Great Grub Close to Khalifa International Stadium
Originally built in 1976, the Khalifa International Stadium has been hosting major sporting events in Qatar since its construction. The arena, extensively refurbished in recent years, will continue as one of Qatar's most important sports venues as it hosts six Group Stage matches, one Round of 16 game, and the match for 3rd place at the FIFA 2022 World Cup. The 40,000-seat stadium is located in the Al Waab area of Doha, within the sporting zone of Aspire. Surrounded by green spaces, malls and busy streets full of places to eat, you won't go hungry while visiting. So, if you're looking for fantastic food close to Khalifa International Stadium, we recommend the following three establishments.
Benihana
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Located in Villagio Mall, just a 10 - minute walk from the stadium, Benihana is the perfect spot to head after a game for an indulgent meal that will make your taste buds happy! Benihana, part of one of the world's largest restaurant chains serving Japanese cuisine for over 40 years, features an array of delicious dishes, including Hibachi steaks, sushi rolls and tempura platters.
Start your meal with signature appetisers such as Sashimi, Nigiri or Sushi Rolls from the Sushi Bar, or Edamame or Spring Rolls from the Hot Appetisers menu, then move on to main Hibachi dishes that are sure to delight your palate. If you haven't had the experience of Hibachi-style cooking before, Benihana is an excellent spot to experience it. Hibachi is a distinct cooking style where the chef uses an iron griddle to cook food in front of diners. This cooking method preserves the food's natural flavours and adds an exciting flair to your dining experience. Try the Hibachi chicken, tuna or sirloin steak -they're each a flavour sensation. Don't forget to save room for dessert — the brownies with Vanilla Ice cream or the Banana Tempura with Vanilla Ice cream are not to be missed!
The restaurant has normal-style dining tables and multi-person tables arrayed around the cooking grills. You can also book private grill tables at an added cost.
If you have more time to spare, try shopping and exploring the Villaggio Mall. The mall's interiors take inspiration from Venice, including a canal and gondolas, and are a favourite with Qatar's residents. Besides shopping, there are many other fun activities in the mall, from go-karting to ice skating. A visit to Benihana, and Villaggio, is the perfect way to round off an exciting day of football!
Location: Villaggio Mall, Al Waab Street, Doha
Hours: Saturday - Thursday: 11 am – 10:30 pm
Friday: 1 pm – 10:30 pm
Contact: +974 4001 1177
Website: https://www.benihanainternational.com/locations/doha-qatar/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benihana.qtr
Flat White Specialty Coffee
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Just an 8-minute walk from the Khalifa International Stadium, Flat White Specialty Coffee is a popular homegrown coffee spot and part of a successful chain. Pioneered by two Qatari entrepreneurs aiming to improve Qatar's coffee offering, the coffee shop chain has been internationally recognised as one of the top cafes in the world. Needless to say, a coffee enthusiast would be spoilt for choice with their extensive selection of coffee blends and coffee brewing methods (including their famous Flat White).
Flat White also has an extensive menu for a cafe with some delectable brunch options. Our favourites from the menu are De Vine Doha - a delicious butternut and bean rosemary ragu on toast, and the Ranchero Mariachi - a poached eggs dish with red salsa, avocados, labneh, and sourdough bread. They also serve a great variety of sandwiches and cakes, as well as gluten-free and vegan options for those with special dietary requirements.
The cafe near Khalifa Stadium has indoor and outdoor seating and sports a relaxed decor with plenty of green plants and comfy leather chairs. Aside from the coffee, brunch and cosy surroundings, the shop's location, the Iconic 2022 building, is part of its charm. The Iconic 2022 building is an architectural masterpiece. Designed by Qatari Architect Ibrahim al Jaidah, ICONIC is the first building in the world in the numerical shape of a specific year, 2022 - very instagrammable and definitely worth checking out - a great photo backdrop to commemorate your visit to the 2022 FIFA World Cup Host Country.
Location: Al Buwairda Street, Doha
Hours: Saturday - Thursday: 7 am - 11 pm
Friday: 7 am - 11:30 am, 12:30 pm - 11 pm
Contact: +974 5083 5065
Website: https://www.flatwhite.qa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flatwhite.qa
Naua
Image: Naua Doha
Naua, located in the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic & Sports Museum, is a newly opened restaurant just a 5-minute walk from the Khalifa Stadium. A unique, casual, fine-dining concept crafted by Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens, the menu at Naua is designed with health and well-being at its core. In fact, Naua is the only restaurant in Doha based on the concept of healthy meets gourmet dining.
Awarded two Michelin Stars by 26, Tom Aikens is a celebrated British chef. He appeared on television on multiple occasions, including on The Great British Menu as one of the contestants and also as one of the veteran chef judges. He currently heads Michelin-starred London restaurant Muse, three hotel eateries in Abu Dhabi, one in Jakarta and one in Tokyo, and Naua.
Naua is on the 3-2-1 museum's 8th floor and provides incredible views of Khalifa Sports City and beyond. During the day, lots of natural light streams through the floor-to-ceiling windows and with interiors of wooden accents and plants hanging from the ceiling, the dining experience feels wrapped in nature.
Highlighting that healthy food can be exciting and delicious, the menu at Naua focuses on a farm-to-table concept. Fresh and seasonal ingredients create healthy yet flavorful dishes- each a work of art. Some of our favourites on the menu are the Cauliflower and Raisin Tabbouleh, the Black and Green, and Lamb Loin. Make sure you don't skip out on the guilt-free desserts as, just like everything else on the menu, they are delicious and beautifully plated. Naua is an excellent spot for a quick, healthy, yet satisfying lunch before catching a game at the stadium.
Location: Aspire Park Road, Doha
Hours: Saturday - Thursday: 12:30 pm - 3 pm
Friday: Closed
Contact: +974 4452 5190
Website: https://321qosm.org.qa/en/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naua.doha/
Main image: Noushad Thekkayil /Shutterstock.com