Aizle

Wow! My favorite restaurant experience in all of Edinburgh! My mother and I also did the wine pairing along with the tasting menu and it was wonderful. Lovely selection of wines and every single bite of food was creative and interesting. Not an inexpensive experience but certainly worthy of a visit for foodies or those looking for a memorable dining experience. I will highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Edinburgh!

I was humbled - I didn’t expect one of the best meals I would have to be in this little corner of Edinburgh. The food is amazing - unlikely combination of ingredients that work out really well together; the chef understood the flavor and texture of each ingredients at play. Unlike other experimental foods, the meal I had didn’t feel exaggerated: just enough touch of fusion with a great care for the eater. Combine that with great service and relaxing ambience, you get a core memory you would want to visit again from time to time.

We went with my husband expecting to be a relaxing experience as we have a young family and we rarely go out. Although we had booked in advance, they gave us the worst possible table. There was a draft from the fire exit behind us and I had to have my jacket on while I was there. A member of staff was kind enough to bring a heater but it didn't help much. Staff were walking almost next to the table touching me as they were passing by. We arrived expecting to have something from the Set Menu only to find out that it's only available on specific days during the week (that's not mentioned on their website and they didn't mention it when we called them to book a table). The worst part though is that the food itself took almost 3hrs for the 5-course menu, hence there was approx. 30mins gap or more between each course which took away from the experience itself. Three hours would have been ok for a 7-course meal but it's too long for the 5-course meal. The food was ok, we've been to other fine restaurants in Edinburgh and this was very overrated for a meal that cost over £100 per person. We then saw in the reviews we could have the same meal as lunch for £50pp. The best of all was asparagus, the worst the fish and the dessert. I felt there was no respect for the clients. If they didn't have enough staff in the kitchen, they could have told us and we would have booked on a different date. The waitresses were very polite.

Chastity: “…can you ever just be whelmed?” Bianca: “I think you can in Europe.” We were certainly whelmed. The long and short is that the food is good, though the portions are small. I don’t find the price to be a particularly good value. Where Aizle really disappoints is in the service timing. It took us 3 hours to have a meal, which should have been communicated. We opted for the wine pairing, and wines were delivered awkwardly far in advance of food, leaving us to avoid our wines while we waited. The first two courses took an hour to arrive. Most of the tables around us sat empty, with diners looking around bored. Yet the staff milled about polishing glassware and doing other chores. We eventually inquired with the staff and the pace of the meal picked up, but in the end it was disappointingly slow for being a set menu. The kitchen needs to figure out how to serve patrons reasonably, either by splitting up seating times or having fewer tables. Lastly, some small things were overlooked for what is billed as “fine dining”: no table linens, serve-yourself silverware, chairs that shriek when moved, a bar jigger that fell on the ground then was reused, and servers with body odor.

We had the seven course tasting menu and the food, presentation and service were delightful. The venison and scallops were my favorite but there wasn’t a dish that I wouldn’t have been happy to have seconds of. The desserts were just delicious and a perfect way to end.

I was looking forward to try their 7course tasting menu since everyone here said it’s very good. It started off quite well because we were really impressed by the starter pork belly skewers. It was so juicy and tender. So we were kinda excited for the next few dishes. But unfortunately everything went downhill afterwards. Four of us ordered two wine pairing and two soft drink pairing. I can only say terrible choice of wine. It’s basically matching red wine to red meat etc. somehow the paired wine ruined my dishes because it was just terrible and taste cheap. Overall expensive was just so so.

Pleasantly surprised by the tasting menu. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy Michelin star quality of food here as it hasn’t been awarded a Michelin star. Both food and service are excellent!!

Aizle – Seasonal Simplicity and Culinary Precision in the Heart of Edinburgh Among Edinburgh’s top-tier gastronomic destinations, Aizle confidently carves its own space—not by opulence, but through a focused, seasonal, and quietly ambitious approach to fine dining. Set within the elegant Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel, this restaurant delivers a consistently inspired experience that speaks to both locals and discerning travelers alike. Location & Atmosphere: A Refined Retreat in the Heart of the City Perfectly located within the Kimpton Hotel, Aizle blends seamlessly into its luxurious surroundings, offering a retreat of calm, minimal elegance. The space is understated and contemporary, allowing diners to focus on what truly matters: the food and the experience. Whether you're seated in the sleek main room or, as we were, at the bar, the ambiance is intimate and thoughtful. Watching cocktails being crafted just a few feet away only adds to the immersive quality of the experience. Lunch Menu: Accessible, Creative, and Exceptionally Well-Priced Although we didn’t get a chance to sample the full dinner tasting menu, our lunch experience was more than enough to appreciate the culinary philosophy at play. Aizle’s lunch format is a clever offering: refined yet relaxed, creative but not overwrought—perfect for breaking up the routine of a day in the city. Dishes were both visually appealing and flavor-forward, combining seasonal ingredients with flair. The combinations were simple yet original, showing restraint in all the right ways. The format delivered an exceptional experience at a very reasonable price point, making it one of the best lunch options for anyone wanting a taste of high-end dining without committing to a full tasting journey. Cuisine: Seasonal, Scottish, and Exceptionally Balanced The name "Aizle" (a Scots word for a glowing ember) captures the restaurant’s identity well—there’s a slow-burning, thoughtful intensity to what they do here. Chef Stuart Ralston’s kitchen revolves around a harvest menu that adapts constantly to the rhythm of Scottish produce. Even within the shorter lunch format, the dishes were deeply satisfying. From the perfectly balanced small plates to the final course, the ingredients were allowed to shine—each combination clean, seasonal, and memorable. Service: Professional, Warm, and Attuned Service at Aizle was at the level one would expect from a Michelin-caliber establishment: polished yet personal, informative without pretension. Staff offered insightful guidance and warm conversation, enhancing the experience without ever interrupting its flow. Final Verdict: Elevated Simplicity in Every Sense Aizle is more than a restaurant—it’s a philosophy built around seasonality, minimalism, and precision. Whether you're stopping in for a spontaneous lunch or planning an indulgent evening tasting, the experience is one of understated excellence. If you're in Edinburgh and looking to experience something modern, seasonal, and genuinely distinctive, Aizle should be at the top of your list. It’s not just a meal—it’s a quiet revelation of what Scottish produce can become in the right hands.