On a recent trip to Tanzania, we had a stopover in Doha and decided to take a short detour to see the city. Given its proximity to the airport and some main attractions in Doha, the Mandarin Oriental ended up being our hotel pick. This was our first stop after leaving safari, and having a luxe stay at the MO was the perfect layover recharge.
For this trip we stayed just one night, so we had less than a day to get a taste for the city. The Qatar Airways stopovers often include an arrival or departure that falls in the middle of the night (we landed around 11PM), so choosing the right location is key to maximizing your time.
Exclusive perks when booking with us
As a Mandarin Oriental Fan Club advisor, we can add extra perks on your stay here. Reach out for access to our booking engine or help booking your stay here.
Perks of booking though us include:
- $100 property credit
- Complimentary daily breakfast
- Free room upgrade (subject to availability)
- Priority for early check in / late check out
The Property
Just a 20 minute drive from the airport, Mandarin Oriental Doha is conveniently situated in the Msheireb Downtown Doha area. As we stepped out of our lift into the lobby at midnight, the concierge was already waiting and greeted us warmly by name.
The decor is as grand as a city hotel can be, with bright airy spaces and ornate decor. Given that it hit 40°C when we were there, we also appreciated the strong AC indoors.
Note that the rooftop pools are also fully outdoors. As beautiful as the deck was, we could not bear to be outside for too long given the weather. During a more temperate time of year, I could see this being a nice little oasis to lounge at.
The Rooms
Our TA booking here, combined with an off season visit, resulted in an extremely generous upgrade for our room. We booked a Superior Room and ended up with a multi category upgrade to a Deluxe Suite.
The rooms are definitely luxurious. They have the usual MO style I characterize as cozy elegance, and incorporate geometric Qatari motifs into the decor. At the Suite level, you’ll get a sizable sitting room + powder room, bedroom with a walk in closet, and an enormous bathroom. The marbled bathrooms are a sight to behold, with a massive tub at its centre.
I was also extremely partial to the delicious dates they put out as part of our welcome amenity.
The Food
There are a couple of different restaurants and bars on site, as well as a lounge where afternoon tea is served, and a gelato shop.
Our only meal at the property was the breakfast at Mosaic, included in our room rate. We thought the selection here was great. There was an extremely extensive buffet selection of Western, Asian, and Qatari breakfast items. Plus extensive pastries, juices, the works. Any other cooked items like egg dishes were ordered a la carte.
Service was friendly and attentive. However we did have a bit of a mishap with the kitchen, where it took an absurdly long time for our omelette to come out. There might have been a mix up, but we were the only guests dining at the time.
Final Thoughts
Though we did not get to stay for long, our experience at the Mandarin Oriental Doha was definitely memorable. The luxurious rooms and comfortable beds are exactly what you want after a long travel day. Their room and food product were all top notch, and our experience certainly lived up to the standard expected from a MO hotel. Plus, the convenient location helped us squeeze in a quick trip to the Souq Waqif.