Sliding into 2025 with some recommendations to start your year as you intend to continue it! Here’s my January Doha dining hit list: the hot, new and just-reviewed places to check out, right now. Curry Night at Isaan I don’t like to bang on about how long I have lived in Doha (blah blah), but I was actually one of the first to dine at Isaan when it opened back in 2010. And I have been a fan of it ever since. Originally it served almost exclusively small plates with a spicy menu from the north east of Thailand. The menu has evolved over the years, with more crowd pleasing…
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Review: Is there more to OPA Doha than its Instagrammable interiors?
OPA Doha takes the “more is more” approach to its decoration. It’s almost an assault on the senses – a wall of busts of imperious Greek philosophers (or the younger, hotter cousins of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle perhaps) that dreamy flower trimmed hallway. Let’s not forget the white washed walls, taking you to Mykonos via the Lusail Expressway. But, is there more to OPA Doha than its Instagrammable interiors and plate smashing fun? OPA Doha entered the Qatar market along with a flurry of similar Greek inspired restaurants in 2022. At last count there no less than seven Greek/adjacent restaurants in Doha. The appeal of Greek cuisine is obvious –…
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Review: Is Kai’s Songbird Doha the Real Deal or a Flight of Fancy?
I had fully approached my return to this restaurant with a high degree of cynicism. Of the belief that the borderline cultish proclamations about Kai’s Songbird were a result of them being mesmerized by the location and the concept. For months, since my first visit, I had demurred – “it’s good….but….”. And you can see why I held this view. On arrival, it’s easy to be dazzled by Kai’s Songbird. It’s harborside location, soaring atrium interiors and almost over-designed plush furnishings are unlike anything in Doha. And, of course, there is the novelty of drinking alcohol. Not in a hotel! At The Pearl! With that view! OMG! Swoon! The rest,…
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Doha Hit List January 2023: Hot, new and just reviewed restaurants, bars and offers
Hello? 2023? Is that really you? All shiny, bright and full of promise! To kick the year off in the right way, here is your Doha Hit List January 2023: Hot, new and just reviewed restaurants, bars and offers to check out NOW: Hanok Korean/Japanese Restaurant If you haven’t wandered around the area behind the National Museum of Qatar, do yourself a favor and go. So many new eateries and cafes have popped up, including Hanok. Their menu includes Seiromushi, the Japanese method of steam cooking in which food is steamed on bamboo trays table side. Anyone familiar with K Dramas will have seen this technique. We ordered the set…
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The 7 Best Game Day Eats in Qatar During FIFA World Cup 2022
So, you’ve got your tickets sorted, your Hayya Card is fired up – what are the best game day eats in Doha During FIFA World Cup 2022? I’ve tried to give fans and foodies a range of options across the city and also placed them in their proximity to the nearest stadium… A few words of advice! Be sure to book ahead, reservations for bars and restaurants at hotels are essential at the moment and bring your ID. Also, try to get out and about to enjoy Qatar’s lively food scene. Enjoy! The burgers at The Score This spacious and well appointed West Bay sports bar at the Pullman is…
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Five Delicious Things to Do When Visiting Doha
Doha, Qatar isn’t just about FIFA football these days. There is of course the museums and galleries, the desert and, a thriving restaurant and cafe scene. You can dine around the world in a day but there are a few foodie goals you should be kicking while here. So here are five delicious foodie things to do when visiting Doha: 1. Take a Wander Around Souq Waqif From the main drag full of cafes, restaurants and outdoor seating for people watching to the winding alleys of the covered souq lined with spice shops and other goodies, this should be your first stop. Must visit foodie spots include the cheap as…
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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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Where to Find Specialty and Unique Food Shops in Doha
Need to find that unique ingredient? Or maybe something that reminds you of home or that trip to Italy (when we still could travel!)? There was a time when you had to wait to travel or ask a friend bring in that special vinegar or sauce. Not any more. In some cases you can thank COVID-19 – some suppliers opened their doors to the public during the lockdown. In other cases, specialty food shops across Doha are popping up all over the city offering a range of items and in many cases, home delivery or through Whatsapp. Here’s my a few from my little black book of great food and…
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What Will Doha’s Dining Scene Look Like Post-COVID-19?
We all joke about rushing the barricades and beating down the doors of our favorite cafes and restaurants (after the beauty salons of course) when they finally reopen. But what will Doha’s dining scene look like after the dust settles? As we begin to eat out again when restaurants reopen, the question will be less about the food, and more so about what steps the restaurant has taken to ensure the health and safety of diners. One thing is certain, it won’t be the same. But how will it have changed? 1. Fewer outlets The sad reality is, many smaller (and maybe some bigger players) won’t be able to survive…
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HUQQA, Line and Sinker – A Review of Doha’s Newest Turkish Restaurant
Ever has that feeling KNOW you are getting taken for an expensive ride…that feeling when the experience is so swift and so practiced that you have to sit back and just admire the AUDACITY. That folks, is what it is like to eat at HUQQA The overall experience is so pleasant and the food is so tasty that you kind of just throw up your hands (or in this case your wallet) and say…I give up. Just take it. Take my money. I had that exact feeling when I realized we were paying QR168 for a dish called Sac Kavarna. You heard me. QR168. For a dish of admittedly beautifully…
