About Us

Since its official opening in 1993 by Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev, it has earned worldwide renown as Aberdeen's only five-star hotel, and the ideal base for exploring all the many riches that Scotland has to offer.

You will have your own reasons for seeking a hotel of the calibre of the Marcliffe - perhaps you wish to visit Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to play golf, attend a business meeting or special event, perhaps you simply want to relax and chill out in the comforting atmosphere of an exclusive hotel, or perhaps you want to be in an adventurous mood and strike out on a famous tourist trail in which Scotland is the perfect place to explore the past, the present and the future. Steeped in history, with an outstandingly rich heritage, you can discover and explore Scotland and all of its glories from 

your Marcliffe base which is ideally located to embrace and enjoy many of the country's finest attractions - all within easy travelling distance.   When you choose the Marcliffe as your hotel of choice, you can select from our suites and bedrooms - all individually designed with your comfort in mind. Suites and rooms have king-size or zip-link beds, while inter-connecting rooms have king and twin beds to accommodate four guests, with extra roll-away beds available for larger families. We all have all the facilities you would expect of a five-star hotel, including 24-hour room service and our attentive staff who will guarantee to make your stay at the Marcliffe a most memorable experience.

The feu was purchased by Francis Smith, Head Accountant of the North of Scotland Bank in Aberdeen in June 1848. In 1852 the house was completed and Francis Smith took up residence at Balnagarth, named after the area of Garthdee. He lived there until 1869, when it was then purchased by a leading solicitor in Aberdeen called George Collie, of the firm James and George Collie, living there till 1949. The Collie family owned substantial land at Pitfodels, and several mansion houses were occupied by the family from that time until the present day.  The next owner Mr Alfred Cordiner, from the local well-known Cordiner family of timber merchants and garage owners, lived there until 1958 when he subsequently sold the house to Mr James Irvine of the Irvine's of Drum Castle, another famous local land-owning family. 

 In 1974 the house was purchased by Mr Gordon Cochran, solicitor, of Adam Cochran and Company, who remained there until 1987 when the house was sold to Mr Charles Mitchell of Mitchell's Car Hire. The property was then purchased by Stakis Plc, as a site to replace the Royal Darroch Hotel, Cults, which had been destroyed by a gas explosion in 1984.  The property lay undeveloped until 1991, when it was bought by The Pitfodels Development Company and sold on to the Spence family for development into the Marcliffe at Pitfodels, opening in November 1993. 

In June 2024, the Marcliffe was acquired by Balmoral Group, a successful local business established in 1980 by Sir Jim Milne. Under Balmoral Group's ownership, the Marcliffe continues to reflect the Group's renowned reputation for quality and service.