Eating in Qatar is traditionally an important social and family ritual. Whether eating at home with extended family, or out with large groups, the custom is for everybody to share and sample a multitude of dishes.
The Doha Dining Experience
Eating in Qatar is traditionally an important social and family ritual. Whether eating at home with extended family, or out with large groups, the custom is for everybody to share and sample a multitude of dishes. Appetizers, known as mezze, are usually accompanied with flat Arabic bread, and traditionally main courses are often eaten by hand.
Qatari Cuisine
Visiting street restaurants that sell shawarma, falafel, tabbouleh, hummusand an endless and imaginative variety of fresh fruit and herb cocktails such as the popular mint-lemon or an avocado smoothie, is a good way to start learning about local food culture.
There are also numerous other Arabic dishes and rich desserts waiting to be explored. Cinnamon, saffron, turmeric, nuts (especially almonds, pine nuts and pistachios), lime, pomegranate and dried fruits such as dates and apricots are flavorsome (and healthy) additions to many well-known sweet and savory Arabic dishes.
Arabic Coffee
Coffee-drinking in this part of the world is an important ritual of hospitality. Served in tiny cups, the yellowish traditional coffee (gahwa, pictured) is mild, with a distinctive taste of cardamom and saffron. It is served plain, and dates are often eaten at the same time to sweeten the palate. The thickly brewed dark brown Turkish coffee is also popular.
Pork
Muslims do not consume pork and you won’t see it used at all in local cooking or sold in food stores. Pork is actually outlawed in Qatar, and it is illegal to bring it into the country.
Alcohol
As Qatar is a Muslim country, the sale of alcohol is closely monitored and restricted to licensed establishments or stores accessible only to liscenced foreign residents. You won’t be able to have an alcoholic drink in a shopping mall or street café, or anywhere that is not related to or within a 5 Star Hotel.
Please note that you must have your passport / ID with you if you wish to enter an establishment that serves alcohol.
Top Places to Eat
La Maison du Caviar — Mini chateaubriand, terrine of foie gras, seafood cooked to juicy perfection and of course a mouth-watering variety of caviar is served up at the Doha counterpart of Paris’ famous restaurant, in the W Hotel, where you'll also find Market and Spice Market (pictured) restaurants. Open daily from 11am-1am (535 303).
La Mer — On the 23rd floor of The Ritz-Carlton Doha, this restaurant majors in mouth-watering seafood dishes served with a spectacular city view. Open Sun – Fri 6.30 11pm
Tajine — Visit the Souq Waqif and take a culinary journey to Marrakech by trying rich, spicy stews, melt-in-your-mouth chicken or lamb cooked in Morocco’s traditional conical clay pots. Open daily 24 hours (435 5554).
Al Mourjan — This atmospheric restaurant serves an extensive range of authentic Lebanese and International cuisine, including over one hundred Lebanese appetizers, succulent selections of fresh barbeque and exquisite seafood. You can either dine in the very lavish indoors or on the terrace by the sea.
Sakura — Dinner and a show! A bustling Japanese atmosphere where chefs juggle at the traditional hibachi style bbq, and ample choices of sashimi and sushi. At the Ramada Hotel, open daily 7pm-11pm (428 1428).
JW’s Steakhouse — Want to satisfy your carnivorous desires? Visit the Doha Marriot Hotel for superior cuts of meat accompanied by an impressive list of quality wines (484 4444).
Bukhara — Delicious and authentic Indian dishes served in traditional style, with a variety of ultra-fiery dishes for the brave. At the Khalifa Tennis & Squash complex, open daily 6:30pm-1:30am (483 3345).
Espresso Lunch — The Four Seasons Hotel offers the perfect plateau for a sophisticated, Italian-style business lunch, with delectable dishes deep in flavor and light on the stomach (494-8888).