The Witchery, Edinburgh

Many of our clients are just as enthusiastic about food and wine as they are about golf, and we take great pleasure in providing them with the best dinner reservations that Scotland has to offer.

There are a whole host of fantastic restaurants to be found across the length and breadth of the country including The Seafood Restaurant in St Andrews, Rogano in Glasgow and Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles. But in my opinion, one stands out above all others. The Witchery, located just yards from Edinburgh Castle, has it all. Mouthwatering food, award-winning wine lists and charismatic staff all housed in spectacular sixteenth century architecture.

The very best produce is sourced and prepared by some of the country's finest chefs in order to deliver a simple, classical menu bursting with flavour. Lindisfarne Oysters, Anstruther Crab, lightly smoked Barberry Duck, and Terrine of Wild Rabbit all feature on the list of starters. For Entree, the restaurant is proud to serve Lobster, Steak Tartare, Speyside Venison and a collection of other hearty, unfussy dishes in keeping with the aura of the whole experience.

Its comprehensive list of almost 1,000 wines covers all of the great wine producing areas, varieties, prices and styles with a special selection of seventeen available by the glass. As a Chevalier of the Order of the Tasse de Vin in Burgundy, owner James Thomson is a regular buyer of fine wines in cask at the annual Hospice de Beaune auctions each winter and sometimes these wines from his private cellar may be available to enjoy with your meal.

It is likely you will be based elsewhere for much of your golfing schedule in Scotland, but should you require a night of extra indulgence in the nation's capital, The Witchery has seven theatrical and decadent suites which regularly book out several months in advance. They are individually themed, and it's rather difficult to describe how much effort and no doubt expense has gone into furnishing these gothic masterpieces. Take 'The Guardroom' for example. It consists of a dramatic red and gold hall, a sitting room adorned with various military uniforms, a romantic four-poster bed and an oak-panelled bathroom complete with roll-top bath.

Visiting Edinburgh and not experiencing The Witchery would be like leaving St. Andrews without playing The Old Course. If you would like any further information, or have it added to your itinerary, just get in touch at the usual e-mail: jim@connoisseurgolf.com.