An exotic evening at the Westin Doha Hotel and Spa’s Ramadan tent

You may feel that, having seen one Ramadan tent, you’ve seen them all. A whole lot of food, interesting lighting and a couple musicians plucking away at nostalgic Arabic tunes seems enough.

On our trip to the Westin Doha Hotel and Spa for iftar and suhoor, we—as always—tried to focus on what set this particular tent apart.

Westin’s Ramadan tent is styled after an Arabian Food Bazaar, with a carnival-like atmosphere that excites more than just the taste buds. The beautiful, colourfully lit tent is made to emulate all the grandeur and mystery of an Arabian night.

Both suhoor and iftar are sumptuous buffets set up in a market-like style. An array of food stalls line the gallery that leads to the ornate, dream-like tunnel entrance of the tent, featuring food from around the world.

Whether its Mexican or Turkish food you’re in the mood for, there’s very little you won’t find on the menu. Mouthwatering Middle Eastern, Indian, Italian and Thai cuisine are just some of the options you can explore.

The head chef happens to be Turkish, and his influence is plain to see in the scrumptious street food options on offer, the sort that can usually be found on a busy square in Istanbul, including a delightful stuffed baked potato and the mandatory ice cream seller/performer.

For those of you interested in the much-loved Japanese dish, a sushi stall is also set up in the center of the dining area, with an extensive selection of excellent sushi and sashimi to choose from.

There are alcove-like majlises set up in the corners of the tent to smoke and relax in after breaking your fast, though shisha is offered to the tables during suhoor.

Nothing at Westin is ever done on a small scale. This Ramadan they outdid themselves, as this particular buffet also happens to have the largest chocolate and date display in Doha, along with a chocolate fountain and a whole host of traditional Turkish desserts.

Iftar is a quieter affair than suhoor, as the entertainment comes in at a later hour. In this case, entertainment includes a live band, complete with a violinist, that plays all the soulful traditional Arabic favourites to add to the mystical ambience of the tent.

Suhoor begins at 9:30 pm following iftar, which begins at sunset. For all its splendor, Westin’s iftar and suhoor offers are comparatively reasonable, with iftar priced at QR 195 per adult, and suhoor priced at QR 220 per adult.

Iftar and suhoor are complimentary for children below the age of six, while those between 6 to 12 years of age have a 50% discount. Private majalis bookings are also available upon request.

If you’re booking for more than 20, be sure to contact the hotel to enquire about exclusive prices.

To get in touch, you can send an email at [email protected], or contact them at 

+974 4492 1733.

For those interested in corporate bookings, you may email [email protected], or reach them at +974 4492 1555.