Potarch Cafe & Restaurant

Ballogie Estate is a local food producer, and the team at Potarch collaborates closely with wildlife rangers and farmers to create dishes inspired by the forests and farmland around them.Our skilled team includes expert butchers, bakers, and baristas. Notably, our barista Thomas, the former Head of Coffee at Allpress Espresso, serves specialty coffee brewed from our La Marzocco machine.SPECIALITY COFFEE: Specialty coffee is the highest grade available, and we use the Allpress Espresso signature blend. We love the balanced, clean flavours developed through their hot air-roasting technology—notes of chocolate, caramel, and candied citrus perfectly round off every shot. With Thomas’s extensive experience selecting coffee worldwide and training baristas, partnering with Allpress Espresso London was a natural choice. They’re world-renowned for a reason!WILD VENISON: All our venison is wild and sourced directly from Ballogie’s forests and moorland. It’s nutritious, lean, and a healthier red meat option. Deer management is an important conservation effort, helping protect farmland, native species, and the ecosystem. The rangers carefully stalk deer on foot at dawn or dusk, ensuring a low environmental impact and sustainable sourcing. The venison is then delivered to our butcher and chef at Potarch, maintaining a tight two-person supply chain within a 5-mile radius. This high-quality product features prominently in some of our signature dishes.LOCATION: Potarch Café and Restaurant is situated on the B993 just off the A93, on the south side of Potarch Bridge, next to our luxury self-catering property, Potarch Lodge. It’s also just a 15-minute drive along the North Deeside Road (A93) from the villages of Banchory and Aboyne. Family- and dog-friendly, Potarch offers a relaxed atmosphere. In summer, unwind on our decking area with a meal and a glass of wine or locally brewed ale while enjoying views of Potarch Green and the fields stretching to the River Dee. Ample parking is available onsite.ACTIVITIES: Located close to the River Dee, Potarch Café and Restaurant is an ideal base for outdoor pursuits, including woodland walks, organised fishing trips, and field sports events. Potarch is also a hub on the Deeside Way, a 41-mile trail from Aberdeen to Ballater—making it the perfect rest stop for cyclists and walkers. For families, we offer a well-equipped children’s play area, complete with a sandpit and wendy house.