When Qatar geared up to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, one of the most anticipated hotel openings was The Ned Doha. Housed in the former Ministry of Interior building, this luxury hotel lies opposite the Corniche, overlooking the Arabian Gulf, but more than the lovely views, it’s its old-world charm that puts it in a league above the usual glitzy Middle Eastern hotels. This third Ned property after London and New York also doubles up as a private members club, I checked in to find out more.
Hotel
On my maiden trip to the Middle Eastern country, I was excited to stay at the Ned Doha – not only does it lie an easy 20-minute drive from the airport, it is also close to the city’s main attractions.
As I stepped inside the hotel, I was transported back to the 70s retro era, which is a defining feature of the hotel. The spacious building was designed and constructed by Lebanese architect William Sednaoui and in its new avatar as a hotel, much care has been taken to maintain the spirit of that architecture, whether it is within the décor or the artwork.
The reception lies on the right side while the adjacent lobby has several spaces to sit along with a raised circular stage equipped with a piano.
Room
The rooms are spread over three floors, while the top floor houses the member’s-only Ned’s Club. Interestingly, a number of local artists, that include many women, have created nearly 350 pieces of artwork for this hotel including some eye-catching sculptures.
My home for four days was the medium sea view room that overlooks the Corniche and Arabian Gulf, one of the hotel’s 90 rooms and suites. It was really spacious, done up in style with a long dressing area on the left boasting a mirror studded with vanity lights. Music lovers will be delighted to find a Marshall speaker on a shelf to the left to ensure their holiday soundtrack is played in style. The headrest of the bed resembled a scallop shell, forming an eye-catching centrepiece, while a radio, rotary phone and ottoman added the necessary 70s retro touch.
When I first walked into the bathroom, I was both surprised and delighted to see a plethora of shower gels – the hotel puts the entire range of Cowshed bath products in the bathing area. At first, I could not locate the mini bar and tea/coffee maker but found it neatly tucked inside a green cabinet. Thanks to the Nespresso machine, I woke up to an espresso shot each morning – a necessary way to start the day.
Food and drink
The dining is what I loved about this hotel – it has seven restaurants offering a range of cuisines, from Pan-Asian, Italian, American to Middle Eastern. Each morning I would wake up and enjoy my breakfast sitting at Millie’s Lounge, gazing at the sea. What I really liked was that, instead of the regular buffet spread, there was an a la carte option that ranged from all kinds of eggs to Middle Eastern options like Shakshuka, Labneh, hummus, falafel and Turkish sausages. On most days, I sat outside and devoured one of the local dishes along with a giant croissant and iced coffee.
Being in the Middle East, dining at Hadika, which specialises in the region’s cuisine, was an obvious choice. I indulged in the hot and cold mezze that ranged from muhammara, hummus, tahini, falafel to fried halloumi. This was followed by Fattoush salad and lamb kubideh, shish tawook and lamb cutlets. It was a delicious meal packed with the culinary flavours of what this country offers. The beautiful views of the Corniche lent the experience a dreamy touch.
The Californian restaurant, Malibu Kitchen, lays out an elaborate poolside brunch that includes vegan options every Friday, while Millie’s Grill and Nickel Lounge offer traditional British afternoon tea with sandwiches and cakes. If I had more time, I would have loved to dine at other restaurants here, but since my time was short, I will save that for my next visit.
To do
There are plenty of things to do both around and within the hotel itself. For those who want to relax, sit in the lobby in the evening when a musician either strums numbers on the piano or sings. There’s a 30-metre pool for the water babies, while others can just lounge on the pool deck private cabanas and chairs and enjoy a snack.
The spa has three treatment rooms that include a traditional Moroccan hammam. It opens at 7am for early risers who want to start the day with a refreshing massage, steam or sauna.
The National Museum of Qatar is housed in a building that resembles a desert rose, and Souk Waqif, a heritage bazaar, is great for shopping and is within a ten-minute drive, providing a must visit for first timers to the city.
In a nutshell
This luxury hotel in the heart of the city is a great place to stay not just for architecture buffs and people who enjoy a step back in time, but also for those wanting to experience something a tad bit different from the sparkle and glitz that has come to define most Middle Eastern properties.
Factbox
Address: Building 7, Street 910 Zone 12 P.O. Box: 15327, Corniche Doha
Phone: +974 4406 1111
Website: thened.com/doha
Photography (excluding main image) courtesy of The Ned Doha.
