It’s true – the weather is cooling (however marginally) and the social scene is back in full swing.
So much so that I almost forgot my Netflix password (just kidding, it’s embedded in my psyche)
But it’s a very Doha thing not to know about something until after it happens or when the bandwagon has well and truly moved on.
So consider this your your monthly guide to what’s new and interesting on the foodie scene in Doha – where you should be eating, drinking and playing right now:
The Pier at Four Seasons Doha:
The much anticipated new concept at the Four Seasons is an outdoor shisha terrace and lounge is so new the paint has only just dried. It’s also so new I don’t have a photo. Not even a grainy one or an artists impression. It opened on Sunday and looks set to shake up the social scene – it’s very “un-Four Seasons” and I love it already. The menu includes black truffle hummous, foie gras kibbe and a Mexican style shwarma. And of course, shisha. Taxi!
Qatar honestly hasn’t seen anything like this hotel. The interiors look like a scifi movie set populated by impossibly glamorous bots. Seriously have you seen Gattaca?
The restaurants thankfully are a little less fanciful. Boasting two celebrity chefs – Morimoto and Wolfgang Puck’s CUT – plus a very good casual eatery called Hudson Tavern (try the hot chicken burger), and more to open soon, this place is justifiably buzzworthy. Keep reading for reviews of CUT and Morimoto in coming weeks but first impressions are good. If you can’t make it to eat there (although there is a branch of Magnolia in the lobby), at least go for the “I Dream of Jeannie” bathrooms.
Cafe 42 Now Opens All Day
I’ve written about this gem of a cafe before, but the good news is it has now extended its opening hours. It’s now open 6am to 10pm on weekdays, 2pm to 11pm Fridays and 9am to 10am Saturdays. This also means a new breakfast menu – try the grilled cheese!
The Farmer’s Brunch at Ritz Carlton Doha
The reinvention of the year award must go to Ritz Carlton Doha. Once a land of chintz and old school buffets, the hotel has a fresh new look. And it’s more than just a lick of paint. The rooms and suites have been given a chic makeover and its Friday brunch a hipster vibe.
With an avocado bar, fresh mozzarella stand and seafood for days, the emphasis is on fresh food, done well. And endless buffet this is not. With a petting zoo for the kids and cocktails made to order, this is a brunch for the ages. Ritz Doha…you’ve changed!
Wait, I hear you say. Is this sheila actually telling us to eat in a mall? Bear with me. Doha Festival City’s food offerings are finally starting to gain pace. I recently sampled the surprisingly good 800 Degrees Pizza (check out the burrata) as well as cult favorite Five Guys.
But add the always dependable Carluccios in the mix and independent cafes like Aimees, and you have something to please the whole family.
I’m so pleased to see this place with a new lease of life. It was formerly a seafood restaurant called Yabby and had all the charm of an airline lounge in a medium sized country town. With a small redesign, the injection of a Greek chef and manager, this place has taken on a new lease on life. The menu includes taverna classics like grilled fish, calamari and all the feta you can handle. Wash it down with ouzo and indulge in some plate smashing…this is a fun place with simple, fresh food.
So that’s where I am eating and drinking in Doha this month – what about you?
*Some photos are a collaboration with the amazing Karen Nicolet of Clumsy Chic. Check her blog out here.
**Read my disclaimer here (it’s really good).
2 Comments
forevermyjoy
Doha seems like it would be such a great city to visit!
Rachel Ann Morris
It is! Put it on your list!