Restaurants in Doha
Eating out in Doha has undergone a revolution in recent years, and there's now a wide choice, from the authentic eateries in Souq Waqif to upscale restaurants overseen by some of the most famous chefs in the world. Alain Ducasse, Jean-George Vongerichten, Nobu Matsuhisa and Gordon Ramsay all have presence in the city and dining in the best restaurants can be something of a competitive sport, so reservations are essential.
The Doha restaurants below have been hand-picked by our guide author and are grouped into three pricing categories:
Expensive (over QAR 250)
Moderate (QAR 150 to QAR 200)
Cheap (up to QAR 150)
These Doha restaurant prices are for a three-course meal for one, including half a bottle of house wine or equivalent, tax and service. A service charge of 12.5% will be added to your bill in most restaurants. If service is not included, 10% tipping is customary.
Expensive
Gordon Ramsay
Cuisine: MediterraneanDeemed one of the most romantic restaurants in the city, this is one of two Ramsay restaurants at the St Regis Doha (the other one is the more informal Opal). Expect the full avant-garde dining experience, sampling Mediterranean-inspired dishes such as seafood bouillabaisse and veal Milanese.
Address: West Bay, The St. Regis, Doha,Telephone: +974 4446 0105.
Website: http://www.stregisdoha.com
Idam
Cuisine: FrenchIdam is Alain Ducasse's first restaurant in the Middle East. Sitting on the top floor of the Museum of Islamic Art, it's a phenomenal place to eat, designed by Philippe Starck. Expect classic French cuisine infused with hints of the Middle East; roasted lobster, saffron-infused octopus and fresh fish with creamy Egyptian rice. Fight for a table.
Address: Doha Bay, Museum of Islamic Art, Corniche, Doha,Telephone: +974 4422 4488.
Website: http://www.alain-ducasse.com/en/restaurant/idam
Spice Market
Cuisine: AsianThe acclaimed Spice Market serves South East Asian style street food by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten in an ambient and exotic setting. Noodle dishes and sushi join flavoursome tasting menus, along with ribs and steaks. A great place for weekend brunch or for pairing with a night out at Crystal Night Club.
Address: West Bay, W Doha Hotel & Residences, Doha,Telephone: +974 4445 35135.
Website: http://www.spicemarketdoha.com
Moderate
Argan
Cuisine: MoroccanThis stylish North African restaurant is located within the boutique Souq Waqif Hotel Doha. It serves up top-rate Moroccan dishes including couscous and tagines in suitably atmospheric surrounds. The oven-fresh breads and the harira soup (fresh tomato, chickpea and lentil soup) are particularly well thought of. So is the Moroccan style tea.
Address: Souq Waqif, Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels, Doha,Telephone: +974 4433 6666.
Website: http://www.swbh.com
Ruby Wu's
Cuisine: ChineseRuby Wu's is chic and stylish Chinese restaurant at the Radisson Blu (formerly the Ramada Plaza) that's all sharp lines, funky chairs and mood lighting. On the menu are the likes of wok-fried lobster, Yang Zhou fried rice and stir-fried beef tenderloin, but the roasted Peking duck is the pick of the bunch.
Address: , Salwa Road C Ring Road, Doha,Telephone: +974 4428 1555.
Website: http://www.radissonblu.com/en/hotel-doha/restaurants-and-bars/evening
Yum Yum
Cuisine: FrenchAt last, someone listened. Located inside the rather swish K108 Hotel, Yum Yum offers faultless French cuisine and impeccable service at a price that doesn't require a lottery win. The menu at this dry restaurant changes weekly, but diners can expect anything from crab croquettes and cuttlefish to lamb shanks.
Address: Doha Bay, K108 Hotel, Al Ghanim Street, Doha,Telephone: +974 4433 3033.
Website: http://www.k108hotel.com
Cheap
Al Adhamiyah
Cuisine: IraqiIn the heart of Souq Waqif, Al Adhamiyah dishes up traditional Iraqi foods including curries, grilled meats and fresh salads. No alcohol is served here, but fresh juices and Arabic tea are an ideal combination for the spicy dishes. There's plenty of fresh bread straight from the oven to mop everything up too.
Address: , Souq Waqif, Ali Bin Abdullah Street, Doha,Telephone: +974 4432 4326.
The Noodle House
Cuisine: South East AsianAn ideal pit stop if you're on a shopping spree in the City Centre Mall, The Noodle House does excellent South East Asian dishes, with everything from green curries to pad thai. If the heat is bearable, grab an outside table and watch locals cram shopping into their 4-wheel drives.
Address: West Bay, Ground Floor, City Centre Mall, Doha,Telephone: +974 4411 5063.
Website: http://www.thenoodlehouse.com
Turkey Central
Cuisine: TurkishA hugely popular budget option for those who like their food fast and their kebabs large, this place has remained something of a Doha institution despite a recent address change. It's not going to win many prizes for its décor, but the flow of customers tells its own story.
Address: , Al Mirqab Al Jadeed Street, Doha,Telephone: +974 4443 2927.
