Sunrise Breakfasts - Doha's Top-Notch Morning Meals Alfresco Style
There are several perks to eating alfresco: the fresh air, the views, the escape from the norm - it all improves your mood and can help you refocus; plus, the lighting is ideal for photography and is packed with Vitamin D, which is good for your health. Really, the list goes on and on. So, if you're feeling a bit pent up at work or home or just searching for a breezy area to relax, look no further. Pancakes, eggs, orange juice, and a generous dollop of sunshine? Oh, yes!
Too hot in Qatar for alfresco dining? Well, Qatar may be well known for its extreme heat in the summer, but during the winter, the weather is divine - clear blue sunny skies, cool breezes, and pleasant temperatures - an incredibly appealing attribute which sees the masses heading outside. So, you're not alone if those gorgeous blue skies have you on the hunt for the nicest outdoor breakfasts in Doha.
We bring you Doha's top-notch outdoor breakfasts to enjoy on the good weather days:
Aspro Cafe - The Pearl
Image: Aspro Cafe - Facebook
There are so many charming eateries at The Pearl that it's difficult to choose a favourite one. Nonetheless, Aspro Cafe's Pearl branch features an amazing outside seating area surrounded by the adorable pastel houses of Qanat Quartier, a magnificent canal vista, and, most importantly, an instagrammable spread. Don't miss out on their shakshouka, salted caramel French toast and very-cute iced bear latte. If you have some time to explore the area, we recommend exploring Qanat Quartier. This precinct combines Venetian and Arabian elegance and is known as Qatar's miniature Venice, with pastel-coloured low-rise buildings, meandering canals, and pedestrian-friendly promenades.
Location: Qanat Quartier, The Pearl, Doha
Hours: 8 am – 11:30 pm, Saturday-Friday
Contact: +974 6669 5669
Boho Social
Image: qatarliving.com
Breakfast in a beautiful Bohemian chic themed venue with a dreamy view to look out over? Yes, we are all for it. Boho Social sits on the top of the Katara beach club overlooking the Gulf. Some of the restaurant's highlights include its beautiful decor and furnishings - multicoloured carpets and chairs, wicker baskets hanging from wooden beams overhead - and Doha's glistening seas, the Katara promenade or amphitheatre as a magnificent background, depending on where you are seated. Did we mention that the restaurant is being headed by the award-winning chef Andreé Fabián Núñez? The cuisine at Boho Social is a mash-up of flavours from around the world. Delicious food with fresh, local ingredients makes it hard to decide what to choose. Whether you go for an expertly brewed caramel latte topped with their homemade caramel popcorn, or their homemade waffles served with caramelised bananas, strawberry, and maple syrup, everything's just going to be delish and ready for the gram. This restaurant could easily be one of the most instagrammable in Doha, and as for what to try, we just can't choose one dish!
Location: Level 2, above Katara Club, off Shakespeare Street, Doha
Hours: 9 am – 10:30 pm, Saturday-Wednesday; 9 am – 11 pm, Thursday-Friday
Contact: +974 7765 5285
Website: https://www.bohosocialqatar.com/
Chef Garden’s Doha
Image: chefsgardendoha.com
Organic farm-to-table food, and a light, airy place surrounded by lush foliage, that's just two reasons why your next alfresco breakfast should be at Chef's Garden. With its green lawn and pool views, the spacious outdoor terrace is a perfect location to enjoy seasonal cuisine, including organic meats, locally produced vegetables, and herbs from the chef's own chef's garden. With huge bouncy castles, a treehouse, and lots of space to run around, this venue would also be a hit with the kids. Located in the Marwan Club in Al Shaqab, this award-winning restaurant is an oasis hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Once you are done with your breakfast, you could take time to unwind by heading to Al Shaqab. Al Shaqab is Qatar's state-of-the-art equestrian centre, where you can see and ride magnificent Arabian horses revered throughout the nation.
Location: Education City, Gate 6, Ar-Rayyan
Hours: 7 am – 9 pm, Saturday-Friday
Contact: +974 4409 5040
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.chefsgardendoha.com/
Desert Rose Cafe
Image: nmoq.org.qa/
This modern café is housed within the magnificent National Museum of Qatar and is helmed by acclaimed Qatari chef Noof Al Marri. The Desert Rose Café is set under one of the vast architectural disks that make up the National Museum's unique construction - the design of which has been inspired by and recreates naturally occurring crystal formations known as desert roses. The cafe is not your typical museum eatery; the food served is truly a highlight, and, much like the museum - the plates and other serving wares are art pieces on their own. We recommend trying everything on the menu, but do not miss their French Toast Coconut with Caramel Sauce, Chapati Keema (a wrap with minced meat filling), and Rekak Feta Cheese (crispy bread with feta cheese, tomato, capsicum, and olive oil). While dining outside, you can enjoy the museum's courtyard view, fountains at the front of the museum, the hustle and bustle of the Corniche, the view of the sea and the skyline beyond. The Desert Rose café is located midway through the permanent galleries route through the museum and is a great place to stop before your museum tour.
Location: Qatar National Museum, Museum Park St, Doha
Hours: 9 am – 7 pm, Saturday–Wednesday; 9 am – 8 pm: Thursday–Friday
Contact: +974 3321 6143
Marsa Katara
Image: facebook.com/marsakatara/
Marsa Katara is a restaurant complex of eight bungalows and one main restaurant that sits over the still blue waters of the Gulf on the northern side of the Katara Cultural Village. Riding a golf cart over a bridge to get to the complex is a thrill that never wears off, and the views of the sea are breathtaking. And while you may join other diners in the main restaurant, you may also reserve one of the overwater villas for a private dining experience. The restaurant has a lot to offer for breakfast, but try the egg souffle or their Marsa breakfast buffet for something more instagrammable than the view. Marsa Katara has a fantastic outdoor area with panoramic views of the water, Katara, the West Bay skyline and the Pearl. This luxury gazebo-style restaurant, situated in one of Qatar's top locations, should be on your list simply for the views.
Location: Marsa Katara, Katara Cultural Village, Doha
Hours: 9 am – 11 pm, Saturday - Friday
Contact: +974 4408 0202
Season’s Tea Lounge
Image: facebook.com/seasonsTeaLounge
The recently remodelled Seasons Tea Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel Doha oozes Parisian flair by fusing classical and contemporary elements. The lounge has a French Winter Garden that opens onto a terrace, and when it comes to breakfast, nothing beats sitting on the deck overlooking the Arabian Gulf. The lounge offers a meticulously curated menu of French delights with tableside service reminiscent of a Parisian café. The lounge serves dishes like egg benedicts and omelettes throughout the week. But, the real treat is the decadent breakfast on the weekends where you can indulge in viennoiseries, assorted cheeses and a vast egg selection. With views of the Doha skyline, the iconic Sheraton Hotel, and the glistening Gulf waters, we are sure you wouldn't want to miss this place.
Location: Seasons Tea Lounge, Four Seasons Hotel, Corniche Road, West Bay, Doha
Hours: 6 pm – 2 am
Contact: +974 4494 8888
Website: https://www.fourseasons.com/doha/dining/lounges/seasons_tea_lounge/
Smat
Image: facebook.com/SMATrestaurant/
Smat, positioned on the Corniche and with stunning sea views, is an Arabian style restaurant where traditional dishes are given a shake-up with flavour twists and unusual fusion combinations. The menu here is as inventive as it is tasty. There is plenty to choose from for breakfast, including delectable black pea and olive hummus, spicy scrambled egg, saffron-flavoured egg linguini, eggs benedict with tamarind tomato beans and hashbrowns, and many more. Breakfast can be savoured from the restaurant balcony, overlooking the sea and the venue's beautiful fountains - a great view if you can tear your eyes away from the exquisitely presented dishes. Smat is also a great venue to bring your kids along as they have a huge play area outside.
Location: Second Floor, Orient Pearl Restaurant, The Corniche, Doha
Hours: 8 am - 1 am, Saturday-Friday
Contact: +974 4410 6600 / 6666 4448
Instagram: @smatrestaurant
Sugar and Spice
Image: facebook.com/SugarandSpiceQa/
This quaint, homely cafe in Aspire Park is an excellent option for taking some fresh air surrounded by greenery or for those wishing to get some exercise, before or after breakfast, on the park's many walkways, running or cycling tracks. Designed to look like a cosy European home, the cafe's main offering is its host of excellent sweet delicacies. However, the breakfasts, including eggs benedict, waffles, beetroot shakshuka, and Lebanese scrambled eggs, are not to be overlooked. And with views from the outside tables of the Aspire Lake in the distance, the expansive green lawn, and blooming bougainvillaeas, this spot is perfect for lifting your spirits.
Location: Aspire Park, Al Waab, Doha
Hours: 9 am – 10:30 pm, Saturday -Thursday;
1:30 pm – 10:30 pm, Friday
Contact: +974 4038 9668 / 4038 9669
Website: http://sugarandspiceqatar.com/
The Kitchen
Image: facebook.com/thekitchendoha/
The Kitchen at Hilton Doha - The Pearl Hotel is the perfect location for taking advantage of the cooler weather in Doha. Overlooking the hotel's pool and the dune-coloured towers of The Pearl Qatar, it's the ideal spot for a breakfast that makes you feel like you are on vacation. The food here is fresh, seasonal fare, with most menu items using locally sourced ingredients. The menu offers a host of classic comforts, such as scrambled eggs and eggs benedict, but with contemporary flavour combinations, like truffles and pulled beef, to complement the dish. You are sure to find something to your taste, but, if nothing else, you really should try the coconut rice with salted fish, sambal, and eggs, the Nordic eggs with fresh salmon, or the ever-popular French Toast. Make sure to order a cup of their coffee, as The Kitchen's barista brews it fresh to order.
Location: Abraj Quartier, Pearl Boulevard Tower, AQ-07, Doha
Hours: 7 am – 11 pm
Contact: +974 4492 4610
Website: https://www.thekitchendoha.com/
Twisted Olive
Image: instagram.com/twistedolive.qa/
Main Image: qatarliving.com
If you are looking for somewhere to have a business breakfast, then The Twisted Olive is a perfect venue. Located on the ground floor of the Burj Doha, an iconic cylindrical office block in Doha's West Bay, the cafe lacks a view, but its open-air courtyard is a calm and green oasis to start a busy day. Prepare to feast on breakfast delicacies such as freshly baked croissants, breakfast bowls, egg bennies, french toast, omelettes and many dishes with inventive flavour twists while reading a book or using your laptop. However, keep track of the time while you're here, as it is very easy to lose hours and forget the hard-at-work environment all around you in this tranquil, open and lush green space. The good news is, you'll be fine if that happens; the breakfast menu is an all-day affair!
Location: Burj Doha, The Corniche, Doha
Hours: 7 am - 10 pm, Saturday-Friday
Contact: +974 4425 2727
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://twistedolive.qa/
Main image: qatarliving.com