Mikel Ibrahim, GM of Mondrian Doha, tells us how the hotel will mark its fifth anniversary in a uniquely flavourful way.

Congratulations on the fifth anniversary. Please tell us about the Taste of Mondrian initiative which will take place from June 1 to 4?
Thank you! Taste of Mondrian is one of the many exciting celebrations we are sharing with our guests and friends to taste, savour and experience Mondrian Doha’s innovative dining creations and vibrant nightlife.

What is the aim of Taste of Mondrian and how do you hope to engage the local population?
During the four days of the Taste of Mondrian experience, our bespoke dining and nightlife outlets will showcase special menus and entertainment options to share Mondrian’s eclectic lifestyle. It’s our way of saying thank you and expect more sensational delights… We hope to see our loyal guests and new guests enjoying our chefs’ latest creations and nightlife offerings.

We understand some exceptional chefs will be involved. Please reveal who is coming and what they will be doing.
Celebrity Chef Masaharu Morimoto, renowned for his unique blend of ancient traditional Japanese cooking styles and Western flavours, will be joining us. Guests will have the chance to meet the chef and enjoy daily demos and special experiences including the Sake Splash Ceremony and the Bespoke Morimoto Menu, Omakase experience and live tuna cutting.
From SLS Dubai, Chef Sara Aqel, Global Executive Chef of Fi’lia, will be taking guests on a Mediterranean journey to relish in an exclusive brunch. Fi’lia is the region’s first female-led restaurant where the menu is a culinary story through women’s generational travel, from the traditional to the modern take on recipes. Chef Sara will offer guests mouth-watering tastes such as the Bresaola Burrata Pizza or the 18-hour Veal Ragu. She has planned two one-off exclusive menus for Taste of Mondrian; Fi’Lia Take Over Party Brunch and Dolce Vita Dinner.
Meat lovers are in for a special treat. Chef Luke Omarzu, from CUT by Wolfgang Puck, has curated a Signature CUT Brunch and a CUT World Tour Dinner, a five-course exquisite menu showcasing signature CUT dishes.
And caviar aficionados are invited to learn the Art of Mixology while savouring the best of 12 Chairs with Chef de Cuisine Marcus Riot.

Activations are also planned across Mondrian’s many exceptional venues. Please tell us about them and how members of the public can get involved.
Taste of Mondrian will fire up the weekend as guests are welcome to light up their evenings with special DIY mixed drinks at Smoke & Mirrors cigar lounge, which is inviting patrons to experience a unique evening of Dominican Republic cigar rolling with live entertainment. To further spice up the weekend and close out this extraordinary Taste of Mondrian showcase, a bold night awaits guests at Black Orchid with DJ Innellea. Hudson Tavern guests are in for a night of bespoke mixed drinks and whimsical beverage experiences at the Bar Take-Over evening by awardwinning Mixologist Ollie Hampton.
On June 2, for Mondrian Moonstone, the hotel’s super-luxe ballroom will light up the evening with an enchanting performance by Guy Manoukian. The Lebanese-Armenian musician, composer and pianist, who has a prominent presence internationally, will treat guests to a surreal and unique experience. The evening will fire up with a performance by George Nehme, a voice that echoes Lebanon’s musical legacy. Tickets for Guy Manoukian and George Nehme’s first joint performance include a threecourse dinner, featuring Mondrian Doha’s haute-cuisine.

Your anniversary campaign is titled ‘New You’, please tell us what guests and visitors can expect?
We launched the ‘New You’ campaign to celebrate our fifth anniversary with an exclusive short film release and unbeatable offers across the award-winning culinary emporium and spa at Mondrian Doha. Each one of our award-winning restaurants will have an exclusive menu designed for this occasion with the number five as a common theme.
ESPA is inspiring guests to revitalise and celebrate with a stunning offering ‘FIVE Wonders at ESPA’. Guests can select five treatments, ranging from facials, massages, hair treatments and a day pass to the pool and gym and enjoy an unforgettable wellness experience.
Please check A New You deals on our social media and website. Offers are available till the end of October.

Are there further events going on throughout the year to mark the anniversary?
We like to surprise people. At this point I will just say expect more!

What, for you, have been the main highlights of Mondrian Doha’s first five years?
Over the past five years, Mondrian Doha has become an integral part of Qatar’s hospitality landscape, evolving as one of the major and must-visit luxury destinations in the region. Qatar’s community has embraced Mondrian’s eccentric, fashionable and contemporary identity. That was our biggest achievement and milestone!
Innovation is what defines our brand. From the luxurious stay, through to our fine dining and eclectic nightlife offering, we always strive to remain bold in our approach to guests’ experiences.
We take pride in our innovative approach that has enabled us to develop creative initiatives to offer our guests an extraordinary experience with each visit.

Have there been any major challenges and how have you dealt with these?
Mondrian Doha, like many other properties in the hospitality sector, was impacted by the onset of the pandemic. We had to adapt and overcome these challenges, incorporating enhanced safety standards, contactless and digital services, which will stay for the long term.
The Covid period has been a great lesson to us all; it has taught us to be resilient, adaptive and bold. The experience also taught us to think outside the box, especially when it comes to overcoming current challenges and satisfying our guests’ needs, especially during such extraordinary times.
We have launched ‘Taste-to-go’, Mondrian’s signature takeaway and delivery offer, which was among the first in the market following the onset of the pandemic, that allowed the hotel’s F&B outlets to continue operating and offering their menus to taste from the comfort of guests’ homes.
Continuing to deliver on its online offering and collaborating with Qatar Tourism and the country’s leading food delivery platform Talabat, in April 2021, Mondrian joined ‘Chefs of Qatar’ Virtual Food Festival. Mondrian has become a privileged partner of Qatar’s tourism authority, hosting the launch of the festival in the presence of the participating chefs and the Secretary General, H.E. Akbar Al-Baker.

What do the next five years look like for Mondrian Doha?
We don’t know exactly what the next five will bring, but we know that we are excited about the possibilities! We will continue to bring new concepts to Qatar and the region, diversifying our food and beverage and entertainment options and, first and foremost, by putting our guests’ expectations above everything else. We will continue making Mondrian Doha a whimsical destination and an exceptional experience.

What is the one thing that visitors absolutely must see or do at the hotel?
We like to leave it to our guests. Each visitor experiences Mondrian differently. We invite our visitors to savour, taste and experience Mondrian Doha their way. ✤