Seven Daytime Dining Options in Doha This Ramadan

While I do love seeing the city come alive during the long Ramadan nights (and this year the days will also be long!), it’s nice to have some quality, convenient options around Doha to eat out during the day, especially on weekends.

Check my friends at Marhaba for a full list of Ramadan offerings as they occur and Time Out Doha has a great guide to the Holy Month. But I thought I would give you just a handful of good, solid places for breakfast and lunch over the coming weeks.

1. Breakfast Santa Monica Breakfast Club. 

This has become one of the hottest spots for a weekend breakfast in town. 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. And some good news – they will be offering their budget busting QR80 breakfast buffet during Ramadan. If you are going a la carte, check out the spicy Eggs Benedict.

2. Quick Bites at Marriott Marquis Doha

One of the most popular venues for this time of year, this West Bay 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 you can’t go wrong with their eggs and flatbread. this place gets busy, especially on weekend, so book ahead or go early. For something a little more hearty, head upstairs to their Italian restaurant Cucina – it will be open from 12pm daily.

3. Elements at Four Seasons Doha

Alas, Nobu Doha isn’t open during Ramadan this year, but foodies need not fret. Elements, their excellent and underrated all-day-dining restaurant 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 and any of the handmade dumplings.

4. Stockburger at Holiday Inn Doha

One of the bolters of the year, this smoke-free sports hub will be open from 12pm throughout the holy month. Of course it will be dry but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it’s menu of clever burgers, flatbreads and salad. My picks are the spicy jalapeno burger, the sweet chilli prawns, mushroom and blue cheese flatbread and any of the mason jar treats. As you can see, I’m a fan of those place!

5. W Doha

Here’s a turn up for the foodie books – all of W Doha’s main outlets will be open during the day this Ramadan. this includes Spice Market, Market and La Spiga. All will open from 12pm to 5pm but Market will also open for its famous breakfast buffet (as well as (a la carte) and W Cafe will open from 9am. Order the truffle pizza and crispy prawns at Market and any of the sushi at Spice Market (and special mention for the cupcakes at W Cafe).

6. Lagenda at Holiday Villa

This is an all-day dining restaurant with solid foodie cred. It will be open all day and my advice is to try the Malaysian and Asian specialties on their a la caret menu including the Ipoh Chicken rice and the Curry Laksa Noodles.

7. Cut by Wolfgang Puck

The Mondrian is marking its first Ramadan with style (make sure to check out their Qatari restaurant Walima which will open after sunset each day) and its signature celebrity chef restaurant Cut will be open for breakfast and lunch. This is essentially a steak restaurant so you can go wrong with any of those options on the menu. But I’m a huge fan of their lush smoked salmon pizza and their fresh burrata starter.

Special mentions

While not open during the day, for a touch of spice the excellent Sabai Thai at the Westin and Isaan at the Grand Hyatt Doha will be open this Ramadan from sunset onwards. also check out Oishi Sushi for a Japanese fix after iftar. For those over the other side of town during the day,  The Cellar at Oryx Rotana Doha will be open for breakfast and lunch buffet and will also serve its a la carte Spanish-inspired menu.