As the expat population has grown, so Doha’s nightlife has developed from a desultory few hotel bars to a varied selection of live music venues, bars and clubs. It’s never going to beat New York in the nightlife stakes, but there’s a decent choice of venues, although most still tend to be concentrated around the international hotels. If you’re going to a venue that isn’t in the hotel you are staying at, make sure you take ID and check before whether it’s a membership-only venue. Bear in mind that outside of the international hotels, alcohol is almost wholly unavailable.

Hotel concierges can be the best point of contact for more information, while Time Out Doha (www.timeoutdoha.com) and Qatar Happening (www.qatarhappening.com) both have up-to-date listings of everything going on around the city.

Bars in Doha

Champions

Looking for somewhere to watch the match? There are 40 LCD TVs as well as giant screens on offer at Champions, one of a multitude of outlets at the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha. As well as big sporting coverage, you can also expect chicken wings, beer towers and the like.

Address: Omar Al Mukhtar Street, West Bay, Doha, Qatar

Telephone: +974 4419 6100.

Website: www.marriottmarquisdohadining.com

Irish Harp

A traditional Victorian-style Irish bar in Doha? Well of course. Tucked into the bowels of the Sheraton, the generously sized Harp ticks the usual Irish pub boxes, with live music, Dublin décor, burger menus and, of course, a good range of beer. If you’re wondering – yes, the Guinness is surprisingly good, though punishingly expensive.

Address: Sheraton Doha, Corniche, Doha, Qatar

Telephone: +974 4485 3000.

Website: www.irishharpdoha.com

Sky View Bar at La Cigale

A spacious outdoor lounge situated on the 15th floor of La Cigale Hotel, the Sky Bar gives spectacular views across to the glittering skyline of West Bay. Cocktails and light meals are served against a background of low-key house music. Lovely on a hot night.

Address: Suhaim Bin Hamad Street, Al Sadd, Doha, Qatar

Telephone: +974 4428 8888.

Website: www.lacigale.com
 

Wahm

A poolside lounge at the W Hotel that offers a lovely selection of indoor and outdoor seating, Wahm is far more laid-back than Crystal, the hotel’s other main venue, with cabanas on the terrace and cushion-scattered banquettes inside. A menu of Med-inspired mezze means you won’t go hungry either.

Address: W Doha, West Bay, Doha, Qatar

Telephone: +974 4453 5135.

Website: www.wahmdoha.com

Clubs in Doha

Crystal at W Doha

Arguably the hippest club in the city, Crystal brings a touch of Manhattan bling to proceedings, with a dimly-lit purple and gold interior, and DJs that crank up the atmosphere until 2am. It bills itself as “a sassy and swanky nightclub”, and occasionally brings in some of the biggest names from the international club culture.

Address: W Doha, West Bay, Doha, Qatar

Telephone: +974 4453 5135.

Website: www.crystaldoha.com

Qube

Doha’s most adventurous nightclub is hidden deep in the belly of the Radisson Blu Hotel. The huge space can take a while to warm up, but once the DJs pull out a choice selection of house, hip hop and Indian tunes, things can get lively. Qube also welcomes live bands.

Address: Radisson Blu Hotel, Salwa Road, Intersection of the C Ring Road, Doha, Qatar

Telephone: +974 4428 1428.

Website: www.radissonblu.com

Live Music in Doha

Jazz at Lincoln Center, St Regis Doha

The top jazz venue in the city, the Jazz at Lincoln Center draws on the heritage of the St Regis New York, which was one of the Big Apple’s prime venues during the Roaring Twenties. The St Regis Doha was the first overseas hotel to host the venue, with a programme of world-class performers overseen by Wynton Marsalis.

Address: St Regis Doha, West Bay, Doha, Qatar

Telephone: +974 4446 0105.

Website: www.jalcdoha.com

Jazz Club at Oryx Rotana

Doubling as a steakhouse, the first jazz club in the city has live music every night. If you don’t fancy the food, simply sit at the bar and sip a cocktail. The house band is 4TheMusic, a five-piece act that specialise in traditional jazz, but there are often guest performers and tribute nights.

Address: Oryx Rotana, Doha, Qatar

Telephone: +974 4402 3333.

Website: www.rotana.com

Opera House, Katara

Home to the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, the Opera House is part of the new Katara Cultural Village and seats 550 in a state-of-the-art theatre that combines traditional Islamic design with ultra-modern architecture. It’s a genuinely impressive arts venue with regular performances by overseas orchestras and opera singers.

Address: Katara, Doha, Qatar

Telephone: +974 4408 0000.

Website: www.katara.net

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