Doha’s Hamad International Airport in Qatar is widely known as one one of the best airports in the world, and for good reason. Its abundant offerings create an immersive, cocoon-like experience for travelers, from its new 6,000-square-meter indoor tropical garden called “the Orchard,” to its world-class art collection; and of course, its ever-growing roster of places to eat.
In 2023 more than 45 million passengers passed through this architectural marvel with Qatar Airways or the growing list of regional and international carriers now flying in and out of Doha. With 65 retail and dining options, the recent expansion and opening of the Orchard in 2022 has given travelers even more options for how to spend their time in transit. While sprawling, the airport is a single terminal and easy to navigate, with an indoor train taking you to the outer reaches if needed. However, when in need of a directional landmark, use Lamp Bear, the 23-foot high canary yellow teddy bear sculpted from bronze, as your anchor point.
Our Hamad International Airport food guide will help you navigate the best places to eat at one of the world’s best airports, including quick bites before takeoff to more substantial meals for longer layovers. For more, read our food guides to Istanbul Airport and Singapore Changi Airport.
Lounge life
If you are fortunate to be traveling premium class on Qatar Airways, the award-winning lounges should be your first port of call. Al Safwa Lounge, reserved for first class passengers, is the pinnacle; the entrance to the almost hushed cavernous space is by a discrete elevator. This gets you to the spacious restaurant-style dining room where you can order Champagne and poached lobster, maki rolls from the sushi bar, and eggs Benedict for breakfast. Meanwhile, the Al Mourjan South Lounge for business class ticket holders has a casual café-style space turning out freshly made toasted sandwiches, an upstairs á la carte restaurant, and a buffet of international and Arabic dishes. If your departure gate is further afield, take the airport train to the second business class lounge, the lush Al Mourjan The Garden. Here, there is also a sushi bar, a patisserie worthy of a Parisian sojourn, a coffee bar, and a buffet with a revolving variety of options. Sink into the comfy chairs facing the Orchard or head to the Louis Vuitton Lounge located inside for Arabic coffee and decadent desserts.
For late-night dimsums, all-day kaya toasts, and pillowy roll cakes to-go.
Local flavor
You may just be passing through Doha, but you can still grab a taste of Qatar’s unique cuisine thanks to HIA’s commitment to promote Qatari culture and traditions. At Baladna Express you can try a freshly grilled carved shawarma—juicy spiced slices of chicken wrapped in fresh bread with pickles and a garlicky sauce (many of the products used here, including the cheese, are grown and made in Qatar). Also located along Concourse C is Evergreen Organics—a branch of Qatar’s first plant-based café. The cold pressed juices and the turmeric lattes are perfect fuel for your flight, and if you have more time, the avocado and tomato toast with a sprinkle of cashew cheese is a savory delight. If you find yourself in the North Node of the airport, located in the Souq Al Matar market, is a branch of Chapati and Karak. This five-decade-old homegrown Qatari brand offers steaming cups of sweet, spiced, milky tea called Karak. Pair this with chapati (flat bread) smeared with cream cheese and topped with potato crisps (trust us, it’s good) or hazelnut spread for a sweet surprise. This area is 10-minute walk from Lamp Bear, after Gate C12.
Gifts to go
You can carry a taste of Qatar back home with you. Also located in the Souq Al Matar, which is a replica of a traditional Qatari market, is Dukkan. This quirky spot, designed to look like a neighborhood shop, sells some of Qatar’s favorite snacks, like packets of crunchy salty Pafki chips and Jellopy fruit gums. Nearby is Fwala, a Qatari dialect word for a dessert assortment served to guests. This spot stocks sweets like halwa, a kind of nutty fudge, as well as dates and spices sold packed and ready-to-go, perfect for travel gifts.
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Luxury indulgences
If your travel plans aren’t taking you to London on this trip, you can still sample one of the UK capital’s most iconic dining experiences: afternoon tea at Harrods. Located just to the left of the Lamp Bear, the Harrod’s Tea Room comes complete with scones, green jacketed attendants, and of course, pots of tea curated by their in-house “Tea Tailor.” For early flights, breakfast is served from 4 a.m. to a leisurely 11 a.m. and features no less than six kinds of egg dishes alongside pastries. All-day dining features the famed afternoon tea—which arrives on a tiered stand, with dainty sandwiches, fluffy scones with strawberry jam, and silky Devonshire cream.
The Fendi Café, located in the Orchard area, is as stylish as you expect. Bedecked in luxury brand’s signature yellow, you can sip a cappuccino with Fendi logo dusted on top in chocolate and nibble on their selection of cakes and pastries.
For something more hearty, Eat Greek (Kouzina) is also located in the Orchard. Within its bright interiors you can sit down to a hearty and generous plate of kleftiko, a slow-braised lamb shank served on a chickpea, saffron, and harissa cassoulet. For something refreshing, the Ionian salad is piled high with grape tomatoes, crunchy toasted barley bread, and zingy Greek sheep milk cheese.
Plane food
If you have just a short connection, you can still eat well with takeout options nearly every few meters. The cult Danish favorite Joe and the Juice serves up its Tunacado and cups of “Joe” to go in their iconic millennial-pink packaging. Ralph’s Coffee is also a stylish pre-flight pit stop, with the usual coffee and sweet snack offering as well as packs of take-home roasted beans.