With an undeniably beautiful, if windswept, location on Scotland’s northeastern coastline, Aberdeen is your gateway to a spectacular Aberdeenshire getaway.
Better known as “The Granite City” for its iconic granite-stone architecture, this is a city that’s filled with Scottish history and buoyed by the funds and finances of its lucrative North Sea oil and gas industry. In Aberdeen, traditional 16th-century stone houses stand next to modern hotels, while gourmet restaurants serve up salmon and game alongside pies and curries.
We love the mix of old and new in Aberdeen, and you’ll love how much there is to see and do in Scotland’s third-largest city. Start by exploring Old Aberdeen, where you can visit St Machar’s Cathedral, explore botanical gardens, and marvel at granite architecture.
At the Provost Skene House, you can see how Aberdonians once lived with a visit to this preserved Tudor-era mansion, while the Tollbooth Museum offers a startling insight into conditions in a 17th-century Scottish prison.
The Maritime Museum explores Aberdeen’s ancient maritime history, while the Gordon Highlanders Museum offers a glimpse into the military prowess of Scotland’s fearsome highland warriors through the ages. Aberdeen’s harbor has been a bustling mercantile and transport hub for almost a thousand years, and don’t forget that this is one of the very few British cities with a long, sandy beach!
If you’re planning a trip to northeast Scotland, then keep reading as we explain exactly where to stay in Aberdeen.
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Where to stay in Aberdeen
Aberdeen’s offshore oil and gas industry means that the city is awash with workers with disposable income, and the Granite City has seen a boom in accommodation in recent decades. This gives travelers a lot of choices relative to the size of the city but also ensures that the best hotels, boutiques, and apartments often come with inflated prices and get booked out quickly.
In Aberdeen’s city center, you’ll find modern aparthotels and international chains alongside cozy guesthouses and bed and breakfasts. You can opt for a lavish, luxury spa hotel or downsize to a humble homestay above a pub or cafe. The city center, spread between Old Aberdeen and Aberdeen Harbour is the best base for sightseeing, as you’ll be within easy walking distance of all the major historic attractions.
Head into Aberdeen’s chic West End, and you’ll find an array of unique boutique hotels, often located in 19th-century Victorian mansions carved from granite rock. Head further west, and you’ll find luxury hotel chains have set up shop in Westhill, a suburb providing quick access to Aberdeen International Airport that’s also a short drive away from the wilderness of the Cairngorms National Park.
There’s lots of luxury living to be had around town, and you can find our pick of the 12 best boutique hotels in Aberdeen below.
The 12 Best Hotels in Aberdeen
1. The Marcliffe Hotel and Spa
The Marcliffe Hotel and Spa is a gorgeous five-star resort located in the quiet suburbs of Aberdeen. You’ll find this beautiful boutique hotel located a short stroll from the banks of the River Dee, not far from the historic 16th-century Bridge of Dee. It’s far enough from the city center to feel like you’re staying in the countryside, but you’re also just a few miles away from the sights of Aberdeen.
The Marcliffe Hotel and Spa is Aberdeen’s only five-star hotel, and the historic property is set across eight acres of land once owned by the Laird of Pitfodels. The building where you’ll be staying was constructed as a lavish countryside home in the mid-19th century and then purchased by the Spence family in the 1990s.
The Spence family (who are still the current owners) transformed the decaying property into a spa hotel, and rather bizarrely, it was opened to great fanfare in 1993 by Mikhail Gorbachev, the leader of the soon-to-crumble Soviet Union. Since then, it’s hosted celebrities, royalty, and politicians from across the globe, including the now-King Charles III.
As you’d expect, the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa is luxurious. The 39 homey suites all have plush king-size beds, antique furnishings, luxury toiletries, and a minibar stocked with premium drinks. Book a treatment at the hotel’s spa, and you can revitalize with a massage, facial, and luxury pedicure, or take advantage of the boutique concierge service, which arranges everything from salmon fishing to private castle tours.
As befits Aberdeen’s best (if only) five-star offering, the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa is home to a gourmet restaurant and vintage wine cellar. Start with a whiskey or glass of wine in The Drawing Room Bar and Lounge, where an unusual collection of 140 cheese dishes collected by the Spence family sits on display among historical paintings.
Move onto the Conservatory Restaurant, where you’ll have a choice of 400 wines served alongside the finest local fish, game, and vegetables sourced from nearby estates.
2. Residence Inn by Marriott Aberdeen
The Residence Inn by Marriott Aberdeen is conveniently located in Old Aberdeen, right next to the unique historical attraction of Provost Skene’s House, where you can see how Aberdonians lived in the 16th century.
Book a luxury room at the Residence Inn by Marriott Aberdeen, and you’ll have plenty more comfort and amenities than they did back in the Tudor era. This modern aparthotel, with its well-appointed studios and fully equipped suites, aims to be your luxurious home away from home in Aberdeen.
You’ll have access to the latest high-tech cookery equipment in your apartment’s kitchen, alongside a grocery delivery service that keeps your pantry stocked up with goodies throughout your stay. You’ll love the king-size beds and luxury linens after a day of sightseeing, while the spacious work and living areas are perfect for anyone traveling on business.
Guests can make use of the hotel’s 24-hour fitness center, where they can work out on the latest gym machines or lift free weights to keep to their routine. Although you can make breakfast in your apartment, you’re also entitled to a complimentary buffet breakfast every morning in the Lounge Bar, where you can fuel up on a “Full Scottish” before your day begins.
3. Aberdeen Lighthouse Cottages
Aberdeen Lighthouse Cottages is one of the most unique hotels in Aberdeen. This atmospheric boutique is located right next to the sea and is part of the famous Girdle Ness Lighthouse complex.
Wake up to the sound of North Sea waves battering the cliffs as you gaze out across the coastline and take in the salty sea air that sweeps across the lighthouse. The lighthouse itself towers above the shore and has a rich history dating back to the early 19th century when it was designed and built by Robert Stevenson. Girdle Ness Lighthouse is still in use almost two centuries later, although it’s been completely automated since the 1990s.
You’ll be staying in one of the old lighthouse keeper’s cottages built in the shadow of the lighthouse, and you’ll love the uniqueness of the location. At night, the lighthouse lights up the coast, while during the day, passing tourists will be envious of your choice of accommodation.
The cottages themselves are wonderfully quaint, historic, and homey. Floral patterns adorn the walls, tartan-draped chairs are fantastic for lounging, and the wooden decor adds to the ambiance. There’s a fully equipped kitchen for cooking home-cooked meals, while the fireplace is perfect for cuddling up around during the winter.
4. The Chester Hotel
One of the most popular boutique hotels in Aberdeen is The Chester Hotel. This charming luxury hotel offers 64 rooms and suites arrayed within a heritage-listed, 19th-century townhouse in the chic West End.
This four-star boutique offers swanky, modern rooms with a touch of tradition. You’ll love the “signature contemporary style” that exudes elegance while highlighting period features like antique furnishings, vaulted ceilings, and Victorian windows.
The plush bedding consists of 300-thread count Egyptian cotton linens, while the bathrooms are fully stocked with Noble Isle luxury toiletries. Upgrade to a suite, and you’ll enjoy the decadent delights of an in-room fireplace, Jack Vettriano artworks, and spacious living areas and patios.
The Gallery Bar serves a traditional afternoon tea, which you can accompany with a glass (or bottle) of champagne. They also offer a casual dinner menu of sandwiches and burgers, which you can wash down with hand-mixed cocktails or vintage wine.
IX Restaurant, which has been awarded 2AA Rosettes, is where the real culinary prowess is found. Watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen as they prepare a sumptuous menu of Pig Cheek, Orkney Scallops, Red Deer, and Mushroom Gnocchi.
5. BrewDog Kennels
If you’re looking for cool Aberdeen hotels, then you’re going to love staying at BrewDog Kennels.
BrewDog is a craft brewery that’s taken the beer world by storm, and while they have almost a hundred bars across the globe, they trace their origins back to the Aberdeenshire town of Fraserburgh, where they opened their first pub in 2007.
BrewDog Kennels are located in Aberdeen’s city center, where you’ll find a selection of boutique studio apartments above the beer brand’s Castlegate Bar. But you don’t even have to venture downstairs to the bar for a pint of their finest craft brews because you’ll find cold cans of their most famous craft beers stocked in the apartment’s mini-fridge.
The studio apartments feature slick wooden floors underfoot and wall-mounted wooden panels for decor, alongside plush beds, sofas, and signature BrewDog-style apparel. Turn on the record player and listen to the vinyl collection, have a jam on the in-room guitar, or unfold the Brompton bicycle and take a cycle through Aberdeen.
Oh, and the studios are dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your furry four-legged friends along for your Aberdeen getaway!
6. Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel & Spa
The Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel & Spa is one of the city’s trendiest four-star boutique hotels. We know you’re going to love everything from the contemporary art to the signature spa experience, so why not book your getaway right away?
You’ll find Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel & Spa in the heart of Aberdeen, where it’s located in a former faculty building of Robert Gordon University. On the inside, this boutique retreat is one of Aberdeen’s most modern offerings, but it’s also found within one of the Granite City’s oldest granite buildings.
Once the haunt of students and lecturers, the historic facade has been replenished and the interiors totally remodified and repurposed. There are 218 luxury rooms to choose from, featuring king-size beds, plush lounge chairs, and kitchen conveniences like a microwave and kettle. The bathrooms are home to a freestanding soak tub, a walk-in rain shower, and Essential Elements BATHE toiletries.
You have all the ingredients to create a unique spa experience in your room’s ensuite, but save some downtime for the hotel’s Signature Spa. Here you can step your spa game up a notch with a session in the infrared sauna, steam room, or massage and therapy rooms.
After winding down, head to the Chop Grill & Bar, the hotel’s upscale pub restaurant, where you’ll find a fully stocked whiskey bar and an excellent grill menu.
7. The Coffee House Hotel
If you’re looking for a charming bed and breakfast to call home, then let us introduce you to The Coffee House Hotel.
You’ll find this quaint boutique situated on Gaelic Lane, a narrow side street in the city center that’s seemingly hidden away from the rest of Aberdeen. You’re just a short stroll from Union Terraces and The Trinity Centre shopping mall, but surrounded by traditional granite buildings, you’ll feel as if you’ve momentarily stepped back in time.
This petite hotel has just a few rooms on offer, and you’ll have to find the reception by making your way past the tea and coffee drinkers in the ground floor cafe. You might want to stop off for a fresh brew and a sandwich first because this is one of the best independent coffee shops in Aberdeen.
Once you’ve checked in, settle into your modern room at leisure. You’ll have everything you need for a homey stay, including soft bedding, a workspace, and contemporary en-suite facilities.
8. Malmaison Aberdeen
Malmaison Aberdeen is where the Granite City’s long-standing traditions clash head-on with Aberdeen’s unfettered oil-rich nouveau. This boutique stay is one of the most unique hotels in Aberdeen, and you’re going to love staying in one of the 79 luxury rooms and suites on offer.
This four-star hotel is located behind the imposing walls of a granite-built mansion on Queen’s Road, a major thoroughfare that leads into the city itself. The grand granite mansion, complete with mock turrets and Victorian windows, is the epitome of Aberdeen’s distinctive architectural style, but step into the lobby, and you’ll be met by the signature colors and striking designs of the Malmaison’s modern decor.
The interiors are undoubtedly Scottish in character, with tartan floors and bedding adding a touch of tradition to rooms and public spaces. Landscape paintings of lochs and Munros dot the walls, antlers hang above the fireplace, and you’re never far from a dram of whiskey.
But the tartan colors are sometimes garish in style (think pinks and purples), photographs of the Aberdeen offshore oil industry also stand as a testament to the Scotland of modern Britain, and the Chez Mal Brasserie serves whiskey-infused cocktails and international dishes that would give a traditional Scottish laird a heart attack.
9. Macdonald Norwood Hall Hotel
One of the best Aberdeen hotels is the fabulous Macdonald Norwood Hall Hotel. This magnificent Victorian mansion is situated in a stunning location alongside the River Dee, where the Aberdonian suburbs meet the Scottish countryside.
Macdonald Norwood Hall Hotel was built in 1881, but history buffs will love how the hall was constructed on the site of the earlier Pitfodels Castle, which dated back to the 15th century. The lavish hall is now a four-star boutique, but they’ve retained a fantastic range of original period features, including a grand entranceway, wooden staircases, and antique furnishings. There’s even a library stocked with historic tomes and rare works of literature for guests to enjoy!
Rooms at the Macdonald Norwood Hall Hotel are quintessentially Scottish in character, with dark wooden bed frames brightened by colorful tartan bedspreads. Enjoy views of the grounds from the Victorian bay windows, or upgrade to a suite with poster beds and spacious living areas.
The hotel is surrounded by seven acres of pristine gardens and wild woodlands, and you can enjoy the landscapes as you dine on a traditional afternoon tea in the Georgian Bar. Save space for a gourmet dinner at the Tapestry Restaurant, which has 2AA Rosettes to its name and serves fresh game and seafood from local highland and coastal suppliers.
10. Holiday Inn Aberdeen West
Head west, out of the city, and partway between Aberdeen and the Cairngorms National Park, you’ll find an eclectic selection of hotels located around the Westhill suburb. One of the best hotels here is the Holiday Inn Aberdeen West, which boasts four-star rooms and a fully equipped gym.
Holiday Inn Aberdeen West is conveniently located for anyone in need of a quick ride to Aberdeen International Airport (which is just 10 minutes away). It’s also a great place to escape the city and a fantastic base for anyone in search of adventure in the Cairngorms.
Modern rooms, complete with super soft carpets, plush bedding, and large lounge and work areas make for a wonderful end-of-day retreat, and no hotels closer to the city center can offer anywhere near as much personal space as the Holiday Inn Aberdeen West.
Start your day with a Full Scottish Breakfast in Luigis, the hotel’s on-site bar and restaurant. Watch the latest sports games with a local pint or dram of whiskey in Scotts Corner, and visit the Glentanar Lounge on Sundays for a full carvery with all the trimmings.
11. The Aberdeen Altens Hotel
If you’d love to escape the city, then why not book a luxury getaway at The Aberdeen Altens Hotel? This is one of our favorite boutique hotels in Aberdeen, and we love how it’s wonderfully located to the south of the city center in the seaside suburb of Cove Bay.
This four-star hotel is majestically modern, with 216 luxury rooms featuring comforting Hypnos twin, double, or king beds (depending on your room selection). Sink back in the plush bedding – made all the plusher with a luxury padded mattress topper – then flick through the channels on the flat-screen smart TV while you wait for your tea to brew.
All guests at The Aberdeen Altens Hotel have unlimited access to the Health & Leisure Club, where you’ll find state-of-the-art gym equipment and a recently opened indoor swimming pool. There’s a spa pool, sauna, and steam room too, where you can spend hours soaking up the heat and mineral water.
Start your day with a hearty breakfast at Coast and Keg, where a traditional Scottish Breakfast (served with haggis) is prepared daily. The pub-style restaurant then serves up an impressive range of home-cooked meals throughout the day, including Chicken Tikka, Steak and Ale Pie, and Beer Battered Cod and Chips.
12. Ardoe House Hotel & Spa
Cross over the Bridge of Dee, follow the River Dee upstream, and you’ll soon arrive at the extravagant spires and granite towers of the Ardoe House Hotel & Spa.
This countryside mansion is set among 30 acres of grounds just a short car drive from Aberdeen, and you’ll love how it was originally built in the 19th century Scottish Baronial style for a rich Aberdonian soap merchant whose family lived here until 1947. It was then transformed into one of the most unique hotels in Aberdeen, and in 2019, underwent a much-welcome modernization project to bring the rooms and facilities into the contemporary age.
You’ll love the soft carpets underfoot, the spacious king-size beds, and the fantastic views from the Victorian windows. Rooms are decorated with period furnishings and features, such as old family portraits and antique wardrobes, but expertly equipped with practical features like Nespresso machines and mini-fridges.
The hotel is home to the Ardoe Health Club, where you can work out in the gym, swim in the 18-meter-long indoor pool, or soak up the heat in the sauna and steam room before enjoying a massage or spa treatment. Breakfast, light bites, and afternoon tea are all served in the elegant Drawing Room, while Blair’s Restaurant provides traditional Scottish fare in a traditional dining room setting.
That completes our list of the 12 best Aberdeen hotels! Did we miss any cool boutique hotels in Aberdeen? Comment below so we can add them to the list!
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