Food tour and great spots in Qatar

It took me a long time to write my second article for you on Qatar, not because of a lack of interest, but clearly because of a lack of time. I have traveled a lot since this discovery (and I am still traveling a lot today), and I find it hard to manage to talk about everything here. However, I really wanted to offer you this practical guide to know where to eat in Qatar and find the best luxury hotels in Doha in order to share with you my favorite spots in Doha that I tested on-site, as many of you have asked me for it.

Woman in a luxury hotel swimming pool in Qatar with palm trees and white architecture.

Table of Contents

My Qatari Food Tour

It’s not easy to define the specialties of Qatar because the country’s cuisine today is a joyful mix of all the populations currently living there, with various influences coming from India, Syria, or even Lebanon. I have, however, tried to find you some real local specialties that are specific to Qatar:

Lemonmint, a super refreshing lemon and mint drink, is an absolute must-try—it’s always delicious! The standard version of the drink is served sweetened, but if you are watching your waistline, you can ask for the sugar-free version.

Lime juice near a hotel swimming pool in Qatar.

The Arabic coffee or kahwa is a tradition of hosting guests and a very important value of hospitality in Qatar. This very special coffee, flavored with cardamom, is served to guests in very small cups and often accompanied by dates. To properly respect customs, you must always take the coffee with your right hand and accept a first and at least a second cup, as it is a sign to your host that you are having a good time. To say you don’t want any more, you have to shake the cup; it’s quite funny.

Luxurious restaurant dining room with crystal chandeliers and decorated walls, likely Al Parisa.

Qatari man in a thobe pouring Arabic coffee from a dallah into a cup.

Below is also a selection of places to eat and/or have a drink that I was able to test during my stay in Doha, as well as in other cities during my travels around the country.

Al Parisa Restaurant

This restaurant, located in the heart of Souq Waqif, offers delicious Iranian specialties in a rather extraordinary, glitzy, and golden setting.

Must-try: Falooda, a refreshing dessert with saffron ice cream, a kind of rose infusion, and vermicelli.

Luxurious dining room with chandelier and mirrors, restaurant in Qatar.

Luxurious interior of an oriental restaurant with diners in traditional Qatari attire.

Platter of skewers and rice, Qatari dinner in a restaurant.

Saffron ice cream bowl with cake pieces in a luxury restaurant.

Parisa Souq Waqif Al Souq Street, Souq Waqif Doha

Cocktails and dinner at W Doha Hotel

This luxurious hotel is located in one of Doha’s large glass buildings. We started the evening having pre-dinner drinks at Bar Mimosa at Wahm Lounge, which is situated around one of the hotel’s pools and offers cocktails accompanied by Mediterranean mezze. We then dined at Spice Market, the restaurant designed by the famous triple Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, which offers more of an Asian-style cuisine.

The extra touch: you can find all the dishes and cocktails of the establishment in photos via a Menugram on Instagram (@marketdoha, @spicemarketdoha, @laspigadoha, @wcafedoha), which allows you to choose your dishes in a totally visual way (or almost, as the photo is still accompanied by a description).

Spectacular floral and light decoration in a hotel lobby in Doha.

Cocktail in a flute illuminated by blue neon lights, W Doha Hotel setting.

Iced cocktail and fried shrimp during a food tour in Doha.

Foie gras on brioche bread with red fruits and raspberry sauce.

W Doha Hotel West Bay Area, PO Box 19573 Doha
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Lunch at Chef’s Garden, the organic restaurant at Al Shaqab

I already told you about the Al Shaqab stables in the first article, which are located on the outskirts of Doha, and today I am revisiting this place by presenting its organic restaurant, the Chef’s Garden.

Must-taste: the chef’s superb salads, fresh and tasty.

Decorative cart with crates of fresh vegetables and "Special of the Day" chalkboards.

Traditional Qatari meat dish with rice and fried onions on the terrace.

Restaurant terrace in Qatar with a view of the lawn and outdoor games.

Fresh mint and cucumber drink on a table with a garden view.

Grilled chicken salad, asparagus, and cherry tomatoes, drizzled with white sauce.

Gourmet salad with grilled mushrooms, beets, endives, pine nuts, and vinaigrette.

Chef’s Garden Restaurant Al Shaqab Ar-Rayyan, Qatar

Lunch at Tio Sea Resort (formerly Al Sultan Beach Resort Hotel) in Al Khor

Al Khor is an old port city in Qatar, and you can make a lunch stop (buffet style) at this hotel (renamed Tio Sea Resort) or simply have a drink by the establishment’s pool.

Lime juice by the pool with palm trees and sun in Qatar.

Luxurious restaurant room with golden ceiling and large windows in Qatar.

Plate of smoked salmon, tabbouleh, cherry tomato, and watermelon.

Al Sultan Beach Resort Hotel

Unnamed Rd, Al Khor, Qatar
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My Hotels in Doha, capital of Qatar

Below are the two hotels I had the opportunity to test during my stay in Qatar, and more specifically in Doha.

Outdoor terrace of a white Arabic-style building with palm trees and tables.

Al Bidda Boutique Hotel by Tivoli, in Souq Waqif

Nestled in the heart of the historic Souq, Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels by Tivoli is a collection of establishments: Arumaila, Al Jasra, Musheireb, Najd, Al Mirqab, Al Bidda, Bismillah, Al Jomrok, with a total of 160 rooms and suites. We, for our part, stayed in the Al Bidda Boutique Hotel, an elegant and modern place offering 19 rooms and 13 suites. The breakfast, served in the La Piazza restaurant under its magnificent glass roof, is varied and offers European dishes as well as more local delicacies, depending on your cravings.

The great tip: if you are a guest at one of the chain’s hotels, you can absolutely go and enjoy the facilities of another hotel. For our part, we opted for a midnight dip in the open-air pool on the roof of the Al Mirqab Boutique Hotel… an exceptional moment.

Green sofa with cushions in front of latticed windows in a Qatari hotel.

Hotel toiletries: body wash, conditioner, and shampoo on a shelf.

Buffet service with terracotta tagines and condiments for a food tour in Qatar.

Table set between two armchairs in a luxurious Qatari restaurant interior.

Modern restaurant with grey chairs and wooden and blue wall decor.

Bowl of muesli and freshly cut fruits, likely breakfast in Doha.

Impressive chandelier in the lobby of a luxury hotel in Qatar.

Luxurious lounge corner with burgundy armchairs under ornate archway, Doha hotel.

Illuminated rooftop pool at night, boutique hotel ambiance in Doha, Qatar.

Night pool with moon above a boutique hotel in Qatar.

Textured night terrace with a view of an illuminated minaret in the distance in Qatar.

Al Bidda Boutique Hotel Souq Waqif, PO Box 1274, Doha, Qatar

The Sharq Village Spa & Resort Hotel

This property, which belongs to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel group, is a luxurious beachfront establishment built in 2007 that offers a beautiful view of the Doha Bay. It is the ideal place to spend time and relax during a stay in Doha. And as you can see in the photo below, you can admire this lovely view while being comfortably settled in the hotel’s jacuzzi (yes, that’s pretty much the ultimate level of class!). This Resort is truly vast, and I felt like I was wandering through a little (luxurious, of course) Qatari village.

Woman relaxing in a jacuzzi with a view of the Doha skyline, Qatar.

Lush interior patio with fountain, tropical plants, and Qatari architecture.

Traditional Arab interior courtyard with fountain and wooden bench.

Traditional well with bucket, palm trees, and white architecture in Qatar.

White Arab-style hotel complex with patio and swimming pool in Qatar.

My Room

Macarons and chocolate on a black tray with flower petals, outdoor setting.

Luxurious hotel room with canopy bed and balcony in Qatar.

Arab-style building interior with skylight and palm trees.

Luxurious canopy bed with ambient lighting in a hotel room in Qatar.

Breakfast

Breakfast is served as a very, very generous buffet, and there is something for everyone.

Chic dining area with tufted bench and illuminated wall decorations.

Buffet of artisanal jams and honeys: strawberry, apricot, blueberry, thyme, orange, plain.

Luxurious restaurant interior with benches, decorated arches, and a central buffet.

Luxurious restaurant hall in Qatar with buffet and wooden table.

The central pool

We spent, I must say, a lot of time by (and in) this superb pool! At the same time, the setting is so heavenly that you will easily understand why…

Luxurious hotel complex swimming pool in Qatar, lounge chairs, palm trees, and umbrella.

Woman by the pool of a luxury hotel in Qatar.

The Al Dana restaurant at the Sharq Village and Spa

The fusion cuisine offered by the establishment is original and refined, and I really loved their take on the rum baba.

With some dishes in the photos below:

Night terrace in Qatar with palm tree and glowing wicker lamp.

Oyster and seafood buffet, fresh vegetables in wooden crates.

Sautéed mushrooms in a creamy sauce, gourmet dish on a white plate.

Moules marinières with fresh cheese in a black Staub pot on a wooden table.

Tartlet topped with cream, red berries, and yellow fruit slices.

Refined dessert with poached pear, crumble, raspberries, and blueberries on a white plate.

Seared scallops on yellow purée, accompanied by glazed onions and red chili.

Gourmet beetroot appetizer with croutons and green garnish on a white plate.

The Six Senses Spa

Inside the Resort is a magnificent Six Senses spa, an ideal place for a little moment of relaxation and unwinding. Plus, for hotel guests, access to the hammam and baths is free.

Traditional Qatari-style restaurant interior with benches and wooden ceiling.

Relaxation room with lounge chairs and oriental lanterns, likely a Doha hotel spa.

White Qatari-style building with a basin in front, Six Senses Spa.

Wooden bench with cushions on an outdoor terrace of a Qatari hotel.

Sharq Village Spa & Resort Hotel

Ras Abu Abboud Street, PO Box 26662 Doha, 26662 Qatar

Price: from €180 per night (depending on the season)
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Private beach hut with a view of the Doha skyline, Qatar.

I hope that all this has made you want to discover Doha and Qatar, perhaps during an upcoming stopover. And if you also have your own favorite spots in this destination, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments!

Photo credits: Mademoiselle Bon Plan
Photos are not royalty-free, photographer authorization is required before any use