White Moon Al Sadd

Take the lift to the top floor of the extraordinarily beautiful Museum of Islamic Art and wonder at the glorious views over the Bay – then head to this equally stunning restaurant. Relax in the high-backed leather chairs and choose one of the seasonal tasting menus (there is a shorter one at lunch). This is all about refined and sophisticated contemporary French dishes, with many of them finished tableside by the charming staff who talk you through the preparations. Whether lamb or quail, asparagus or beetroot, each component is exquisite in every sense. Desserts, such as chocolate and orange

You’ll find this great value restaurant on a pedestrianised street on the fringes of the Souq Waqif marketplace, a tourist hotspot that’s home to a range of local retailers and eateries. The appealing menu features authentic Moroccan dishes that are packed with flavour and enhanced by careful spicing; tagine and couscous are their speciality. Desserts such as jawhara are great too, as are the refreshing mocktails – and a mint tea in the plush lounge of the Al Jasra Boutique Hotel, in which the restaurant sits, is a lovely way to end your visit.

Part of a small international group, this Indian restaurant is named after the intricate 16th-century shawls of Kashmir and sits inside the Sheraton Grand Hotel. It’s a smart spot, with a mix of modern and traditional elements in its décor. The extensive menu covers all regions of India, from Old Delhi butter chicken to Kerala-style beef, and includes refined small plates and several dishes from the tandoor such as succulent lamb chops. Fine ingredients are used and bold flavours are delivered, with the spicing impressively well-judged.

Step into this beautiful and spacious dining room and you’ll be warmly welcomed by the gracious team. North African Maghrebian cuisine is the appeal here, with a particular focus on Morocco. Homemade breads are plentiful and delicious, with highlights of the traditional menu including Moroccan tagines – the chicken tagine with lemon and olives is particularly good – and Algerian boureks. The kitchen puts plenty of heart into the cooking and the team even make their own ice cream to satisfy sweet-toothed diners.

To find this spacious restaurant and some of the best steaks in the city, look out for the huge statue of a stag at the heart of the Westin Doha Hotel. As the name suggests, it’s all about the grills here. Premium quality and full-flavoured Australian Black Onyx steaks, a nice piquant sea bass aguachile and even homemade bread flavoured with meat juices are all must-tries on the menu.

This branch of the global brand sits in the grounds of the St Regis hotel but feels entirely independent of it. The dining room features an impressive back-lit counter and remains a place ‘to be seen’ in the city. The extensive menu features plenty of appealingly presented dishes, including all the signature classics – like their Peking duck and dim sum platters – while the desserts are more than an afterthought. If you're not sure what to order, you can't go far wrong by opting for one of their Signature set menus.

The dream of the late Sheikha Ahmed Al Meer – author of 'The Art of Qatari Cooking' – lives on through the proud and caring team who run this restaurant and who are determined to continue her desire to preserve and celebrate the country’s culinary past and to bring it into the 21st century. The traditional cooking is fresh and full of flavour; start your visit with a samosa or the Saasna salad, then the majboos for main course; the wonderful date ice cream is a great way to finish. They have a terrific range of freshly ground seasonings and spices for you to purchase to replicate the flavours