The Witchery by the Castle in Edinburgh

I took my grandmother and my great aunt here when they were visiting thinking it would be a nice treat, but honestly I wish we'd taken them somewhere else.We were in the main restaurant, not the secret garden.The restaurant was very dark, to the point where it was difficult for me and my partner to read the menu, let alone my 85 year old grandmother.The menu was different from what we'd read on the website when booking it, and while we were happy to pay the price for the meal as a treat, the quality of the food honestly wasn't worth it. My partner ordered a rare steak and paid nearly double the normal price for a steak in Edinburgh only for it to be overcooked and not a great piece of meat. My grandma and aunt had the lamb and thought it was nice, but the portions were very small.All this would have been ok if the staff were friendly and helpful, but we felt they were quite dismissive and rude with us right from the start. When they were asking what drinks we wanted, they sarcastically suggested tap water before even letting us respond.The venue was quite interesting, but the service and food was a real let down. Write this one off as a tourist trap and go somewhere else.

Absolutely fantastic experience. The service from the moment we entered was second to none, the setting was superb and the food was of the highest quality. The Cognac to finish was probably the best I’ve ever had. If you visit Edinburgh you have to visit here.

Amazing dinner with fantastic service from the team. Starters of Oysters and Steak Tatare was incredible. Sharing Wellington was smaller than expected for price. Fantastic wine selection. Will visit again soon

Unfortunately we were disappointed.The Witchery has a fantastic reputation and we felt when you scratch the surface, it's not worth the moneyIn short we spent a LOT of money on very little.For example, the Chateaubriand was much smaller than we expected -we couldn't believe it was for two.We could have had the same, also good quality at half the price at a very nice restaurant.I feel the restaurant is leaving far too much on its reputation and uses that to hike up the price.The white wine wasn't chilled, so when we were poured the luke warm wine it was already too late.The tartar also too small.We left still a bit hungry, disappointed with a very light wallet.The only good thing was the staff, they were lovely. We raised the issue (except the wine unfortunately) and we got a coffee for it. The response could have been better it was a bit "I disagree" -fair enough. I think a conversation about it would have been appreciated however it was very awkward.The quality was great, but the Witchery need to correct the portion:cost ratio

Flawless, unique, romantic and unforgettable fine dining experience.Ambience and atmosphere set perfectly with the lantern lit walkway leading down into the secret garden. You could literally feel the history of where you were, which is something we love about the City as a whole.Staff were perfectly attentive and incredibly welcoming throughout. We were never made to feel rushed between courses at any point - quite the opposite. The staff asked if we were celebrating a special occasion. It was my 36th birthday and the staff kindly arranged for a special birthday plate with a candle during pudding, which took me by surprise. It was a subtle, yet incredibly thoughtful gesture which definitely added to the experience. The staff even offered to arrange a taxi for us at the end of the meal and updated us when it was outside, as opposed to having us wait outside. It's small but important gestures such as these that really stick.The food, where to start? We've eaten in plenty fine dining restaurants on our travels but nothing has come close to the perfection of this meal, without a word of exaggeration. The flavours were on another level and the presentation, flawless.Worth every penny and more. Thank you for helping us create lasting memories.Kyle & Stacey x

Valentine's Day was our second time eating in the Secret Garden in the evening. Subdued candlelit ambiance suffused the room with a warm intimacy enhanced by worn wooden decor and meticulous adornments replete with floral arrangements and other small touches of life. The food was, as always, intricately prepared, bursting with flavor, and satisfying despite seemingly small portions. This place, while located in such a bustling tourist neighborhood as the upper Royal Mile, somehow manages to maintain its soul as a wonderful place for a warm meal and quality time. While not cheap, the food and overall experience is well worth the value in our opinion.

Suitably underwhelmed and terribly disappointing. Amazing location and stunning dining room. Oozes charm and history, really romantic location… but the food is mediocre at best. I really did not enjoy my meal, I left most of it. Not acceptable at those prices. The staff have no idea what they are serving when asked about the dishes. They also had no idea on the history of the building when questioned. For such a prestigious location I’d expect MUCH more in terms of quality of food and service. Really disappointed and won’t be returning.

I have dined here on a few occasions previously, most recently last night, and I have been seated in both the secret garden room and the main dining room also. Both are beautiful areas in which to enjoy your meal, but I do slightly prefer the secret garden room. The decor is indulgent and opulent. The lighting is dim which gives it a feeling of exclusivity and mystery. The menu is simple, not innovative, but extremely high quality. The service is second to none, as you'd expect for a restaurant of this calibre at this price range. The wine list and cocktail lists are particularly extensive and the waiting staff are well trained in recommending wine pairings for the chosen dishes. If you're a visiting Edinburgh or looking for a special restaurant for a treat then I would definitely recommend this venue. It has to be seen at least once if you're visiting or living in Edinburgh!

We had a dinner here last October for my birthday, while the interior and ambiance were both immaculate - I don't think I can say the same for the food as it was just not something I'd expect for the price that we paid.The steak we ordered was perfectly cooked but was cold, like it's been sitting on the kitchen counter for quite some time before it was delivered to our table. The side dishes served alongside it were ok, nothing particularly stood out.I do have to say that the restaurant itself is spectacular and somehow made our experience still special.

Restaurant review : The place is wonderful, but the food portion are too small and recipes are not at the level expected for the price.You should rework your menu. In my opinion, this is too "simple" for this range of price. It should be spectacular and tastier.By the way my cocktail was good 👌PS : French here, so for this range of price, this is not interesting for me.PS 2 : you shouldnt charge 10% discretionary fees to your clients without asking !!!!! This is not normal at all !!! Not sure if it is legal...