The Flying Stag

We have now been to The Flying Stag twice, which says everything. We genuinely love the food and the atmosphere, and it is already a place we happily return to. The starters were excellent across the board. The smoked mackerel pâté with burnt apple and sourdough was beautifully balanced and full of flavour. The crispy fried chicken with Scotch bonnet ranch and pickles stood out for its proper heat, bold, spicy, and incredibly moreish. The butterhead salad with buttermilk and dill dressing, sun blush tomatoes, chives, and croutons was fresh, light, and perfectly put together. For mains, the fish and chips came in a generous portion, crisp and well cooked, and very satisfying. The venison pie was equally impressive, rich, comforting, and full of flavour. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, with the warmth you want from a great pub, and the food consistently delivers. A place that feels easy, dependable, and genuinely enjoyable.

Amazing visit to The Flying Stag! The food was delicious and the atmosphere is so unique. The sticky toffee pudding was absolutely perfect! It’s also very pet friendly, so it was great to be able to bring our dog along. Highly recommend!

My sister and I had a truly lovely and relaxing day! From the scenic drive up to Braemar to the wonderful hospitality at The Fife Arms. We were especially grateful to the hotel receptionist who kindly lent us an umbrella while we explored the village, as we had arrived a little early for our booking. Afterwards, we thoroughly enjoyed a lovely pot of tea, which was the perfect way to warm up and catch up before heading through to the Flying Stag for our meal. The food, service, and atmosphere were all 10/10. Overall, it was a very pleasant day out, and I look forward to doing it again soon!

We had reservations for four and the table was waiting when we arrived. Service was tops, food was wonderful, atmosphere was great. See photos for dishes.

After a day of Speyside tastings, Mom and I ducked into The Flying Stag, Fife Arms’ public bar that feels equal parts hunting lodge and art gallery. Antler chandeliers glow over tartan banquettes, but the welcome is pure Highlands hospitality. I started with a Swiss lager poured ice-cold; crisp malt washed away the peat and left room for the kitchen’s leaner fare. The venison burger arrived perfectly pink, smoked-maldon salt popping against horseradish slaw, while Mom kept it lighter with a pea-lovage risotto the chef happily tweaked around her no-feta rule.   Service made the night: staff anticipated refills, shared local hill-walking tips, and never batted an eye when we asked to swap chips for salad. Being resident upstairs meant an easy wobble back to our room, but the bar buzzes with hikers and locals alike, so you’ll feel at home whatever your postcode. Prices lean tourist-hotspot, yet quality and charm justify the tab, especially when that final sip of lager pairs with live fiddle music by the fire. If you’re roaming Royal Deeside, pencil in a pint here; it hits the spot

Very nice spot in the centre of Breamar. Nice classic building. Interior very nice combination of modern and old pieces. Food was good and the coffee was veey good as well.

We had two meals here over the New Year period and we couldn’t fault anything. The food and wine were excellent and the staff were friendly and attentive without being intrusive. For the quality, it was very reasonably priced. 100% recommend.

Such a warm and cozy setting, along with a beautiful stag-adorned bar. The food was delicious and service was outstanding, attentive, and cheerful. It was a great first night meal during our stay at the Fife Arms celebrating our anniversary. Despite being from the USA we felt right at home. I wish we lived close enough to make it a regular stop at any time. Looking forward to the day we can return.

Such a great find. Fantastic food, friendly service in a bright and open space that oozes mountain lodge charm. Had the venison burger and it was so good. Hand formed patty with fresh tomato and lettuce, the smoke Gouda pulled it all together. Solid list of a dozen local and foreign brews made the experience complete.

We came in here for a late lunch today and it was absolutely delicious. The restaurant was very cosy and Christmassy so it was the perfect place to warm up and get some food. We both chose the haggis, neeps and tatties and although the presentation was questionable, the food definitely wasn't. It was so good and perfect for the freezing cold weather. We couldn't resist getting dessert too, and went for the bread and butter pudding which was delicious.

If you have found this restaurant you have found the best fish and chips on planet Earth. I kid you not. These guys serve a full length filet of a haddock with a pile of chips and a splash of the mushy peas. The dish can feed two for lunch easily. The breading has a hint of ale and is seasoned perfectly. More importantly it sticks to the fish. They know how to make it. The dining room is appointed with a plethora of antlers and a winged deer. It looks and feels a bit like the label of a Jagermeister bottle. The service was friendly for us which was a rarity in the UK.

What an incredible place. Wonderful employees, amazing alcohol selection, and the menu looks rad, though we didn't get anything. We hung out here for a few hours and I didn't even notice the time passing. LOVELOVELOVE

We made a booking at what we thought was one of the best hotels in town. We had been driving all day and needed to leave the booking until about 8.30pm to unpack and freshen up. The pub was full when we booked and the staff seemed friendly, particularly the supervisor Ross. When we returned to have dinner at 8.30pm the pub had cleared out a bit and it was a quieter which suited us. We waited and two staff members walked past us and looked through us as if we didn't exist. Another came over and in an exasperated voice said, 'somebody will be with you gents soon'. Ross eventually appeared and instead of greeting us, looked up our booking, grabbed two menus and showed us (2men) to the largest, filthiest table in the pub which could have sat 12 people. The table and many others hadn't been cleaned while other tables for two had been cleared and cleaned. We complained so in an exasperated voice he said you can have this one and took us to another table which was dirty too. He reluctantly wiped it over after we showed him. By this point we felt very unwelcome and left. However, we want to thank Ross and his staff because we walked across the road to Farquharson's Bar and Kitchen and they welcomed us warmly, served us delicious food and we had the best night. Best to avoid The Flying Stag altogether. Clearly they're too busy to give everyone good service.

Excellent pub at the beautiful Fife Arms Hotel. Lots of variety of whiskies. Menu includes fish & chips, lentil soup, burgers, and desserts like lemon posset & a Scottish cheese plate. If you want to eat, it's best to make a reservation because they fill up.