Doha’s best dining rooms rarely announce themselves from the street. They sit inside a museum, a grand hotel, a tower with a view of the bay. This guide to fine dining in Doha follows five tables, from a French master’s tasting menu above the Corniche to Japanese, Cantonese and Pan-Asian rooms, so you can plan a few evenings with confidence.
A practical thought before the list. Dinner in Qatar tends to begin late, and weekends fill early, so reserve several days ahead through each restaurant directly. Chefs and menus move on, which is why everything here is accurate as of this writing.
Fine Dining in Doha, Starting Above the Corniche
Take the lift to the fifth floor of the Museum of Islamic Art and IDAM opens out in front of you, glass on one side and the bay beyond. This is Alain Ducasse’s Doha table, with Fabrice Rosso running the kitchen day to day. As of this writing it serves an eight-course tasting menu of contemporary European cooking with regional touches, and it has been named the best restaurant in Qatar by the MENA 50 Best list.
Arrive early. The museum is a pale limestone building by I. M. Pei, and it rewards an hour of wandering before dinner. Our guide to the museums of Doha will help you plan it.
Nobu Doha at the Four Seasons
Nobu’s Japanese cooking with Peruvian accents is made for sharing. The Doha restaurant, inside the Four Seasons Hotel Doha, is an easy choice for a group or a long conversation. Order in waves. Begin with the cold plates, then let the table decide what comes next.
Morimoto at Mondrian Doha
Masaharu Morimoto, known to many from the television kitchen of Iron Chef, lends his name to this Japanese room at Mondrian Doha. Sushi and wagyu are the headline, and the setting leans toward the theatrical. It suits an occasion.
Hakkasan at The St. Regis Doha
Modern Cantonese cooking, dim sum and a glamorous dining room have made Hakkasan a fixture of cities around the world. The Doha restaurant sits inside The St. Regis Doha. Come for a long lunch of small plates, or build an evening around the roast and wok dishes.
Zengo at Kempinski Residences & Suites
Chef Richard Sandoval created Zengo, and the Doha branch brings Pan-Asian flavors to the table in a lively, social setting. It suits the night when you want something brighter and less formal, with plates to pass around.
Doha rewards a slow approach. Pair one formal evening with one relaxed one, and keep a late afternoon free for the waterfront. If you’re still deciding where to base yourself, our guide to where to stay in Doha walks through four neighborhoods, and a night under the stars is the subject of Doha After Dark.
