I was a big fan of Riyasat at the St Regis Doha and was curious what had changed since its recent “rebrand” as Rivaaj. With the dissolution of Al Fardan Hospitality, this was one of the high-profile changes. Rivaaj has now moved under the umbrella of their landlords St Regis. The other notable change has been neighboring BIBO moving to we presume, Marsa Malaz Kempinski where sister restaurant Lobito De Mar is located. As a side note – I have lauded what was done in the complex that once housed a moribund ballroom at the Al Gassar Resort. The addition of interesting and popular venues and a gallery was a…
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Doha Hit List February 2023 – New, hot and just reviewed restaurants, bars and offers
Longest. January. Ever. But February is here and it’s time for my Doha 2023 hit list – new, hot and just reviewed restaurants and bars and of course, offers. Friday Brunch at Alba by Enrico Crippa The Raffles Doha is a stunning hotel and this restaurant, with its cool and subdued interiors is quite something. Their Friday brunch is a great way to try the menu, developed by the Michelin star Italian legend Enrico Crippa. Their set menu Friday brunch is the antidote to crazy party brunches. Start with a lethal Aperol spritz or Prosecco if you prefer and sit back and enjoy. From pillows of pasta nestled in a…
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New Review: Innovative and Irresistible Indian Food at Masala Library
I’m usually one to tease my opinion in reviews. I’m not going to play around here. In fact I am deadly serious. We’re talking about butter chicken. Butter chicken is serious business. But if you are in any way a fan of Indian food, even a distant one in the way I am a fan of heavy metal bands, you need to go to Masala Library. Go for the butter chicken – a deconstructed thing of beauty which I will get to later. Stay for the rest of the experience. There’s no shortage of good high end Indian food in this town – Ishka360, Jamavar and Rivaaj among the most…
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Your March 2022 hit list: Where to eat and drink in Doha
The last couple of months has flown by and frankly, I wasn’t prepared. But the Good Ship Life on the Wedge has been righted and all is OK in the world. There is a LOT of love about Doha’s dining scene right now – new openings, new menus and a lot of energy. Stay tuned until the end for upcoming openings and a special offer. So, here it is, your March 2022 hit list: where to eat and drink in Doha this month: Satsuma I need to listen to my friends more. When a good friend messaged me about a new place offering unlimited dumplings for QR99 every Thursday, I…
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Visiting Tbilisi, Georgia – the perfect post COVID vacation destination
I’m calling it now – at just three hours from Doha and with wine and natural beauty for days, Tbilisi, Georgia could well be the perfect Post- COVID vacation destination. And with the country open to tourism and accepting fully vaccinated travelers (with documentation), there has never been a better time to go. Here’s my guide to getting there, getting in, where to stay and importantly how to get back! Getting there Tbilisi is just three hours and five minutes flight time from Doha on Qatar Airways. At the time of writing flights were arriving at a challenging 1am so factor that into travel plans. Flights start at QR2795 return…
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Seven Places in Doha to Dine Outdoors This Winter
The weather is cooling – that means chances for swanning around outside and not end up bathed in a sheen of sweat are high. Doha winters make the summers almost bearable (and I will fight anyone who disagrees). Here are my 7 top places in Doha to dine outdoors this winter… catch you outside.. 1. Mykonos Doha It seems like Mykonos has been around forever and there is a good reason why its outside terrace is packed nightly in the cooler months. With a pool view and a bit of an island feel, the food is Greek staples like moussaka and grilled lamb, it’s hard to look past. Friday and…
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Five Foodie-Approved Short Breaks to Take this Summer
I’m in the process of researching and booking my Summer holiday destinations. The criteria always remains are unchanged from the last year: solid foodie credentials, direct flights on Qatar Airways and as few visa entanglements as I can muster. If you are, like me, when choosing a destination, food is a major consideration. Well, let’s be honest, it’s probably top of the list along with easy (or no visas) visas and bearable flight times.And many times, I book a food tour before I book a hotel. All the below destinations are a manageable four to five hours from Doha and have visa on arrival or e-visas AND have the Life on…
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Five Reasons Why India Should Be On Your Travel Bucket List
I have a confession. It wasn’t until I moved to the Middle East that I even considered India as a travel destination. I’d always considered it to be a little too confronting. Too big. Too crazy. Too dirty. Then around five years ago, I finally made a decision. I took a deep breath and booked a trip to Delhi. It was a revelation. Organized chaos and a riot of colors and smells, yet also somehow addictive. So if you are on the fence about India and in honor of their amazing festival Diwali, here’s five reasons why you should take the plunge. THE FOOD: This goes without saying but the…
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Seven Reasons to Visit Doha in 2019
It’s official – Doha is one of the world’s hottest destinations right now and this has been confirmed by both the Forbes Travel Guide and the New York Times. And with the 2019 Asian Football Cup under its belt, the 2022 World Cup coming in hot and a string of exciting new openings and events in between, there is no better time to visit Doha. In addition, Qatar has been named one of the safest countries in the world and thanks to the nation’s flagship carrier, you can easily access Doha from one of its 160 plus destinations around the globe. Here are my top reasons by you should visit Doha…
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Dear Paneer – A Love Letter to India and its Food
This is the story of my longest, most stable relationship. It has lasted more than 20 years and has never been disappointing. It’s about my love affair with Indian food. People know me as the “cheese lady”, and yes that is an apt description, but running parallel to my love of the dairy products is also my love of Indian food. I grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney – a melting pot of cultures and cuisines. But it wasn’t until I hit university that I discovered Indian food. This came in the unlikely form of a restaurant on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst called Tandoori Palace. Not only did it…
