Maz Black / 13 April 2013 / Categories: Travel and Holidays, Accommodation, Hotels

La Cigale

NOT A RANT NOT A RAVE

I had a business meeting at this hotel and even though I didn’t stay, cost about 1000QAR per night, I had to write about the out of this world cake store and delicatessen attached to the lobby.

Honestly I’ve never seen anything quite like it. The cake counter ran the length of a soccer pitch. The Qataris love their desserts and this place is the example set to follow. If you’ve got a sweet tooth yourself the selection is overwhelming all laid out precisely and exquisitely sculpted.

I had the blueberry cheesecake which sounds boring I know, it wasn’t, my guest had a sampler of multi coloured macaroons, truffles and a scoop of homemade ice cream; she assured me it was delicious as she licked her lips then devoured the lot.

The cakes were so good, I mean really good, the best. We arranged to have dinner there later in the week excited to try the food. Finding good places to eat can be a challenge in Doha.

The tables situated outside on the street are set amongst fairy lights and the ambiance is great, the view of the dusty street and derelict building across the way, not so. Bit of a contrast as you see the Ferraris and Lamborghinis pull up out of the dust, revving engines and spinning their wheels.

We ordered soup and pizza and tea. It wasn’t expensive, 200 QAR, a good thing, as the food was mediocre at best. The kind of thing you’d expect to throw in the oven from a packet in the frozen section of just a regular supermarket.

The hotel feels like it’s the place to be seen in the evening even though the lobby décor is tired and smoky, nicotine stains on the walls but the service was excellent and the deli and cake shop you’ve gotta see if you are in Doha.

The photos on the web are not a true representation of the lobby and restaurant, old images I'd guess although I didn't see the rooms.