A CHIC CITY ESCAPE

FACT’s Homara Choudhary steps into a luxurious haven at the new Wyndham Grand Doha West Bay Beach.

Right in the heart of Doha, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, is a glittering new jewel. The Wyndham Grand Doha West Bay Beach opened its doors over the summer in Qatar’s financial district and offers magnificent views of the city and the Arabian Gulf.

This modern five-star retreat is just 12 miles away from Hamad International Airport and only minutes from the City Center Doha shopping mall, Corniche promenade, and the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, making it the ideal choice for weekend getaways or a family staycation.

I arrive on a Friday afternoon and I am greeted by the friendly reception team. Lillian offers me a refreshing hibiscus drink as she swiftly checks me in. The lobby is impressively bright with floor-to-ceiling windows and cream marble flooring. The accents of gold, white and black punctuated throughout the hotel nod towards traditional Middle Eastern culture while the captivating design is both contemporary and chic.

Wyndham Grand Doha West Bay Beach is the latest addition to Wyndham’s portfolio of three luxury hotels in Qatar, which has two further properties currently under development. With 48 apartments, 30 suites and 200 rooms, the hotel caters for all your accommodation needs with stunning views of the city or the sea. The property exudes effortless class with a state-of-the-art fitness studio and a spa and wellness centre which hosts a Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. There is even an outdoor pool. Business travellers have six spacious corporate meeting rooms to choose from.

The hotel’s General Manager, Hayden Edgtton, says he and his team are looking forward to welcoming guests from all over the world ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: “It’s a significant moment for us. Qatar is known for its thriving and sustainable economic plans and we are confident that years to come will have even more success stories to tell.

“The journey of opening a new hotel is always an exhilarating experience and to see it from up-close, breathing life into concrete and stones to transform a building into a place where everyone can belong and enjoy, it’s truly amazing.”

Fredrik showed me to my Executive one-bedroom sea-view suite on the 23rd floor. It was absolutely breath-taking! The glorious 90sq/m space was larger than most apartments in the city. The palatial suite included a separate dining area and a fully equipped kitchen with the latest mod-cons, including a built-in microwave and a full-sized fridge.

The high ceilings and sumptuous off-white décor combined with stunning gold fittings and elegant furniture were mesmerising.

But it was the bedroom that blew me away. Views of West Bay Beach and the Arabian Gulf were captivatingly framed in the large window. More spacious than the living room, an opulent velvet lounge chair in teal, a matching feature wall and a king-size bed with pillow-top bedding were all artfully arranged to maximise both space and impact. A sleek white marble bathroom complete with a tub and shower was waiting to soothe my aches away.

As tempting as it was to slip into a plush white robe and soak in the bath, I was meeting a friend for dinner at the allday dining restaurant bãzãr on the ground floor and didn’t want to be late.

We arrived for dinner and were greeted by supervisor Raheem who suggested we try some of bãzãr’s signature mocktails. Being a huge tea fan, I opted for the Earl Grey and Tonic. Delicately light, the taste was complemented by its ginger and rosemary notes. My friend went for the Indonesian Jamu; she was excited to be able to drink turmeric, known for its powerful healing properties. The mocktail, with its perfectly balanced sweetness, didn’t disappoint.

Before our starters a basket of warm bread arrived with butter. I couldn’t resist trying a fluffy seeded roll, which hit all the right (carbohydrate) spots. Thankfully my appetiser arrived shortly afterwards, otherwise I would have devoured the entire basket! I had ordered the Roasted Cauliflower Steak. Generous in size, it was large enough for two people to share. It was deliciously firm and had been drizzled in green tahini sauce. The za’atar gave it an interesting twist.

Next to arrive was the Roasted Chicken served with French beans, bok choy, cherry tomatoes and corianderjalapeno sauce. Tender and juicy, it was cooked to absolute perfection. The standout dish had to be the Freekeh Lamb my friend ordered. Cooked slowly, it was served with broccoli, green peas, pine nuts and infused with the subtle taste of cardamom. The lamb was sliced into succulent bite size pieces – a creative surprise to this popular Middle Eastern delight.

Since we were both full from our respective main courses, we decided to share dessert and went for the Valrhona chocolate mousse. The dark chocolate was frothy and creamy in texture and the perfect partner to our green tea, which completed our superb culinary experience.

I woke up in the morning, refreshed after a deep and peaceful night’s sleep, and headed to the gym for an early morning workout in the state-of-the-art fitness studio. Fully equipped with brand new strength and cardio machines, there are even yoga mats if you want to practise your tree pose! The outdoor pool is located on the same floor and is the perfect way to start the day, with views of Doha’s famous skyline. I worked up an appetite and I was ravenous by the time I hit the lavish breakfast buffet at bãzãr.

There is a live cooking station for eggs and I treated myself to a fully loaded omelette with all the trimmings. Irfan brought me a latte and suggested I try the fresh juices too. The watermelon drink was revitalising and quenched my post-workout thirst. The buffet was full of appetising choices, including breakfast cereals, exotic fruits, yogurts, hot food options and a very tempting display of freshly baked pastries. It was impossible not to indulge!

Sadly, all good things must come to an end and my short stay at the Wyndham Grand Doha West Bay Beach was almost over. Unfortunately, there wasn’t time for a spa treatment on this trip, I’ll just have to save that for next time!

I would definitely recommend this stylish establishment for couples, families and business travellers too. With so many accommodation options, it’s ideal for both long and short stays and its prime location makes it the ultimate choice for a seasoned traveller. ✤

GO: CALL 4141 5400 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A RESERVATION.