Best restaurants in Lusail

Alba

★ Michelin﷼﷼﷼﷼Italian

Named after the northern Italian town famous for its truffles, this restaurant is found on the first floor of the opulent Raffles hotel, within the eye-catching Katara Towers. With its vaulted ceiling and Italian-themed décor, the room has a distinctive and intimate feel. The cooking, by experienced chef Cristhian Serraino, is skilfully measured and far more complex than may first appear. Dishes such as Barolo-braised veal cheek or spaghetti with ragù of shrimp highlight his skill. Top quality ingredients are flown in from Europe, like the Balfegó tuna. To watch the chefs in action, book the C

Berenjak Al Maha Island

Bib Gourmand﷼﷼Persian

Part of an ever-growing group, this Persian restaurant is located on the popular Al Maha Island with great views of the city – a seat on the terrace is always a top choice when weather permits. The food is pure Persian; all the favourites are here such as wonderful breads, tasty black chickpea hummus and kebabs cooked over coals. Don’t miss out on other dishes too – some to share – like the Ghormeh Sabzi, a deliciously flavoured stew, and save room for their saffron-flavoured crème caramel. Pro tip: tea reigns over coffee here.

Mila

Bib Gourmand﷼﷼Middle Eastern

Head to the first floor of the Rosewood Hotel, walk past the enclosed glass wine cellar and enjoy being greeted by the tasty aromas from the ovens in the centre of the restaurant. Before taking a seat, head to the semi-open kitchen to say a quick hello to smiley chef Marc. The menu here is a mix of Mediterranean and Levantine sharing dishes, such as the memorable courgetti wafer with feta, and is inspired by recipes from the chef’s parents. Don’t miss out on the freshly baked breads served warm and paired with tasty hummus.

Isaan

Bib Gourmand﷼﷼Thai

Sitting in a corner of the Grand Hyatt Hotel’s cavernous ground floor, this large open-plan restaurant boasts three on-view kitchens all producing authentic Thai cooking. Thailand’s influence extends to the décor too, with teak parquet floors and a Thai boat. Dishes are vibrant and flavoursome, with all regions of Thailand covered and ingredients flown in specially. If you’re not sure of your spicing level, ask the warm and friendly service team for recommendations.

Fenyal

Bib Gourmand﷼Traditional Cuisine

In a lovely modern building nestled among a discreet complex of towers on Gewan Island is this simple and colourful restaurant cum café. A local favourite, with a terrace, the spot immediately attracts you thanks to the lovely aromas of the bread oven. Simple, fresh dishes are served from breakfast to dinner; you can expect falafel, tasty juices, lamb kofta, and qahwa (Arabic coffee) served in a dallah set at great prices. The elbah – a baked custard with saffron – is a sweet way to wrap up any meal here.

Zuma

﷼﷼﷼﷼Japanese Contemporary

With Winter Wonderland theme park opposite, this branch of the international group has always been popular with families at certain times of the year; its weekend DJ, large terrace, island bar and on-view kitchen also make it a favourite with groups of friends looking for a fun night out. The menu offers an extensive selection of contemporary Japanese dishes, which are all designed to be shared; this includes a range of options from the robata grill like marinated lamb chops and salmon teriyaki.

La Petite Maison (LPM)

﷼﷼﷼French

Up in Lusail on Al Maha Island, this outpost of La Petite Maison has a prime location on the waterfront; the sunsets are always impressive. It’s very chic and elegant – and that’s just the service. The open kitchen offers bright, flavour-packed Niçoise and Mediterranean cooking – try the crevettes, confit de canard and finish with the tarte aux fraises. Add in an appealing cocktail, mocktail and wine list and you have all the ingredients for a fun night out, although it’s also worth coming during the day for their business lunch, which is a steal.

Carbone Doha

﷼﷼﷼﷼Italian-American

This branch of New York’s famed Italian American restaurant is found on the edge of Al Maha Island. A fun spot, it has all the iconic dishes from the original, including their signature spicy rigatoni, which is certainly worth coming for. Other must-haves include steaks, lamb chops and the desserts presented on a trolley; the cheery and attentive team are also all ready to recommend their own favourites. It’s a brasserie-style interior with a stage set up for a crooner to sing classic songs if you’re lucky; we suggest taking a seat on the terrace for fantastic views of the city.

Em Sherif

﷼﷼﷼﷼Lebanese

This fast-growing Lebanese household name is ideally located on the bustling Al Maha Island. Inside, it’s an elegant affair with cosy seating radiating a luxurious feel – try and get a seat on the large covered terrace for incredible city landscapes. The menu is authentic and the emphasis is on flavours, with something for everyone: puffy breads, delicious fattet barek, creamy fassoulia, muttabbal – the list goes on. This is really a place to dine with family or friends as everything is made for sharing.

Masala Library

﷼﷼﷼Indian

The Fairmont Doha is a striking property by Lusail Marina and this Indian restaurant occupies a position on its first floor, with full-length windows facing the ever-changing landscape. The plush white surroundings are matched by a well-organised service team, while the kitchen produces colourful and artistically plated dishes – their kulcha is a must for enjoying the excellent dals. There is also a subtle influence from West Bengal so you can expect plenty of fish. Be sure to save room for the bebinca dessert.Currently closed for rebranding.

Koo Madame

﷼﷼﷼Chinese

The Rosewood Hotel is home to this 1920’s-inspired Chinese restaurant. Dark and moody, the space has an open kitchen, an enclosed wine cellar and a smartly dressed team that are ready to serve. The menu is a roll call of some familiar and enjoyable dishes. They serve dim sum, wonderfully fresh-pulled noodles – the Fried Flying Dagger is the one to choose – and of course, the signature Beijing Duck is beautifully lacquered, flavoursome and carved at the table – don't worry, the kitchen will do a half if you can’t manage a whole. Their tea selection is also worth exploring.

Morimoto

﷼﷼﷼Japanese Contemporary, Fusion

From the catwalk entrance to the DJ, from the theatrical cocktails to the uber-contemporary hotel in which it sits, it quickly becomes obvious that this is a beautiful restaurant for beautiful people. The sushi counter is striking and there are booths for those wanting privacy, but for most guests a night out here is more about seeing and being seen. The contemporary Japanese menu offers something for everyone, with wagyu a speciality along with items like king prawns and lamb chops cooked on the robata grill.

Kai’s Songbird

﷼﷼﷼chinese

Kai London and their songbird have flown east – with no expense spared – to this spot at the Yacht Club. The glamorous interior is certainly something to behold, but there is much to be said for a table on their air-conditioned terrace. The menu fuses original and modern Chinese Nanyang cuisine, so expect plenty of seafood like their standout soft shell crab or wok-hei prawns; there are other London classics too such as their legendary aromatic crispy duck.

Loris

﷼﷼﷼Lebanese

It’s a pure Lebanese experience at this eatery located on The Pearl. Everything from the plush décor to the food alludes to the country located to the east of the Mediterranean. The flavours are all authentic, almost as if grandma was cooking up the dish. Of course, the dishes are made for sharing, with silky hummus and tasty kebab with cherry being the most popular choices. Aish el Saraya is a notable dessert that you mustn’t skip. After dinner, take a stroll on the walkway nearby to take in the city vistas.

Chicago Rare

﷼﷼﷼Steakhouse

If you’re craving a steak with all the trimmings, a glossy lamb shank, enormous crab legs or a fine lump crab cake then this restaurant within the Four Seasons Hotel is where to come. The Josper oven and grill are used to great effect and desserts also go all in, with the likes of ‘Campfire Alaska’; you’ll certainly leave feeling comfortably satisfied. Live jazz adds to the Chicago atmosphere, while the team channel the Blues Brothers in their look and zip around the room providing attentive service.

Gymkhana

﷼﷼﷼Indian

A franchise of the established – and highly acclaimed – London headquarters, this Indian restaurant is located just inside the Hilton Resort in the Katara Hills area. It’s a striking place that resembles a lodge, with a terrace at the back and a clubby, colonial feel inside. The open kitchen, which adds plenty of animation to the room, takes its inspiration from the menu offered in London which was, in turn, inspired by the clubs of India. Lunch represents good value and the service is polite and welcoming.

Rivaaj

﷼﷼﷼Indian

‘Heritage Indian Cuisine’ under the aegis of Surjan Singh, better known as ‘Chef Jolly’, is the order of the day at this elegant and moodily lit restaurant at the St Regis hotel. That means a menu offering an appealing range of dishes, from elevated street food to elegant curries and biryanis. The undecided should consider the ‘Signature Board’ offering a range of meats and seafood from the tandoor, plus salad and chutney. The service is always endearingly sweet-natured, adding to the restaurant’s appeal.

La Mar by Gastón Acurio

﷼﷼﷼Peruvian

Come for the beachfront location, stay for the vibrant Peruvian dishes at this light and airy restaurant within the grounds of the InterContinental Hotel. Gastón Acurio is a fine ambassador for Peruvian food and all bases are covered here, from ceviches to anticuchos. The colourful, rustic dishes deliver plenty of punchy flavours and are perfect for sharing. As you sit and soak up the lively atmosphere, you’ll be struck by what a fun night out it all is. And the wallet-friendly prices make it even more appealing.

🕐 Fr-Sa 12:30-23:30; Su-Th 18:00-23:30

Shanghai Me Doha

﷼﷼﷼﷼Chinese, Japanese

Come for their tasty kung pao chicken, stay for their zodiac-inspired cocktails at the bar. This plush and intimate restaurant in the heart of the city makes a great spot for a romantic evening out. The décor’s 1930’s feel, its moody ambiance and the elegantly dressed team all complement the mix of dishes hailing from China and Japan. Modern and classic dishes go hand in hand, such silver cod with yuzu miso and wonderfully flavourful short rib gyoza, along with dim sum and sushi.