Explore Doha Airport's Best Dining Options

what to eat at doha airport

Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, has been voted one of the best airports in the world by Condé Nast Traveler readers. The airport boasts an extensive selection of dining options, ranging from gourmet meals to quick bites, ensuring that travellers can enjoy a variety of culinary experiences during their time in transit. From award-winning lounges offering luxurious dining to popular international chains and local Qatari cuisine, there is something to satisfy every taste and preference. In this guide, we will explore the diverse range of dining choices available at Doha Airport, helping travellers navigate their next meal at this renowned airport.

Characteristics Values
Number of dining options 65
Cuisine Qatari, Greek, Italian, Indian, British, American, Japanese, Lebanese, plant-based
Dining style Quick bites, gourmet, on-the-go, sit-down meals, buffets, lounges, cafes, food courts
Notable restaurants and cafes Gordon Ramsay Burger, Joe & the Juice, Giraffe World Kitchen, Evergreen Organics, Comptoir Libanais, Costa Coffee, Chapati & Karak, Fendi Caffe, Al Safwa Lounge, Al Mourjan South Lounge

shunhotel

Quick bites vs. longer layovers

Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, has been voted one of the best airports in the world by Condé Nast Traveler readers. The airport boasts an immersive, cocoon-like experience for travellers, with its 6,000-square-metre indoor tropical garden, a world-class art collection, and a plethora of dining options.

If you're in a rush and only have time for a quick bite, there are plenty of options to choose from. Joe and the Juice serves up its signature Tunacado and cups of "Joe" to go in their iconic millennial-pink packaging. Ralph's Coffee is another stylish choice for a quick coffee and a sweet snack, and you can even buy packs of their roasted beans to take home. Baladna Express offers freshly grilled carved shawarmas, with juicy spiced chicken slices wrapped in fresh bread, pickles, and garlicky sauce—a tasty taste of Qatari culture. For a healthy option, head to Evergreen Organics, Qatar's first plant-based café, where you can fuel up with cold-pressed juices, turmeric lattes, and avocado and tomato toast with cashew cheese.

If you have a longer layover and want a more substantial meal, there are plenty of options to choose from. The award-winning Al Safwa Lounge, reserved for first-class passengers, offers a spacious restaurant-style dining room with a menu featuring Champagne and poached lobster, maki rolls from the sushi bar, and eggs Benedict for breakfast. The Al Mourjan South Lounge, for business-class ticket holders, features a casual café-style space, an upstairs à la carte restaurant, and a buffet of international and Arabic dishes. For a sit-down meal, you could also try Gordon Ramsay's restaurants—he has a couple of options, including a pizza and burger joint. Other restaurants with sit-down dining include Wagamama, Chapati & Karak, and EatGreek Kouzina.

Whether you're looking for a quick bite on the go or a more leisurely dining experience, Hamad International Airport in Doha has something to offer every traveller's taste and time constraints.

shunhotel

Premium class lounges

Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, has been voted one of the best airports in the world by Condé Nast Traveler readers. The airport boasts an extensive list of dining options, including various premium-class lounges for those flying in luxury.

The Al Safwa Lounge, reserved for first-class passengers, offers a hushed, spacious restaurant-style dining experience. Here, you can indulge in a variety of culinary delights, including Champagne and poached lobster, maki rolls from the sushi bar, and eggs Benedict for breakfast. The lounge is accessed via a discrete elevator, adding to the exclusivity of the experience.

Business-class passengers can enjoy the Al Mourjan South Lounge, which provides a more casual café-style space. This lounge offers freshly made toasted sandwiches, an upstairs à la carte restaurant, and a buffet featuring international and Arabic dishes, ensuring a diverse dining experience.

For those seeking a taste of Qatari cuisine, the Baladna Express is a great choice. Here, you can savour a freshly grilled carved shawarma, featuring juicy spiced chicken slices wrapped in fresh bread with pickles and a garlicky sauce. Many of the ingredients, including the cheese, are sourced locally from Qatar, providing an authentic culinary experience.

Additionally, Evergreen Organics, located along Concourse C, is Qatar's first plant-based café. It offers a range of healthy options, including cold-pressed juices, turmeric lattes, and avocado and tomato toast with cashew cheese, providing a savoury and nutritious pre-flight meal.

With its diverse range of premium-class lounges and dining options, Hamad International Airport ensures that travellers can enjoy a variety of culinary experiences while waiting for their flights.

shunhotel

Qatari cuisine

Before the meal commences, it is customary to serve coffee or tea. Arabic coffee, brewed in brass coffee pots infused with cardamom, offers a distinctive aroma and flavour beloved by locals and visitors alike. Guests often consume three to five cups, signalling their satisfaction by gently shaking the cup when they have had enough. Hot tea, typically flavoured with mint and sweetened with sugar, may also be served in small glass mugs.

Dates (kholas) hold significant cultural and culinary importance as the national fruit of Qatar. They are widely cultivated, with production exceeding 30,000 tonnes annually as of 2022, resulting in an 88% self-sufficiency in dates. They are celebrated annually during the Local Dates Festival held in Souq Waqif, where local farmers showcase their harvests and date-based products.

Some popular Qatari dishes include:

  • Majboos or machboos/Kabsa: a national dish of rice cooked with delicious spices and meat, chicken, lamb, shrimp, camel, or fish. It is cooked very slowly to deepen the flavour and was traditionally served at weddings and special occasions.
  • Saloona: a nourishing and healthy stew with tomatoes, aubergine, carrots, and potatoes, commonly made with chicken but adaptable to other meats or vegetarian/vegan options.
  • Waraq enab: rice and lamb stuffed in vine leaves.
  • Foul: beans for breakfast.
  • Hummus, motabel, tabouleh, and muhammara: appetisers with their own variations in Qatar.
  • Mahalabiya: rose water and pistachio pudding.
  • Umm ali: bread pudding with nuts and white raisins.
  • Eshar asaraya: cheesecake topped with cream.
  • Al-Qars Al-Uqaili: a popular dessert made from a thin dough cooked until golden brown and sliced into circular pieces, traditionally paired with dates.

shunhotel

Plant-based options

Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, offers a plethora of dining options for travellers, including those seeking plant-based meals. Here are some excellent choices for plant-based options when travelling through Doha Airport:

Evergreen Organics

Evergreen Organics is Qatar's first and only completely plant-based café, with a 100% vegan offering. Located along Concourse C, it offers a variety of fresh, delicious, and nutritious food options. Their cold-pressed juices and turmeric lattes are perfect for a quick energy boost before your flight. If you have more time, indulge in their savoury avocado and tomato toast with cashew cheese, a unique and tasty treat. Evergreen Organics has been promoting healthy and sustainable dining since 2016 and is a great choice for conscious travellers.

Harrods Tea Room

For a traditional British dining experience, head to the Harrods Tea Room, located just left of the Lamp Bear. Enjoy a selection of dainty sandwiches, fluffy scones with strawberry jam, and Devonshire cream, all served on a tiered stand. The tea room offers a range of teas curated by their in-house "Tea Tailor," ensuring a unique and tailored experience. It is an excellent spot for a leisurely meal during a longer layover.

Joe & the Juice

If you're in a hurry, Joe & the Juice offers a convenient grab-and-go option with their iconic millennial-pink packaging. This cult Danish favourite serves up their popular Tunacado and cups of freshly brewed coffee, providing a quick and healthy option for travellers on the move.

Fendi Café

The Fendi Café, located in the Orchard area of the airport, offers a stylish dining experience. While their menu may not be exclusively plant-based, they often cater to a variety of dietary preferences and restrictions. Enjoy your meal in a fashionable setting that lives up to the Fendi brand.

With these options and more, Doha Airport provides a diverse range of plant-based dining choices to suit different tastes and time constraints. Whether you're looking for a quick bite or a more leisurely meal, you can find delicious and healthy plant-based options to fuel your journey.

shunhotel

Coffee and snacks

Hamad International Airport in Doha offers a wide variety of coffee and snacks. If you're looking for a quick bite, you can find takeout options almost everywhere you turn. Joe and the Juice, a cult favourite from Denmark, offers its signature Tunacado and cups of "Joe" to go in their distinctive millennial-pink packaging. Ralph's Coffee is another stylish choice for a pre-flight coffee fix, offering sweet snacks and packs of roasted beans to take home.

For a taste of Qatari culture and traditions, head to Baladna Express for a freshly grilled carved shawarma. Spiced slices of chicken are wrapped in fresh bread with pickles and a garlicky sauce, and many of the ingredients, including the cheese, are sourced locally from Qatar. Evergreen Organics, located along Concourse C, is Qatar's first plant-based cafe. Fuel up for your flight with their cold-pressed juices and turmeric lattes, or indulge in the avocado and tomato toast with cashew cheese.

If you're travelling premium class on Qatar Airways, the award-winning lounges offer a range of dining options. The Al Safwa Lounge, reserved for first-class passengers, features a spacious restaurant-style dining room where you can enjoy Champagne and poached lobster, maki rolls from the sushi bar, or eggs Benedict for breakfast. The Al Mourjan South Lounge, designed for business class ticket holders, offers a casual café-style space with freshly made toasted sandwiches, an upstairs à la carte restaurant, and a buffet of international and Arabic dishes.

For coffee lovers, there are several options to choose from, including Costa Coffee, FLO Café, and illy Café. You can also find Arabic sweets, Bateel dates, and Kusmi Tea at various shops throughout the airport. With 65 retail and dining options, Hamad International Airport provides an immersive and diverse culinary experience for travellers.

Frequently asked questions

Hamad International Airport offers a wide range of dining options, including:

- Baladna Express

- Evergreen Organics

- Chapati and Karak

- Joe & the Juice

- Gordon Ramsay Burger

- Comptoir Libanais

- Costa Coffee

- Giraffe World Kitchen

- Emporio Armani Caffe

- Fendi Caffe

For quick bites, you can try the following:

- Baladna Express for freshly grilled carved shawarmas.

- Joe & the Juice for their Tunacado and cups of "Joe" to go.

- Ralph's Coffee for coffee and sweet snacks.

Yes, there are several sit-down restaurants at the airport, including:

- Al Safwa Lounge (exclusive to first-class passengers) offers a spacious restaurant-style dining room with options like Champagne and poached lobster.

- Al Mourjan South Lounge (for business-class ticket holders) features a casual café-style space, an upstairs à la carte restaurant, and a buffet of international and Arabic dishes.

- Gordon Ramsay Burger

- Giraffe World Kitchen

- Emporio Armani Caffe

Hamad International Airport offers a range of unique experiences, including an immersive, cocoon-like atmosphere and a 6,000-square-meter indoor tropical garden called "the Orchard." The airport also has a world-class art collection and duty-free shopping.

Evergreen Organics, Qatar's first plant-based cafe, is located in Concourse C. They offer cold-pressed juices, turmeric lattes, and avocado and tomato toast with cashew cheese.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment