Downtown Decadence: Why Staying At The Mandarin Oriental, Doha Is A Must
This luxe city retreat is just steps away from Doha’s vibrant creative district, a haven for any aesthete
The Mandarin Oriental, Doha is tucked into the heart of the city’s stylish, newly developed design neighbourhood, called Msheireb district. Now known as the cultural beating heart of this ever-burgeoning city, Msheireb district offers an array of activities from trips to souks, museums and galleries.
One must-see stop is M7. It’s one of the area’s central exhibition spaces and is currently the home of the brand new Forever Valentino exhibit, which is generating rave reviews. Besides that, visitors are also spoiled for choice when it comes to the plethora of eclectic cafes and eateries they can avail themselves of in the district.
When entering the hotel itself, the senses are immediately treated to the fresh scent and beautiful sight of floral arrangements artfully placed throughout the entrance hall. Upon stepping into the grand lobby, your gaze is immediately directed upwards to the impressive high ceiling sectioned with beautiful latticework.
The hotel, which features 117 rooms, 41 suites and 91 serviced apartments, was envisioned by David Collins Studio, a world-renowned interior design and architecture firm known for its luxury retail and hospitality projects. The space effortlessly assimilates contemporary design elements with fragments of traditional Qatari heritage such as rustic woodwork, handcrafted mosaics and Arabesque tiles.
The rooms are decorated in a calming tonal colour palette of white and beige. But it is the grand en-suite bathroom that is the true pièce de résistance of the rooms at this hotel. Piercing white imported Italian marble lines the walls and floors. And it features a sprawling walk-in shower, circular jacuzzi tub and his and hers sinks. It is easy to feel like a queen in her castle in these sorts of surroundings. And it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine spending all day just pampering yourself in this marble oasis.
For those looking for the ultimate luxurious repose, the Royal Suite, also known as the mini Arabian palace, is available to book. A private elevator takes guests directly to the suite, which boasts a magnificent view of downtown Doha. It also has its own open-air courtyard, gym and plunge pool. Guests of the suite have access to round-the-clock, five-star butler service to ensure a seamless stay. It’s no surprise that people have been known to book out this room for months at a time.
The MO Club experience is at the disposal of those sojourning in one of the suites. This exclusive service offers an alternate breakfast selection, all-day refreshments, afternoon tea and sundowner cocktails. In addition, guests can benefit from the laundry service, late checkout and airport transport – extra touches that make a world of difference to avid travellers.
If doing your morning skincare routine in your decadent bathroom doesn’t cut it for your self-care holiday agenda, then book a day of treatments a the hotel’s own world-class spa. The menu offers unique services that pay homage to quintessential Qatari practices of wellness. Each treatment begins with the selection of an essential oil a guest feels most drawn to. The idea here is to conjure a balance of mind and body. Each of the bespoke facials is done with Japanese techniques and all the products used in the spa are from 111Skin, a leading global skincare brand. Following a relaxing spa day, don’t forget to lounge by the rooftop pool and watch the sun set over the Gulf.
The culinary journey of a lifetime also awaits within the perimeter of the hotel with 10 restaurants and bars serving everything you can imagine from traditional local flavours to international cuisines. A personal favourite was the French Mediterranean offering at IZU. A must-try here is the blueberry and feta salad. It was definitely a core memory on my last night while dining in the restaurant’s elegant, intimate setting looking out onto the Barahat Msheireb. For a post-dinner sugar fix, don’t forget to make your way to the gelato and cake shop, serving all sorts of gourmet delicacies crafted by the in-house chocolatiers and pastry chefs.
From first-class service to impeccably beautiful rooms and an unbeatable location, the Mandarin Oriental, Doha encompasses a little bit of everything that this exciting city has to offer.
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