Have you always wondered what it is like to dine in Al Safwa, Qatar Airway’s first class lounge at Hamad International Airport?
I took a spin back in 2018 but had been itching to get back inside it’s cavernous and classy space. So when an offer to book the Al Safwa experience for an additional fee popped up when I was booking a flight on Qatar Airways recently, I keyed in my well used credit card.
How to Access Al Safwa Lounge?
When I say for a fee, I mean QR585. Yep , the price of a very nice meal and drinks in Doha. But, research. Otherwise, access to Al Safwa First lounge is exclusive to First Class passengers, Privilege Club Platinum members travelling Business Class with Qatar Airways and oneworld First Class passengers.
To access the lounge (if you aren’t flying First Class) is by a discrete escalator to the right of Big Ted. Once inside, it’s a stunning space. There is a restaurant-style dining area; plus a spa, quiet areas and even a duty free store. Be sure to check out the stunning art works on display as well.
Before we head into the food, I want to say Al Safwa is quiet. Hushed. Even when busy the evening I visited there is a calm and dare I say, refined atmosphere.
The Al Safwa Experience
Breakfast is served between 5am and 10.30am with eggs made to order and there is afternoon tea between 3pm and 5pm. The lunch and dinner includes a smattering of Qatari dishes (madrouba and thareed – Eid specials) as well as a pistachio lamb rack; a grilled salmon fillet and a saffron barley risotto. there is a made to order pasta option as well.
I was there at a very civilized 6pm for my 8.45pm flight. You’re greeted like it is a restaurant an guided to a table. A scented towel and a glass of chilled JM Gobillard and Fils Rose later, I’m scanning the QR code for the menu. Yep, just like it’s 2020 again.
The current menu ranges from soups to appetizers, mains and desserts. I kick off with a starter of poached lobster with avocado timbale. Little pops of tobiko gave a nice foil to the creamy avocado. It’s chilled to the point of being almost too cold and the lobster on the verge of being overcooked, but still a lush start to the experience.
I also order a mixed sushi platter – salmon, a California style roll and a veggie maki roll are all crowd pleasing. Then, I switch drinks to a muscular glass of Yalumba Samuels Collection Shiraz from my homeland and tuck into a plate of beautifully silky wagyu carpaccio which was the best dish I tried.
To round out the meal with a decadent Ramadan favorite sticky date pudding with creme Anglaise and vanilla icecram and a little platter of Arabic sweets.
Al Safwa Lounge Drinks
The drinks list is a bit of a star – two champagnes, three whites, three reds and a dessert wine plus spirits, cocktails and of course non-alcoholic drinks. Some surprises including the aforementined Barossa Shiraz and a Cuba Libre on the cocktail list.
If table service isn’t your thing, you can also pull up a stool at the bar, which sits in the center of the dining space.
Al Sawa Lounge Service
Service was attentive, to the point where they were suggesting more dishes, but I was wary as I had night flight and potentially long immigration situation on arrival looming.
This IS an airline lounge at the end of the day. This was made abundantly clear when the cleaning staff, as I was still eating, wordlessly removed extra chairs from my table, stacking them next to me. Then, like we were in a fast food restaurant, started removing other chairs around me for the cleaning session.
I get it, they have schedules, and this seemed like a lull in departures. But it was a bit jarring.
Al Safwa Lounge Access – is it worth paying for?
The lounge is stunning and the food a small step above that offered in Al Mourjan (which does have more variety, buffets and table service and even offers sushi now). I mean who doesn’t love lobster and champagne on call? At QR585, unless I finally attain Platinum status (2024 FTW) or manage to fly first class again, I think this was a lovely, but rare treat.
While you are here…
Thanks for reading what it is like to dine in Al Safwa, Qatar Airway’s first class lounge at Hamad International Airport.
Are you getting my weekly Life on the Wedge newsletter? Sign up here. We have some exciting and exclusive offers and events planned! I launched my substack which is a platform for some deeper explorations of topics around food.
Please note:
While I pay for a large portion of my experiences that I write about, I am sometimes provided meals and other experiences free of charge or at a reduced rate. However, I make it clear that I am under no obligation to give a positive review.
