Best Brunch and Bars in Doha?
 

Hi
I am probably heading to Doha in October/November - and should have enough allowance to stay at The Pearl or West Bay ....
I am keen to find out what bars (not over priced cocktail places or nightclubs) are good. Where people think the best brunch is?
Also - I am a keen Rugby fan .. so I am guessing that becoming a member of the Rugby Club would be good?
Any steer on car lease would also be great! Budget is around 2,500.
Thanks in advance.
Pete

Re: Best Brunch and Bars in Doha?
 

Rose and Thistle at Horizon Manor Hotel is well worth the trip, as for a car, speak to James Barker Cars – Used Car Dealership he's a mate and a friend of this group. he will advise cars wise (and probably a shed load of other things too).

Oh, just to add, even though West Bay etc. look good from a distance, that's what they are - a distance.

If you're only staying a few months look at long term rental at Horizon manor (depending on where you're working), Doha isn't best to get around.

Re: Best Brunch and Bars in Doha?
 

Many thanks. Will certainly contact James Barker - that seems like a great idea.

I won't be based from an office. I will have a handful of customers who I will visit regularly ... so the key thing for me will be the accommodation. Travel will always be part of this role. I will be covering Oman and Egypt as well ... so away about 1 week in 4.

However, I have looked at the Horizon Manor and I think it's within budget for the first month or two .. may help me get settled in. So thanks for that as well.

My aim is for this to be long-ish term. Up to 5 years. But the savage views of some people, if proved correct, may well change that.

Re: Best Brunch and Bars in Doha?
 

Horizon Manor is a crap hotel. It does have the virtue of being near Souq Waqif but that's only a place you'd want to go to once in a while, not regularly. The bars at Horizon Manor, well, put it this way they're for the sad red faced blokes with a fetish for lung cancer and their ex prostitute Filipina GF.

West Bay / Pearl are much better places. Doha is a shithole so you might as well put yourself in the nicest places possible (and even then they're not that nice). It's just that West Bay has a sense of sanity rather than any redeeming virtues. Plenty of bars about that you can walk to and they're decent ones.

Rugby Club has a following. It's also on the wrong side of town. I'd much rather drink at Belgian between Pearl and West Bay than the Rugby Club. But you may find it's your scene. There are sports bars enough where you can watch rugby. Champions at the Marriott in West Bay is a good option. If you want to play rugby then the Rugby Club has its virtues.

Plenty of serviced apartments around. Especially these days. Also easy to get furnished places. Rent is dropping faster than the pound.

Re: Best Brunch and Bars in Doha?
 

If you're in the old town area of Doha, Claw BBQ in the Doubletree by Hilton is definitely worth a look.

Re: Best Brunch and Bars in Doha?
 

Thanks all (so far). I had read about the Claw BBQ - which sounds right up my street.

Until I know how long I will be there I would prefer to keep to short term rental for property and for car "rental/lease". I will talk with James Barker ... but is there another similar to Oasis? (all in per month price. short-ish rental periods).

Also - can I use taxis to bring alcohol back from QDC? (Assuming I get a permit)

Re: Best Brunch and Bars in Doha?
 

On brunches, it's indoor season at the minute. They're better when they go outdoors, once the weather cools off. There are plenty around. Two that stand out off the top of my head are the Kempinsky on The Pearl and the St Regis at Katara (outdoors; the indoor St Regis one's like going out to a formal lunch). Bubblicious at The Westin has a well-earned reputation for getting feral later in the afternoon. There's also a Thai brunch in The Westin which has good reports. Sheraton good, fairly reserved with a mix of expats and locals. The old Shangri-La by City Centre, which I think now is a Marriott, is similar. The Hilton in West Bay do a pool/beachside brunch. Trader Vic's at the Hilton do a crap brunch but it's a popular place for afterwards.

Re: Best Brunch and Bars in Doha?
 

If you're looking for a good quality, shorter-term serviced apartment, check out the deals at the W Hotel, InterContinental Residences (Doha The City) and the Fraser Suites (the West Bay one).