Set in the heart of whisky country, The Dowans Hotel is a characterful hotel in Speyside and one of the most appealing hotels in Aberlour. Just a short walk from the village centre, it’s ideally placed for exploring Aberlour, including a visit to the Spey Larder delicatessen, while still offering a peaceful retreat. What truly sets Dowans Hotel & Restaurant apart is its storybook charm. With its handsome stone façade and striking turret, it feels almost castle-like – and yes, you can stay in a turret suite with a glorious bathtub that’s perfect for unwinding. I genuinely didn’t want to leave. There’s also the inviting Dowans Hotel whisky bar on site, a wonderful spot to enjoy a dram after a day visiting nearby distilleries. With its excellent location and warm, characterful atmosphere, The Dowans Hotel is a memorable base for a Speyside escape.
Staying at The Dowans Hotel in Speyside
The Dowans Hotel is located right on the outskirts of Aberlour, on the same side as the Aberlour Distillery. It’s a perfect locations for those wanting to visit whisky distilleries as it’s only a short drive away from a lot of popular sites. The hotel is perched on top of a hill, above the main road and in the warmer months of the year you can sit outside on the terrace and enjoy the views over the treetops in the valley. The hotel is family owned and it’s not uncommon to meet Lauren who runs the hotel or one of her family members at the reception when you arrive.
Don’t miss my full guide to things to do and see in the Speyside area!
Speyside is well known for its scotch whisky distilleries. It’s a fairly small area which is incredibly concentrated with distilleries around every corner. Some of the nearby distilleries to The Dowans Hotel are:
- Aberlour Distillery
- The Glenallachie Distillery
- Cardhu Distillery
- Speyburn Distillery
- Glenfarclas Distillery
- The Macallan Distillery
- The Balvenie Distillery
- Glenfiddich Distillery
The rooms at The Dowans Hotel
The rooms at The Dowans Hotel in Aberlour are stylish and comfortable, blending classic Highland character with modern touches. Thoughtful details, cosy furnishings and well-appointed bathrooms make them ideal for relaxing after a day exploring Speyside, with the turret suites offering an especially memorable stay.
The Aberlour Suite
I’ve had the pleasure of staying at The Dowans a handful of times now and most recently I stayed at the Aberlour Suite. The Aberlour Suite is a real highlight of the hotel, set within the striking stone turret and offering a wonderfully unique place to stay. Its standout feature is the luxurious bathtub in the turret itself, perfect for soaking in style after a day exploring Speyside.
Room features
- Turret bathtub: It was such a dream to sink into the warm water and the bathtub actually being deep enough to cover my whole body. Now I want one of these in my house – and also a turret.
- Big and stylish bathroom: The modern bathroom gets natural light from the frosted windows
- Comfortable bed: I opened my window to make the room nice and cool in time for my bedtime. It was so lovely to sink into the soft duvet and pillows after a nice dinner in the restaurant.
- View out over the trees: Because of its location, it feels like you are in a countryside forest as you are surrounded by the trees. But the village Aberlour is only a short walk away.
- A dram of whisky and pralines: who wouldn’t feel welcome if there is a dram of whisky and chocolates waiting for you upon arrival?
The restaurant
Before sitting down for dinner you at invited to take a seat at the bar where you can enjoy a drink whilst looking through the menus. My go-to drink is the banana mai tai which is a refreshing treat. Once you’ve ordered, the restaurant team will show you to your table where the evening continues.
On the way to the dining room you can spot The Dowans Hotel whisky bar, where you might’ve already enjoyed a dram earlier in the day – or perhaps you’ll be going after your meal?
Dinner at ’57 Restaurant
The restaurant at The Dowans is called 57′ which is named after the fact that the Dowans sits 57 degrees parallel north of the earths equator. The restaurant got its name from one of the family members of the owners of the hotel, Sean, who is a pilot. I always feel as if I should try something different when I visit The Dowans. The menu features a lot of local produce which is great to see. This time, I did not go for anything new but decided to order my favourite steak which comes with chips, onion rings, parmesan carrots and your choice of sauce – I’m forever a béarnaise girlie. The Dowans is also a lovely spot to try Scotlands national dish: haggis – if you have not already?
Breakfast
The breakfast is a la carte and the menu has a variety of items to choose from, such as a Scottish Full Breakfast. I went for the berry compote french toast which was delicious. It will be difficult not to order this next time I’m staying over again. I also appreciated the calm restaurant playlist – which had some great Taylor Swift songs on there (curtesy of the owner Lauren who is a swiftie).
The Dowans Hotel Whisky Bar “The Still”
The Dowans are well known for their whisky bar The Still. Floor to ceiling shelves are full of whisky bottles, most of them from the local Speyside area of course. This hotel in Speyside is a perfect spot to try something new – and perhaps find your new favourite whisky. The team are also very knowledgable and don’t be surprised if they have family members working at the various distilleries in the area.
Tip: My top recommendation would be to ask Lauren or her team for their top picks based on your taste. I’m sure they will be able to pick out something marvellous for you!
Additional Information
- Address: Dowans Hotel, Dowans Road, Aberlour, Moray, AB38 9LS
- Website: https://www.dowanshotel.com/
- Price Range: Rooms starting at £270 per night
- Check-In/Check-Out: From 14.00 and before 11.00
- Amenities: Outdoor terrace, restaurant, bar, WiFi, whisky bar
- Dog-Friendly: Not inside the hotel, exception for guide dogs, but welcome to the grounds and terrace
- Perfect For: Couples, solo travellers, whisky enthusiasts
FAQ About the Dowans Hotel & Restaurant
Pets are not allowed within the public areas or rooms at the hotel, with the exception of assistance dogs. Pets can have access to the Glenfiddich Terrace and the rest of the grounds as long as they looked after by the owners and remain respectful to the other guests.
Aberlour Distillery and The Glenallachie Distillery are the two scotch whisky distilleries closest to The Dowans Hotel & Restaurant.
There is a Coop on the high street of Aberlour, only a short walk from The Dowans Hotel & Restaurant.
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Meet Moa, our multi-talented writer from Sweden who now calls Edinburgh, Scotland home. With over a decade exploring Europe’s hidden corners—from Nordic landscapes to alpine villages—Moa brings a unique perspective shaped by her years as a travel guide in the Swiss and Austrian Alps. As a whisky book author and freelance drinks writer, she has an eye for exceptional food and beverage experiences, while her background as a photographer ensures she never misses a scenic moment. Whether she’s discovering old European cities or chasing golden hour in mountain villages, Moa’s stories blend cultural insight with a dash of adventure and plenty of authenticity.
