Where to drink and dine in the Qatari capital for elegant interiors, a good crowd and great food
Qatar’s status as a culinary destination has been rising in recent years. Always rich in tradition, blending influences from India, North Africa, Persia and Lebanon, today, – and its capital Doha – proudly showcases a diverse array of culinary and hospitality options, from luxurious hotel restaurants to lively eateries headed by top international chefs and homegrown savants.
This restaurant revolution will be further cemented by the impending launch of the Michelin Guide in Doha later this year. Ahead of its indoctrination into this remarkable roster of global names, we share some of the very best food offerings in Doha to book now:
The best restaurants in Doha – 2024
Alba
Location: Raffles Doha
First up is Alba by Enrico Crippa. Here, the focus is largely Piedmont classics, with many dishes celebrating the glorious white truffle native to the restaurant’s namesake town of Alba in Northern Italy. Crippa’s protégé Antonio D’Alessio runs the kitchen at the esteemed chef’s first international outpost in Raffles Doha. However, Crippa is said to regularly make the trip from his three Michelin-starred Piazza Duomo to personally escort the finest – and freshest – Piedmontese ingredients to your table in Doha. Unsurprisingly, the wine list here is also to die for – a staggering 40% of the bottles housed in the restaurant’s wine cellar are unique to the property.
Marina District Lusail City, raffles.com/doha; @rafflesdoha
IDAM
Location: Museum of Islamic Art
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2023, IDAM was acclaimed French chef Alain Ducasse’s first opening in the Middle East. To nobody’s surprise, this contemporary Mediterranean fine-dining restaurant named after the Arabic word for generosity quickly ingratiated itself among those fortunate enough to pass through its Philippe Starck-designed dining room doors.
IDAM serves the classically refined French haute cuisine that has earned him international acclaim and a staggering 21 Michelin stars. Many of the dishes have an innovative Arabic twist, however, for example, the team has a penchant for using the popular Middle Eastern ingredient black loomi in place of the classic Mediterranean ingredient of lemon. This is one of the best restaurants in Doha, from the special walk across the iconic white-calligraphy embellished black carpet to the soft lighting, bedazzling Baccarat crystal, and breathtaking views across the bay. You won’t forget your visit to this special culinary institution on the top floor of the Museum of Islamic Art any time soon.
idam.com; @idambyalainducasse
Cecconi’s
Location: The Ned Doha
Modern-day classic Italian restaurant Cecconi’s is one of seven must-visit eateries at The Ned Doha – in fact, Malibu Kitchen also graces this list. Part of the Soho House group since 2004, this iconic Venetian restaurant originally started life in London’s Mayfair in 1978. Today, guests can dine on Cecconi’s signature hand-made pasta, wood-fired oven pizza, fresh seafood, and other mouthwatering Northern Italian dishes in Mumbai, Barcelona, West Hollywood, and New York. Like its sister restaurants, the award-winning Cecconi’s Dubai has quickly become a perennial favourite.
thened.com; @cecconisrestaurants
Masala Library by Jiggs Kalra
Location: Fairmont Doha
Located on the first floor of the refined and luxurious Fairmont Doha, Masala Library by Jiggs Kalra is an innovative and experimental restaurant serving sophisticated dishes designed by one of the godfathers of modern Indian cuisine. Guests are transported from the dazzling white Qatari dining room with views across the city to all four corners of India during an unforgettable four-part tasting menu celebrating Indian geography and culture. The finest ingredients are lovingly prepared using traditional cooking techniques you likely won’t have seen before or since.
fairmont.com; @masalalibrarydoha
Malibu Kitchen
Location: The Ned Doha
Dine al fresco at the preeminently chic, Californian-inspired Malibu Kitchen at The Ned Doha. The fun, and health-minded menu of tasty superfood salads, cured fish and meat, and flatbreads is the perfect balance of (semi)clean eating and elevated private-members’ club dining. From poolside brunches with friends to business meetings and celebratory evening get-togethers, this year-round air-conditioned outdoor restaurant from the Soho House & Co family is a welcome addition to Qatar’s culinary scene.
thened.com; @theneddoha
Parisa in the Souq Waqif
The single best way to get a taste of traditional Qatari culture is by visiting the beating heart of Doha, Souq Waqif. While exploring the labyrinthine stalls of incredible spices, garments and pearls, we recommend dipping out of the hubbub and into the sanctuary of Parisa, the outpost of The Ritz-Carlton Sharq Village’s Persian Cafe.
Once inside, the kaleidoscopically colourful hand-painted interior, complete with stained glass and gold flourishes mesmerises and delights. The wonderfully authentic Persian delicacies served here are matched only by the dazzling atmosphere. This truly is a spectacularly charming gem nestled in Doha’s wondrous Souq Waqif. Souq Waqif, parisarestaurants.com; @parisarestaurants
Coya
Location: W Doha, West Bay
With a Latin American menu featuring global signature dishes, such as ceviche, tiraditos, and heartier anticuchos, alongside plates uniquely inspired by Qatari cuisine, Coya Doha has quickly become a fan favourite since opening in W Doha in 2021. With four restaurants and counting in the Middle East, there is an understandably insatiable appetite across the region for classically clean Peruvian sharing plates and Pisco cocktails served in a luxurious and lively setting. Come in the evening for a good-looking crowd and one of the buzziest dining rooms in Doha.
W Doha, coyarestaurant.com/doha; @coyadoha
Jiwan
Location: National Museum of Qatar
Ascend four floors at Doha’s most famous museum and you will find Alain Ducasse’s stunning outpost, Jiwan. This laid-back modern restaurant in the National Museum of Qatar is Ducasse’s second restaurant in Qatar. Here, the acclaimed French restaurateur – who was the first chef to have three Michelin stars at three different restaurants – has designed a remarkable menu of reimagined Qatari dishes and modern takes on classic Arabian and Middle Eastern cuisine from North Africa, South Asia, and the Levant.
The restaurant, named after the Qatari word for ‘perfect pearl’ in honour of the country’s great pearl diving tradition, is achingly beautiful. With more than 4,000,000 Swarovski crystals adorning the restaurant’s ceiling evoking the sensation of dining beneath the aquamarine waters of Doha Bay, and incredible views across Doha’s skyline and the Arabian Sea, it’s little wonder Jiwan has been named the region’s most beautiful restaurant.
iwan.qa/; @jiwanrestaurant
Gymkhana Qatar
Location: Katara Cultural Village
There’s no shortage of excellent Indian restaurants in the Qatari capital. That said when news broke that Gymkhana – a two-Michelin-star Mayfair institution famed for its bold and innovative dishes – was coming to Doha in 2022, there was an audible collective gasp. Nearly three years on, countless foodies continue to make the pilgrimage to Katara Cultural Village’s stunning Katara Hills LXR to dine underneath the restaurant’s ginormous, scene-stealing chandeliers, as the open kitchen produces plate after plate of fragrant dishes inspired by India’s majestic culinary history.
The Gymkhana Doha menu is a great mix of dishes popularised at the flagship Mayfair restaurant with new additions for Qatari sensibilities – the bold and brave-minded (and stomached) may miss the goat brain (bheja) and game meat, but diners can still sample a wonderful array of spice-laden and otherworldly dishes including the Keralan lobster moilee, chicken butter Masala, and more.
hilton.com; @gymkhanaqa
Harry’s Dolce Vita
Location: Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl Island
For elegant Italian dining, look no further than Harry’s Dolce Vita Doha. Brand new to the Qatari capital’s dining scene – and the Middle East more widely – in October 2024, Harry’s Dolce Vita harks back to a 1950s Italian golden age of glamour, luxury, and pizazz. Located in the exquisitely beautiful Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl, this Doha newcomer is a familiar name to those who have dined at its outposts in some of London’s most prestigious addresses. Everything here is cooked with care, plated with passion, and incorporates the very finest Italian ingredients. From mouthwatering antipasti to indulgently authentic desserts, each dish celebrates Italy’s rich culinary history while transporting you back to a halcyon era.
kempinski.com; @harrysdolcevitadoha
Bayt Sharq
There is a wonderful charm to Bayt Sharq. Whatever time of day you sit in the picturesque courtyard at this delightful Qatari restaurant inside a century-old heritage house is time very well very spent. There are lovely nods to Qatari history at every turn – and a delightful small museum to explore before or after the deliciously generous meal. Breakfast here is the real showstopper, with an à la carte menu or, our recommendation, the set menu. Sample traditional Qatari dishes such as nakhi and balaleet or opt for the regional maalem breakfasts of falafel, shakshouka, fresh breads and pastries – whatever you decide will doubtless be delicious, abundant, and authentic.
Al Khulaifat, @baytsharq.qa
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