Doha’s dining scene is much like that of any big, cosmopolitan city. You’ll find globally recognisable names, such as Nobu, STK and Zuma, but also humble shacks selling traditional chapatis and small, female-run restaurants specialising in the authentic food of the region. If you want to dress up, there are any number of fancy restaurants in luxury hotels, but don’t miss the opportunity to dine where the locals go as well. These are the best restaurants in Doha.
1. Parisa, Souq Waqif
A pretty jewellery-box of a place, this Persian restaurant is a riot of mirrors, colours and lanterns, and dazzles for its decor as much as its food. When your attention has stopped wandering around its mosaiced walls, ornate chandeliers, hand-painted tiles, and the fountain in the middle of the room, turn your eyes to the menu. Here you’ll find smoky, charcoal-grilled meat kebabs and rich, slow-cooked stews with saffron rice studded with barberries — sweet and sour berries. For dessert, try the rice pudding with Persian rose jam and cinnamon. Essentially, it’s that oldest of clichés — a feast for all the senses — but here it couldn’t be more true.
parisarestaurants.com
2. Bayt Sharq, Al Corniche
A Qatari restaurant situated inside a century-old heritage house that gives a sense of what life here used to be like, pre-petroleum dollars. The house contains a small museum featuring artefacts from the family that used to live here, and there’s a lovely shaded courtyard filled with greenery. While Bayt Sharq is open all day, it’s breakfast you want to come for. The (very) generous set menus deliver a bit of everything on offer, from traditional Qatari dishes such as balaleet (a sweet and savoury mix of vermicelli with sugar, cardamom, and rose water served with an omelette and sauteed onions) and nakhi (a chickpea dish) to more common Middle Eastern favourites such as falafel and shakshouka.
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Instagram: @baytsharq.qa
3. Zuma Doha, Al Maha Island
Following its 2022 debut as a pop-up for the Qatar World Cup, Zuma Doha opened as a permanent restaurant last year, taking the group’s number to 25 globally, including London. The menu focuses on contemporary Japanese cuisine, which comes out of three kitchens, including a robata grill and sushi counter. Popular dishes include soft-shell crab katsu, wagyu beef tataki, grilled Chilean sea bass and spicy beef tenderloin — all enjoyed with a backdrop of relaxed beats from the in-house DJ.
zumarestaurant.com
4. Jiwan, National Museum of Qatar
A showpiece restaurant in a showpiece building — the museum was designed to look like a giant desert rose — Jiwan is overseen by acclaimed chef Alain Ducasse. Inside, rippling rows of Swarovski crystal beads hang from the ceiling (a nod to Qatar’s pearl-diving heritage) while outside on the terrace, you have views across to Stadium 974, one of several built especially for the 2022 World Cup. Jiwan’s fine dining menu is inspired by classic Qatari dishes, cooked with Ducasse’s signature French flair; think roasted cockerel with tamarind and pistachio, or red snapper in a shellfish and saffron broth. Take some time before or after your meal to explore the museum, which charts Qatar’s evolution from desert to dollar-rich oil state.
jiwan.qa
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5. ALBA, Raffles Doha
Experience the best of Piedmont’s culinary traditions at Alba — an interactive Italian restaurant nestled in the five-star Raffles Doha hotel in Qatar. Rare white truffles feature in their signature dishes, like handmade tagliolini pasta in a butter sauce, and even in some of the cocktails, taking diners on a journey through the flavours of northern Italy. It’s the perfect spot for a very upmarket date night.
raffles.com
6. Sassna, Msheireb Downtown
One of several laid-back cafes and restaurants in the newly developed Msheireb Downtown neighbourhood (designed with sustainability front of mind), lively Sassna is run by female chef Sheikha Ahmed Al Meer and puts Qatari cuisine firmly in the spotlight. Feast on hearty, flavoursome dishes such as lamb majboos (cooked with spices and basmati rice), fish saloona (stewed in tomatoes with ginger and garlic) and chicken mashkool (with aubergine, potatoes and coconut milk). Perk yourself back up after the meal with a cup of strong, bitter, Arabic coffee.
saasnaqatar.com
7. Curiosa by Jean-Georges, Four Seasons
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Under the auspices of globally acclaimed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Curiosa serves up Latin American-inspired dishes. Executive chef Edgar Hurtado takes on the day to day cooking, and brings both his Peruvian heritage and experience as a Cordon Bleu graduate to the menu. Choose from a wide selection of ceviches and crudos, to more substantial plates like charred octopus with smoked paprika creme fraiche, char grilled aji amarillo chicken, and prime beef tenderloin with chimichurri. Pair with drinks like La Isla Pisco, a sophisticated take on a Pisco Sour. The bright, hacienda-style decor features pops of jewel-bright colours and traditional tiled flooring, with a large, breezy, plant-filled outdoor terrace looking out to the Arabian sea.
fourseasons.com/doha
8. STK, Ritz-Carlton
What could be the unique selling point of STK, you ask? Yes, it’s definitely the steak. Launched in New York in 2006, this modern steakhouse chain now boasts dozens of locations worldwide. Aiming to elevate the steak-eating experience from the dark, wood-panelled, cigar-smoke-infused restaurants of old, STK is all neon purple lighting, oversized floral displays and cool, leather booths. And the meat? It doesn’t disappoint, with prime cuts ranging from New York strips to T-bones and tomahawks sourced from the finest beef producers in Australia, the USA, and Japan. While it might not be the ideal spot for vegetarians, pescetarians will find some good options on the menu. Leave room for their signature dessert — a thick slab of New York-style cheesecake drizzled with raspberry sauce.
stk-doha.com
9. Nobu, Four Seasons
Can you even call yourself a Middle Eastern country if you don’t have an outpost of chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s high-end Japanese dining establishment? By now, you should know the drill: exquisite yet minimalist interiors, line of white-jacketed sushi masters working serenely but efficiently over a counter displaying the freshest seafood on ice, flattering lighting, and of coure, an eye watering bill. Yet, the investment feels justified when you taste the exquisite and delicately prepared dishes on offer, such as the renowned black cod miso, yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno, and rock shrimp tempura.
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noburestaurants.com
10. Chapati and Karak, Katara Cultural Village
When you crave something simple yet delicious, head to this small but immensely popular shack near the mosque at Katara Cultural Village. Here, you’ll find piping hot chapatis — sweet or savoury flatbreads — alongside karak, a spicy tea infused with condensed milk, cardamom, and ginger. These culinary delights are part of the tradition brought by Indian settlers who arrived over 50 years ago during the region’s oil boom. Locals often drive up, receiving their orders directly in their cars, while those with more time can savour their meal outdoors. Try a chewy round of bread topped with cream cheese and za’atar or rolled around a filling of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, keema lamb, and more. This quaint spot has even expanded to London, with a branch in Knightsbridge.
chapatikarak.com
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