The Dowans Hotel in Moray

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.

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.

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!

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

OMG this hotel is a really treasure in all directions. Just by looking on the castle makes one believe to be in another world. Inside it’s a warm, modern but also classic look. Amazing friendly and helpful team! Stayed in the smallest single room ever but it was super and everything one could need was there. Great breakfast, lunch and dinner! Fab bar with open fireplace and comphy sofas. Breathtaking whiskyroom with an unbelievable huge amount of whiskys. Rooms are named after Whisky Destillery which is just funny and something else than ordinary numbers. I’m in love with this place and have to travel there again

We recently visited for lunch. We very well looked after, the team were fantastic the food was lovely. Nothing was to much trouble and they went the extra mile to ensure our experience was enjoyable. Would highly recommend a visit. We will definitely be back soon. Thank you for a great afternoon.

My family treated me to afternoon tea here as a birthday gift. It was a truly wonderful occasion! The service was excellent, the food was spectacular, and the hotel itself is gorgeous.

This is a great place. Nice people, great food, ... . If you visit this region, you have to stay in this hotel. Congrats for the hotel crew.

There are many outstanding aspects to The Dowans. From the particular and delicate molding of each room, or the elegant and comfortable design of each space; from the variety of spirits and mixed drinks, or the sheer perfection of each meal we enjoyed at 57; to the beautiful structure ensconced in a little corner of Scottish heaven in the village of Aberlour. However, where The Dowans shines brightest is on its staff. Managers/owners Steph and Lauren lead the way together with a well-trained, courteous and truly kind staff. Our particular experience was phenomenal, as we had contacted the hotel via email a few months prior to arrival and not a question went unanswered and not one request, however trivial, was left unattended. As a matter of fact, it felt like running into old friends after exchanging so many emails. We felt the attention was personal and warm and together with the beautifully appointed property, the combination is just without compared. We look forward to returning and hope everyone who visits it enjoys it as much as we did. Steph and Lauren: Well done, ladies! We miss you already!

The Hotel was superb! Enthusiastic staff, excellent food, amazing whisky collection, marvelous breakfast and a special treat with a game night. Comfortable 4 minutes walk away from the Aberlour distillery, so perfect for an afternoon tour and tasting. Highly recommended!

Wonderful hot breakfast to begin your day. Excellent evening meals.You order while relaxing in the lounge area and are escorted to your table when meal is ready to serve. Very classy.

Took my elderly parents for a birthday afternoon tea to this lovely hotel. The food and the service was impeccable. The setting is gorgeous and the views stunning. The property itself is fantastic. But what set this apart for me was the genuine warm welcome we received from the owners. My mum grew up in the Aberlour Orphanage and when I mentioned this as we were leaving the young ladies at reception brought out old photos of the hotel as the Orphanage Nursery, and spoke to my mum about it. A very special place.

I have heard many good things about the Dowans from business colleagues, pals and the electrician I use for all my projects. He gave me a little bit of a running commentary on all the extensive renovation works that took place. First impressions are fantastic. Building itself is full of character and the reception / entrance is very atmospheric with candles / storm lanterns and lots of lovely touches.

We didn't stay at the hotel but did visit while touring Aberlour. The hotel is just outside of town, a short walkable distance. It's perched atop a hill with a nice view. There are two bars, one of which is renowned for its whisky selection. And a very nice restaurant. Because it's one of the nicest restaurants in town it does fill up so make reservations. They also serve a nice afternoon tea but it requires reservations 24 hours in advance.

Staying at hotel so ate breakfast and dinner here. Breakfast was excellent, generous and well cooked. Broad range from granola to black pudding! Dinner was very good with excellent choices of local,produce

We had a large group and both the service and food were top-notch. Definitely check out their collection of whiskeys while you're there!

Worth a visit! Very nicely decorated. Food delicious and well presented. Friendly staff. Would come again!

This was our fourth visit here and the location really is great and the views from the front of the hotel are stunning.

While travelling to Newtonmore we stopped in past here for a spot of lunch. We were warmly welcomed and shown to the bar for a drink and to look at the menu. The hotel is beautifully decorated and the menu sounded lovely. We were shown to our table in a small dining area and our food came shortly after. I had the Venison Burger and my husband had the Pork Chop. Both tasted lovely and was reasonably priced for the portion size. We were attended to by friendly professional staff. All in all a lovely surprise to our Monday Jaunt and looking forward to visiting again.

After travelling through snow it was lovely walking into this family run hotel. Lovely rooms, bathrooms with underfloor heating and lovely crisp white linen. A whiskey collection to die for and good food. We had a lovely stay - highly recommended.

This hotel was convenient as it was near by to many scotch makers. Their bar has 100s of Scotches to choose from. The room was small and warm but clean. The food, dinner & breakfast, was good. Would recommend.

Cadres extérieur et intérieur exceptionnels, service au petits oignons.

The rooms are very nice. The restaurant and lounge are very comfortable and have a relaxed atmoshere. The hotel is in an area that makes it quite easy to get to a number of distilleries.

Last night my husband took me for dinner to the Spe` Restaurant at the Dowans Hotel. The location is gorgeous . We opted for the 5 course tasters menu which was absolutely beautiful. Steph attended us and was brilliant describing what we were eating and how it was cooked . Each course was lovely , all staff friendly and atmosphere was perfect .

The hotel is beautiful! It sit atop a his with wonderful views. The staff were very helpful. We arrived early from Skye, our previous destination, and they made us coffee and allowed us to leave our car while we went on distillery tours. The food was very good. I recommend the rabbit for dinner. The hotel bar has 500 single malts on the menu. We attempted to try them all but stopped at 6. Check out the whisky wall in the whisky room.

I have eaten here many times, lunch and dinner, and the food has always been fantastic. The cocktails in the 'M Bar' are delicious and there is plenty of comfortable seating to relax in. If you're a whisky fan 'The Still' is worth a visit alone- beautiful whisky bar. The team are friendly and accommodating. I'm looking forward to my next visit!

Having eaten here on several occasions and always had a first class experience, we were extremely disappointed with our latest visit. As the bar was busy it was suggested we sat in the Still Room. Unfortunately there we stayed.....after over 30 minutes we had to go looking for staff to order drinks. Thinking that they would now remember our existence after serving said drinks....but no, we had to go looking for menus. Some 90 minutes after our reservation time we sat down for our dinner in the restaurant, unfortunately there was still a wait until our meals were served. Problem over? no, we had to ask for the dessert menu! On paying our bill we mentioned the service problem only to be greeted by a rather dismissive owner - the place was busy, and apparently they didn’t have our booking so had been confused! Well perhaps if we had been told that in the first place, or even at any point offered an apology we would have left in a slightly better mood. Perhaps our booking was taken by the same waiter who had forgotten I’d ordered red wine, even Canadians at next table commented on fact I didn’t order white wine, who also forgot the sauce when our meal was served! This evening was to celebrate both a birthday and wedding anniversary, instead we left feeling very disappointed with our choice of venue!

A very well travelled Family recently took over this restaurant and their daughters run the place. The place is probably the best food in Speyside - seafood was particularly good. The only thing a little lacking was the service - Still not perfect - staff was a little slow and disorganized. But the food, the ambiance and the owners made up for that deficiency

Enjoyed an evening meal and drink at this magnificent country house hotel . Very comfortable surroundings , good food very well presented and friendly staff .

Having recently dined at the Dowan’s at an event during the spirit of Speyside whisky festival, I have to say I was very impressed with the hotel layout upon arrival, nice and inviting reception area, with a good bar and an excellent whisky room with en enormous selection from all over the globe, it’s a must see.