Darroch Learg Hotel and Restaurant in Aberdeenshire

Amazing location. Attentive management, so comfortable and clean accommodation. Delicious food. David Mutter excels with seasonal local produce beautifully prepared and presented

I would highly recommend this hotel. We had the most perfect 3 night stay with a warm welcome ,friendly staff , and superb food. It was quiet and our rooms were upgraded without asking. Rooms are very good with superb showers. Heating is easily controlled. We would love to go back

A great place to stay at New Year. Rooms are cosy with quality fittings. Food, locally sourced is presented well and very tasty, although lacks colour. Tried and enjoyed unfamiliar dishes. Breakfast very good. Good choice of wines and spirits. Excellent common rooms for relaxing and oodles of books to discover. Wonderful views of surrounding area and a relatively short walk to the town centre. Good parking. Very pleasant and helpful staff.

What a great spot! Hotel room was very pleasant, bright, clean and homely feeling and dinner was delicious. There is a tasting menu with some subs available. It wasn't very clear what is the sub for what similarly with breakfast menu which was confusing for other tables too and it seemed like the staff were not entirely sure themselves however they kindly gave us everything we asked for. Especially memorable for us was the truffled mac n cheese starter, fish soup and homemade lemon flavoured bread (which they kept coming! - hungry bf into happy bf). I loved the dining room with glass all around and above and fantastic views out. Also our tea pots came with these super cute covers so we wouldn't burn ourselves. Service was indeed beyond expectation during whole our stay. Many thanks and hope to visit you again

Beautiful building with wonderfully friendly host & hostess, Fiona & Nigel. Food was sublime, tasty with courses to complement each other. My disability was acknowledged and I was helped where needed. Thoroughly enjoyable evening. Thank you

Service is excellent. Place is very nice. Food is okay. The £55 fixed menu (drinks excluded) should be known in advance. And, please, drop that pasta salad and serve a proper steak...

Super little hotel perched above the glen with nicely refurbished rooms, bar, lounges and a conservatory restaurant. Very clean and welcoming (helped by being pet free no doubt!) Dinner and breakfast both superb - Go on treat yourself!

Friendly and attentive staff, excellent food. Highly recommended!

Beautiful location & very friendly staff make this our ideal getaway. We look forward to coming back in the years to come. Would highly recommend 👍

Loveky food, great location and wonderful service :)

Fine dining at its best! Lovely evening from start to end. Relaxed welcome, drinks in the lounge while we looked at the Menu. Four courses £55, not a massive choice of dishes, which didn't worry us, but may be worth checking options when booking? Attentive service but with no interruptions whilst eating! Wine a little pricey, but good selection. Superb food throughout with good size portions, I would have preferred some seasonal vegetables as opposed to the side salad but it didn't distract from an excellent meal. Will definitely be back.

Great location, food and atmosphere.

Excellent food and service and a superb wine list in beautiful surroundings. Consistent quality always, we've been here before and it is just as good today as it has been in the past.

First class. Owner, food, and room, all delightful. Thank you for letting us stay.

The Darroch Learg Hotel is located on the edge of Ballater in Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. This lovely family run hotel and restaurant, standing in wooded grounds on the slopes of Craigendarroch, has ten bedrooms, bar with a good range of spirits, including local whiskey and gins, comfortable and stylish sitting rooms and lovely views from the many large windows. Following recommendations from local residents, we booked an evening meal and found the service from all staff to be very friendly and first class. Meals are served in the large and sunny conservatory, with views of the surrounding colourful gardens. The fixed menu of 4 courses plus coffee included delicious homemade bread and alternative courses were available if any were not to your liking. There was also a full vegetarian menu available. The food was incredible, a real tribute to the masterful chefs and showed why the hotel has been accredited so many culinary awards. There was never a feeling of being rushed and coffee could be enjoyed in the lounge afterwards. This was true Highland hospitality and is highly recommended.

Food was excellent, local ingredients with a knowledgeable chef and the owner was a delight to talk to. Enjoyed sitting on the terrace

The hotel has been lovingly restored to its former glory following a devastating fire. Dinner served in the Conservatory with views over The Dee River. Superb food and friendly and attentive service. A special evening and we look forward to returning.

Warm welcome I look forward to returning comfortable hotel with excellent cuisine.

This restaurant is a must if your are visiting the area. From the moment we arrived we enjoyed the relaxed hospitality of the owners and the waitress. Our food was first class, all freshly prepared including the delicious bread. Worth every penny. Everyone was so friendly yet professional and treated us so well. We were very impressed and it’s now on our bucket list for a stay at this hotel.

Anniversary dinner last night. Very warm and welcoming. Food was fabulous. Perfect

This hotel is first class warm and welcoming conservatory dining room with great service we started with absolutely gorgeous bread off the set menu again another sign of quality the food was an excellent standard fantastic fish pie to start and the best beef we’ve ever eaten cooked exactly right we hope to get back to this wonderful getaway Very soon if in Ballater this is one to put on your bucket list it’s a must try with remarkable value for dinner

Wow! What a find. This was meant to be our “second choice” for dinner during our stay up here - it blew us away. Super food, really relaxed and friendly service. We both felt so comfortable especially given the current restrictions. Could have stayed all night - perhaps next time we will Ps what a wine list!

It was OK. The hosts were lovely, setting was beautiful, lounge and hotel is lovely. Food was average. Service though didn't match the price tag of the meal. May sound picky but.....we arrived early to go to the bar. When waiting we were asked to choose from the menu. 30 minutes before we were due to eat we were asked to go to our table for the starter. Our wine wasn't filled up at any time, the actress thought I was trying to catch her out when I asked what cheeses there was (she seemed a bit offended that I asked), when served our tea\coffee at the end, we hadn't even finished our drinks. The meal, wine and beer was a pricy for something average but what saved it and got it 4 starts was location.

We had dinner one evening in the restaurant. It was an absolute find – top quality and tasty food, cooked and presented very well, and served with an understated, relaxed, but very professional approach. Highly recommended.

Darroch Learg gave us the most wonderful welcome and a lovely dining experience in this new reality that we now live in. The food was fabulous and service first class.

Every single course was excellent. The service was first class and the owners were warm and friendly.I remember reading an article a number of years ago in a Sunday newspaper which gave it a very good review which highlighted the fact that the owner limited the mark up on wine very significantly. My understanding is that the same practice is still being applied and in my view this is both commendable and something other " quality " hotels and restaurants should consider.

If you enjoy the warmest of welcomes, superb yet unpretentious food, a setting on Royal Deeside that is without equal, and a truly special yet understated ambience which has been lovingly created thanks to the impeccable taste of the owners, then if you're like us, a visit to Darroch Learg will leave a lasting impression - making you want to return again and again.

Food is delicious and the menu will suit very taste. If you are not resident at the hotel it's advisable to book in advance. Easily the best food in the area

Great hotel with Fiona and Nigel as your hosts. The food is superb and now that the refurbishment has been carried out the decor is first class. It is a superb evening out and should not be missed. Sunday Lunch is also very good.

I was delighted to hear that Darroch Learg has finally reopened after the terrible fire and eagerly waited for my next trip to Ballater- I was thrilled to be invited for dinner there. I had heard very good reports and I now know why. Fiona, the owner, greeted us with a very warm welcome and we were shown to the lounge for drinks in front of the fire on a cold October night. The decor was impeccable and very stylish. The warm & very tasty amuse bouche arrived not long after our drinks. The menu was excellent and I struggled to decide as there were so many dishes I wanted to enjoy! From venison, lemon sole, lamb rack, hake, chicken, steak etc etc! I decided on duck for my starter, my friends both chose goats cheese mousse and beetroot. Both were beautifully presented and tasted delicious. I chose the rack of lamb for my main course which was superb! Good quality meat cooked to perfection that melted in the mouth. My friends had chicken with mushrooms which they enjoyed, and hake with a herb crust lid. Both looked great and I gather tasted excellent. The vegetables were cooked to perfection. For desert I ordered a pannacotta with berries and an unusual basil ice cream. It was also beautifully presented - smooth with the vanilla seed distributed through the pannacotta perfectly! To finish we had a portion of Scottish cheeses which were delicious served with quince jelly, biscuits and some fruits. We had an excellent Chablis so all in all a tremendous meal and I can’t wait to go back again when we are in Ballater for the beginning of December. Darroch Learg has always been good but the current chefs (who you can see working through a cooking a glass window in the immaculate kitchen) and staff are tip top. I eat out too much in London, all over the country and abroad but this meal was one of the best ever. Thrilled to see Nigel and Fiona looking relaxed but working so hard to make sure everything was perfect for us without any drama or issue. I wish them and their team well on the newly and beautifully decorated hotel and congratulations to the fantastic chefs in the kitchen. I loved every minute and can not recommend this highly enough for quality Scottish food served perfectly.

Had a first class meal here which was just around the corner from where we were staying at the edge of town. Starters mains and desserts were all delicious and beautifully presented. The service was faultless provided by our convivial hosts. An extensive wine list is also on offer. Hope to visit again in the not too distant future.

Wonderful to be back in the restaurant, which since the changes has retained an even more impressive ambience and yet warmth. Superb in every respect, cuisine, attention to detail, service and just everything. Wonderful to see the Owners on hand and involved with an obvious happy team of staff. Kitchen arrangements very impressive, just congratulations all round ! Thank you Nigel and Fiona a total credit to your very hard work.

Enjoyed a lovely dinner with family. Service is excellent and both the dining room and lounges are comfortable and beautifully decorated in traditional style. Dinner was £40 for a 3 course meal. Steak was an additional £5 if selected. All our meals were delicious and beautifully presented. Wines were not particularly cheap but there was a good selection and their wine cellar is clearly something that the owners are very proud of.

Superb food and service in wonderful comfortable setting. It is the attention to detail and thoughtfulness that sets Nigel and Fiona's hotel and restaurant apart.

Most wonderful meal I've had in a long time

Superb location, beautiful views up to Lochnagar. Delicious food and stay in a wonderful Scottish country house

Great to find the Darroch Learg back in business and in top form, from pre-dinners and canapés in the drawing room to the excellent quality of the food which was enjoyed by my party of me plus four grandchildren (aged from eleven to 21). The owners are very much hands on, and have the knack of doing everything just right in a charming and unpretentious manner. Nothing was too much trouble and they catered most sympathetically to the needs of one of my grandchildren who was slightly under the weather. A second visit to mark the end of our holiday was equally well received by us all..

Recently while staying at a nearby hotel we had the pleasure of a truly delightful meal at the Darroch Learg. Upon arrival we were warmly greeted by the owner and escorted to a lounge for a pre meal cocktail. The hotel and restaurant were beautiful.

The owners show their love of their hotel & restaurant and make sure the guests feel very welcomed. Great views while eating delicious food.

Food is amazing. I was here for my wedding anniversary, the service was first class and the food was to die for.

We were welcomed by Fiona for my Birthday meal with my family. We had drinks in the Drawing Room that was served small canapes were served making it very special. Lovely service and credit to the staff for making our evening so relaxed and enjoyable. The food was simply divine and all left feeling very happy. Looking forward to coming back to stay for a weekend soon! Thanks to Fiona and Nigel who were extremely lovely to us.

First class dinner. The duck was beautifully presented and cooked. The ambiance wad just right and the furnishings were excellent

Wonderfully relaxing and welcoming

Just spent a lovely weekend at the Darrick Learg Hotel. Our first stay but certainly not the last. Everything was just perfect from our welcome on arrival, our room ( No 4), and the food. Fiona and her husband went out of their way to make our stay special. So good we have already booked another weekend in September. Should be listed as 5 Star. Fantastic place.

Great food, well presented by attentive staff (the owners) and an interesting menu.

We felt thoroughly welcome from arrival and throughout a five day stay in this charming hotel We had an immaculate and beautifully appointed room with great views The owners do everything to ensure one`s stay is as comfortable as possible Really delightful

Delighted to report that the Darrick Learg is open once again - interior has been redone beautifully. New chef, excellent food. Have stayed here several times prior to the fire, and look forward to returning many more 😊

Lovely place to stay , after renovation looks stunning

We stayed at the Hilton next door and dined there on the first night was disappointed and we dined here on our second night - we booked in advance prior to our trip based on the reviews and yummy looking menu. The restaurant certainly lived up to its reviews. The meal was perfect and perfectly cooked, full of depth of flavour and correctly seasoned. Excellent wine menu too. They deserve their food awards and as we are real foodies ourselves having our own establishment offering food and with our own award it was a real pleasure to be served a gorgeous meal on which we were unable to find fault. More pricey than the Hilton but worth it.

Had a wonderful meal, food was excellent, our food sensitivities were catered for in brilliant style, service was friendly, efficient, professional.

From the intial offer of the 'Gin Menu' through to the meal in the lovely restaurant, this was one of the best meals I have had in a long time. The service was discrete yet attentive which made for a very comfortable evening. However it was the food that stood out. I love lamb chops but never thought I would rave about them. They were superb as was everything else that we had. Highly recommended and so glad we visit Ballater every September as we will return next year.

Wonderful welcome. Cosy. Drinks by the fireside. Menu we think covers most tastes. Wine list excellent. The meal was superb .

Having visited this area several times I cannot believe that I had never heard of this place before.

The food was amazing, always had a good variety to choose from, and they were extremely gracious in accomodating special dietary needs (e.g. gluten-free)

If you are visiting the Highlands and are near Balmoral Castle, do yourself a favor and book a table at Darroch Learg. The food is EXCELLENT! Our party had beef that was beyond compare, wonderful sea trout, and beautifully prepared lamb racks. Plus the service is surperb. We began in the sitting room with Scotch and wine, then amuse bouche (haggis/salmon bites), beautiful salads and appetizers, entrees, and desert. It was all beautifully prepared and served. They wine list is very good and not at all expensive. The pre-fix price is very reasonable.

We were staying in Ballater for a couple of days having attended a wedding in Aberdeen and using this as a chance to explore the Cairngorms. After a disappointing meal elsewhere on the first night we found the restaurant at Darroch Learg on trip advisor.

The night we visited the restaurant, we were the first to take our seats in the restaurant and we were shortly afterwards followed by an elderly couple who sat next to us and were lovely.

From the moment you walk in the atmosphere oozes class. We had a great dinner there on Monday evening. The ambience, the staff, the service and the food were perfect in every way. I cannot recommend this restaurant strongly enough.

A small 80th Birthday Dinner for mum turned out to be a perfect occasion.

I hadn't heard of the hotel before, so on a trip to Ballater last weekend for a friends special birthday I wasn't sure what to expect. It's a traditional country hotel with conservatory. My goodness, from the canapés that were served with a pre dinner drink, followed by a taster lentil soup with pastry lid at our table and then the 3 course meal it was all superb. One of the best steaks I've ever tasted and cooked to perfection. All 5 of us were blown away. We had Chablis and it was very good. £45 for the meal and coffee and home made petit fours if you had room! Lovely staff

Fantastic service, wonderful food and friendly hosts. We came here on our Anniversary and only just managed to get in after a cancellation, we are so glad that we did as we had a fabulous meal and a memorable evening, would highly recommend to anyone visiting Ballater.

Lovely location,comfortable pre dinner lounge with good view followed by high quality meal.Excellent wine choice. All served with professional expertise.

Recently went for dinner here and really enjoyed it. £45 a head for a three course meal and coffee which was of excellent quality. They had a lovely choice of dishes and the service was excellent as well. If you manage to eat while the sun is still up - the view is also lovely. Highly recommend!

We have dined here on many occasions over the 25 years we had owned our time share next door at Craigendarroch and never once have we been disappointed in any aspect of dinning experience. The owners (Nigel and Fiona ) are very hospitable and always on hand to guide and recommend on both the food and wine. This is a very serious food venue and with a wine list to match, the dining room is very intimate and with pre dinner drinks and after dinner coffee being served in one of the two cosy lounges makes for a very relaxed and informal experience.

We spend a week in Ballater most years as we have a timeshare lodge at Hilton Craigendarroch. We never miss an opportunity to dine at Darroch Learg and have been doing this for a number of years now. Whilst the hotel has a sign at the bottom of the drive, it isn’t obvious that a fine dining restaurant resides within. The hotel is very traditional in style and the owners (Fiona & Nigel) are hands-on with service. Fiona works front-of-house and is very warm and welcoming. The food is the star attraction at Darroch Learg, the flavours and quality being second to none that we have discovered in the area. To give you an idea, on our most recent visit, we had Ravioli of Smoked Haddock and Pan Fried Scottish Scallops followed by Rack of Deeside Lamb and Fillet of Sea Trout followed by two lovely sweets. The four course dinner with coffee and handmade chocolates is £45 which is very good value for the quality of the food, service and establishment generally. Looking forward to next year already!!

Thoroughly enjoyed everything about our family meal at the Darroch Learg last night. The service was very good, if a little humourless from the male member of staff, but very nicely timed and professionally executed. The food was sublime - the smoked haddock risotto was to die for, as was the fillet of beef, so tender, moist and flavoursome. The crime brûlée was the best I have ever tasted. The wines, a Pouilly Fume and a cotes du rhone were first class. The cost of £45 per head before wine was very acceptable for the standard of food and wonderful setting. Quite a formal setting so not for you if you want a very relaxed situation but we loved the formality. Can't recommend it highly enough.

We loved the food, welcome, atmosphere and being part of such a lovely family home. We have told all our friends to go!

We enjoyed a wonderful evening with our friends at Darroch Learg. The food was excellent, the staff was friendly and attentive, and the location and view are spectacular. I would highly recommend this restaurant for any occasion!

Ganz ganz gute Küche -- Service dazu stimmt -- toll !

Après être reçu au salon, vous serez invité à rejoindre la veranda. La décoration est typiquement écossaise et a un léger côté surrané. Les toilettes sont d'ailleurs aussi anciennes que le bâtiment et sont glaciales. Le restaurant offer un menu 3 services à 45 pounds. Mon mari a opté pour une terrine jambon et foie gras et malheureusement, la brioche est arrivée lorsqu'il avait fini son plat. Le serveur était inexpérimenté. Le vin blanc n'était pas gardé au frais et nous avons dû attendre avant d'en recevoir un verre tiède. Enfin, nous avons dû nous servir notre vin blanc nous-meme par manque d'attention ou d'expérience du serveur. Le plat principal était satisfaisant (agneau et polenta) mais le dessert fut décevant. Ma crème brulée est arrivée très froide au milieu et sortait tout droit du frigo. Nous n'y retournerons pas !

We visited for my sisters special birthday on 12th July her husband wanted a special place to take her and he was not disappointed. We were taken to a traditional and comfortable pre dinner room for drinks with a view to die for, our host Nigel was a very friendly and most helpful man. My sister discussed the wine list with him as she knows a bit about wine. We were given dinky little aperitifs.

Pros: Great food, service, and setting. Very memorable. Cons: Parking is tight at the hotel. And you pay for what you get.

Personall service and wonderful food. Look forward to our visits here whether it is for Sunday lunch or dinner with overnight stay. The drive could do with upgrading but that's the only negative thing I would comment on!!

my husband and I were taken here to celebrate our anniversary with 2 good friends. we had never been before but would certainly go back. The food and service was excellent and we were all treated very well. The food was 5 star and served perfectly and our glasses of wine and water were topped up without asking. I will definitely return more than once.

Mycket bra mat och service på denna restaurang. Svårt att få bord, men vi hade tur. Fantastisk utsikt att avnjuta vid drinken före maten. Bra kombinationer och smaksättning. Ett minus för kylskåpskall ost på osttallriken dock.

Dined here whilst staying at the Hilton Craigendarroch which is just a 10minute walk away.

How I wish we had discovered this gem sooner. From the moment we stepped over the threshold, we felt welcome and very well looked-after.

We came here with high expectations based on the Tripadvisor reviews and were not disappointed. Great food & very good friendly service was complemented by stunning views, both from the restaurant and lounge area. Overall a very good and totally relaxing "country house" dining experience - we will definitely be back next time we are in the area.

Been before and will be back again! Wonderful food, service and attention to detail. The smoked salmon tartare was delicious as was the twice baked goats cheese souffle and the sirloin of beef with yorkshire pudding epitomised Sunday lunch. The sea trout with a pea risotto was beautifully cooked and presented and the vanilla parfait was better than the sticky toffee pudding though we were never going to agree amongst ourselves on that point! Great value at £27.50 for 3 courses and coffee pp.

Having now come to eat here many times, I must say it is very good. The food is beautifully presented, very tasty, price is reasonable too. Staff are nice however if they are busy as in if it is full the service can get very slow which can become frustrating.

My family has been going to Ballater for over 10 years but this year I returned with my boyfriend, staying at the Craigendarroch lodges nearby. For mine and my boyfriend's birthdays we decided to try and find a restaurant that does Aberdeen Angus Steak. Not finding any inspiration anywhere else, i stumbled across Darroch Learg and booked a table with no idea of what to expect other than looking at the sample 3 course meal on their website that quotes £42.50 (not being used to high quality restaurants I was surprised on arrival that you HAD to have a starter/main/dessert). The restaurant setting is very comfortable and there was a lounge area near the entrance with a fireplace where we saw guests having a drink and choosing their meal before sitting down. We weren't made aware of this however and only realised once we'd sat down and they came to their tables later on. This is probably because it was our first visit and we weren't hotel or regular restaurant guests as a few of the other people there seemed to know the owner. We would have enjoyed a more relaxed start to the evening than in an empty restaurant so perhaps this could be encouraged especially in winter!

Called to book a table for 4, advised/warned there was a party of 40 cricketers that evening.... What the Hell... Yes! Fabulous menu, food met and then exceeded expectations, attentive service, lovely ambiance (surprisingly quiet party if 40 cricketers) so, faultless food, service, wine list, cheese board! Thoroughly recommend to any visitors to the area, we will return without hesitation.

Not priced for every day of the week but very special place to eat. It was the attention to detail that made Darroch Learg different, despite a quiet night every table was perfectly dressed, fresh flowers on every table and all lit by candle light.

Six of us spent the evening there last week to celebrate a birthday and we all agreed it was one of the best meals we had eaten. The service was very good and attentive and the quality of the food excellent. The amuse bouche and the taster (what we called soup in a pie) were unexpected and outstanding.The wine and drinks selection was very extensive. The ambience very warm. All in all a memorable experience and if when we are next in the area will certainly give it another. PS on the night we were there because of circumstances there were no taxis available and Fiona ran us all back to our hotel which was very much appreciated.

If you can make it up the hill and find a parking place you are all set. By far the best high end restaurant we dined at in Ballater. And we went to at least 6 in a week while on holiday:) The staff was extremely helpful and genuinely friendly. The food was superb...ALL of it including the free extra's. The atmosphere and décor, wonderful. We will be back if in the area again. Thanks Darroch Learg.

We celebrated our wedding anniversary in this wonderful restaurant. High standard food and cooking, probably one of the best restaurants in Northern Scotland. Warm welcome and relaxing atmosphere for a perfect dinner...The chef has nothing to envy to the best french restaurants and the wine list has been selected by connoisseurs, deeply recommended !

On all occasions, a number as a guest of friends staying or passing through Ballater, every one a winner,especially my Daughters half century party complete with Piper,back soon I hope.

A really good meal prepared with well thought out ingredients. The whole dining experience made for a good evening

First class food and great owners - good banter with Nigel! Scallops - yum; steak - perfection; chocolate pudding to die for!

Fantastic meal in lovely surroundings. We were very well looked after from as soon as we arrived. The food was of a very high standard and a good choice of wines. It is expensive but well worth it for a special occasion. It is worth checking the menu online to make sure you like what you see. We sat in the lounge for pre-dinner drinks and waited to be brought through to the conservatory dining room when our 1st course was ready. We had the option to have coffee there afterwards but stayed at our table as the atmosphere in the conservatory was still nice. Expect 3 - 4 hours for dinner, so a whole evening.

Before booking a table at Darroch Learg I looked through the sample menu printed from their website and found zero vegetarian options, at which point I started looking for alternatives. My partner (non-vegetarian) and I found a few of the other choices in the area, recommended to us by friends, has ceased evening service so we decided to call an ask if vegetarianism would be possible here. The Lady who answered suggested that I could call back tomorrow and despite forgetting she managed to contact me through my hotel and told me the options, numerous options! It is a most satisfying experience to go from zero to multiple choices as a vegetarian and so we confirmed our table for the next night straight away.

The Darroch Learg is a charming hotel situated at the quiet end of Ballater, the closest village to Balmoral. It's a statuesque nineteenth century granite building of great charm, comfortably furnished in a rather old fashioned style. The welcome from the husband/wife owners couldn't be better and predinner drinks in one a couple of comfortable lounges allow views towards the valley of the Dee. The menu is suitably "Scottish" in style, using lots of quality local ingredients - and the cooking matches in terms of quality. A lovely menu with good choices and a good wine list. The restaurant is partly a glazed conservatory and a chat,Ing place to eat. Service is just right. A great place for lunch or dinner for couples larger groups

If you want, good, warm hearted Scottish cuisine in the heart of the highlands, look no further. The restaurant forms part of a (fairly dated) hotel and although there is not really a view overlooking Ballater, the glass enclosure - almost like a conservatorium - which forms part of two sides of the restaurant makes for a lovely atmosphere as you overlook the lush plants outside.

We have been to ballater a few times before, and usually treat ourselves to one of the high end restaurants in town. Our usual choices have unfortunately closed their doors, so we tried Darroch learg and were very glad we did. drinks in the lounge beforehand, a taster menu with some very nice extras, and the widest choice of Gin and whisky you can ever imagine!

Hvis du er i Dee Valley, må du spise middag her! Du må dessuten komme sulten, for det er en forett før forretten, og enda en liten apertizer før det igjen... :-) Hyggelig velkomst, bra service gjennom hele middagen og superb mat i fine lokaler og blomstrende omgivelser. Koster ca 45 pund for tre retter, men det inkluderer også litt ekstra.

Soirée mémorable dans ce restaurant avec un couple d'amis. C'est incontestablement le meilleur restaurant de la région. Service et accueil parfaits, mets délicats dignes de grands chefs français, cadre très agréable. Rien à critiquer! Certains diront que les prix sont élevés (peut-être pour la région) mais ils sont tout-à-fait en rapport avec la qualité largement supérieure. Il n'y a rien d'équivalent dans toute la région. Nous n'avons qu'une hâte: y retourner lors de notre prochain voyage à Ballater!

Dined at Darroch Learg last week for our anniversary and were not disappointed. Very friendly welcome from the owner who showed us to the sitting room where we enjoyed pre-dinner drinks and amuse bouche. Delicious breads awaited us at our table and we had a stunning view of the mountains. I had scallops, lamb and chocolate maqruise and my husband had the ravioli of smoked haddock and fillet steak, all of which were superb. Looking forward to returning next year.

My husband and I ate here as a treat during our holiday in May. We were welcomed by the owners and shown through to a lovely lounge where we were offered a pre dinner drink. They have a super range of gins and whisky. We had a delicious amuse bouche of black pudding.

soooo delicious soo fresh felt like home mafe food loved it yummy. loved there bread its just so fresh

We dined here for a bit of a treat whilst touring round cairngorm.