man in a suit brought my change so that I could tip. A woman was at the check-in when I left, and despite my very friendly "goodbye" she didn't give me the time of day. There was no one else standing there, so I guess she thought I was lucky to have dined there. I do despise that kind of attitude. I ate at many restaurants and pubs while I was in Edinburgh that week, and no one had given me that kind of attitude. I'll admit that I got the impression that the staff are told to be very reserved around guests. The restroom has tiny stalls. There is room for bigger stalls, but the stalls require an act of yoga to close the door and sit. It was a very nice experience, but I don't need to go back. Yelp doesn't allow for half stars, so this restaurant got averaged up half a star. read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

The Witchery By The Castle - Christmas decor - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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So stunning inside and out, I would go again, we were on our honeymoon in scotland and had our goodbye dinner here before going back home! So special and staff were really amazing, the food was great too! read more

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The food was good but tbh I expected SO much more for the prices. The service was good but nothing that stood out. The best part of this place was the atmosphere. You're definitely paying for the place, not the food. Cool to do once but wouldn't make it a habit to return. read more

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Yum. Worth the price. Romantic ambiance, but I went with a friend and this was fine. The most memorable dining experience while in Edinburgh. read more

My kind of ambiance! Very gothic, chic, and delicious food. A bit on the pricey side, but it's worth it.

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. read more

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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. read more

Although we made reservations 5 weeks in advance, 9:30 pm was the earliest seating available for 3 of us. But friends who had been 2 years ago had raved about the restaurant as a must-do in Edinburgh. So we ignored the late hour as well as several negative reviews online and reserved a table. The interior was so dark that it was difficult to see the highly-acclaimed decor. We had to use our phone flashlights to read the menu. We asked the young woman who came to take our order if she could help us select from 3 bottles of wine we were interested in. She said she didn't know the wines well but she wrote down the 3 we asked about and said she would send the sommelier over to help us. In a few minutes, another waiter came to our table with 2 glasses of wine (the three of us were never sure why there were 2 instead of 3). We explained that we had not yet ordered wine and intended to order a bottle, not individual glasses, and were waiting for the wine steward, whom the wait person said she'd send over. He seemed taken aback and left. Next the manager showed up and questioned us, as if we were guilty for the confusion. We courteously explained again that we had not yet ordered wine, but were waiting on the wine steward, whom the waitress said she'd send over. Nevertheless, he seemed displeased with us from that point forward. During all this, where was the young woman who started it all? Had he even questioned her before questioning us? If so, what had she told him? When the wine steward (the nicest staff person we encountered) was finally sent over, we learned that one of the 3 wines we had asked about was not $55 per bottle as we thought, but per glass. Apparently the manager's consternation was due to an expensive wine being uncorked for one of the glasses mistakenly brought over. Not our fault, but somehow pinned on us. Later the manager came over and asked how we were doing. We were totally positive, and complemented the food. I very jokingly commented that it was slightly disconcerting to have a large bust of Satan staring down at us across from our table - (As in, I'm laughingly going along with your clever Witchery theme. Ha-ha-the devil as décor. Cute!) But Mr. Manager was in no joking mood. He sternly and quite haughtily corrected me: "That is not Satan. It is Bacchus, the god of wine." Excuuuuse me. As we were still eating our meal (which, by the way, was nice enough but not extraordinary), he began slowly pacing back and forth past our table, looking back each time with a smarmy smile that seemed to say, "we're ready for you to leave now." We had been there 1.5 hours, certainly no longer than should be expected to relax with a nice meal that included appetizers, wine, and dessert. We were not dallying, and would have finished 15 minutes earlier had it not been for the long process involved in ordering a bottle of wine. If such a restaurant wants to close at 11, should it be taking reservations for a 9:30 pm seating? The online reservation site actually offers bookings as late as 11:30 pm. As we paid the bill, the manager, who'd been hovering over our table, offered to call a taxi for us and we agreed. In a few minutes, he came back to say our taxi had arrived. We walked out of the restaurant and immediately heard the door being bolted from inside behind us. There was no taxi waiting. It came about 6 minutes later as we 3 women stood waiting in the dark after 11 pm. He had lied about the taxi. After dropping around $450, we were effectively thrown out of the Witchery and left alone on the street. The next day our tour guide, a Scot who's been guiding tours in Edinburgh for 15 years, told us he would never go to the Witchery or send any of his clients there. He finds it as we did: overrated, snooty, pretentious, and overpriced, with food that's pretty good but not unforgettable. read more

Everything from Food , Drinks, Service, and Ambiance was Fantastic? We had the Duck , sole , halibut And Steak ! Nothing left on anyone's plate ! Just a little expensive read more

The Witchery has such an amazing ambiance and dining experience. Wonderful service and food. Highly recommend

A very unique place with tons of history. The food and service were both good. However, the pricing felt a bit off for what was offered. I recommend making a reservation, but don't expect a "wow" experience -- overall, it was just good. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. *** read more

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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 read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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... read more

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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! read more

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. read more

The Witchery By The Castle - British Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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! read more