January 2024 by Archibald James H
The food is incredible, I have been there for tea and lunch a lot, great quality food made with local ingredients. They have many meals from salads, to hoard or share boards, to burgers and more. Desserts are also delicious. Drinks are amazing. This place is the best food place I know.
January 2024 by stephen t
Pub/hotel with restaurant and bar for more casual dining. Open for breakfast through dinner and doesn?t disappoint. Has upped its game over the years with good service/good food. Lacks a ?front of house? character to welcome returning guests, but all staff pleasant enough. Maybe starting to get a little above itself with its pricing. It?s good, but not that good.
November 2023 by Stuart Sugden
Great selection of locally sourced fresh foods. Even the Coffee is local and always served with a smile. Great to see another local business supporting local! Well done Girls!
October 2023 by dawnsD9833IR
We stayed one night and had an absolutely lovely time. Dinner was delicious, the service was top notch and we were able to order from a menu for breakfast. Our room was beautiful and spacious. The location is wonderful. I loved it here.
September 2023 by Jill J
We stayed here at this very busy pub/restaurant for 2 nights on our Scottish tour. We had a room at the front, overlooking the River Dee, decorated in dark blue with a nautical feel. Very comfortable bed, lots of cushions and a woollen throw for those cold nights. The room was serviced with fresh towels, bed made & tea bags etc renewed. We had to book a table in the restaurant for each evening. Meals were huge, and cooked perfectly with plenty of choices. Breakfast was also served in the restaurant, all table service. Very nicely done. The main bar was constantly busy, with locals, walkers, tourists etc. most likely because it's the only pub for miles around. Excellent wi-fi reception. There is a car park behind the pub, with street parking also available. There are three charging points for electric vehicles, which we took advantage of. Aboyne is a perfect location to visit Ballater, Balmoral, Crathie and the surrounding area.
September 2023 by Liz11103
We are local. It?s always been costly , with chaotic staff -but we knew that . Last week we decided to try again. Most of the staff were much more mature , attentive . Portion sizes minuscule and zero garnish . A female waitperson challenged me on why I had not eaten the sesame slaw and brioche bun. I said the slaw was off , as the sesame oil was stale .She argued that I was wrong and why I didn?t eat my roll . Don?t like brioche ! I reinforced that I didn?t want money off , just stating that the slaw was off. It was hideous. So it was again mediocre and never fails to disappoint. Never again.
September 2023 by craigmacleod8
Served by a very young server, in fact they were all very young and when not working they were all standing around at the entrance chatting. I hadn?t even finished my starter when my main arrived. The guy next to me was complaining about his dinner, very poor response from the waiter/Server. I expected a better choice of food, my choice was ok but that?s about it. I wouldn?t eat there again.
August 2023 by stevenpB2493XP
Not recommend if gluten free, meal sizes are too small, often a result of gluten containing items being removed from the meal.
August 2023 by catrionac717
Always our favourite place for lunch as a family! A great menu with lots to choose from. Delicious food, cosy country pub atmosphere and friendly helpful staff make this a fantastic place to eat out.
August 2023 by marianporter
Two evenings spent here, enjoying first class cuisine (special: beef koftas with fennel rice was fabulous! Also enjoyed huge Shed Burger - with GF bun - , and haddock and chips. Desserts were yummy: sticky toffee pudding, and have to recommend the indulgent Highland Affogato ?). VERY dog friendly - all the staff came and said, hello, to our little dog, water and dog treats ?on tap?, and looking after us - with mobility issues as well as dog - was their priority. Thank you so much to Ellie, Nicole and all the team. ?
August 2023 by Maybin56
After being let down by the Indian we had booked we ventured to the Boat Inn. A lovely friendly place with good service and a fairly concise but interesting menu. I chose the chicken burger, which was delicious and my hubby had the vegetable curry, again delicious. We?d definitely recommend and will certainly visit again, when next in the area.
July 2023 by Judi M
We recently had an early dinner before going to the Academy for an event which was part of the Aboyne Festival. Our food was good, and the service good, but we really do wish there would be some new choices added to the menu. I'm aware there is really nowhere else to eat dinner in Aboyne, so perhaps there is a degree of complacency at the Boat Inn. Hope to see some new options on the menu on our next visit in September.
July 2023 by Michelle W
Had a brilliant meal here - crayfish salad, ploughmans, burgers, nachos - very delicious and healthy too. Lovely friendly staff and a great vibe. Thank you ?
July 2023 by travelcat100
Really comfortable overnight stay with dinner and breakfast at the Boat Inn. Staff were friendly and efficient. Food was good. Appreciated the choice of grilled haddock rather than batter - fish was beautifully cooked. Breakfast was excellent and plentiful- granola, yoghurt and honey followed by mushrooms, spinach and poached egg. Good coffee (decaf). Room 16 was very compact but contained everything you need. Most important, the bed was great - comfortable and not too soft. Shower room was very well designed with good power shower and plenty of space ( some hooks on the wall by the shower and by the sink for your towels would have made it perfect).
July 2023 by Scott Walmsley
First time in the store when passing the farmers market in Aboyne.Well stocked convenient store, priced well and the young gentleman serving on Sunday was friendly and welcoming.
