The Dowans Hotel in Moray

We nearly left the bar when we noticed the real logs left to the fake log burner but stayed for our pre booked lunch table. We were the only people in the restaurant and could hear the pinging of the microwave! We moved to a window table with a nice view but sadly the standard was not close to what we expected for £25 and my husband was still hungry. No stuffing with the pork and while the couple of roasties were tasty there was also new potatoes?! Never seen that on a roast before! Such a shame as it was a rare time away from the kids. We paid up quickly and left without desert.

Our party of four had two nights here. I’ve stayed in the Aberlour area a few times before but this was a highlight given the food, the view from our room and THE STILL ROOM blew my mind! If you enjoy single malt, which I do, find your way to The Still Room at The Dowans. The selection and quality is worth a detour. If you are new to the world of single malt, the server was highly knowledgeable and understanding. If you’re a seasoned sipper, you’ll find something new to try. Many exceptional expressions are stocked in their glorious wall of whisky. This room was one of the highlights of my 10 day visit to Scotland. Thank you, Dowans!

We had an absolutely wonderful stay at the Dowans Hotel. The ownership team and the staff were very friendly, welcoming and thoughtful. Our room was great with a very comfy bed and totally modern bathroom. The food (breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner) as well was awesome! The location in the heart of Speyside made it easy to get to all of the activities we wanted to enjoy in the region. In short: A fabulous stay. We would highly recommend the hotel to anyone coming to the area and would gladly stay there again should our travels bring us back. Thank you to all who made our stay a very enjoyable experience!

Went for lunch and sat on the terrace Small plates are a lovely addition to the main menu Good quality food Lovely staff Great views And… the best pudding I’ve had out this year Baked Alaska with an Italian meringue was cooked by Shona and absolutely delicious Thoroughly recommend Enjoy

We booked online and had a nice walk to get the place. Unfortunately it was raining a lot, so when arrived there we were wet and in a uncertain mood. Happy consolatory surprise! After getting in we were accommodated in the lounge on a sofa and got two gin and tonic waiting for the the table after placing our orders. Perfect timing! We sat at our table and few minutes after our orders were in front of us. Great choice for both couples we were. Delicious monkfish for the ladies and tasty, juicy and tender sirloins for the men. After that two drams of whisky by each served in front of the magnificent collection in the Still room. Fantastic! Back home once again under the rain, but so happy we didn’t feel it. Thank you. Italians love Scotland and there is a reason for!!

We stayed at The Dowans Hotel for five nights during a recent Speyside visit, and we are so glad we did! The hotel is simply spectacular. The setting is breathtaking, with easy access to the Speyside Way and just a quick, several-minute drive or 10-minute walk into the village of Aberlour. All the staff with whom we interacted were very friendly and helpful, going out of their way to help with whatever questions we had. We had dinner at the hotel our first night there, thinking that, after a long day of travel, we wouldn’t have the energy to go out – and it was so good that we ended up dining there two additional nights. I’m a vegetarian and was happy to find three wonderful and inventive vegetarian entrees on the menu (my favorite was coconut cauliflower with polenta and lemongrass-ginger sauce). The whisky and gin lists are exhaustive, and the bartenders and servers were happy to offer suggestions. There is a beautiful outdoor seating area in front of the hotel, with several tables on the front patio and several on cantilevered decks stepping down the front slope. Rooms were spotless and well-appointed.

Staying at The Dowans Hotel was a perfect experience. Our room was beautiful and an excellent size. Their restaurant is excellent, with a surprisingly broad menu for a hotel in Scotland. The bar is truly top-notch (and our bartender, Tom, was incredibly warm and knowledgeable). We'll absolutely be back someday.

I stayed at the hotel for two nights while touring Speyside and it was overall a great visit. The hotel was very nice and the staff was excellent. Service was fantastic across the board. The food at the restaurant was great for both breakfast and dinner and the whisky bar had an incredible selection. Perfect location if you want to tour around the Speyside distilleries.

Went today for afternoon tea with my fiancé absolutely delicious food was an excellent experience from the waitress who served us to the chef that cooked and prepared our food would highly recommend a visit and will definitely be back again

Newly renovated & lovely Staff all friendly & happy to assist. Tom, Courtney & Steph all terrific Food generally very good particularly enjoyed the lamb cutlets & halloumi fries. Efficient to order from bar & then be seated in the restaurant. Breakfast croissants super & staff very nice. Aberlour: Bright & cherry, appreciate the usb ports, recommend the following additions: shelf in shower, towel bar above tp, safe & small frig

The lounge with the bar is astounding, especially the view from the front window is magnificient. The people in the bar are very nice and helpful, it really felt warm!

Wir haben das Restaurant im Rahmen des Speyside Festivals besucht und hatten als Event Dinner&Whisky. Lauren Murray, eine der Besitzerinnen des Hotels, hat uns bei Eintritt gleich sehr freundlich begrüßt und zum Event geleitet. Wir hatten ein 4-Gang-Menü mit begleitenden Whiskies. Das Essen war sehr lecker zubereitet und sehr gut präsentiert. Allergien etc. wurden vorab abgefragt und das Menü entsprechend angepasst. Auch die Zusammenarbeit mit dem Whiskyteam war hervorragend. Man merkt, dass das Hotel im Familienbesitz ist und noch viel Wert auf Service und den Gast gelegt wird. So soll es sein. Vielen Dank für den schönen Abend, wir kommen gerne wieder.

Stayed here in January 24 - single room £170. Room was very small/cramped. Coffee making facilities in room but extensive details about how to recycle your coffee waste etc. Made a coffee but no table to put it on so just had to sit on the bed and drink it. Was there for a dinner - food was good but drinks service at dinner was quite poor. Breakfast the next morning - I had to give a time the night before that I would be arriving for it - was given a table set for 1 (I know I was there myself but...) I was facing the window with the rest of the restaurant behind me. It was nice to see the view but it felt quite awkward and it was difficult to catch the eye of the staff. The breakfast menu was unclear and I had the cooked breakfast but had to ask for toast as it wasn't offered and also some fruit juice. The coffee was given before I'd ordered my food and so was luke warm by the time I was eating my breakfast. Was looking forward to a nice relaxing night away - was disappointed. Not really worth the money.

I’m not ashamed to admit I discovered the Dowans Hotel through a Bravolebrity’s (Bravo reality show star) Instagram page. We were already planning a Speyside trip for our honeymoon and I was able to book the last available room as soon as I saw the photos online. This hotel is even more beautiful and unique than the photos and we loved our stay! We stayed in the Glenlivet room. The breakfast and dinner experiences were also delicious and the service was fantastic. All hotel staff is attentive and friendly and we highly recommend adding this hotel to your Highlands vacation!

We arrived at the Hotel were shown to a lounge and served coffee while waiting for a taxi that the hotel had pre booked on our behalf. Our stay evening meal and breakfast were excellent only added to by the excellent service from all. I would recommend staying here to any travellers.

Cannot wait to revisit this wonderful place. Lauren and Steph are so committed to every guest’s comfort. The rooms are lovely, the staff is responsive and the food is incredible. We referred to the whiskey room as “Whiskey Heaven”!

Great staff and food. Accommodated our schedule for breakfast and dinner. Nice central spot for visiting Speyside and an amazing whisky selection on site.

A Great family hotel in the heart of Speyside. Our family group of 9 spent a lovely evening / night in The Dowans Hotel, Aberlour. Rooms were good and clean. A fantastic whiskey selection for anyone so inclined. Followed by a lovely dinner. Superb ambience and an excellent location. Highly recommended.

Came here for dinner on Monday 3rd with a friend for dinner and drinks. As always the food and drinks were excellent as was the atmosphere, especially for a Monday! Cameron looked after us and deserves a mention because his service was brilliant. Cameron was polite and efficient and his personality really came through in his service. Will be back soon!

I was delivering luggage here but had been on the road for quite a while so was feeling hungry. I asked if they did lunch but I was too early. However the staff served me regardless which was really kind of them. I had stuffed chicken thigh and veg which was absolutely delicious. It's a beautiful place and the staff are so friendly and accommodating. Well worth a visit if you're in the area.

Beautiful old world hotel run by a very friendly and efficient team. The charming interior style in the bar area is really impressive, and the large whiskey selection displayed in floor to ceiling glass cabinets is quite something to see. We had the most beautiful freshly baked scones, which must have been made using someone's granny's recipe, they were the best I've had in scotland so far. They come highly recommended!

Family run hotel,the very welcoming Murray’s and their staff can’t do enough for you,everything about the place is great & warming! The standard of cleanliness is excellent & a credit to the team at the downs! Food excellent that includes a great breakfast menu,outstanding whisky selection the best I’ve came across in speyside!

Absolutely fantastic hotel. The food is absolutely amazing, the staff were very knowledgeable and very friendly. The hotel itself is absolutely stunning too. This is definitely worth a visit.

Stopped for dinner. A bit on the pricey side. The waiting area for dinner was cozy and the dining room was simply decorated. The food was just ok. I ordered a scallop appetizer that was stated as sautéed and tasted like it was dropped in charcoal. Disappointing. My husband had the trout and it was not very generous. The best thing? The nice dense hearty bread and herb butter.

We’ve often thought about The Dowan’s restaurant for a special night out, and decided to go to the 57 for a meal on our silver wedding anniversary. My wife is a vegetarian, and when I booked I was told there was a good vegetarian selection; this tied up with their website too “All our courses have equally appetising and creative vegetarian options, and the seasonal offerings are varied by a 'Catch of the Moment' and 'Vegetarian Dish of the Moment’”. Well, it was very disappointing, so much so that we almost left without eating. The creative vegetarian options included 3 dishes that could be had as either a starter or upsized to a main and there was no vegetarian dish of the moment. Fortunately there was a suitable fish dish. Whilst in the dining room we did notice other diners getting different meals that hadn’t been on the menu we saw, so perhaps there was a mistake made or they were residents on a different dining package. Overall it was a shame, as we had looked forward to trying this local restaurant, but left feeling disappointed.

Best hotel of the trip and really reasonable priced! We stayed in the Macallan suite and the room is really lovely! The bed was so comfortable and the bathroom was modern and spacious, as was the whole suite. The sitting area was the perfect place to enjoy the whisky we had purchased during the day as we unwound in the evening. There were tea making facilities and shortbread provided in the room, along with a fabulous hair dryer (if you have thick hair - you care about such things) and the bathroom had heated floors and a huge shower head and separate tub. They magically always had the water set to the perfect temperature in the shower and it was instantly warm. The room also wasn’t overly warm but perfectly comfortable for lounging and sleeping. The black out curtains helped us sleep as late as we wanted despite the fact it gets light at 4AM in Scotland. The room was also very quiet. You are a short stroll from everything in town, but the room is so silent you would think you are miles away from anything and anyone. The entire property is beautifully done and the lounge is an inviting place to enjoy a beverage before dinner or while away a rainy afternoon with a deck of cards. The breakfast was good and had good selection and was normally quite quick in coming. The restaurant does seem to be having some growing pains as the food doesn’t match the high level of quality seen everywhere else in the hotel. The food was good, just not great. Currently they have a process of taking you to the lounge to review the menu and then bring you in to your table in the dining room once you have ordered. It was a bit odd but I am assuming that has to do with staff shortage, perhaps. We would definitely stay at this hotel again if in the area and in fact might put this area on any itinerary just to be able to stay here again.

We came to Highlands to have lunch at the Macallan Distillery visiting from US. I searched several accommodations to find a comfortable place for the night. I selected Dowan mostly from the pictures of the exterior. Much to our delight, our stay has been a highlight for our long stay in Scotland. The hotel is beautiful inside and outside. The owners, especially Laura, are extremely welcoming. The food was excellent and room was very comfortable. The staff are all friendly. We did the whisky tasting with Becky. She supplied more knowledge and information from other whisky tasting we had done. This place is a true gem nestled in the Highlands. Be sure to take the hike to the waterfall. Our stay was perfect!

We stayed recently on a tour of local distillerys and found the hotel to be immaculately presented and well appointed. The building and grounds are stunning and has obviously been subject to substantial investment in recent times. The hotel is easy to access and well located and has ample parking. The staff are friendly and make you feel welcome.The bedroom was compact but immaculate and the ensuite was similarly appointed.We found the decor quite dark and gloomy throughout, it could do with better lighting, especially reception and the dining room as we really struggled to see.We found the food to be overpriced and the menu quite basic. Also the bar / lounge only offered olives or nuts which was disappointing for a late afternoon arrival. There is a good wine and whisky menu but beer drinkers might be disappointed.Overall we were quite underwhelmed by our experience and thought it was overpriced for what it is and probably wouldn't choose to stay again on that basis.

It was good to return again to enjoy another excellent meal at The Dowans. Post lockdown, the whole experience from welcome to goodnight was as good as it was pre lockdown. Standards have not been allowed to slip and the food was excellent, as was the friendly and efficient service. We really enjoyed the evening.

Last year, we married in secret during the pandemic at a castle close to the Dowans. We relied on them for advice prior to arrival and their friendly advice on hair, make-up, flowers etc was much appreciated. Moreover, when we arrived we were stunned by the beauty of the place. The autumnal colours are the back drop of our wedding photos. They are simply stunning.This year, we returned for our anniversary and received an equally warm reception. The staff are so warm and friendly and couldn’t make our stay any better. The sumptuous luxury of the hotel makes a stay even more special. Plus, we were able to make full use of the whisky room this year! We will definitely return. This will be forever ‘our’ hotel.

Great meal in a really cool hotel. Bar area was lively, and really nice space to sit before dinner. Food was excellent, and staff were chatty and a real pleasure to interact with.

We enjoyed a lovely first class meal and enjoyed the view over the valley from the outside terrace whilst having a drink.

This family run hotel was superb from start to finish, its has a contemporary feel, whilst retaining the original features of the building.I had dinner both nights, and couldn't fault the service or the quality of the food. However.... I was there for their whisky bar( The Still) 500 single malt whiskies displayed beautifully in glass cabinets.On my second day I had a tasting session with Becca, very knowledgeable and informative, which gave a bit of a amateur a nice introduction to aroma and taste. Breakfast each day was also superb, with local ingredients I would highly recommend this hotel for a solo trip of couples.

Having finished main course, 30 minutes later and table still hadn't been cleared and no offering of dessert! Explanation..short staff which didn't make sense as tables filled after us were all served deserts while we waited and waited ! We had to leave after 2 and 1/2 hours without dessert as taxi was booked. Staff seriously needing people skills as when I complained the woman in charge was as looking for a fight, I can still see her dark scary eyes!Meal we had was lovely, shame about the missing dessert and the lack of manners from staff

5 star in my opinion Beautiful stay made all the better by the lovely friendly staff. A family run hotel with exceptional staff, who take great pride in their job which is evident in the way they present themselves and look after you, Special mention to Jason who was so attentive to our needs and was a joy to talk to, an asset to the team, also Paphos who impressed us with his knowledge of whisky and his professional caring service, my husband enjoyed a couple nips of whisky, choosing a whisky from the huge choice took a bit of time but so enjoyable. Could not fault the standard of the hotel and it’s interior, It’s style mixes traditional with modern but keeps quality to the upmost. We stayed in the Junior suite which was beautiful and so cosy, I wanted to take the bed home, top quality and so comfortable.The food is amazing, cooked to perfection and delicious, the breakfast was piping hot and made to order, breakfast staff were so smart, professional, friendly and kind.The grounds and scenery is stunning, I feel so blessed to stay in such a beautiful part of Scotland Cannot recommend this hotel enough and look forward to returning in the near future Jean Meldrum

One of the best 3 course meals I have had. Really tasty, beautifully presented food. Great staff, very friendly and well trained.

Ate here one night , food was lovely , staff were brilliant and of course the bar is a library of whisky

We stayed 2 nights at Dowans. Beautiful hotel, attentive staff, great food and lots and lots of whisky to choose from! Hotel is of a high standard throughout. Front of house girls and dad, were friendly and attentive. Would recommend and would stay and dine, again.

We’d read good things about the family-run Dowans Hotel and it’s restaurant and impressive whisky bar The Still. We were not disappointed! Co-owner Stephanie greeted us a soon as we walked in and made us feel at home. We are out on the terrace as the weather was glorious and the views overlooking the valley are stunning.The Victorian building itself is full of character, linked to the family that founded Cardhu Distillery and designed by Charles Doug, the famous architect who designed so many whisky distilleries and their iconic pagoda rooftops.We didn’t have a chance to stay there this trip, but would almost certainly do so next time so we can experience the rooms and whisky bar and spend more time chatting with the friendly staff.

We stayed 3 nights at the Dowans and ate in the hotel each night. The staff throughout our stay were attentive and friendly and it was a great place to relax. We ate indoors but in the early evening eating outside in the sunshine was an attractive option.The highlight of our dinners was a venison special- fillet of venison wrapped in pancetta and pan fried, served with hassleback baked potatoes and veg. It was delicious. our other meals of lamb fillet and monkfish cheeks were also very tasty. Breakfasts were prepared on request and the fruit salad was clearly freshly made.A first stay for us but hopefully not our last.

Beautiful stay made all the better by the lovely friendly staff. Could not fault the standard of the hotel and it’s interior, we felt looked after and cosseted. It’s style mixes traditional with modern but keeps quality to the upmost. Lauren on front house made our welcome and arranged some fizz in our room which helped mark our stay as it would have otherwise been our wedding weekend.The wide range of cocktails made choosing the hardest task of the weekend, so give yourself time and sample many as they are great, highly recommend the Boozy and the Rhubarb Fizz!!A wide selection in the menu will appeal to many and we enjoyed all 3 courses before heading for bed. Comfiest bed and the silence made it the best sleep, again helped by the Rhubarb Fizz I think too!!Can’t wait to plan another chill out weekend as it did exactly that for us both - thank you guys!!For anyone visiting enjoy the grounds round the hotel as well as check the beautiful walks available from the doorstep in Aberlour. If walking isn’t your thing then either plan your visits to the nearby distilleries or otherwise sit back in the Whisky Room and imagine you’re visiting as you try dram by dram

Had a fantastic night out at the Dowans. COVID precautions are very good and service was fantastic. Lauren was very accommodating and made me an amazing Glenfarclas whisky sour that wasn’t on the menu. Would highly recommend

We booked here initially to have their tasting menu but due to COVID, it was not possible and we had the a la carte for dinner.The courses looked nice and the starter and main were ok. The cheese board was excellent.The service was a bit slow and could have been better.Was slightly disappointed since I had very high hopes after reading all the reviews. It was good but not exceptional.

Just back from our first weekend since March. We had been to Dowans last year and knew this would be perfect for us. Everywhere is spotless and we felt as safe as we could be. The staff are brilliant and all extremely helpful and friendly. It can't be easy for them wearing masks at all times. Guests wear masks unless sitting in bar or restaurant. The food and drinks were delicious. We stayed in The Balvenie. Beautiful room and bathroom was to die for. Can't wait to return

Die Erwartungen waren hoch, wenn man die Homepage liest und die Bilder der Menu's studiert. Zudem waren wir vor Ort um zu reservieren und wir hatten einen sehr guten Eindruck, da wir sehr freundlich Begrüsst wurden und die Abwicklung der Reservation war sehr sympatisch.Am Tag unseres Besuches wurden wir zuerst in den Salon beordert und mussten uns dort plazieren und was zu trinken bestellen. Danach wurde die Bestellung aufgenommen und im 15 Minuten Tackt wurden die Gäste dann in den Essbereich umplaziert. Kaum sassen wir kam auch schon die bestellte Vorspeise. Kein Brot kein gar nichts vorne weg! 2 Scheiben Auberigne, 2 Zucchetti mit etwas Sauce darunter für 9 £!! Der erste Biss der Aubergine und Zucchetti war ein Schock! Es war so bitter, dass ich es nicht essen konnte! Horror! Die Beanstandung wurde in der Küche überprüft, man hat sich entschudligt, das Gericht nicht verrechnet und einen zusätzlichen Drink offeriert!Der Hauptgang war Angusfilet handcut Fries und Gemüse. Das Fleisch medium bestellt war fast durch! So schade! Aber wir hatten keine Lust mehr nochmals zu reklamieren! Wir fühlten uns so oder so nicht sehr wohl. Die ganze Abfertigung der Gäste hatte eher eine Wartesaalatmosphäre. Die Bedienung wuselte hin und her und es ging Schlag auf Schlag….man hatte das Gefühl, man müsse möglichst schnell wieder draussen sein!!Leider war das Resultat des Essens, dass wir beide ca. 30-45 Minuten nach Verlassen des Hotels starke Bauchschmerzen bekamen von da an 24 Std. Durchfall und Krämpfe hatten. Wir informierten das Hotel per Mail. Sie entschuldigten sich nochmals gab eine eher ungewöhnliche Erklärung ab im Sinne von es können bei Zucchetti zu diesem Phänomen kommen ähnlich wie wenn man eine schlecht Auster erwischen würde, da können niemand etwas dafür!!! Sie boten uns am Folgetag einen Gratis Afternoon Tea an. Aber dazu hatten wir ersten echt keine Lust mehr zudem waren wir beide sehr unpässlich!Trotz den Entschuldigungen war unser Gesamteindruck nicht wirklich positiv und zudem sind wir der Meinung, dass so etwas in einem Restaurant dieser Preisklasse nicht geschehen sollte.

Amazing afternoon tea and lovely chat with the owners.. Beautiful setting and gorgeous decor not to mention accommodating our dietary requirements ie gluten free/dairy free/vegetarian. Lovely afternoon

Beautiful place and brilliant service - the girls were lovely - but the food was unbelievably bad. The £25 lamb ‘dish’ consisted of a pile of plain, dry, completely tasteless couscous-like stuff, a piece of plain lamb sitting on top of it, with some mint yoghurt and a fried lettuce leaf. The side dish of seasonal vegetables - another £4.50 - consisted of a few completely tasteless slices of carrot, old tasting peas and 4 very small pieces of broccoli, also completely tasteless; plain boiled veg that tasted like there hadn’t even been any salt added. The whole thing was so dry and tasteless that I couldn’t eat it, but took it home to add things to it to bring it to an edible standard. The lamb itself was completely plain, but still tasty, but everything else that came with it has to be the worst ever meal I have been served in ANY restaurant throughout the world, let alone a place of this calibre. The ‘parfait’ dessert was actually more like a slice of Rocky Road tray bake - as far as I am aware, parfait is mousse like - not rock hard, solid set chocolate. The 2 stars I give are for the service, the surroundings and the crispy chicken thigh starter, which, thankfully, was delicious. Also a VERY limited menu. I will not be going back. Sooooo disappointing.

Stunning hotel and restaurant. Came for lunch and a drink and was thoroughly impressed. Beautifully clean and appointed throughout. Lovely cocktails followed by a stunning lunch

We had drinks and lunch in the restaurant, which was a real treat. The ambience is fantastic throughout this hotel and staff very attentive and helpful. The spaces for drinks are great both inside and outside. The whiskey room is particularly charming. The food was fabulous. I had a venison burger, which was perfect, and my friends monk fish, which they enjoyed. Real find and highly recommended. I hope to be able to stay there sometime. Their Corona virus measures were also very reassuring.

Wonderful afternoon tea with friends celebrating new jobs. Perfect portions and lovely selection, my friend is vegan and got a proper feast too which was very appreciated. Tea pots filled up and water replenished, service was attentive but not over bearing. Room atmosphere was very quiet - only 2 other tables so felt we had to speak quietly - background music might be helpful. Would have preferred more savoury (3 savoury and 5 sweets) but that is just a personal preference. Very compliant with Covid regulations, felt super clean and safe. Had a wee peek through to the whisky room - cannot wait to have a drink in there at some point in the future!

First eating out experience after Lockdown. Wonderful food and service. Good atmosphere even though a bit quiet. But we thoroughly enjoyed it. Made to feel relaxed and welcome. Yes, we would go again. Not cheap,however very classy with Lovely decore and excellent food and drink!

We had a great dinner whilst visiting Speyside. Everything felt very safe and well managed. Social distancing and hygeine was excellent but didn't detract from great service and lovely atmosphere. The beautiful decor in the elegant lounge and restaurant made us feel suitably revived and pampered after long weeks of not eating out. The gin selection is fantastic. The food was splendid and the staff very friendly and helpful. They were able to provide great vegan options for me, whilst my husband enjoyed the not vegan ones!

Really nice food & friendly staff. We had lovely time sat outside. We’d definitely go back & highly recommend it.

We stayed here for 3 nights during covid 19.The food was delicious.The service excellent.All done within a very hygienic way.Highly recommended.

We had a great lunch here Sunday 26th July. Wonderful food and service in a beautiful setting. Highly recommend.

Yet another fabulous meal with 5* service at The Dowans. The management have done an exceptional job in training their team to such a high standard and the result is the number one place to eat in the area. Tonight we celebrated my wife’s birthday and the service was faultless and the food amazing. On arrival you are made to feel most welcome and this level of service continues through your visit, I highly recommend a visit, best in the area.

Just been to the Dowans for a valentine's meal and very impressed by the hotel. The staff were very friendly, genuinely happy and gave an excellent service. The starter mushrooms had so much flavour and very generous. The main we had monk cheek scampi which was delicious. Throughout the staff just couldn't have dinner a better job and will definitely be back again. As first impressions go it doesn't get much better.

Visited the Dowans for our anniversary meal, once again it was outstanding, a warm welcome with a smile then relax with a drink as you view the menu in a comfortable setting. The friendly, helpful and efficient staff along with a faultless meal made for another memorable evening at this fantastic venue, a real gem in Speyside and shouldn’t be missed.

As a fussy eater I always panic when it comes to a tasting menu... however, the Head Chef requested a list of foods I don’t eat and created a delicious four course menu! It was delectable! I had a wine pairing and my husband a whisky pairing. A fabulous feast and treat for the palate!

Lovley restaurant great food love to take friends hear for dinner the lounge bar is exquisite has a warm and friendly atmosphere the service is first class.

Fabulous afternoon tea in a fantastic location. The views are breathtaking and the food is so delicious. Stunning venue and would highly recommend the Dowans hotel. The place is so clean and the staff were so friendly and always at hand ensuring your pots were never empty. I loved that the afternoon tea selection included mini mushroom pizzas and filo parcels but one very minor suggestion: perhaps one more sandwich please.

Can't recommend The Dowans Hotel enough! xx Lovely atmosphere, lovely knowledgable staff -yet not cocky in any way and huge compliments to last night's chef! They obviously know their cheffing as well as nutrition and awareness of waste. The portion sizes were well balanced.-That I have not seen in a long time. Classy yet in no way pretentious. The serving staff know their stuff re food and drink too! What I will say is that there was a slight unnecessary seeming wait - I think they forgot about us briefly in the pre-drinks/nibbles area but I just gave them a wee nudge and all was fine and worth the wait!Also, I am dairy intolerant and suffer ibd/colitis - they cater to this and were very kind -for once I didn't feel anxious in a restaurant.There was no dairy-free desert o this occasion but they did say that if I know I am coming the day before, that if I let them know they can cater for this. However, this was a lovely impromptu meal for me....something that is usually difficult to do!Finally, the cocktails are a cut above the rest! x

Переночевали в этом очаровательном отеле ночь,далеко не в первый раз,как всегда все были в восторге. В Отеле подают неповторимый шотландский завтрак. Ужин в ресторане тоже заслуживает внимания и похвалы. Бар в отеле высочайшего уровня.Спасибо.

Stopped at the hotel inbetween distillery tours for a lunch. Typical Scottish warm welcome, ordered drinks by the side of an open fire before going through to a well appointed dining room. Food was excellent, as was the service. Reasonable prices for a great experience - highly recommended. I am sure we will return but as overnight guests next time.

The hotel has two restaurants, but the seem to serve the same menu. Service was good , food good if a bit expensive.Offer a big choice of whiskies in the bar.

My partner was attending a family party locally so booked a room here as a treat, the staff were very good at responding to emails before his arrival. However the £120 rate for a room that was essentially no bigger than our box room was very disappointing.

Had afternoon tea here and the food was great, such a nice selection! Had the room to ourselves as it was quiet so was a nice atmosphere Would definitely recommend for afternoon tea or even just a visit!

Car parking is round the rear of building. Lovely interior with an amazing choice of whiskies. Lovely food & friendly /attentive staff.

Arrived 45 minutes before our dinner reservation with the idea to have a drink in the bar. Unfortunately the bar was empty so there was no ambiance, we went ahead and ordered drinks, myself a bramble, which only filled the glass 3/4 of the way up and the taste was very mediocre. As we reached our dinner reservation time, a young lady approached the table with dinner menus (which surprised us) as we were still sitting in the bar, when asked if our dinner was going to be in the bar, she replied saying no, we would order in the bar and then be moved to our table in the dining room.

Das Hotel ist eigentlich perfekt. Das Personal ist nicht nur freundlich, sondern auch extrem gut ausgebildet und ganz offensichtlich sehr gut geführt. Das ist für ein Hotel dieser überschaubaren Grösse nicht üblich. Die Ausstattung ist grandios und sehr stilvoll. Die Qualität der Speisen und deren Zubereitung ist sowohl beim Frühstück, als auch beim Abendessen ausgesprochen hochwertig. Die Hotelanlage ist auch rundherum unglaublich schön und liebevoll gepflegt. Das Hotel ist wirklich 1A und kann nur empfohlen werden. Ich bin schon viel gereist, aber so eine stimmige Unterkunft habe ich noch ganz selten erlebt.

We booked dinner at 57 on our first night at Dowans. We began with drinks in the bright and light bar, where the cocktails were great, and the service impeccable. We moved to the restaurant, having ordered our meals and wine while having drinks. Service was beatifully measured, and the staff were engaging and respectful. The food was excellent, and the quantities generous without being excessive. A range of pasta and pizza dishes is available, but really the focus is on the more involved dishes, such as scallops and lobster. Overall, could not be faulted. Well done all.

Stayed here on Saturday night in The Macallan Suite. We were met with the most friendly welcome from Sam who looked after us for our stay.Our room was beautiful and spotlessly clean. It was a beautiful day so we sat on the terrace with a few drinks. We opted for the Taster Menu in the evening which was delicious. After a extremely comfortable night's sleep breakfast was lovely and freshly made. We had only booked here the day before and so glad we found it. The whole place is amazing but Sam and the rest of the staff are a total credit to the hotel .

This was the second time I had visited The Dowans for a meal and I will definitely be back. The first time was for my Dad’s birthday where we had hired the private dining room, the food was delicious and the service was excellent from start to finish. My next visit was in June and again I couldn’t fault anything. The food was great and the staff were very friendly and efficient. Looking forward to visiting again soon!

Visited the Dowans for a family meal on friday, the staff were lovely very friendly and attentive. Asked for a medium steak and it was cooked to perfection. Can highly recommend the blue cheese sauce.

While staying in Aberlour, we went to Dowan restaurant. Food poor quality. Fish overcooked and dry. Service just okay. Would not return.

Food good, some of the dishes surprise positively. Definitely superior to Pagodas in Rothes which is a similar concept.

Vanvittig flot hotel! Fantastisk bar kort, med et kolossalt stort udvalg af whisky’er og et fantastisk personale som udviser stor kærlighed

Wir haben dort kurzfristig ein Familientreffen organisiert. Man hat uns freundlich spontan mit 20 Personen aufgenommen.

The food is all SOOOO wonderful and freshly prepared. Staff is attentive and lovely. If you stay at the hotel you can do a tasting menu as well.

High quality cooking and great whisky pairing. Attentive and serviceminded staff. Great view from the restaurant. Highly recommended.

Having lived in the area for a number of years now, I am amazed we had never tried the Dowans before now.

Só tenho elogios para o atendimento e atenção dispensados ao grupo.A comida tembem estava excelente.recomendo fazer reserva.

Imagine our surprise, we went to Aberlour to hike to their waterfall. The hike was pleasant, not hard, but not too easy either. There is the Aberlour distillery, and then a literal 5 minute walk away, The Dowans Hotel and restaurant. Wow! What a gem! We went in with hiking attire, but it’s also the kind of place you could get dressed up for. The hotel is family owned and it shows in the way the staff handles its customers. The service is personal and the staff is more than happy to answer questions form everything from the alcohol and food to tourist attractions all over Scotland. The only thing better than the food was the outstanding views. I regret only eating at the restaurant and not staying at the hotel. We will definitely be back!

Booked an evening meal. Had to drive twice round the block before finding the access road (the only sign direction is on the main road down the hill) and needed to carefully negotiate the many potholes to the car park.

The restaurant had been recommended to us and they were right. We were lucky to arrive on a sun kissed Saturday night which showed of the picturesque setting. On arrival we were warmly welcomed and that set the tone for the night. Hospitality, décor, and finishing touches all superb. This was certainly our kind of food that they are serving with my choice of Mussels in a Thai curry Jus to start, followed by Rabbit cooked two ways, and finished of with a Rhubarb and Custard Cheesecake on a Ginger base. All in all a proper treat. Ever so slight issues, carpark could benefit with an upgrade and thought it a bit odd to have a Pizza section on the menu at such a quality restaurant (as you can guess, not a Pizza fan). These are meaningless niggles that will not stop us going back, hopefully soon !

The hotel , gardens and outdoor seating area are lovely as is the decor in the bar/lounge area and we were expecting a special evening when we booked a meal for two in the restaurant but reluctantly I have to say the experience was far from special. My partner had haggis, neeps and tatties starter which was 'ok' and I had tapenade with homemade bread -for the price I was expecting a nice artisan crusty bread with the tapenade but got wholemeal sliced bread , while I can't argue with the claim it is homemade I can say that to me it looked and tasted like bread I would buy regularly from the supermarket..

We traveled to Arbelour for the Spey Whisky Festival which was brilliant, despite the weather. We were lucky enough to find a true gem of a hotel. It would not be out of place in Mayfair London. The exterior is very traditional but inside has a very stylish boutique feel. It’s always refreshing to find a hotel run by a caring family, so making the standards very high. We had some fabulous meals too ! I can’t recommend it enough.

Had a great erful evening with a superb meal paired with GlenAllachie whiskies during the Spirit of Speyside Festival. The food was wonderful and was well complemented by the Whisky and all of which was local produce and did Speyside proud. We were all made to feel very welcome and well looked after by the owners and staff in the relaxing and cosy atmosphere of the hotel's Still Bar.

Group of us. We’re looking forward to our meal. Seated at our table 20 minutes later from our original booking. Food arrived late.

Their website promises “Fine Modern Scottish Cuisine” and “Creative vegetarian options”

My grand-daughter and i stopped here for lunch on the way to Aviemore for a long week-end stay. We had the hotel recommended to us and we were not disappointed.

This review is sorely overdue because everyone needs to know about this hotel. My husband and I stayed in May last year and had a fantastic anniversary experience. Gorgeous hotel, friendly owners and staff, and delicious meals. I surprised my husband with a private dinner, paired with scotch tastings--the value was unbelievable and I can't speak highly enough of this special experience. The room itself was warm, clean, and beautifully decorated - as was the whole hotel. In addition to our special private dinner, we had an additional dinner and two breakfasts at the hotel and all of the food was delicious. We only stayed for two nights, and I wish it had been longer.

Have just come home from a most enjoyable evening in this very pleasant hotel. From the moment we arrived, right through to our departure, we felt very much at ease and enjoyed being looked after by the friendly and efficient staff. Dinner was a delight, the food being excellent and full of flavour, with just the right amount on the plates. Well done!

Popped in for lunch on a Monday and this place did not disappoint. The views from the restaurant capture the heart of the Spey river. The service and warm inviting reception only added to the experience. The options of a light lunch were soon dismissed with the choice of sea bream or pheasant. We all chose different main courses and these delighted our tastebuds. Would thoroughly recommend dropping by any day of the week.

After many English hotels ‘The Dowans’ was our first **** Scottish hotel. Wonderful! We had a nice, clean, warm room. A little bit bright and sometimes loud if you open the windows during the night (-1* - sorry Dowans team!).

5 nights in this “interesting” hotel on the edge of Aberlour; we arrived following lots of snow and ice, and despite the main roads being clear, access to the hotel was challenging - surely a hotel wanting its guests (and staff/suppliers) to have safe access would have hired some labourers and snow/ice clearing kit to clear the road and car park.

Although we were not resident in this hotel, we decided to drop in for drinks and have a look at the very impressive whisky wall, the staff and owners were very friendly and treated us like guests, this hotel is well worth a visit.

We were here for my mother’s wedding yesterday it was amazing! Beautiful venue. Great service staff amazing with my little ones! Even kept my baby during the service! Meal was lovely. Quickly moved furniture around for each part of me the day service, meal and dance floor. Bar staff were amazing and managed quick drink service for the many guest. Great day had by all. Will definitely recommend and be back.

Lovely place wonderful atmosphere and food. Dont miss it. I recomende itwithout any doubt. Plenty of variety in the dishes. Lovely surronders too

Menu short and succinct with great daily specials, and an emphasis on local quality. Game and steaks were amazing