Doha First Class Lounge Review is part of the Reunion Tour Trip Report.
The dubious distinction of the dullest first-class lounge in the world goes to Qatar Airways. It is a giant space with no personality.
After a long night of partying at the best Qatar lounge (see Qatar a380 First Bangkok to Baku: Krug Included) and an encore celebration on Qatar first (see Qatar a380 First Bangkok to Baku: Krug Included), I had an entire day to kill at the lounge.
I typically enjoy a day of doing nothing at the lounge (see Air New Zealand Lounge Auckland: Sit Back & Relax & Amex LAS Centurion Lounge: The Full Day Freeloader Review). This time I wondered what I would do to pass the time.
Family Area
I tried napping in the area designated for families but was immediately bored. 
Photos
I walked around to take photos for the blog but could not find anything that caught my eye. I guess some people will be impressed by the giant urinal waterfall.
Bar
Looking for inspiration, I turned to alcohol. The best I could find was Leffe Blond. Compare the selection: from Hennessy VSOP in the Qatar Lounge in Bangkok, to this in first? How does that make sense?
Business Better?
Bored, I reached out to my friend whom I met in the business class lounge in Bangkok. He was enjoying his layover at the Qatar business class lounge by having a cigar in the smoking room in the business class lounge. I decided to join him.
In Transit
I went from the Al Safwa Lounge to the Al Mourjan Lounge. Why they can’t make it straightforward and call it first and business is stupid. It’s confusing for passengers simply looking to get to their designated lounge.
In the smoking room, we decided to order two tequilas. Both of us remarked that the tequila was smooth and we wondered what tequila was offered. It was not until I went for a refill that I learned that it was none other than Jose Cuervo!
TPOL’s Trivia: Cuervo is the same tequila served in the first-class lounge.
TPOL’s Tip: So much for my belief that I am a tequila aficionado (see Tacos & Tequila: An Afternoon in Tlaquepaque). In my defense, I naively assumed that they would serve premium tequila in their flagship lounges.
Business Is As Bland
My memories of business-class mediocrity (see Qatar Business Class Lounge: What Chaos) were refreshed by the overcooked salmon ordered a la carte.
With my friend leaving to catch his flight, I returned to Al Safwa to see if this fancier name meant fancier food.
Sushi
The sushi was not bad. The rose helped.
Mezze
This was the worst mezze I have ever had. The hummus was an insult to three thousand years of crushing chickpeas.
Champagne
Like the Bangkok lounge, I spent the time drinking champagne and talking to another stranger. That’s what an international lounge is all about.
Shower
Drinking nonstop, I needed a shower before saying goodbye.
Overall
Qatar Lounges in Doha are surprisingly disappointing. If you are impressed by them, you have bad taste. Then again, I thought the Cuervo was good.
They are one of the few first class lounges that have private sleeping rooms with full sized beds, I also like the spa that you get access to if you get any treatment. Their hot tub was wonderful and relaxing. Don’t seems you missed some of the better features. I do agree about the vanilla architecture and feel but otherwise I’ve had many great layovers there. And their red wine selection is usually excellent. Along with Krug champagne depending on when you visit. It’s not always available.
Definitely no Krug! I missed the spa but I just came from Bangkok. You would think they’d give an overview of their wine selection and other perks upon entering.
It’s missing a secret entrance through that moribund “teddy bear.”
Hahahaha stupid bear. Probably the most photographed FAO Schwartz item.
The sushi assortment also looks similar to what’s offered in the biz lounge
But the carrots are exclusive!
Al Mourjan and Al Safwa are the Arabic for ‘Business’ and ‘First’. Seeing as Qatar is an Arabic-speaking country, that seems entirely appropriate to me…
And I’m from Iraq and still don’t know those words. So nice try.
The bored while trying to sleep comment was priceless.
Did you get kicked out or something? I enjoy that place every time I go, I was there two weeks ago.
Horrible handle. 1. No reason for all caps. 2. Yeah I was kicked out for eating the carrots.
Wow… were you drinking when you wrote this?
BTW.. you said “I tried napping in the area designated for families but was immediately bored.” Were you expecting to be entertained or something while trying to nap?