The Boat Inn Restaurant in Aberdeenshire

We stayed one night and had an absolutely lovely time. Dinner was delicious, the service was top notch and we were able to order from a menu for breakfast. Our room was beautiful and spacious. The location is wonderful. I loved it here.

We stayed here at this very busy pub/restaurant for 2 nights on our Scottish tour. We had a room at the front, overlooking the River Dee, decorated in dark blue with a nautical feel. Very comfortable bed, lots of cushions and a woollen throw for those cold nights. The room was serviced with fresh towels, bed made & tea bags etc renewed. We had to book a table in the restaurant for each evening. Meals were huge, and cooked perfectly with plenty of choices. Breakfast was also served in the restaurant, all table service. Very nicely done. The main bar was constantly busy, with locals, walkers, tourists etc. most likely because it's the only pub for miles around. Excellent wi-fi reception. There is a car park behind the pub, with street parking also available. There are three charging points for electric vehicles, which we took advantage of. Aboyne is a perfect location to visit Ballater, Balmoral, Crathie and the surrounding area.

We are local. It’s always been costly , with chaotic staff -but we knew that . Last week we decided to try again. Most of the staff were much more mature , attentive . Portion sizes minuscule and zero garnish . A female waitperson challenged me on why I had not eaten the sesame slaw and brioche bun. I said the slaw was off , as the sesame oil was stale .She argued that I was wrong and why I didn’t eat my roll . Don’t like brioche ! I reinforced that I didn’t want money off , just stating that the slaw was off. It was hideous. So it was again mediocre and never fails to disappoint. Never again.

Served by a very young server, in fact they were all very young and when not working they were all standing around at the entrance chatting. I hadn’t even finished my starter when my main arrived. The guy next to me was complaining about his dinner, very poor response from the waiter/Server. I expected a better choice of food, my choice was ok but that’s about it. I wouldn’t eat there again.

Gezellig, cosy hotel met attente medewerkers. Kamers kunnen wat gehorig zijn als je op de bovenverdieping slaapt maar gelukkig houdt iedereen zich aan de reguliere slaaptijden. Handige ligging als je op doorreis bent naar de highlands.

Not recommend if gluten free, meal sizes are too small, often a result of gluten containing items being removed from the meal.

Always our favourite place for lunch as a family! A great menu with lots to choose from. Delicious food, cosy country pub atmosphere and friendly helpful staff make this a fantastic place to eat out.

Two evenings spent here, enjoying first class cuisine (special: beef koftas with fennel rice was fabulous! Also enjoyed huge Shed Burger - with GF bun - , and haddock and chips. Desserts were yummy: sticky toffee pudding, and have to recommend the indulgent Highland Affogato 🤩). VERY dog friendly - all the staff came and said, hello, to our little dog, water and dog treats “on tap”, and looking after us - with mobility issues as well as dog - was their priority. Thank you so much to Ellie, Nicole and all the team. 😃

After being let down by the Indian we had booked we ventured to the Boat Inn. A lovely friendly place with good service and a fairly concise but interesting menu. I chose the chicken burger, which was delicious and my hubby had the vegetable curry, again delicious. We’d definitely recommend and will certainly visit again, when next in the area.

We recently had an early dinner before going to the Academy for an event which was part of the Aboyne Festival. Our food was good, and the service good, but we really do wish there would be some new choices added to the menu. I'm aware there is really nowhere else to eat dinner in Aboyne, so perhaps there is a degree of complacency at the Boat Inn. Hope to see some new options on the menu on our next visit in September.

Had a brilliant meal here - crayfish salad, ploughmans, burgers, nachos - very delicious and healthy too. Lovely friendly staff and a great vibe. Thank you 😊

Really comfortable overnight stay with dinner and breakfast at the Boat Inn. Staff were friendly and efficient. Food was good. Appreciated the choice of grilled haddock rather than batter - fish was beautifully cooked. Breakfast was excellent and plentiful- granola, yoghurt and honey followed by mushrooms, spinach and poached egg. Good coffee (decaf). Room 16 was very compact but contained everything you need. Most important, the bed was great - comfortable and not too soft. Shower room was very well designed with good power shower and plenty of space ( some hooks on the wall by the shower and by the sink for your towels would have made it perfect).

The food was not bad the service was a bit slow but it was not the worst restaurant I’ve been to overall I’d give it 3 stars

First class service and the friendliness of the staff make this a really great place to stay on Royal Deeside. The food is lovely and they make the most of our stay by doing lots of things local - great recommendations from the staff

Beautiful country Inn on the edge of the River Dee in the village of Aboyne. Excellent friendly service and great menu choices for all (vegans too), outdoor seating and inside features the wee train running round and lovely log fire for cosy winter evenings.

Fabulous all round - servers are all very friendly and professional, service was very quick and the food superb. Within minutes of arriving our drinks arrived, order taken for food with starters delivered with 15 minutes then the delicious mains. 10/10 from everyone at our table.

As always this is a great restaurant and worth going again and again The menu is unusual with plenty of choice David and Irene loved it all

Over the years, we’ve had many great meals here, and this was one of the best. The professional and friendly staff dealt with our mixed-age (with several specific dietary requirements) family group with humour and patience. An added attraction is the wee train which chugs...

Been going here for occasional lunches for many decades. Over the years there have been management and chef changes, and portion sizes are less than they used to be, but this lovely country pub has always been a really good reliable restaurant. Food is excellent,...

I was in the restaurant last week with my wife and a couple friends all of us thought the food was substandard and there wasn’t much change in the menu since the last time we were in 4 years ago , can’t fault the staff...

Treated a good friend of ours to pre Christmas lunch as it is a dog friendly place.One of the best turkey dinners i have had.Good welcome and great service was greatly appreciated.

A lovely place with great atmosphere, beautiful decor and friendly staff. We just drove around Aboyne looking for a place to have lunch after visiting an activity center in Strathdon with my two children. The food was superb and it was served pretty quickly. I've...

Freundlicher Service, leckeres Essen. Nichts wie hin! Gute schottische Küche. Unbedingt vorher reservieren.

Boat inn was recommended to us, so off we went a Tuesday night and very busy. was seated upstairs, nice surroundings. good selection of food and drink. excellent service provided, and the food was very good. All in all, very good, would definitely recommend.

Fish was good but batter heavy.Burger was tasteless and dry.Chips were good.Steak was nice but very small for price.Good peppercorn sauce. Pear crumble was awful....barely cooked oat topping; a crumble comprises flour, sugar, butter baked into something delicious. Sticky toffee pudding was top notch.. really...

An annual Get-Together - the Boat Inn chosen, as it is relatively equidistant for the 7 or 8 of us who meet, and we have always enjoyed our visits. On this occasion we were 7, and we received a warm friendly welcome for our 12.30pm...

We've visited a few times over the past 5 years ever since I worked in Aberdeenshire for a year and keep being drawn back to Deeside for a weekend away! The rooms are lovely - cosy and a cafetiere to make real coffee is a...

Very nice and fast service, good quality, local, tasty food. I had humble fish and chips. Batter was silky, delicate and fish was flaky and melting in your mouth. If you like f&c it must have, if you don't that's a place to change your...

We called in here whilst we were holidaying in the area near to Banchory. We hadn't booked but they managed go fit 7 of us in. It was a Sunday and the pub was pretty busy so we were lucky to be accommodated. The only...

Very nicely decorated place, delicious food with lots of flavors (generous portions), fast and perfect service! Thanks

We popped in after visiting Balmoral and were sighted they served food all day. Restaurant is big and airy and more like the bar than a restaurant. The staff are friendly and helpful. Menu is varied and the food is delicious. If only it was...

We were recommended this place and it didn’t disappoint. Great menu choice, warm & friendly staff, excellent food. The fish & chips and chicken burger were fantastic.

Amazing food, lovely staff. Love the fact there is the option to have fish and chips with either grilled or battered fish as I love fish but am uninterested in batter.

Went in for lunch today, the sweet potato and apple soup was to die for. Most of party had fish and chips which was excellent as usual. Staff were Fanta

Previous visits for lunch have always been an enjoyable part of a day out, but this time the menu choice seemed much shorter and less interesting than we remembered. Sometime a short menu is a good sign - it represents what can be done well,...

The only reason my family and I go here is that (a) we live locally and (b) the staff are super friendly and helpful. It's basically a (posh) burgers and chips place for £20 a time.

Having driven past the Boat house for years without ever going in, we finaly popped in for lunch at the weekend. Booked over the phone and the very pleasent lady booked us in, sent us a confirmation email, and was kind enough to give me...

Lovely Inn, facing the river Dee. Very child friendly (we visited during the school holiday), but still very relaxing for adults. Seats were comfy, the food was freshly cooked, really lovely, and the service was very efficient. Even the sandwiches (we went for fish platter/burgers/fish...

Excellent en-suite room that was dog friendly. Phenomenal breakfast and great food in the restaurant. Great location by the Dee in the edge of the Cairngorms. We will stay again

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal on Saturday night. There is a good choice on the menu and the food was cooked to perfection. Excellent service from Becs and the team. Thank you!

We stopped for lunch, and the staff was super friendly. The place was busy and they managed to accommodate us. The service was very quick, even though they advised we should wait a while to be served as the place was full. Facilities were very...

Excellent meal and the service was very quick. The staff were all very polite and helpful. Booked on line which isn’t a thing I normally do but was straight forward and worked 👌.

My husband and I stayed here for one night . It was a lovely stay . Our room was very clean , quiet and comfortable. We had an evening meal which was excellent as was breakfast the following morning. The staff were all very helpful...

Stayed at the boat for a night on 6th November. Service was exceptional and the food was amazing. Stayed overnight and had an evening meal in the restaurant and breakfast the following morning. Staff were friendly and helpful. A shout out to Jess whose knowledge...

Great restaurant, especially as there is little competition in locality. Still thirty more characters needed

Went to celebrate my friends birthday. Have always loved coming here, the food is gorgeous...I had the pork belly and my friend had a burger. Ended the meal with a lovely espresso martini...cause...why not!! Stayed for further drinks, such a homely welcoming bar!

My 2nd time staying at the Boat Inn which has a lovely location close to the River Dee. The rooms are modern and very comfortable. Breakfast was excellent but I thought the evening meal wasn't quite up to the same standard as before. I think...

Excellent menu and well cooked food - mostly with local products. The Inn has a good ambience and the staff are most efficient, delivering good service with smiles on their faces. We went there for an early supper and we were not disappointed and enjoyed...

Tasted smoked haddock stovies tonight for the first time and looking forward to making them myself! Plum crumble dessert was mmmmm

We ate here on the 2nd night of our stay in the area. Wish we had booked to stay there too. The staff were very friendly, not leaving you standing at the door, checking you in, ensuring you did track and trace. Great menu, so...

We were unable to get a taxi so we're very late. Staff were lovely about it, and were lovely all night. Food was delicious with generous portions. Cocktails were fab. Atmosphere was buzzing. Highlight was the wee train that chugged along a track that was...

If I could rate accommodation separate from food accommodation would get five stars. We had a lovely room overlooking the river. Spotlessly clean and well stocked with tea, coffee and biscuits. Breakfast was a mixed bag , staff often not really knowing what they were...

Had an excellent meal at the Boat. The staff were very friendly, attentive and willing to go that “extra mile”. They even agreed to run the model train around the bar. Well worth a visit but would recommend booking.

Extremely surly staff and the food wasn’t great. We didn’t feel that the welcome was warm, and the food was over cooked, cold and less than average in quality.

what is says on the board outside, pub grub, basic seating and comfort but good for an evening meal or lunch

Following previous successful visits ( albeit two years ago) , we booked for dinner at the Boat Inn recently. Very disappointing - the food was very poor and overpriced. I chose for the main course Pan Roasted Sea Bream . Two tiny, thin overcooked fillets...

We booked a table at The Boat after discovering our favourite eatery in Banchory wasn’t open. It was quite short notice booking and we were a little late due to traffic. Due to the one way system, we entered at the front, to the point...

We were staying at the Inn and had an excellent evening meal. All 3 courses we couldn't fault (arbroath smokie and the seabream were so good!) and the atmosphere if great, a nice buzz about the place with nice decor. The experienced staff were great,...

Lovely rooms and stylish design mixed with comfort. The bathrooms are well appointed and the beds are really comfy. The tea coffee and biscuits in the room and a nice touch. The staff are always helpful and can’t do enough. This was my third visit...

From walking in the service was poor, we waited quite a while to be served even though the restaurant was very quiet, we ordered 4 meals, 2 of which they got wrong, the steak my daughter ordered was over priced at £26, I ordered a...

had to wait nearly an hour for meal.thought £14 for a burger and chips was a bit expensive then i had to pay an extra £1 for a gluten free bun as i have a gluten allergy and in my book frozen chips in a...

A family brunch was called for and having been here before a few times we knew that we would be delighted with the food. All five of us were well pleased with our choices and the service was very good. Will be back soon.. Till...

Two of us Went for lunch after we found that our local was shut. I ordered a cheeseburger and wife had a BLT sandwich. We did not have to wait long. I found that the cheese burger, which was allegedly two patties, amounted to what...

Great location with comfortable clean rooms and good pub food. Outside dining possible and welcoming helpful staff in attendance

Turns out you can improve on a perfect cheese scone by adding the beautiful presentation along with some extra cheese and some apple. Amazing coffee. Well priced.

We had a really enjoyable meal and evening at The Boat Inn whilst staying in Aboyne. We sat out for some drinks in the unreserved beer garden which is a great feature. The food inside is to a really good pub grub standard - we...

Stayed here a couple of times. A really nice old inn by the River Dee. Friendly staff, good rooms ( not big, but it was built in 1720) and decent food and wine. Highly recommended.

I’ve been coming here for a few years now it’s my local very kind staff and friendly great food. Only thing I can grumble is they want to take your order quickly. But it’s a lovely place look 👀 over the river

We called in for lunch without having booked beforehand. The staff were friendly and accommodating. Good Covid safety measures in place. And a really lovey lunch. Sandwiches were fresh and tasty.

We have enjoyed all of our visits to the Boat Inn over the last couple of weeks. All of the staff are so friendly, welcoming and can’t do enough for you, the food is tasty and beautifully cooked and presented, my husband particularly recommends the...

Fabulous lunch today, 7 of us with allergies within the family but all well catered for. Beautiful food, massive portions and great service. Beautiful location and lovely decor, would definitely visit again if we are in the area. Thoroughly recommend.

Luckily, it's a pretty good one! We stopped here for drinks after cycling on the Deeside Way to Ballater and back. Service was good, and we were able to sit outside and enjoy the afternoon sun. The menu looked good, so we booked ourselves in...

Spent 3 days in the Boat inn, Aboyne. It was a very nice hotel with modern bedroom and ensuite, albeit a bit small. The restaurant and bars where cosy and inviting with a nice ambiance. Covid safety was good, with drinks being bought and paid...

On arrival we were greeted by a young waiter who took our order. 30 mins later a waitress approached and was surprised that we didn’t have our drinks and food. She then had to take our order again due to a computer glitch. We then...

Visit a week ago after many visit a few years ago - standard of food just not good enough. I had Lemon Sole with wilted veg and potato dauphoise and a lobster sauce- sound great, but fish wqs overcooked and dry, a slab of potatoes...

We had a lovely meal here - so impressed by helpful and covid aware staff, we loved our food and I had lots of choice for a gluten free meal. Really nice atmosphere, very relaxing

Really not a great experience unfortunately. Order took quite a long time to come, when it did come, we had to go over the whole order about 2 or 3 times until they understood what food was missing, even though the waitress did a double...

What a lovely hotel! Lovely location right opposite the river Dee, which was awfully handy for us when we needed to take our 2 dogs for a pee. I was concerned that it was right on the road but I needn't have been as it...

Was charged twice for rooms and despite saying that rooms had been paid for refusal to check and charged anyway! £400 later.... Refused itemised bill when requested. A quick turn around of computer screen in dark bar with people waiting behind me to look at...

We picked the Boat Inn, because we spotted vegan options on their online menu. We had a reservation, arrived at the allotted time, and ordered the vegan mushroom burger and the vegan sweet potato burger. Neither option could be described as a burger. There was...

We stayed in Aboyne for a week and visited the boat three times. Great food! They were really helpful with dietary (no dairy) requirements too

Bit disappointed they put us upstairs without telling us in advance. There was no atmosphere up there. Food was pretty good although I had to send my steak back as it was overdone for the ‘medium rare’ I requested. When it came back it was...

Great welcome in this cosy,comfortable pub. Some great,slightly unusual food choices. Highly recommend.

Many gluten free options are marked on the menu, including burgers, pies, fish and chips. I would recommend the burger as the sides, chips and bun can all be made gluten free. The chips can be fried in a separate fryer to ensure no cross...

Very slick and user friendly App handled all aspects of our visit on Sunday past. Able to dine Al Fresco in lovely warm sunshine. Extensive Menu and super service from Holly & Kirsty. Shall definitely pay a return visit.

A very nice pub in a lovely location. Full of character and very nice food I have run out of other things to say but hopefully this pads my review out to 100

We have been here a few times when staying in the area and the food and service always excellent This was our first trip since COVID and it didn’t disappoint Excellent booking service online and good controls in the restaurant Staff always very pleasant and...

We went here for an evening meal here and couldn’t fault it. The food was amazing at decent prices. My husband had nachos as a starter which was a huge portion so we ended up sharing. He then had the buffalo chicken burger and I...

Been here three times now, the second time the food was good and had an interesting menu. Now after the latest visit I don't think I'll be back. Food was not good at all. There was my friend and myself at the table. I had...

All our family really enjoy going to the boat for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Food and service always great. Only thing that would make it better would be some healthier options on the menu.

First class service and the friendliness of the staff make this a really great place to stay on Royal Deeside. The food is lovely and they make the most of enjoying what we can at this strange time.

We stayed for 3 nights for a short getaway. The Inn and the Boat House where our room was were both fantastic. The Inn is comfortable and welcoming and the staff were really friendly. We tried most of the menu during the stay; highlights were the porridge, French toast, Lamb steak and the sticky toffee, but everything we had was really good.The room was fantastic with a standing bath and a really comfy bed.We'll definitely be staying here again.

We had looked for somewhere to have a meal during a staycation in the area. The Boat Inn was such a great place to find. The atmosphere, the staff and food were all great. The staff took time to have a chat, ensure everything was ok and made the night very enjoyable. The food was delicious - we had chowder and haggis nuggets for starters, both had perfect cooked steak and hubby had a liquor coffee that was presented perfectly made. Definitely try and visit this wee gem if you are in the area

Very pleasant staff serving in a old building sympathetically modernised. Small menu, ranged from fish and chips to Philly cheese steak. Portions are big enough for the hungriest walkers!

My partner and I stayed here for one night and absolutely loved it. The room was comfortable and cosy with a large, spotlessly clean bathroom. We really liked the coffee on offer in the room too- fresh in a French press, not instant! We had dinner here and both agreed that the food was lovely (we were lucky enough to get the table by the fire, which was a great bonus). Breakfast was great too, the homemade pancakes and tattie scones were just delicious!All staff members were friendly and helpful, nothing was too much trouble. We felt reassured by the strict adherence of the hotel to covid safety measures.We have been raving about The Boat Inn to friends and family all week and we are looking forward to going back, hopefully soon!

Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, an evening meal, a quick pint or an afternoon coffee this is a great choice. They welcome everyone with open arms, even if you’re muddy and sweaty after a day in the hills. They even have treats and a bowl of water for your dog. A traditional bar, a cosy restaurant, and outdoor seating. The family love this place

We were here for lunch yesterday and had a lovely meal. The restaurant has been well adapted to allow for social distancing but yet still has a cosy feel. The fire was roaring when we arrived and we were given a menu with plenty of choices. We ordered 3 courses, all of which were large portions and we left very full but very happy.

We had a fabulous overnight stay with excellent food and such helpful and pleasant staff, food was excellent and beer was perfect. The room was very nice and cozy, breakfast was very tasty with a good selection of food to choose from we will be back soon.

Very good lunch here at the Boat Inn. Excellent COVID precautions and very good sandwiches. Will definitely return!

We stayed for 3 nights in room 9 which is in the Boat House across the car park from the main hotel. Room was spacious and very comfortable. In the current COVID situation, we felt very safe, hand sanitiser at every turn, room was very clean as was the pub/dining rooms, one way systems too. Plenty choice for breakfast and ate dinner there too every night as the food was excellent. The staff were very welcoming and friendly while explaining the "rules".