There’s an October chill in the East London air when the dubious uber drive deposits me in front of an Edwardian style building. “Is it open?” he asks me, peering through his windshield. This is a valid question, because the building looked like…a town hall. Primarily because it is or was, a center of local government. This brings its own set of (admittedly, triggering) memories for me, both my parents were elected local officials, so a large part of my childhood was spent within buildings just like this. Late evenings, doing my homework while half listening to debates about curbs, guttering and the like. I digress… This building has now…
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Top New Dining Spots and Must Try Menus in Doha This Summer
All the new restaurants and bars, menus and dishes you need to try as the weather heats up… From the alluring bar at Doha’s newest five star hotel, to unlimited hotpot and also, a well priced Omakase menu; here’s where (and what) to eat and drink in Doha this month. Stoke and Stoker at Rosewood Doha Stoke and Stoker is a huge space in the quietly luxurious new Rosewood Doha. With comfy leather chairs, alcoves for tastings and small events, and a sea facing outdoor terrace. It’s also smoke free. Cocktails play on the “Art of Travel” and there is a full Zero Proof menu. On the drinks menu are spirits…
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Checking into Paradise: Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kura Hudaa
Just four and a half hours from Doha, this family friendly resort allows you to choose your own adventure while delivering some incredible, luxurious service As the speed boat navigated the choppy approach to the Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kura Huraa, I admit openly that the iconic White Lotus theme song was playing on a loop in my already crowded brain. Quiet luxury island vibe. A boat trip to access it. Staff waiting on the dock. And…FOUR SEASONS But no monkeys. Or pong-pong fruit. Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kura Hudaa certainly qualifies as a bucket list destination for me, or anyone really. There are two Four Seasons resorts in the…
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Your January Doha dining hit list: the hot, new and just-reviewed places to check out, right now
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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Bodrum is your next great foodie travel destination
With incredible food and world class chefs Bodrum on Türkiye‘s Aegean coast should be your next great foodie vacation destination Türkiye’s beguiling capital of Istanbul garners most of the plaudits for its ever evolving food scene. But Bodrum, stretching from the country’s southwest coast into the Aegean Sea, is a culinary destination in itself. The foodie renaissance has also been fuelled by the 2024 arrival of the MICHELIN Guide – with local chefs and produce taking centre stage. Blessed with seafood from the Aegean, wine from grapes grown in the surrounding hills and fresh farm produce, there is a growing community of chefs and restaurateurs showcasing the area’s bounty. Bodrum…
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Doha Dining Hit List October 2024 – new, hot and just reviewed restaurants and bars
It’s been a while I know, but as the city gears up for a busy end of year, it’s time to bring back my monthly hit list. Summer, to put it bluntly, was slow. But time to clear the backlog, shine a light on some great new offers and openings. Sushi spots, steak and chips and a gorgeous new brunch awaits you in this month’s recommendations. So, for October, this is where you should be eating in Qatar right now: Friday Brunch at Sora Rooftop I’ve predicted this place would come good before and finally, it is. A Pan-Asian blended buffet/a la carte menu with multiple options; live entertainment and…
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Review: Gymkhana Brings Some Michelin Gloss to Doha’s Indian Fine Dining Scene
It doesn’t take a food writer to tell you that Doha is spoiled for choice with some good Indian food at all price points. At the upper end, we’re also well – Rivaaj, Jamavar, Chingari among the standouts. Gymkhana opened in 2022 at the Katara Hills LXR. If you are unsure where that is, you’re not alone. It’s in the verdant…hills inside Katara, past the Padel courts. The hotel and restaurant benefit from the elevation, but the view from the admittedly lovely terrace is across the… Lusail Expressway which, is well, very Doha. But I imagine in winter it’s perfect. Fun fact – this is Gymkhana’s second iteration in Doha.…
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Doha Dining Hit List May 2024 – new, hot and just reviewed restaurants and bars
It’s been a hot minute but my dining hit lists are finally back… by popular demand. So, here is my Doha dining hit list for May 2024 including all the new, hot and just reviewed restaurants and bars in Qatar. Muru by Mauro Colagreco I waited patiently and it’s finally open. Vast, pricy and very beautiful, Muru’s food is also settling in nicely. The menu is also pretty vast…circumnavigating crudo, ceviches, tartare, maki rolls, several types of grills including Tandoor and more. Starters include a catch of the day ceviche (QR85), made with a surprising cut of barracuda – it’s meaty yet bright thanks to the injection of pomegranate and…
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Brunch Review: ZUMA Doha has Hype and Celebrities but Does it Deliver A Great Brunch?
Let’s be honest. First impressions were not great – a questionable table and a server with an attitude as chilly as Doha in late February. Our Zuma Baikingu Friday brunch experience was off to a rocky start. We’d already had internal monologue/whatsapp group chat about the QR500 price tag and the “sceney” vibe. But my lack of a Zuma visit was, I confess, a gap in my food writing resume. A generous table move, the injection of Pocket Rocket server called Camilla and a decent Bellini soon had us purring. Let’s be clear – Zuma Doha is a SCENE. So much so that we had a mix of wannabe main character…
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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 –…
