Restaurant Review || Shebestan Palace, Souk Waqif

Shebestan Palace, Souk Waqif 

Last week I was blessed to have three friends from the UK join me in Doha for a week of girlie fun and relaxation. One evening I took them around Souq Waqif and one of the girls spotted this delightful restaurant while we were walking around.  

Beautiful hallway leading to the restaurant

The entrance is absolutely stunning and very attractive, the long hallway to the actual restaurant was adorned with coloured glass and sparkles, which was obviously why we were attracted to it in the first place!  

Colourful interior design inside, complete with a soothing fountain

The menu was vast, some meals were budget friendly, but most cost around 110QR and up.  Hummus to start was 22QR and came in a small pot, but, there wasn't anything to accompany it!  

The sparkles lay on the ceiling too!

I ordered a lamb curry dish which came with fresh bread and a side salad which was 50 QR, the bread was plentiful, however, I think I only had around 5 chunks of Lamb in my dish, the rest was sauce and vegetables, the side salad was rather on the slim side too! That aside, it was very tasty and the service was excellent!

Bon Appetit!

Spa Review || Diva Lounge Spa

DIVA LOUNGE SPA

Diva Lounge Spa, The Gate Mall - West Bay

Pedicure at Diva Lounge Spa - West Bay

One lazy Friday afternoon during Ramadan (last week!) my friend Suzanne and I decided that we NEEDED a pedicure.  The mission was on!  We called many, many salons, big names and smaller local ones in a bid to find a place that will rescue our feet, all were fully booked and only had spaces at 9pm... it was 2pm and we wanted something within the hour.

Just as I was about to give up all hope, lucky call number six put me thought to Diva Lounge Spa in The Gate Mall, West Bay.  They had space for two people and we had 40 minutes to get there - easy peasy on a Friday and it was ramadan too.

After squeeles of excitement (mainly from me) we were off!  We arrived and the spa was empty - perfect, just how I like them.  What amazed me was the other branch was jam packed and had no space until 9pm!  However, being in a close mall clearly has it's advantages.

Diva Lounge Spa - Reception Area

Friendly staff, clean, new, and roomy, we we both very pleased with our new find - neither of us had been there before.

Diva Lounge Spa - View from Pedicure seat!

As we sat there chit catting we looked at the beauty menu and wondered what else we could be tempted with seeing as we were the only two in there!  With too much to choose from it was going to have to be another, better planned, visit to the spa!

Diva Spa Lounge - new feet! 

One-hour later and slightly sleepy from our relaxing pamper - my feet look brand new again and adorn a perfect french pedicure... my failsafe when I cannot decide on a colour!

As we left I spotted these nifty card holders - how nice are these?

Overall a very pleasant, relaxing, reasonably priced visit (145 QR for a 1-hour pedi with french paint).

I will be going back again, especially during a very quiet time too!

Happy Spa-ing!

Beauty Salon Review || Desert Princess

Desert Princess 

British run hair and beauty salon

Dermalogica Facial Experience

Dermalogica Facial.  Source: Google Images

Located off Salwa Road, this beauty salon is a wonderful hideaway to escape to when you need to leave Doha and return to the UK (without paying for a flight!).

Desert Princess Waiting Area. Source: Desert Princess 

Well thought out and decorated with British charm, this beauty salon has much to offer; Swimming Pool (covered), large hair salon, nail bars and beauty treatment rooms.  

My reason for the visit today was to have a 60 minute Dermalogica facial.... dreamy! Having been in Qatar for over a year now, a Dermalogica facial as I know it to be (steam, extractions, peels, head massage, scented oils etc) was very hard to find. Other salons offer facials, but not a Dermalogica one which is what I specifically missed! 

I met with my therapist, Veerle, who is from Holland and very nice, I told her my facial woes and what i'd love to achieve over a period of time.  After a quick chat and filling out of a questionnaire, I was led upstairs to the beauty room. 

Upon entering the room had wonderful relaxing music playing, candles lit, and a perfectly positioned beauty bed with my name written all over it!  60 minutes flew by, but they were relaxing minutes and I was in utter bliss knowing that I was in great hands, and that i'd finally found my go-to place for my Dermalogica facials.

Once Veerle had finished this amazing treatment, we had a chat about other products I can add to my Dermalogica collection at home, and any areas of concern.  Reluctantly getting changed, I sorted my 'post-facial hair' and headed down to reception where i met Veerle and swiftly booked in another appointment for next month.... this time a 75 minute one with a full neck and shoulder massage too.

I will certainly go to Veerle each month to keep on top of my skincare routine, she is very knowledgeable and i'm so excited to have found Desert Princess!

Desert Princess Logo. Source: Desert Princess Facebook Page

Restaurant Review || Tse Yang

TSE YANG

The Pearl Qatar

One Tuesday evening we decided to head out for an authentic Chinese meal, and since hearing of the new Chinese Chef in Tse Yang it was an easy decision to make!

Tse Yang is located on The Pearl, so we parked opposite the Mosque (on the right as you enter The Pearl) and strolled over to the restaurant (opposite to Ferrari Showroom).

Upon arrival we were kindly greeted by a waitress in traditional Chinese attire and taken through a dark, red-light hall way to an impressive, large dining room. 

There was certainly plenty to chose from and I decided to go for a Lychee mocktail (my favorite) and hubby went for his favorite liquor.  Our waitress was very knowledgeable, polite and not over bearing.  As neither of us had lunch that day (reserving ourselves for this dinner) we had a soup each, with honey glazed duck to nibble on... the duck melted in your mouth and was like nothing i've had before, it was simply exquisite. 

After lots of 'mmmmmm' noises throughout our starter, we proceeded to order our mains: Vegetable noodles, mixed rice, a beef dish and a chicken dish.  They arrived on our table sizzles and steaming to which we both started our noises of enjoyment again... mmmmmmmm.

With our stomachs full of wonderful, aromatic food we recline back in our seats and enjoyed the atmosphere.  

I give Tse Yang a 4.5 / 5 and will be heading back there in November for my birthday (providing the chef does not leave).

Their contact details are: 4495 3876

Happy Eating!

Restaurant Review || Caravan Restaurant

Caravan Restaurant

 

Caravan  Restaurant   Photo Source: Google Images

Inexpensive, tasty and filling, Caravan is a great place to gather some friends together and eat until you can't move!  They do serve alcohol as well as lots of cuisines (Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese, Vegetarian,), salad bar, soup bar and most importantly, a dessert bar.

Their price is very reasonable: 55 QR all you can eat buffet per person (drinks excluded). 

They have large tables for big groups and smaller tables for families and couples, the restaurant is always clean, friendly staff and fresh food constantly churning out of the kitchen.

I recommend Caravan for an inexpensive evening, very good towards the end of the month when funds are running out!  Caravan is nestled in the food corner opposite Ramada Hotel.

Caravan was awarded Trip Advisor's 'Certificate of Excellence 2013'.  

Trip Advisor: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g294009-d1846464-Reviews-Caravan-Doha.html

Location Map: http://goo.gl/maps/4ghEd 

Things to do in Qatar || Shopping Malls

Shopping in Qatar

 Most expats enjoy a good bit of tax-free shopping, when you go shopping in Doha it's also tax-free.  Sounds great?  Well, due to the cost of importing you might find the prices are substantially more or a little bit more, and only occasionally, less, so don't get too excited!  

For Example:

Make-up Remover Wipes
Johnson's 25 wipes - 24QAR / £4.17p.........................Boots UK £3.05

My suggested alternative:
Johnson's baby wipes - 4.75QAR / £0.82p .................Boots UK £0.99p

Where can I shop in Doha?

Food / Clothes / Make-up / Electronics

My favorite mall has to be Villaggio on Al Waab Street.  It has everything I need in one place, it's pretty and has good stock levels too.  I've never walked out of Villaggio empty-handed!

Website:  http://www.villaggioqatar.com/

Shops: H&M, Boots, River Island, MAC, Footlocker, Zara Home, Mango,Virgin Mega Store - the list is rather large!

Here are some pictures i've taken with my iPhone

Villaggio Mall - Gondola Ride

Villaggio Mall - Venice Decor

Villaggio Mall - Bridge over Gondola Ride

City Centre

Based in the heart of West Bay, City Centre was one of Doha's first malls.  City Centre is handy if you work in West Bay and would like to go to Carrefour and grab a cheap sandwich (6QR!) or need to do your weekly shop during your lunch break.

City Centre shopping Mall has clothes stores too, such as: Mango, Monsoon and Debenhams. But if you want to do a clothes shop, City Centre isn't the best place to go, you will want to go to Villaggio, Landmark, Lagoona, or Izdan!

There is usually ample parking, so long as you arrive at the correct time.  Avoid Friday afternoon, go Saturday at 10am when most people are still in bed after partying the night before!   Fitness First can also be found in City Centre, and should you need to top up your Protein supplies, GNC is on the 2nd Floor.

For kids, there is a huge ice rink in the middle of the center, an arcade on the top floor and a cinema too.  Overall a good place to go to for a little bit of everything.

City Centre Mall Location Map

City Centre's Ice Rink!

Landmark Mall

A bit further a field, with a building that looks like a circus, is Landmark Mall.  I usually go to Landmark mall when I want to visit Sephora, Body Shop, Boots, The White Company, Zara Home and MAC.  I would say that this is the best place to go to for Make-up as the staff in MAC are the friendliest and most helpful here than any other location.  I would say every make-up you require can be found in Landmark Mall.  But note, NARS is not something that appears to be sold in Qatar at all.  

There are resturants here too and the parking is a little sparce sometimes but if you apply the saturday am rule, you will be fine!

Landmark Mall Location Map

Izdan Mall

Relatively new and houses the only Forever21 store, Izdan Mall is located opposite Landmark Mall.  As it's very new, I have been there on a busy Monday during Eid and it was as if I was the only person in the mall !  I recommend going before it gets too popular!  I went for Jane Norman, Forever21, Tommy Hilfiger (sale!) and there were a couple of other nice clothing stores i've not been into before which had some good stock too!  

Ezdan Mall Location Map

Lagoona Mall

Lagoona Mall  Source: Google Images

Perfect place and only place to purchase a KitchenAid!  Lagoona Mall is expensive with has luxury shops to keep you entertained.   Nice cafes and Carrefour Supermarket to do your groceries.  Located within close proximity to The Pearl and beside Zig-Zag Towers, Lagoona Mall is a handy place to go to should you be lucky enough to live on that beautiful man-made island! 

Lagoona Mall Location Map

Things to do in Qatar || Logos Hope

Logos Hope

This afternoon I was lucky enough to have the chance to go aboard Logos Hope.  

Logos Hope is a very large ship, which houses the world's largest floating book store!  Each year Logos Hope docks in the harbour at the end of the Corniche and for one week only, offers free entrance and books to purchase.  Logos Hope is run by 400 volunteers from all around the world and houses 5,000 books.  There is a cafe which sells: coffee, soft drinks, cakes, muffins, popcorn and ice cream!

I parked up, and walked to the booth where you have to pay 2QR for a bus to take you to and from Logos Hope.  From there, ladies will walk into a nice air-conditioned tent to be searched and then proceed to board the bus.  Males will be searched outside.

Tip:  Do not walk with your handbag; speed up the process by taking your ID, money / card and car key!

You are then driven to the ship!

Once inside the first thing you will do is take a seat and watch a 2 minute video about Logos Hope and the history behind it.  Once that has finished, you are free to go to the shop!  The books are priced in units, which then converts to local currency.  It is done this way because Logos Hope travels the world, and rather than re-price 5,000 books, they just advise you how much the book will cost in your currency.  This year, 100 units = 12QR.  

After looking through many, many, many cookery books, I decided to purchase this book which has recipes from breakfast through to dessert - yum!

Once paid for (either by cash or card), I stopped off at International Cafe for a coffee (5qr) and popcorn (3qr) before jumping on the bus back to the car park.

Overall a lovely way to spend a couple of hours, you can experience all of this for just 2qr (the price for the hopper bus).

Key information:  

Logos Hope comes to Qatar once every year, usually around the second Eid.

This current trip operates until 20th October.

Opening hours are 2pm till 9pm.