Doha is the capital city and the main financial center of Qatar. Qatar is located on the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and bordered by Saudi Arabia. Qatar is an oil-rich country that has grown to be a major tourist destination—in fact, Qatar became the first Arab nation to host the FIFA World Cup in November of 2022.

 

I visited Doha in April 2022 during Ramadan season. I flew Qatar Airways and spent three days in Doha on my way to Abuja, Nigeria for my cousin’s wedding. It was an absolutely spectacular time in the Qatari capital.

 

So here they are, the top 10 highlights of my trip to Doha, Qatar:

 

1. Qatar Airways Q-Suites:   Qatar Airways changed the luxury travel game when it introduced its Q-Suites—the first business class in the skies with a fully-closing door. This experience beat out certain first class experiences I have had on other airlines—seriously. I flew Philadelphia to Doha (PHL to DOH QR 728). Not all Qatar Airways flights offer Q-Suite cabins so make sure to check first before booking your flight—you can check by looking for the flights seat map on SeatGuru or ExpertFlyer.

All of Qatar Airways new Airbus A350-1000 and numerous A350-900s offer Q-Suites in Business Class. Several Boeing 777-300ER and 777-200LR of Qatar Airways are also retrofitted with Q-Suites.

For more details on Qatar Airways Q-Suite routes with flight numbers, click here and here.

With its closing doors, luxurious seating and world-class service, Qatar Airways Q-Suites is worth the money and a must-have experience for any luxe traveler.

2. The Doha Airport Qatar Airways Business Class Arrivals Lounge and Al-Mourjan Business Class Lounge: Qatar Airways is one of the few airlines that offers an arrival lounge for passengers arriving in Doha on a Qatar first-class or business-class ticket. This lounge offers expedited immigration clearance in a comfortable and stylish setting with spectacular amenities which are so refreshing to behold soon after deplaning. For more details about the Arrivals Lounge, click here.

It makes sense that the airline with the world’s best business class seats also has the world’s best business class lounge. This lounge is massive (100000 square feet over 2 levels) and massively luxurious. It has a beautiful water feature, several seating areas, 2 restaurants, a main dining area that offers both a buffet and an a la carte section and a second dining area (café style) that specializes in salads and sandwiches.

For a detailed review of the Al-Mourjan Business Class Lounge, click here.

3. The Mandarin Oriental Doha: Mandarin Oriental Doha is an intimate and stylish urban retreat located in the center of Msheireb Downtown Doha that has hotel rooms, suites and serviced apartments that are beautifully and elegantly styled with contemporary designs fused with stunning elements of traditional Qatari heritage.
   

   Tasty welcome treats at the Mandarin Oriental Doha @chichichicmd

We were treated to traditional Middle Eastern charm blended with Mandarin Oriental’s legendary hospitality and bespoke service every moment—we did not want to leave. We stayed in one of the two bedroom serviced apartments—no other words to share beyond absolutely STUNNING!!!

The Bahara Lounge had such delicious food; the Mosaic featured international cuisine from Japanese Sushi & Sashimi to Arabic Mezze and Grills, Asian Wok, Tandoori Oven and so many desserts and sweets; Liang Restaurant served authentic (and uber-tasty) Chinese food; and the Mandarin Cake Shop served up the most eye-catching decadent treats. Like I said, we did not want to leave.

 

4. The Msheireb Downtown Doha: A Vintage Car Show was on exhibit at the Baharat Msheireb Downtown Doha. We got to travel back in time while viewing these masterpieces. There was a 1958 Chevrolet Corvette, a 1982 Mercedes Benz 450 SLC, a 462 horsepower 1986 Porsche 935 Kremer K2, a 1963 Pontiac with 345 HP, a 1976 Rolls Royce-Silver Shadow, a 978 Land Rover-Range Rover, and many more (16 classic cars in total).
   

   Msheireb Downtown Mandarin Oriental Doha

5. The Pearl Qatar: The Pearl Qatar is a man-made island nestled in the heart of Qatar—it is a one-stop destination for luxurious accommodation, shopping, entertainment and spectacular culinary delights. The name “The Pearl” was chosen for the island because Qatar used to be a major player in the pearl trade, prior to petroleum taking over as its primary industry. The island chain was constructed to resemble a strand of pearls to honor the country’s pearling history.
   

   The Pearl Monument and Fountain, the Corniche Promenade Doha, Qatar

The Pearl-Qatar is divided into ten districts, each designed with inspiration from Mediterranean and/or European architecture and culture. It boasts Mediterranean style yacht marinas, fabulous hotels, jaw-dropping private villas, sky-scraping residential towers, luxury retail outlets, exclusive car dealerships, and five star restaurants.

Porto Arabia is home to The Pearl’s main harbor, as well as an open-area market with numerous shops and restaurants, called La Croissette.

6. The National Museum of Qatar: The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) is a vibrant, immersive, architecturally stunning space that highlights Qatar’s rich heritage and culture.

7. Nobu, Doha: The world’s largest Nobu is in Doha, Qatar at the Four Seasons Hotel, Doha. This stunning 26,000-square-foot Nobu, the famed sushi empire from Michelin-starred chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, is part of the Doha Four Seasonsand floats on its own mini-island in the Qatar Gulf. It is a wonderful culinary experience however the venue as a whole is what is truly impressive.

 

8. The Villaggio, Doha: The Villaggio is a mall with a globally-recognized world class shopping experience. Villaggio is one of the most sought after destinations in Qatar for top of the line luxury brands like Dior, Louis Vuitton, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, etc. It has a Venetian styled interior with quite a breath taking range of shopping, dining, entertainment and unforgettable attractions. You can actually take a gondola ride in this mall. So much fun.
   

   The Villaggio Doha @chichichicmd

9. Souq Waqif: This is a traditional marketplace in Doha that sells traditional garments, spices, handicrafts, and souvenirs. It also has many restaurants. The original building dates back to the late 19^th to early 20^th centuries and it is in a traditional Qatari architectural style. Hanging out in Souq Waqif was the perfect way to spend a Ramadan night—so many families were out sharing meals and enjoying the night out. It is a 15 minute walk from the Mandarin Oriental, Doha.

 

 

 

 

10. EL&N Café, Doha: EL&N is the leading Instagrammable café and lifestyle brand of the world. Everything they make is irresistibly chic and always ready for primetime. EL&N stands for Eat, Live and Nourish—they have the most delectable food and drink offerings in stunning settings and they serve products for living a stylish life with a positive ethos to nourish the soul. I have been to the home base location in London—I had to experience Doha and it was an absolute blast!

This was truly such an amazing trip. I can see myself visiting Doha again, likely on my way to another destination while flying on Qatar Airways—there are still a few new sights I would not mind getting to explore.  Please share your thoughts about my highlights as well as your highlights/recommendations for Doha Qatar in the comment section down below.

Love,

Chichi