One of Edinburgh's award-winning restaurants, Aizle will close its doors on its current location on St Leonard’s Street - but it's not bad news.
The popular restaurant, which offers a menu of local, seasonal ingredients will reopen its doors on 22 July at the city’s Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel.
Opened in 2014 by husband-and-wife team Stuart Ralston and Krystal Goff, Aizle gained huge popularity as the first restaurant in Edinburgh to offer a surprise tasting menu and went on to become fifth-best in the UK in the fine-dining category of the 2019 Travellers’ Choice Awards for Restaurants.
Diners are privy to only a list of local, seasonal ingredients which feature in their six-course dinner.
Speaking of the new venue, chef patron Stuart Ralston, said: “I am really delighted to announce this exciting new chapter for Aizle.
"We have had six outstanding years at Saint Leonard’s Street and I will be sad not to return there, but the time is right for a change. I am looking forward to having a bigger space, and being able to offer more covers.
"We often have a waiting list for Friday and Saturday nights, so hopefully we will be able to accommodate everyone who wishes to dine with us.
"Kimpton Charlotte Square is a stunning Georgian-built hotel in the heart of the New Town and very close to my other restaurant, Noto, which makes it handy if we need a cup of sugar.
"It also means I can bring all my staff out of furlough and guarantee them a job, which I would not have been able to do otherwise.”
Kieran Quinn, general manager at Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be welcoming Aizle to Kimpton Charlotte Square.
"From the very initial discussions it felt like a natural partnership, we share a similar ethos and values and as a team, they are as passionate about providing service as full of charm and personality as we are and Stuart’s exceptional dishes are some of the best in the UK.
“As we reopen our doors this month, it feels like the right time to make some exciting and innovative changes and Aizle will complement the existing offering within the hotel perfectly.
"The space is ideal for the Aizle team, an oasis at the heart of our hotel, and with BABA also reopening on 30 July this brings our Restaurant and Bar offering at Kimpton Charlotte Square to a truly exceptional level.”
Aizle will be located in The Garden in the centre of the hotel and open for dinner Wednesday to Saturday.
As before it will offer a six-course tasting menu for £70 per person, with an optional £50 drink pairing. There will also be a private dining room seating up to 14 guests.
Everything at Aizle is made in-house, from the live ferment in the sourdough, and the hand churned butter, to the aquavit and aged kombucha in the cocktails.
The fresh, light and airy venue has a lot of open space, meaning tables are well situated to ensure distancing measures are adhered to.
Stuart added: “We have the best, most loyal, regular customers and I am looking forward to seeing them again and welcoming new diners.
"I am sure our regulars will appreciate the lovely new, comfortable banquette booths! The dining concept will be exactly the same as before, but I will be adding some new dishes; lockdown has allowed me the time to try out a few new things.”
You can book online at Aizle's website.
