The Witchery is a candlelit, occasion-focused restaurant beside Edinburgh Castle, best known for its atmosphere, Scottish produce and an award-winning wine cellar rather than for cutting-edge cooking. It suits couples, celebration diners and wine lovers; it is not a fit for young families or anyone chasing a modern tasting-menu experience. If you cook at home most nights, think of this as the restaurant version of a special-occasion menu: classic dishes done properly, in a room worth dressing up for. The notes below cover the menu, prices, booking rules and who gets the most from a visit.
Table of Contents
- What's on the menu and how it's priced
- How reservations work, and the rules that catch people out
- The two dining rooms and the setting
- The wine list — and where the value really sits
- Who it suits — and who should look elsewhere
- Frequently Asked Questions
What's on the menu and how it's priced
The clearest entry point is the set lunch. According to the Witchery's lunch menu, it runs two courses at £39.50 or three at £49.50, served seven days a week from noon to 4:30pm. The all-day à la carte is the fuller (and pricier) experience.
The Witchery's à la carte page describes a menu built on Scottish produce — lobster, langoustines, Scottish beef and Highland game — with signature classics like Tournedos Rossini, Lobster Thermidor and Omelette Arnold Bennett. For a home cook, those signatures are familiar comfort-food techniques scaled up: a filet steak with foie gras and Madeira, a creamy baked-lobster dish, a smoked-haddock omelette. you are paying for produce and execution, not novelty.
How reservations work, and the rules that catch people out
Book ahead, and read the restrictions before you plan the table. The Witchery's FAQs state that reservations run Monday to Sunday from 12:00, with the last booking at 10:30pm.
Two rules trip up groups and families. The same source says the restaurant cannot seat parties larger than six, and it does not admit children under 10 — infants included.
- Traveling with a group of seven or more? You'll need to split or choose elsewhere.
- Bringing children under 10, or a baby? They cannot be seated, so plan childcare.
- Want a late dinner? The final booking is 10:30pm, so aim earlier for a relaxed pace.
The two dining rooms and the setting
Where you sit shapes the evening here. The Witchery's dining page describes two rooms: the candlelit original Dining Room, with 16th-century oak panelling, tapestries and painted ceilings, and the Secret Garden, an ornate space with a tarot-themed ceiling and panels salvaged from a St Giles' Cathedral fire.
The location adds to the occasion. Per the Witchery's history of founder James Thomson, the restaurant sits on Castlehill on the Royal Mile beside Edinburgh Castle, and opened on Halloween 1979 — credited with helping revive the Old Town. If you're choosing for a proposal or anniversary, request your preferred room when booking; the atmosphere, not the plating, is the main draw.
The wine list — and where the value really sits
Serious wine drinkers get the most from a visit. The Witchery's history page notes a cellar of around 600 bins that has won the Wine Spectator Best Award of Excellence, the AA UK Wine Award (2014) and Decanter Wine List of the Year for six consecutive years.
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That depth is a genuine strength, but it also signals where costs climb. A memorable bottle can rival the food bill, so set a wine budget before you arrive, or lean on the set lunch to keep the total in check.
Who it suits — and who should look elsewhere
Match the restaurant to your occasion honestly. It rewards diners who want atmosphere and classic cooking, and it disappoints those hunting for the newest gastronomy.
One honest limit: cross-referenced against Wikipedia's entry on the Witchery, the restaurant is not Michelin-starred. Its reputation rests on atmosphere, occasion dining and its wine list, so if innovative, chef-driven cuisine is your priority, book elsewhere and keep the Witchery for the setting.
- Best for: couples marking an occasion, wine enthusiasts, and visitors who want a historic Old Town setting.
- Also good for: a stay-and-dine trip — the Witchery's Old Rectory suite page lists nine gothic suites from about £395 a night, including a breakfast hamper.
- Less suited to: families with young children, groups over six, and diners seeking a modern tasting menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Witchery good value for lunch?
The set lunch is the most accessible option at £39.50 for two courses or £49.50 for three, served daily from noon to 4:30pm — well below à la carte spend.
Can I bring my kids?
No. The restaurant does not admit children under 10, including infants, per its FAQs.
What's the largest group they'll seat?
Six people. Parties larger than six cannot be accommodated, so bigger groups must split or choose another venue.
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