The Al Safwa Lounge at Doha Hamad Intl Airport feels more like an elegant hotel than an airport lounge. As one of my favorite lounges in the world, I frequently book long layovers in Doha just to spend time in the lounge!
How to Access?
You can access the Al Safwa First Class Lounge only if you are flying Qatar Airways First Class from Doha (not Oneworld partners). Qatar Airways only offers “true” first class on their A380 which they only fly to a handful of destinations like Bangkok, Guangzhao, Paris, Frankfurt, London, Sydney and Melbourne.
All Qatar flights within the Middle East to destinations such as Amman, Muscat, and Beirut have a business class cabin which is marketed as First Class, and thus taking one of these flights will get you access to the lounge. Mileage tickets booked through Qatar and their One World partners in Qatar First Class also qualify for access.
Food
The Al Safwa lounge features a main restaurant where you can eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as a second eating area for quick bites like sushi and sandwiches. While the secondary eating area is not so impressive, the main restaurant is phenomenal. The lounge serves quality, delicious food and drinks in a beautifully designed space.
Al Safwa Dining Table
Al Safwa Dining Table
Al Safwa Bar
Al Safwa Bar
Watch the chefs cook from your table!
Here is an idea of some of the food they serve at the lounge…
Breakfast
I’ve visited the Al Safwa lounge for breakfast several times now and have always been impressed with the quality, taste and presentation of the dishes. I never tried anything at the lounge I didn’t like! I can especially recommend the waffles, though they do try to accommodate for any request, even if you don’t see it on the menu!
Lunch and Dinner
The menu for lunch and dinner was the same every time I’ve visited the lounge. I sampled nearly every main course, all of which were absolutely delicious. Unfortunately the only one pictured below is the beautiful lamb chop!
Secondary Dining Area
I imagine this secondary dining area was designed with the expectation that the lounge would have too many guests for the one restaurant, though that has never been the case when I’ve visited the lounge. I was the only one there during my visit and I can understand why..
The food options were not nearly as good as what’s offered in the main restaurant. I sampled some salmon sushi which was not very good.
Secondary Dining Area
Secondary Dining Area Desserts
Secondary Dining Area Sushi
Sleeping Rooms
If you have a long layover (over 4 hours) in Doha, you may request a private room within the lounge where you can spend up to 6 hours with your own bed, bathroom, desk, and TV. It’s essentially a hotel room within the lounge which is great if you want some privacy or are looking to get a few hours of sleep.
I requested a room for myself during a 12 hour layover and I was able to take a nice shower and get a few hours of extra sleep.
Lounge Amenities
While dining and private rooms are certainly the highlight of this lounge, the Al Safwa lounge offers even more! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten lost exploring this lounge, it’s just absolutely massive!
The lounge also has a full spa, game room, shower suites, more small food buffet rooms, and a duty free shop.
Bottom Line
The Al Safwa First Class Lounge in Doha certainly ranks among the best airport lounges in the world. Service here is top notch, the food is better than I’ve eaten at most restaurants, and the atmosphere and design of the lounge is just stunning.
Still the best way to access the lounge is by flying business class with a connection to a Middle Eastern city like Kuwait, Muscat, or Amman where the short portion within the Middle East is considered first class and you can access this lounge with your ticket.
I hope to return back soon!