A TOUCH OF THAI HOSPITALITY

TUCKED AWAY IN THE CORNER OF DOHA’S BUSIEST DISTRICT, CENTARA WEST BAY HOTEL AND RESIDENCES DOHA OFFERS A TRANQUIL ESCAPE FROM THE ACTIVE CITY LIFE.

Centara West Bay Hotel and Residences Doha has quickly become one of our most sought out places due to their impressive business lunches. The lobby’s ocean hues always oozed with comfort and serenity on our previous visits, so it definitely felt like the perfect place to unwind from the world after a couple of unpredictable months.

The first thing you see, as you enter the hotel, is the magnificent blue chandeliers that have become an iconic trademark at Centara West Bay Hotel and Residences Doha. Along with taxidermised animals and patterned cushions, the hotel gives quite the Southeast Asian vibes. The staff is also perfectly reminiscent of the world-famous concept of Thai hospitality. We were greeted with smiles at check-in and those smiles and pleasantries remained constant throughout our stay.

There’s just something about people who smile. They force you to smile with them; immediately lifting your spirits.When it comes to accommodation, the hotel offers everything from shortstay rooms to long-stay residences, in the form of their standard studios to three-bedroom apartments; up to their ultra-luxurious penthouses. And we had the luxury of booking their standard three-bedroom apartment for the weekend!

SPACIOUS LIVING
We were immediately drawn to the massive wall-to-wall panoramic views as we entered the apartment. The large windows overlooking downtown Doha and the Persian Gulf were absolutely breath-taking. We immediately made up our minds to take full advantage of these sights with our morning coffee the next day. The apartment also came with a fully equipped kitchen. We’re talking microwaves, pots, whisks, cutlery, and basically everything you need to make a home-cooked meal. The living and dining rooms were pretty spacious, great for big families and entertaining purposes. All three bedrooms were fitted with windows for natural light with scenes of West Bay.

The rooms were decked out in their signature furniture, with a TV, desk, and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi. The apartment was truly fully stocked with everything we’d need, including a Nespresso machine and tea station. It’s like they knew the way to our hearts! Well everything except for an adapter for our laptop charger, but the hotel’s prime location had us very close to City Center, and we were able to pop out for a quick shopping trip easily.

DINING IN & OUT
Our days always began on a high note with their incredible breakfast and breath-taking views overlooking blue-green waters. If only we could take these mornings back home with us. One breakfast platter was enough for two or even more. It came with our choice of eggs, sausages, hash browns, baked beans, sautéed mushrooms, beef bacon strips, fresh fruit, pancakes, beans, a bread basket, fresh juice, and a choice of coffee or tea.

Definitely the most sumptuous breakfast we’ve had in a while! The views were an added cherry on top of our mornings and their extensive in-room dining menu made sure we never went hungry at any time of the day. The staff was also super friendly and hygienic, sanitising before touching each plate and making sure to be as careful as possible when setting up the food. The hotel is home to two restaurants, and I’ve frequently visited Caprice for their lovely business lunch and was thrilled to be able to dine-in on their Thai Kitchen Night. Their trendy pop-up tabletop buffet concept brought about an array of dishes from appetisers to desserts. Our highlight was definitely the main courses, perfectly sized portions came out for two, each dish better than the next. We thought this was such an innovative way to keep buffet-style meals alive in these trying times.

Then it was on to Dalchini for their progressive Indian cuisine at the Social Brunch the following day. We would recommend coming in on an empty stomach, as you’ll need it for this mouthwatering meal. We love South Asian cuisine and were thoroughly amazed by the selection of food served; it was NOTHING like we expected. Every single dish was a burst of flavour and texture, with stunning innovative twists, surprising our taste buds at every bite. The Patta Chaat stole the show amongst the appetisers, tangy, sweet, and full of texture. We had to stop ourselves from licking the bowl clean, it was that good! The mains also came in abundance, it was hard to decide on what to eat first! The dessert surprised us most of all.

We were expecting the regular gulab jamuns, kheer, and rasogollas, but were pleasantly taken aback by the beautiful work of art served before us. We had such an adventure figuring out the flavours and textures, definitely the picture-perfect end to a great meal. This brunch is a must-try for everyone!

STAYING ACTIVE
The hotel has its own state-of-the-art gym, sauna, steam rooms and an indoor pool. They have two pools, an indoor one and another specifically for kids, making it the perfect choice for families. Due to the current safety and health regulations, the gym and spa were closed, but the hotel provided us access to their in-room live training upon booking. They offer a variety of classes from Tabata to yoga over the week and we signed up for their HIIT workout. It was a must-do after the calories we consumed over the weekend. Overall the best part of this little staycation was the background of the Persian Gulf as we sipped our morning coffee. We loved unwinding in the large living area, basking in as much sunlight as we could. If you’re looking for a family-friendly or relaxing environment, then Centara is definitely your go-to destination. It’s also ideal for business professionals on short trips who need access to Doha’s business district and the perfect way to relax after a busy day of work and meetings. ✤