Sensational Qatar is a foodies’ paradise where every holidaymaker will find something delicious to tantalise their taste buds.

You’ll be spoilt for choice when it’s time to ease your hunger pangs, with everything from lively street shacks offering flavoursome fare to world-class restaurants where fine dining experiences await. The best of Arabian and global cuisine is all around you, with romantic venues for couples, casual spots for eating with friends and family favourites among the options available. When you arrive in Qatar it doesn’t take long to realise this sun-kissed destination takes food very seriously and even holds a prestigious annual Qatar International Food Festival, which attracts top chefs from around the globe. Let’s take a closer look at the superb culinary scene in Qatar and how it plays a key role in ensuring your holiday in this magnificent sunshine destination is an unforgettable experience.

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Qatari Delicacies

Qatar is home to a myriad of mouth-watering delicacies, with its gastronomic diversity heavily influenced by North Africa, the Levant, India and the Indian subcontinent over the centuries. Majboos is the national dish, a delightful creation made with slow-cooked lamb or chicken, which you’ll find in many restaurants in the capital Doha. Saloona is an Arabic stew made with beef, lamb or fish, while Kousa Mahshi are flavoursome Middle Eastern courgettes stuffed with ground lamb and vegetables. Margoog is a scrumptious dish prepared with aubergines, carrots, tomatoes, courgettes, potatoes and tenderised meat. Another popular offering is Balaleet, which is often eaten on special occasions featuring a combination of eggs, vermicelli, rice noodles, sugar and saffron. Arabic Mezze is the classic platter sharing meal and consists of baba ganoush, hummus, mouttabal, tabbouleh, bread and pickled vegetables.

World-Class Dining

Qatar is home to a multitude of fine dining restaurants offering the best in local cuisine, plus top-class eateries from around the world. Doha boasts many superb gourmet dining venues, including the iconic Q Lounge & Restaurant where you’ll enjoy a fusion of Asian clay pot cuisine, Walima, a modern restaurant serving superb Qatari dishes, and Shisha Garden, which presents fantastic Oriental mezze, with gentle waterfalls and greenery creating a soothing ambiance. La Spiga by Paper Moon offers amazing Italian fare, Spice Market serves incredible Japanese food and Al Nafourah Garden is a Lebanese restaurant which features an exclusive jazz club. IDAM is a charming restaurant in Qatar’s iconic Museum of Islamic Art serving contemporary French Mediterranean cuisine with an Arabic twist, while SMAT, at the Doha Corniche, takes diners on a culinary journey through Qatar’s unique gastronomic heritage.

Budget Bites

There are many fantastic places in Qatar where you can enjoy an affordable breakfast, lunch or dinner. Cheap and casual dining options include budget restaurants, cafes and shopping malls, which feature an impressive choice of dining outlets. Most of them have superb food courts where you can gather with family and friends for a hearty meal, a tasty snack or a welcome coffee break. Mall of Qatar, is home to an array of excellent budget-friendly eateries, plus popular global fast food chains. Villaggio Mall is like a little Venice with its indoor canals and gondolas. It boasts a range of dining venues including Asian restaurants, burger bars, steakhouses and a cheesecake factory. Other giant malls with low-price places to eat include Q Mall, The Centre, Doha Souk Mall, Gulf Mall and Al Mirqab Mall.

Street Eats

It’s definitely worth sampling some of Doha’s fantastic street food during your holiday. A much-loved treat is Shawarma which features thinly sliced cuts of chicken and other meats rolled into flatbread or pita, while Baleelat is one of Qatar’s legendary traditional breakfasts consisting of vermicelli sweetened with sugar, rosewater, cardamom and saffron. Spring potato is a popular snack comprising spiral-cut potatoes sprinkled with seasonings and fixed on a wooden stick. Chapati or poori are flatbreads served with karak tea which are wrapped around sweet or savoury fillings including cheese, mince meat and honey, while falafel is a popular vegan snack served as round flat cutlets or crunchy deep-fried balls. Other delicious delights include ragag (crepes) topped with cheese, honey or mahyawa fish paste and potato-filled samosas served with chutneys.

Sweet Treats

Holidays offer the chance to forget about watching the calories – and Qatar doesn’t disappoint when it comes to indulgent desserts and sweet treats. A Qatari favourite is Luqaimat, which are deep-fried flour dumplings, covered in warm sugar syrup or honey and sprinkled with sesame seeds. Another sweet sensation is Khanfaroush, a perfect blend of cake and biscuit, while Basbousa, which is semolina soaked in syrup or rose water, is also worth seeking out. Baklava is served after the main course in many Qatar dining venues and consists of layers of filo pastry soaked in honey syrup, while Rez b Haleeb is a yummy Lebanese rice pudding made with just sugar, milk and rice. Dessert lovers will also be wowed by Esh Asarayah, a must-try creation featuring bread and cream, topped with pistachio nuts.

The glorious sunny weather in Qatar makes this enchanting destination a great choice for getting out and about, discovering its huge range of natural wonders and attractions. The emirate enjoys a hot season from May to October and a cooler season from December to February. Temperatures in the winter months range from a very pleasant 22°C to 25°C, meaning Qatar really is a wonderful place to visit throughout the year. The mercury ranges from around 32°C to 43°C in the summer, making conditions more ideal for a relaxing holiday, lazing on the sands and taking to the Arabian Gulf for some water sports action. Thankfully the big shopping malls, restaurants and main indoor attractions are all air-conditioned, which means they are cool and comfortable at all times. Rainfall is quite rare in Qatar, normally occurring as thunderstorms or heavy downpours in the winter months.

"There are many key elements which need to combine to create a great holiday – and enjoying great food while you’re away from home is definitely one of them.

“Qatar really hits the mark with regards to quality and choice, with fantastic places to dine at every turn in Doha and other parts of this magical destination.

“You are catered for on every front, whether you fancy a fast food snack, a light meal or a special dining experience in a gourmet restaurant with the love of your life or friends.

“A plethora of wonderful cuisines from around the globe are available in Qatar, but it’s also highly recommended to try some of the local favourites and specialities which have been satisfying appetites for many years.”

Radisson Blu Hotel

Doha

Prepare to be wowed by pure luxury, complete comfort and supreme style at this opulent downtown retreat in scintillating Doha where you’ll dine in style in top-class restaurants and spend restful nights in lavish accommodation oozing Japanese, Arabic of Indian elegance. Key attractions at the hotel include tennis and squash courts, 2 fitness centres, sparkling swimming pools and plenty of live evening entertainment.

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InterContinental Doha

Doha

Succumb to holiday bliss at this fabulous 5-star retreat which is nestled beside a pristine private beach in Doha’s alluring West Bay area. Spend heavenly nights in tastefully-appointed accommodation, cool down in the rooftop swimming pool and dine under the stars in the romantic Al Jalsa Garden Lounge. Other superb amenities include tennis courts, a ballroom, gift shops, a fitness centre and a plush spa.

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Rixos Gulf Doha

Doha

This spectacular 5-star beachfront haven of relaxation has everything you need for an unforgettable holiday experience, with gourmet restaurants, a packed programme of evening entertainment and exquisite accommodation offering stunning views of the glistening gulf waters and towering Doha Skyline. You’ll also be impressed by a cutting-edge fitness centre, lively kids club and a fantastic spa for head to toe pampering.

Check out the Rixos Gulf Doha