Location:
Doha, Qatar
Memo:
After our fabulous journey to Doha with Qatar Airways we were ready to explore the city, and given that we were going to be in town for less than 48 hours we had to make the most of it! We were whisked off to the Four Seasons and shown to a beautiful room with stunning views of the sea, the city skyline across the water, and the private beach down below. After a quick change we headed out for dinner and drinks at the Intercontinental, with spectacular views from the 56th floor bar.
Friday was our only full day in Doha so we started with a guided tour of the city. We set off to Katara, a cultural village with an amphitheatre, mosques and a beach, as well as theatres and cultural society offices. It was a lovely quiet place to start the day with beautifully designed spaces. Next up was The Pearl, a manmade island housing shops, a marina and the first part of Qatar where foreign nationals can buy freehold property. Then we headed to Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club, where we got to see both European and Arabian horses, who were living the life of luxury in their air conditioned stables to avoid the intense heat of the day. Our final stop of the morning was Souq Waqif. The main souq in Doha was founded over a century ago, but in 2006 the government launched a restoration program to preserve the historical architecture and the buildings were restored with traditional rough plaster and palm leaf ceilings. We loved wandering around the alleyways and finding different areas of the market for different merchants. The souq sells everything from falcons, horses and small animals, to jewellery, art and spices.
After a busy morning, we headed back to West Bay and stopped by the Qatar International Food Festival, which was being held during our stay, to pick up lunch in the sunshine. The temperature was rising rapidly and I can imagine it must get seriously hot in summer!
After lunch we headed back to the hotel and made the most of the private beach, sitting out in the sunshine, before heading to the spa for an incredible hammam scrub and massage.
Dinner on Friday night was truly spectacular… We were very kindly invited for an Omakase tasting menu at Nobu, which sits in a stunning building on the marina at the Four Seasons. Dish after dish was incredible and the chef picked some of our favourite items on the menu (yellowtail sashimi with yellowtail and prawn tempura sushi rolls) as well as some specially created dishes, like the lobster with kohlrabi salad.
After a drink at the rooftop bar, with more stunning views of the skyline, and a quick trip to the neighbouring Society Lounge, it was time for bed after a long day.
The next morning, we headed down for breakfast – fresh green juice, omelettes, fruit, and pastries – and took a quick stroll along the beachside, before heading off to the airport to fly home. It was such a quick trip but I felt like we managed to pack so much in and with many of Qatar’s long haul flights passing through Doha, it would also be a fab city break on the way to other destinations.
Photos: Stephanie Peers & Carl Waxberg
Thank you to Qatar Airways, Natalie and Sam at Bell Pottinger, Four Seasons Doha, InterContinental Doha The City, Nobu Doha and our lovely city tour guide.
