Brown Sugar Cafe

Charming little place with great ambiance and friendly staff. Food and cake was good too. Dog and child friendly 😉👍

Very good experience as always. Food was amazing, couldn't fault it. Butchers products used and homemade cakes 😋. Very friendly staff who were happy to help. Only slight niggle was there was no hello on entry and had to ask staff member if we could just take a seat. Seen a few people walk in and linger awkwardly with no interaction from staff. But... it was a very busy day and when I spoke to staff they couldn't be more helpful. So this is a very very minor problem, wish I could give service 4.5 stars.

Lovely little cafe! Friendly and efficient staff. Best toastie I've ever had and great Latte too! Wish it was closer to where I live, as I'd be a regular visitor. Highly recommended ♥

Lovely wee cafe with excellent food. A small basic snack lunch menu (see attached pics) but interesting surprise items such as mars bar scones. There is only 10 tables including some comfy chairs. Next time you are in Ballater pop in for a coffee and cake or haggis pannini.

Had a lovely catch up here with friends, lovely food, great service and friendly atmosphere. Will be back👍

We had a very nice brunch here and enjoyed the good food as well as the perfect service. Thanks a lot!

Popped in by chance with my dear aged mother and we could not have been made more welcome. Although it was quite busy, but they said, “We’ll clean down that table and reserve it for you until you come back with your mum” … everything was tidy and clean along with excellent attentive service. As an experienced hospitality manager (from a previous life!), I know at a glance when the waiting staff are highly competent as they keep busy and have achieved that balance between being polite and hospitable and yet being professionally efficient.
All the food is freshly prepared and cooked to order - the cakes looked great too and were reasonably priced. We had toasted sandwiches and they came with a side salad and freshly prepared coleslaw on the plate (why would you buy in coleslaw when it is so easy to make and tastes so much better?). I’ll be back!

Our first visit with our dog. Great little place. Bet it is packed in the tourist season.

Amazing food, the tattie scones are awesome! Lovely, friendly staff are attentive, but not intrusive.

Will definitely visit again the next time I'm in the area!

We got a very warm welcome just as the cafe was opening for the morning. The staff took the greatest care to make sure that every element of the breakfast was gluten free and even brought out the baked beans can so that we could check the ingredients to be absolutely sure. Tasty cakes with an appealing selection. The orange and cranberry cake and the oat/date slice (both GF) were very tasty!

A very warm welcome awaits from the staff in this little cafe. Classic cafe food done well. I am vegan and the staff double checked with their supplier that the vegetarian haggis was also vegan. Plant based spread for the toast. Even though their soup of the day was not vegan they offered an alternative when asked. Very busy at lunch even on Tuesday and so several people were turned away as they had no spaces left. So might be best to book ahead. Dog friendly too.

Recommending somewhere I like can be based on so many things- the food, the atmosphere, the staff, the service, or the venue itself. This little place ticked so many of those boxes today, that I had to write a review. They catered for our gluten free requirement, they tickled our taste buds, and it was all served by friendly, accommodating staff. Pop in for lunch or coffee.

Excellent Scottish birthday breakfast, local produce and warm and friendly service.

Just went out for a drive & ended up in Ballater, saw the cafe was open, roll & latte were great, staff very friendly & welcoming, will be back.

Great for a scone and coffee after a walk

Stopped in for a late lunch on a rainy day. Dogs are welcome which is a plus for me. Choice of sandwiches and paninis was very good and the soup was delicious and warming. Will definitely be back.

Freezing outside..warm and friendly inside. Hot chocolate and cheese scones were outstanding!

A very friendly welcome, a nice place to sit outside the back with dog. Dogs welcome which is a lovely change. Raspberry Cheesecake is divine. Will certainly come again xxx

Lovely cafe. Second time I've been to Ballater and second time I've been to Brown Sugar Cafe. Nice staff, nice food, fine prices. When I return to Ballater, I will go back to the cafe again for lunch. Highly recommend.

Lovely spot- the food here is excellent. Whether your a walker looking for some hearty soup or a cyclist looking for a sugar hit this is the spot. Really friendly and efficient staff.