<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-09-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001251391</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EXCELSIOR ABSOLUTE RETURN FUND OF FUNDS LLC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NONE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001331408</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bailey James</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY, N.A.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>114 WEST 47TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Co-Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Limited Liability Company Interests</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>231888.12</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Amount of securities owned is as of June 30, 2006, the last time prior to this filing that the Issuer's net asset value was
 calculated.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Effective September 26, 2006, the Reporting Person is no longer a member of the Board of Managers and is no longer an officer
 of the Issuer.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James Bailey</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-10-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
