Five Day Dining Options in Doha During Ramadan

Ramadan Kareem!

While I do love seeing the city come alive during the long Ramadan nights, it’s nice to have some quality options to eat out during the day.

My friends at Doha News have compiled an exhaustive listing of opening hours for restaurants, malls and other facilities across the city and Qatar Eating have done the same. But I thought I would give you just a handful of good, solid places for breakfast and lunch over the coming weeks.

Breakfast Santa Monica Breakfast Club.

Reports about this venue (at the Grand Hyatt Doha have been mixed, but my visit early in proceedings turned up some well executed burgers including a pulled chicken bao bun, even if the service was a little green. As the name suggested, it’s “breakfast heavy” but you will easily find something you will like. With fun and funky interiors, this is not your usual “all day dining” hotel offering, it’s open until 11pm daily.

2. La Spiga at W Doha

Crowd pleaser Market the W is also open (all day including breakfast), but it is La Spiga that has me excited. Starters and appetizers run the gamut from traditional slithers of beef carpaccio through to my spiritual twin – burrata. Another winner is their famed truffle pizza and their paparadelle Paper Moon. La Spiga is open from 12pm to 4pm then opens again at 5pm for dinner (the lovely terrace from 6pm). I can see this spot getting regular rotation in my house.

3. Mykonos

With a pretty outlook and a menu of solid Greek favorites, Mykonos at the Intercontinental Doha will open daily from 1230pm. While you will have to forgo the retsina for a few weeks, I can’t imagine a more lovely location for a lazy summer afternoon of good food. Check out the moussaka as well as the cheese Saganaki – grilled tangy Greek cheese served with a spicy tomato jam.

4. Elements at Four Seasons Doha

The big news from this excellent hotel is that Nobu Doha will be open for dinner during Ramadan, but its equally great mainland sister restaurant Elements will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. With a menu spanning Indian, Chinese, Asian and Arabic favorites it’s a crowd pleaser without sacrificing on quality. I can highly recommend their lush but punchy Indonesian-style chicken and the delicate Shanghai-style sea bass.

Winner winner chicken for lunch and dinner

5. Quick Bites at Marriott Marquis Doha

One of the most popular venues last year, this casual hotspot is back for more this year. Its menu doesn’t throw up many surprises – mainly burgers, sandwiches, salads, pastas and flatbreads – but its spacious (if a little soulless), has valet parking and service is great. I love their plump breakfast corn fritters and other bloggers rave about their flatbread pizzas. Apparently it gets busy, so plan ahead.