8 of the finest dining experiences in Qatar

Qatar’s dining culture has come a long way from humble beginnings. Now, you’ll find world-class restaurants, fusion cuisine and unique concepts that will blow your mind in a land that prides itself on its food and the hospitality that comes with it.

So rich is the culinary landscape of this country, no matter what cuisine your taste buds seek, you’re bound to find it in Doha. From roadside cafes to luxury restaurants, unique themes to colorful décor, comfort food to one-of-a kind delicacies, you’re covered from breakfast to dinner and everything in between.

Let’s explore some of Qatar’s most extravagant restaurants, which have become as much a part of its scenery as palm trees and huge buildings.

Zengo Doha

Located on the 61st floor of the Kempinski Residences and Suites, Zengo Doha is Qatar’s highest restaurant, where the Doha skyline provides the backdrop, and the vibrant avian-inspired décor elevates the award-winning dining experience to a whole new level.

The menu is inspired by Chef Richard Sandoval’s travels around the world features flavors from the historical spice routes stretching from Asia to the far East. You’ll find authentic Pan-Asian cuisine with a twist, like sushi, sashimi, delicate curries, and flavorful entrees and wok dishes. It’s all cooked to perfection with Asia-inspired beverages – the perfect accompaniment to this upscale dining experience.

Nobu Doha

The Nobu brand name is synonymous with luxury, extravagance and lifestyle, No wonder, then, that the biggest Nobu in the world resides in Doha. This huge oyster-shaped restaurant celebrates Qatar’s pearl diving past and stands on its own private beach at the Four Seasons Hotel Doha. It’s the brainchild of world-renowned celebrity restaurateur Chef Nobu Matsuhisa.

This 26,000-square-foot restaurant has a visually stunning design, with warm caramel and brown hues and wood interior, as well as an astounding view of the city and Gulf from the rooftop bar and lounge. But what really has the guests gushing is the gastronomic experience that combines Japanese cuisine with Peruvian ingredients. Chef Nobu’s signature dishes include black cod miso, lobster and kohlrabi salad with dry miso, and yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno, to name only a few.

Enter Nobu Doha via the Four Seasons, where you’ll be escorted in a golf cart to the restaurant – but make sure you have a reservation.

COYA Doha

COYA Doha is one of the newer upscale restaurants in Doha, where the Peruvian fusion restaurant joins an impressive lineup of options at W Doha, Qatar’s first lifestyle hotel (a hotel with boutique amenities but with the perks of a chain.) The interior is breathtaking with vibrant foliage, colorful murals and bespoke plush seating so you can comfortably stay for hours surrounded by the vibrancy of the Latin American motifs.

Already located in Monte Carlo, Paris, Mykonos and London (where it’s won a multitude of awards), this posh restaurant is right at home in the heart of Doha’s West Bay. The contemporary cuisine is infused with Spanish, Japanese and Chinese ingredients and the result is a phenomenal burst of fresh flavors and healthy food that you won’t be able to forget. The ceviche, tiraditos, anticuchos, arroz nikei, bife angosto wagyu and, of course, the churros for desert are must-order dishes.

Three Sixty

Qatar is full of dynamic and unique dining experiences like the Three Sixty Restaurant on the 47th floor of The Torch Doha, one of the country’s most iconic landmarks. When Doha played host to the Asian Games in 2006, this building featured the flame that is symbolic of the event. The building itself was designed to represent a torch, and the flame was the highest in the history of the games. Afterward, The Torch Doha was transformed into a luxury hotel with panoramic views.

The fine dining restaurant inside is a must-visit, not only because it’s the only revolving restaurant in Qatar, but also because the food is an epicurean delight with an a la carte Mediterranean menu and signature dishes. The restaurant revolves so subtly you can barely feel it, but with each bite you’ll get a different view of Qatar’s Al Waab area, the lush green Aspire Park and the Aspire Zone – Qatar’s sports city, which surrounds the hotel.

La Mar Doha

La Mar Doha brings a taste of innovation to Doha’s waterfront. A standalone restaurant located on the beach, La Mar Doha is part of the classy Intercontinental Doha and has indoor and outdoor seating. The Peruvian food served at this elegant but simply designed restaurant is rich in flavor, diverse in influence and will take you on an adventure through Latin American cuisine.

If the weather’s nice, sit on the terrace and take in the surrounding beachfront with views of Doha’s elegant skyline while you sip on a Pisco sour and relish a perfect ceviche, fresh seafood, or charcoal-grilled meats. The menu curated by Gastón Acurio to represents the best of Peruvian gastronomy in Doha and some of the most unforgettable food you’ve ever had.

Casual weekend brunches come complete with Peruvian classics, Japanese-inspired makis and traditional desserts, and are a must-try if you want a taste of what gives La Mar Doha the edge when it comes to avant-garde cuisine with a view.

BIBO Doha

Celebrity Chef Andy Garcia is the influence behind BIBO Doha, an Andalusian-styled brasserie that serves European and Mediterranean cuisine adapted for Qatari locals and inspired by the Spanish Chef’s travels. Located in the swanky St. Regis Hotel Doha, BIBO Doha has been cooking up a storm ever since it opened its doors in 2020.

Savor the ‘culinary travel guide’ where Spanish flavors are served with a ‘personalized international twist,’ quickly winning the title of Best European Restaurant in Doha. The brioche, the tapas, the seafood, raw bar and the wagyu steaks are brimming with flavor and packed with ingredients that will leave you wanting more. There’s even an amazing 3-pound bone-in ribeye steak with beef sauce.

Designed to seat 160, BIBO Doha is a ‘cosmopolitan gastronomic experience’ you just have to be part of. Simply put, this is one of Doha’s most unique dining places and if you miss it, you’ll regret it.

Yasmine Palace

Yasmine Palace is in the uptown area of The Pearl-Qatar, which is one of Qatar’s most luxurious addresses. Known for its world-class residential buildings, its pictureseque marina and its multitude of fine dining choices, The Pearl-Qatar is a befitting destination for this opulent restaurant.

Yasmine Palace is Doha’s only multi-themed restaurant and its extravagant décor is matched only by the food. There are three unique gastronomical journeys, which will take you through Levant, Andalusia and Qatar for a ‘complete luxurious sensory experience.’ Menus are inspired by the charm of the past and the warmth and hospitality of Arab culture. Every elaborately designed nook at Yasmine Palace has its own story to tell and the food is fit for kings and the queens – even The Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who dined here with friends in 2019.

If the weather’s in your favor, sit on one of the terraces where you’ll be treated to the scenery of The Pearl-Qatar in all its splendor.

Morimoto Doha

You can’t come to Doha and not dine at Morimoto, the only one in the Middle East. This Japanese restaurant by ‘Iron Chef’ Masaharu Morimoto is the epitome of design, with rose-gold pillars, Japanese painter Hiroshi Senju’s gorgeous artwork, and a beautiful and low-hanging chandelier in the center of the dining area.

Then, of course, there’s the food, which is called ‘a bridge between culinary traditions.’ from lobster sushi rice to Wagyu filets, Robata grill to surashi sushi, each dish is curated to perfection and is an elaborate work of art with flavors that burst in your mouth. The Morimoto Omakase – translated as ‘leave it up to the chef to decide’ ­– multi-course tasting menu is designed to deliver the essence of Morimoto's innovative cuisine

Located in the luxurious Mondrian Doha in West Bay, Morimoto Doha attracts plenty of locals and visitors, so prior reservation is a must.