Michelin-starred Lyla adds townhouse bedrooms as Stuart Ralston expands
Chef Stuart Ralston is set to elevate the experience at his Michelin-starred Edinburgh restaurant Lyla, announcing that the four bedrooms within the adjoining Georgian townhouse on Royal Terrace will become part of the operation from mid-February.
The move marks a significant next chapter for Stuart as he openly pursues a second Michelin star, bringing accommodation, private dining and a more immersive arrival into the fold of one of Scotland’s most ambitious dining destinations.
A restored townhouse rooted in Lyla’s Scottish identity
The bedrooms, formerly part of 21212, will sit across multiple floors of the eighteenth-century townhouse. Glasgow-based Scarinish Studio have overseen the restoration, creating calm, textural spaces that mirror Lyla’s understated Scottish character.
Lofty ceilings, detailed cornicing and large sash windows reveal the structure of the original building, while light-washed oak chevron flooring and a muted Bauwerk lime-wash palette establish a sense of softness.
Bespoke joinery integrates velvet and marble, with Scottish design running throughout: Isle of Bute fabrics, cushions by Roros Tweed, throws by Hilary Grant and lighting from Tom Dixon and Parisian studio DCW éditions. Domus tiling – also used in Lyla’s drawing room bar – offers a nod to Edinburgh’s maritime past.
A private dining room for twelve guests will follow in late April, set on the first floor beside the drawing room, centred around a sculptural solid oak table and curated tableware. The original Georgian fireplace will also be reinstated.
A seamless beginning to the Lyla experience
Guests will check into Lyla like a boutique hotel, arriving to an aperitif, charcuterie and snacks before being shown to their rooms. Minibars will be stocked with Lyla’s own batched cocktails, Champagne and caviar, alongside shelves of in-house products.
The dining experience
continues upstairs in the drawing room, where snacks such as alp blossom cheese with onion and quince and lobster with trout roe and sake are served alongside cocktails and champagne from the trolley. The dry-aged fridges also sit here, reinforcing Lyla’s open approach to luxury.
For dinner, guests move downstairs to the 28-cover dining room and open kitchen. Stuart and his team cook with Scottish produce using classic French technique and subtle Japanese influence. Dishes include Scottish langoustine with burnt apple and sorrel, chawanmushi with North Sea crab and kombu, and dry aged duck with fig and XO finished table side.
Wine and soft pairings curated by sommelier Stuart Skea accompany an extensive list focused on small domaines from both the old and new world.
Breakfast with a view across Royal Terrace
Come morning, breakfast is served in-room with views over Royal Terrace, part of Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. Guests can expect pastries, charcuterie, compotes, fresh cheeses, eggs and home-cured bacon presented on bespoke tableware.
'The fullest expression of Lyla'
Stuart said: “This next chapter means we can give guests the fullest expression of Lyla. The expansion allows for another layer to offer our guests, this experience is something I have always wanted us to move towards, and is also us moving into a pursuit of a second star, an opportunity to refine every detail and push ourselves further.”
A rapidly growing restaurant group
Stuart opened Lyla in 2023 and the restaurant earned its first Michelin star in 2025. Earlier this year, Stuart launched Aizle Hospitality Group, named after his first restaurant Aizle, alongside Jade Johnston.
The group now includes Parisian bar à vin Vivien and cocktail bar Vinette, which opened in October 2025, as well as bib gourmand restaurants Noto and Tipo.
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Michelin-starred Lyla adds townhouse bedrooms as Stuart Ralston expands
