HIDDEN GEMS:IN EDINBURGH chip shops you can get more than the fabled deep-fried Mars bars: you can bring along any chocolate bar you fancy and they'll happily throw it in the fryer for you.
If you're up for it, you can also get a deep-fried pizza, but, those delights aside, there's plenty more on offer in this beautiful city.
Arguably the best restaurant in Edinburgh is not just a real secret find but also the most scarily atmospheric place you could ever hope to dine in. Located at the very top of the Royal Mile, directly below the castle, the Witchery (pictured) is located in a rambling building. Approaching the place at night, all those dark bricks and Jack the Ripper- style alleys set the mood. This is an eerie part of Edinburgh: it was where they stored the bodies of plague victims.
There are two restaurants within the building. The Witchery itself - which the staff cheerily tell you is built on the exact spot where witches were burned to death - is ghoulishly atmospheric. It's all dark wood panelling and red leather seats.
Those in the know will tell you to keep moving through the Witchery and head instead for the Secret Garden restaurant - to do this you'll have to clamber down some stone steps. This restaurant is in an old courtyard where, legend has it, the locals were subjected to some terrible acts. Little wonder that Harry Potter author JK Rowling is a regular - this could be straight out of Hogwarts.
The food in both restaurants is excellent. And if you want to keep the goth feeling a little bit longer, the restaurant has seven suites attached. Described as "theatrical and decadent", they are a huge favourite of the actor Jack Nicholson.
The Witchery, Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, 00-44-131-225-5613, www.thewitchery.com.
Do you know of a hidden gem? E-mail us at go@irish-times.ie
