Set amid the stunning Scottish Highlands, the Fife Arms is a whimsically luxurious hotel blending cozy tartan charm with a vibrant art collection, all in a historic hunting lodge.
"Reasons to love the Fife Arms? Yes, the 16,000-odd works of art—including a pair of Picassos, Richard Jackson’s neon chandelier, a taxidermy haggis, and watercolors by Queen Victoria and King Charles III. Add in the fact that no one in Braemar seems to have a bad word to say about the Swiss art dealers Ivan and Manuela Wirth, relative outsiders when they took over this tired Victorian coaching inn in Cairngorms National Park. But the real joy of the Fife Arms is that it’s great fun: You’ll find everyone here, from out-of-towners to locals with their dogs—not to mention a team of wry, wise-cracking staff ready to make an event out of everything from whisky tastings at Bertie’s Bar to bracing wild-river swims followed by horse box sauna sessions. From $608. —Toby Skinner" - CNT Editors
"A Highland lodge with holiday cheer, reindeer parades, tree decorating, and a traditional Christmas feast."
"A royal Highland fantasy meets a stay at a faintly bonkers art museum, located in Braemar, near the Balmoral Estate. The hotel features over 16,000 works of art curated by art-dealer owners Ivan and Manuela Wirth, and offers unique experiences like wild swimming, sauna, and whisky tastings."
"The Fife Arms is a grand Victorian coaching inn with distinctive red-trimmed eaves, located in the village of Braemar. It features a blend of traditional and contemporary elements, including tartan wallpapers, stag heads, and a chandelier made of glass antlers. The hotel also houses notable artworks, such as a Picasso painting." - Liam Hess
"The Fife Arms hotel in Scotland offers a unique blend of luxury and art, with over 14,000 artworks and artifacts, including a Picasso piece. The hotel is a former hunting lodge located in a tiny Highland village two hours north of Edinburgh. It features 46 uniquely decorated rooms inspired by Scottish heritage, with elements like taxidermy and murals by Argentine artist Guillermo Kuitca. The hotel also offers a variety of dining options, including a bustling pub called the Flying Stag and a Clunie Dining Room with a cubistic mural backdrop. Guests can engage in activities like hiking, local history tours, and art tours followed by whisky tastings." - Laura Dannen Redman
