Skyline views, late starts and easygoing indulgence define the mood at La Vista 55, where SD settled in for a night of mocktails, comfort bites and after-dark energy.
Doha may slow down on weekends (not in February or March, though) but La Vista 55 comes alive every evening. Located on the 55th floor of InterContinental Doha The City, this spot is no stranger to the capital’s nightlife scene.
It’s been a while since we’ve been here and we’re pleasantly surprised by the slick and stylish interiors. Deep greens and emerald tones dominate the space and hanging vines create an upscale, moody atmosphere. Dark wood floors and panels add sophistication and make the experience even more lounge-like. We adore the yellow neon signage. It adds a funky touch and a brown leather couch at the entrance keeps our eyes busy. This is a great photo spot. We should have dressed better. There’s a small stage and plenty of space in front – making it perfect for events and experiences. The staff tell us tonight is a special night – salsa dancers from Doha will be livening up the venue.
La Vista 55 immediately stands out for its sweeping vistas of Doha. From this high up, the views are unlike any other. Doha is all lit up and shining and it almost feels like we’re in a cloud of sparkly jewels. The cascading plants create an urban jungle vibe and it perfectly complements what our eyes see outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Our hosts for tonight introduce themselves and recommend a few mocktails from the menu. One of them is insistent – we must try the Pinacolada. So we humbly comply and our drinks arrive shortly after. Unlike the regular versions, this mocktail is rather light. We can see why he recommended it and we’re pleased we agreed.
The menu is short and sweet – all the bar classics and comfort foods. From mini burgers and spinach dips to salads and mains, we have everything we need here. We start off with the Appetiser Platter which has all the favourites.
The serving is generous with mozzarellasticks, saucy chicken wings, rock shrimp, French fries and two dipping sauces – marinara and truffle. Also featured is some fried ravioli. In all honesty, this is something we’ve never tried, and we just don’t know why. It’s the perfect accompaniment and a few pieces do not harm our calorie counting. The ravioli is crunchy on the outside and pairs incredibly well with the truffle sauce. Also noteworthy is the rock shrimp – crispy with a nice hit of heat. We probably should have ordered an individual portion of this. But this works too, because we get to try a little bit of everything.
And how do we balance all that deep-fried goodness? With a bowl of salad, of course. We order the crab salad mixed with lettuce and avocado and it comes with a light mayo dressing. It’s citrusy and fresh and would be perfect for a summer day. We’re pretty stuffed from the appetisers but a delicious beef steak on the menu grabs our attention. One main to share is never a bad idea.
The grilled beef fillet is slathered in mushroom sauce and served alongside potato wedges and a truffle dipping sauce – an excellent combination. The meat is cooked medium (one of us is just not accustomed enough to the worldly ways). Great for sharing, this steak is the ideal quantity for two diners who just consumed an entire gigantic appetiser platter.
With the vibrant atmosphere, if we weren’t slightly embarrassed, we might have gotten up to shake a leg to the DJ’s groovy tunes. At least to digest that indulgent steak. But let’s leave that for another time.
La Vista 55 is a lively midweek spot (if you’re willing to burn the midnight oil here) with the DJ kicking off at 9.30pm and entertainment starting at 11pm. Why wait until the weekend to live it up? Weekdays should be just as fun and La Vista 55 is doing it right. The service was spot on – no fuss and friendly staff always around checking on us and taking our orders. We’ll probably be back before sunset next time – the golden hours here must be spectacular. ✤
GO: CALL 7021 8765 FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A BOOKING.
