The Coffee Apothecary in Aberdeenshire

Best breakfast (rosti, peppers, parmesan, eggs..) on holiday to Aberdeenshire and surrounds. Refreshingly original menu with great coffee to boot!

I nipped in for a burger. went for the biggest one they had. ! £22 so I was hoping for something special. The bun was far too small but piled high with bacon and black pudding that wasn't bad. It came with mac and cheese actually in the bun! so it fell apart and was hard to eat. The actual burger tasted like a cheap catering one off a barbecue. Two flat rubbery disks of nothing. For that price, I was expecting a handmade burger. I don't know what they are playing at. Drinks are small and in silly jars with paper straws. The whole look of the place is quite good and the coffee was ok.

Stopped off for coffee & cakes The cakes were fresh from the kitchen and the coffee had a lovely smooth taste however the cups were quite small £7.20 each for a coffee & cake The chairs are hard wood so not very comfortable if sitting for a while Would have given 5 star of the coffees were bigger and the chairs were more comfortable

Was disappointed in the quality of the food. The taste overall was okay but the apple in the coleslaw was too much. Chicken was overcooked and dry and the sweet potato fries were few and soggy. Sweet potato's need a dusting of cornflour and seasalt so that they crisp when cooking. The bread presented with the soup had been cut and left out too long so was very dry and hard although the soup looked good and my client enjoyed it.

Always a great place to visit. Lovely, helpful staff and their coffee is fantastic. They have 2 sites to visit, one in Pitmedden and one in Ellon, both never fail to meet the same standard of service. I've visited both premises for coffee, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Would recommend all.

Went to the Coffee Apothecary for lunch with a friend. As the name suggests there are a range of coffees so I imagine it is good for coffee lovers. I found the menu limited for me as there is nothing plain on it. It's fine if you want pickled walnuts, tzatziki, truffle oil, guacamole, gherkins, mustard, herby breadcrumbs etc but nothing plain like a chicken sandwich. I guess I am old fashioned plus I don't like numerous ingredients together. It's probably good if you like burgers. I had the lentil soup which was served with "artisan bread". Staff were pleasant and brought our food quickly but forgot the bread which I had to ask for. The artisan bread was tiny and not particularly nice. Why can't you get a decent sized piece of bread with your soup? The soup was ok. The café had a nice ambiance but is probably not for me. The cakes looked lovely and I bought some to take out but they were so disappointing. I had a slice of blueberry and vanilla cake and it was far too sweet. The buttercream tasted like pure sugar. I also bought a slice of lemon and poopy seed cake which I gave to someone else and they said it was far too sweet. If you like the menu then this is a nice place to come but be aware, the cakes are extremely heavy on the sugar!

Popped in past for a takeaway coffee today. The guys working were not overly friendly and when I asked for the largest size they had, was told they only did ‘one size’. If I had seen the cup I would not have bothered - £3.40 for a small 3.5 inch paper cup of okay coffee. I am the first to support local businesses but this is taking the mickey! I won’t be back.

Lovely lunch of filled ciabatta. Lots to choose from. Coffee to follow is always good here. Staff friendly and very helpful. Service prompt and efficient.

First time we had sat in. Coffee and cakes were below average nothing special . They serves our coffee in a glass with no handle so could not lift it due to the heat. Not impressed service was very good.

We went following the review in a Sunday newspaper and felt slightly let down. As it didn't quite live up to the hype. The service was friendly and the young members of our group were made to feel very welcome. The coffee was good and there was definitely a choice. As with many coffee shops hard surfaces makes the place noisy. So it was sometimes difficult to have a conversation. Everything we ordered was fine and I would probably go again if passing but wouldn't go out of my way to go again. I had a sausage ciabatta which was mostly bread - I left the lid. The cakes were all nice but heavy on the sugar. It was busy all the time so a favourite for people in the area. Booking at lunchtime is probably a good idea. If I hadn't read the review and their website I would probably enjoyed it more.

Nice coffee and setting but staff are becoming pretty unfriendly and portions are tiny. There are a few members of staff who are brilliant but the select few are cold. Menu isn’t great for vegans and salad accompaniments contain dairy

Fantastic service. The food was lovely and fresh and wow the cakes and coffee are to die for. The cafe itself is beautiful. Could imagine sitting in there in a cold winters day enjoying the cosyness and atmosphere. Stunning.

Very very disappointed in my trip to this cafe. I had a so called Bacon Roll which consisted of two small pieces of bacon on a very small softie and a Latte which was served to me in a glass with no handle and as I have osteoarthritis it was very difficult to hold a hot glass without using the napkin I was given. I was charged £7.80 and it said on the menu one filling £4.00 and then in brackets it said 50p for bacon so where does the filling come in, and under the fillings you can have it but is £1.50 for the bacon so very very misleading indeed. I will definitely not be returning to this cafe.

Discovered this delight in deepest Aberdeenshire when doing a house renovation in the area. Returned with my elderly and frail father, son and granddaughter for a family Sunday lunch. Location is just off the main road, far enough to be safe and quiet for kids to be outside. Menu is limited in size, but still interesting, a beef bolignion, served as shepherd's pie took Dads fancy, wife a quiche, beef burger and Kim chicken for me, chicken burger for DiL, a Moroccan lamb meatball for son and veg soup for the wee one. Everything was cooked great, seasoned well, a good portion size, not the extremes sometimes faced with. V small potato toasties were a standout, sweet potato chips a fail, soggy and why bother? Coffees all round were brilliant, the flat white has a real kick, cakes to go a treat. Service exemplary, immaculately clean, easy access for Dad on a zimmer. Brilliant and we will return

Surprisingly not out of the door as they usually were, think there was some kind of Coronation shenanigans going on. Had a very nicely made latte and a superb pot of Earl Grey. Homemade pancakes with maple syrup helped to cheer up the foggy day, a roll with hog roast sausages went down well, lovely beetroot salad on the side too. Service excellent from everyone encountered.

Excellent place all different coffee's and good food if your a coffee connoisseur you will love this place.

Went in for a carry out latte the smallest latte ever for £3.20 it was half the size of every where else what a rip off

Service and staff was excellent had a lovely burger and mates wrap was filled and tasty, not the cheapest but you get what you pay for, quality food! and coffee heaven

Fabulous lunch with friends after a local walk. Also had tea, coffee, hot chocolate and cakes. Tasty quality food, very nicely presented and great service. A new find for me and will definitely be back.

Fabulous coffee place specialising in coffee from around the globe. Amazing coffee. My hubby had a rum hot chocolate which was amazing. Lovely unique cakes. Would love to return for a meal.

Inside and outside seating available. Try have a small menu but everyone found something they liked the sound of. There was a bit of a wait for the food, but it was really nice, no complaints. They have a cabinet of cakes/bakes to pick from....

Went in as was looking for a nice place to have a drink before driving home We ordered a latte a Salted caramel hot chocolate and a apple cake Cake was nice and fresh not dry at all Drinks were fantastic

Loved the beans. Full breakfast was very nice. Staff were good. Interior toilets were too. The price was normal for breakfasts

I had the smoked salmon tart. The potato salad was lovely but the "tart" was disappointing. I expected a tart not a thin square of puff pastry with a sprinkle(No other word for it) of tiny pieces of salmon. The whole "tart" must have cost...

Visited the Ellon cafe having read about it in the Hidden Scotland magazine. Lovely, relaxed atmosphere and a very yummy mint slice! Coffee was fab. Will definitely visit again next time we are up this way.

Usually have a latte which is very tasty but always has too much froth and not the hottest. The other problem is that it’s a very small glass it comes in which means when it comes with a large amount of froth there’s barely anything...

We have been to our local Cafe in Ellon regularly, for brunch, coffees and cake and for evening meals. Every time we have enjoyed the experience. The service and food are great, the food so fresh and delicious. I would throughly recommend it. Would be...

Soup of the day was good, ultimate burger was good too. Lots of coffees to choose from. Staff and service was excellent.

This review is of the Ellon branch. I have visited here a number of times and have had a different experience each time. One thing in common though is the way the staff treat/talk down to you if you ask a "silly" coffee question or...

Been a few times now. A bit hit and miss, the soups are generally good. Last time I ordered the pork belly sandwich. The pork was tough and dry. When paying the girl asked “was everything ok”? To which I replied, “yes all good, apart...

Warm welcome, super service and lovely atmosphere. Only downside was the quality of the food. Cold hard haloumi cheese, barely a scraping of humous, with no dressing. Cold hard bun. Altogether very tasteless. I left most of it.

The coffee is delicious, well prepared and the place is obviously run by someone with high standards. Coffee was well priced and on each visit I have been met with a warm welcome and friendly smalltalk. The cakes look amazing so I will be back...

I’ve visited both cafes quite the few times now and the standards are constantly excellent.Staff very attentive,great selection of coffee blends. Well worth a visit and I highly recommend the Big Bear breakfast!

Visited the Ellon venue for dinner and had a faultless meal. I had the risotto (best I’ve had in a long time) and the other half had the ultimate burger and gave it a big thumbs up. The sticky toffee was one of the best...

Just popped in for a cuppa with a friend, first visit, and it was very good. Friendly, helpful staff, comfortable and pleasant surroundings. Yea was really good, friend also enjoyed their coffee. Would return

Recommended to visit this cafe by friends. Enjoyed a great burger with sweet potato fries - very reasonable price. You could tell the ingredients were good quality, and they locally source as many as possible too, apparently. Great coffee. Bought a bag to take home.

Amazing coffee, incredible menu and lovely staff. Couldn’t resist a slice of gorgeous cake for breakfast dessert! A great brunch spot in the sunshine. Will be back to try the pancakes.

Over ambitious menu, but poor quality . Dreadful ''steak burger'' even McDonalds would not serve. Warm flat cheap generic cola, which on reflection I should have sent back. Had one sip and abandoned. Staff lacked basic restaurant skills. Staff empty handed but passing dirty dishes....

Visited this cafe recently while out for a long cycle and was very impressed by the service and advice on the coffee available. Coffee selected was excellent and accompanied the almond & cherry scones very well. A bottle of tap water and glasses were just...

This was the very first time I had tried Coffee Apothecary in Ellon, after being recommended by a colleague at work, I had to try it! Myself & a friend visited on a Wednesday evening which was the double sharer nacho evening, it is great...

Visited the Ellon branch . Had the nachos for 2 at the price of 1 which is a Wednesday special. Just the thing after a long walk at the Forvie Nature Réserve. Could have done with a little more topping layered into the nachos but...

Fantastic to find delicious artisan coffee (and amazing cakes, brunch and evening meals) in Ellon and also nearby at their second site. Friendly helpful staff too. A real treat during our holiday stay - 6 visits will give you an idea of how much we...

I usually really like Coffee Apothercary. I walked to Udny from Newmachar. After a long walk walk I arrived at 11.50. I requested food from the breakfast menu. I was informed that breakfast ended at 11.45. I asked if I could just have a coffee...

I have often passed this place by because it isn't in the most accessible location, being one of the last businesses on the eastern end of the Ellon town centre. This week however, after finding my usual haunts closed, I decided to give the Coffee...

My wife, daughter and I dropped in for a spot of lunch, having heard good things about the Apothecary. Admittedly the food and coffee were good as was the service however personally I found the prices a little extortionate ( £9 for a homemade sausage...

Recent times have really taught me to value independent businesses away from the corporate giants. This is a rare gem found in a lovely location. We had no prior booking but were able to be accommodated. The breakfast was absolutely delicious in what is a...

The welcome that I received this morning Udny was unfriendly and rude from the lady behind the counter. It was as if I was an inconvenience to her. The coffee and cake were good. In these difficult times establishments need to make their customers feel...

Our first time at the Pitmedden coffee shop. We liked the decor and ambiance. The waitress had a nice style, was very knowledgeable and gave us coffee recommendations. A great find on our doorstep and will definitely come back again.

Just been to the Ellon branch of the appothacrae for a take away which took over 20 mts only to arrive home to find they had forgot to put my burger in the bun.i called up to be asked if I wanted to come back...

The apothecary in Udny is great. The staff are lovely, its clean & tidy with good food and its great for the community. If bacon rolls are your thing, then stay away, unless you are bumble bee, a moth,a really small human or woodland creature...

Met a chum for breakfast. Drinks were expensive as were our breakfast rolls. Loved the mix of veggie haggis and halloumi breakfast roll. Service decent enough.

This was our first visit out with our newborn and we got a table outside with no problems. The staff were polite & courteous to us for the duration and the QR code menus was a good plus to save us worrying about holding menus. The coffee and pancakes were delicious so we will be looking to go back sometime soon.

Still dreadful seating and tables.I guess they are trying to be hip and trendy but decor is dismal and beige.Coffee was bitter and food was way overpriced..

Second Monday in a row (granted that the EOTHO scheme was an added incentive!) and stepped up from a fine piece of cake with the best coffee i've had in years to the savoury pancake dish which was absolutely superb - will definitely return in future!

This was the first time we had had a lunch out since lockdown and we couldn’t have chosen a better place. Excellent COVID arrangements inside and out. Menu was imaginative and the food was excellent. That couple with good, friendly and helpful service made this a great place to stop.

After a very early start to watch the sunrise on Seal Beach and a few hours swimming in Hawkley Bay, we needed a “pick-me-up” around mid-afternoon and came across this fab little café. The service was excellent and the coffee, tea and cakes that we ordered were great! The kids were delighted with fancy lemonades in mason jars too. Such interesting varieties and choices. Will definitely visit again.

Had a great lunch at the Udny Coffee Apothecary and some great coffee. Will be going back another day.

Had a take away soya lattee, it was the smallest cup ive ever had and cost £3.20. Not good value felt ripped off.

We visited here after our second night camping for a fantastic brunch. I had the vegetarian breakfast and my husband had the full cooked breakfast. The boys both chose sweet pancakes that came with ice cream and a chocolate shard. Happy boys given it was 10.30 and ice cream arrived. The food was delicious, coffee was fabulous and staff were really friendly. They are well set up for the new guidance and we felt very safe. Cannot recommend it enough! Thanks for an excellent end to our little trip.

Visited last week , everything is online for track and trace and also ordering. Bit disappointed with the sweet pancakes , £6.20 ...for the price I would have expected them to be freshly cooked and warm , not pre made . The coffee is as always lovely but the cups are very small for the price charged.£3 . Staff are pleasant and helpful.

Visited last weekend for lunch. Would highly recommend. Food was delicious and plentiful. Staff friendly, coffee excellent.

Our first meal out after lockdown was for brunch at the Udny cafe. We originally planned to sit outside but it was a bit overcast so took an inside table. Everything was COVID19 friendly, we could upload the menu easily with the QR code. Our contact details were taken and we paid by contactless. Our food was excellent as was the tea and coffee. Our waitress was very pleasant, all staff were wearing masks. We felt very safe here and relaxed.

Very good coffee, scones and locally made scrumptious raspberry jam. Both Ellon and Udny are good, although the service and overall ambiance at Udny is best.

We have been coming to the coffee apothecary for a few years now and we absolutely love both the Udny and the Ellon cafe. The food is always top quality, using local produce and just delicious. The menu changes regularly which is something that other cafes in the area do not offer. The coffee is incredible and you can see a lot of time and effort goes in to making it perfect. The cakes are always incredible and they vary on each visit.

Enjoyed an evening meal at the Ellon shop. All the food was delicious, freshly cooked and well presented. Some quirky touches. Very relaxed atmosphere and friendly, pleasant staff.

Thought I had to give these guys another 5 star review following our lunch here last Wednesday as the food was delicious, you get a great cup of tea (my husband equally enjoyed his coffee) and the waiting staff very efficient and friendly, it's just got a really nice vibe and I recommend checking out the decor including the toilet floors, thankfully sparkling clean, for creative thinking (see pictures). I'm planning on getting there in time for breakfast one day as the menu looks good.

Went here for a quick lunch, totally ignored for the first twenty minutes we were seated. Eventually we were asked by a very surly waitress what we wanted. We would’ve bought lunch but unfortunately the poor service and attitude put us off. We won’t be back.

Fabulous coffee shop fantastic food lovely surroundings extremely clean yes I highly recommend this lovely cafe...

Beautifully rustic interior, the kind of place you could lose a whole afternoon in with cake, coffee and conversation. The food was delicious and well priced, the staff were a delight, and the bloom tea was impossible to have just one

Best coffee in Aberdeenshire, and good atmosphere, always served with a smile. Only disappointment are the beef burgers which taste very processed and not "homemade". If these could be improved upon, it would be five stars.

Great meal - I had the onion and squash burger. It was delicious and the perfect size for lunch. The atmosphere is great, the service is superb and the staff are all friendly, welcoming and helpful.This is a great wee addition to Ellon and I will be back again.

Great to have a place like this in Ellon. Nice atmosphere, friendly staff and good coffee and food. Deserves to do well.

Extremely helpful when I made enquires about a gift voucher . I live outweigh the area but Jonny went out of his way to organise this. Now I can’t wait to come sometime and sample the food - if it’s as good as the pre-visit service it will be excellent!

Met some of our family here for coffeee and cakes and we were not disappointed. The coffeee was excellent and the cakes were really great. The menu looked good and we may well try out the food next time we are in Ellon.

I went on a busy Saturday night without a reservation and they managed to fit me in. Good food and excellent service but the menus is a bit limited, but nevertheless very good

We visited last night for dinner. The food, service and drink were all 1st class. I had squid for a starter then turkey for main both excellent.

Been here 3 times over the last 3 months for a light lunch. Always busy. Service has never been bad despite the place being full. A lot of unusual items on the menu and the food we have had so far has always been fresh and very tasty. Not the cheapest place to eat but if the food is good then most people will pay a bit extra for quality over quantity. It is always busy so this proves the point. Highly recommended

Great place for breakfast, lunch, dinner or simply coffee and cake Delicious selection of homebakes and the main meals are all fresh and very tasty. I can recommend the breakfast menu or the “nacho Tuesday” night menu Well worth a visit

Popped in on a busy Saturday for lunch. Welcoming despite the number of customers they were dealing with. We both had the heritage tomato, mozzarella, roasted pepper & basil pesto ciabatta and agreed that it was one of the best ciabattas that we have had - lightly toasted, the contents all tasted fresh. Delicious.

Purchased an Itison for a 2 course dinner. The food was all very nice, portions were not huge but sufficient, too much pate for the number of crackers.

This was my daughters choice. It was certainly a good one. What a find! I learned so much about coffee and had the most amazing lunch. The cake selection was also wonderful. So spoilt for choice. Must go back to sample different coffees and work our way further through the menu!

Chose Coffee Apothecary Ellon for Sunday breakfast with friends who were up visiting Aberdeenshire.

Fab food, friendly service. An absolute must. Even the toilets are interesting! We have absolutely nothing to critique about this caffe.

Title says it all Great location and decor; you MUST check out the toilet (floors), just superb. Food just excellent Service top notch and chatty

I've been coming to the coffee apothecary for a while now- the one in Udny and every single item we have ever had is amazing.

The coffee is awesome at this place, the toilets are definitely worth going to see. The food must be locally sourced as the bacon and egg roll is second to none

The Coffee Apothecary is a welcome addition to dining in Ellon. Friendly staff, delicious food and always an interesting selection of alchoholic and soft drinks. Menu consists of modest portions of tasty local food with a twist and always delicious.

Fantastic dinner for two with a lovely bottle of Malbec. Service was attentive and the food delicious and well presented. A laid back friendly atmosphere added to a great evening. We would recommend this restaurant.

My friend had a coffee in a tall glass beaker with no handle so impossible to hold it until it was cold. I had an coffee in a tiny cup and saucer costing £3, absolutely nothing on menu that I fancied so had some red pepper or something soup, quite unedible. Needs more tradtional food on the menu. Won't be rushing back

Been a few times , always excellent service , coffee and cakes . Only suggestion... please can you make the take away cups bigger ? Relaxing and welcoming cafe . Excellent new and exciting cafe for Ellon .

I was always brought up with the view "if you have nothing good to say don't say it", but there are certain exceptions and this is one of them.

We popped in for quick coffee. However, I was quickly tempted to try the cinnamon toast & bacon breakfast test was on the menu. What a great choice i made! 3 slices of lightly fried cinnamon toast with a couple of slices of delicious bacon. What’s not to appreciate? It arrived at my table after being cooked freshly & It was tasty! Even though I didn’t think I’d manage it all I swiftly cleaned the plate! Yum yum yum my coffee as with my partners was very tasty as it usually is .. we definitely think it’s the best coffee house around & now that we eat here or at the Pitmedden cafe at least once a week we obviously like the food too. A well deserved 10/10 a must for any coffee lovers or someone looking for a refreshingly tasty food menu.

Always a nice place to relax and enjoy lovely food and cakes. On this visit we had the Apple Crumble Cheesecake with ice cream which was on the specials board. Although this was nice we had Apple Crumble (traditional receipt) on a previous visit which was much better .... hopefully this will return in the future.

I was so looking forward to trying out the new coffee shop having been a regular at the Udny outlet Cafe was busy when I arrived with my one and a half year old granddaughter but after waiting 25 minutes for my order to arrive I decided to go Two tables who arrived after me had their orders taken before me There seemed to be no order of service and orders were taken at random Frustrating to see people who came in after you being served before you I was offered the option of taking a coffee to go but that wasn't why I was there Another couple did have a take away having got fed up waiting too So disappointing and I'll stick to the Udny coffee shop in future

We had planned a cafe visit for breakfast on the day the children went back to school. Ellon doesn't normally attract me for breakfast but we had the Ellon branch recommend.

Went for lunch. Different menu (although there is also soup and sandwiches). Had a most delicious croque apothecary - great combination of flavours and bread perfectly toasted. Husband had sausage roll and praised it too. We'll be back, most definitely.

I've always noticed this place was very busy when passing, yesterday I had time to try it out with some friends. Enjoyed the sunshine in their out door space, along with a luscious scone with clotted cream and jam and the very taste chai latte. Well worth the visit.

Had a fabulous breakfast yesterday. Two of us had the big bear and two had the big panda. It was super yummy and of very high quality. Can't wait to come back

Will definitely be back - lovely menu, beautifully styled space and friendly staff. Especially appreciated refillable water tap in the cafe, and quirky flooring in washrooms.

This is a review of the Ellon branch. Ellon has needed a good café for a long time. When we visited, I was surprised to see how busy it was. Always a good sign. Best coffee in Ellon cakes all homemade The food was of a high standard. The wine was also very good!! yummy