General Information » Culture & Lifestyle » Food & Drink

Culinary styles from all around the world have made their way to Qatar to cater to the tastes of the cosmopolitan society. The most sophisticated restaurants are all located in hotels (and therefore able to sell alcohol), but there are also some really good (and cheap!) meals to be had from the many street cafes around town. Good or bad, every major fast food brand in the world has also found a home in Qatar.

xxxxArabic Cuisine

Any time spent in this region is the ideal opportunity to familiarise yourself with Arabic cuisine. Street restaurants selling shawarma, falafel, tabbouleh, hummus and fresh fruit cocktails are a good place to start. Of course, these are just some of the standard Arabic dishes, and there are plenty of other, more exotic tastes waiting to be explored.

Early traders introduced new spices and flavours that subsequently have become essential ingredients in Arabic cooking. Cinnamon, saffron, turmeric, nuts (especially almonds and pistachios), limes and dried fruits all add interesting flavours to many well-known Arabic dishes.

xxxxxxxArabic Coffee

Coffee in this part of the world is more than just a quick shot of caffeine, in fact it is an important ritual of hospitality. Traditional coffee (or ‘gahwa’) is mild with a distinctive taste of cardamom and saffron. It is served black without sugar, although dates are served at the same time to sweeten the palate. It is polite to drink about three cups if offered (the cups are very small, so it’s similar to drinking a shot of espresso). To refuse the coffee is seen as a refusal of the host’s generosity, although if you have had your fill you can shake the cup as a sign that you don’t want another refill.

xxxxxxxxPork

Muslims do not consume pork and you won’t see it used at all in local cooking. Pork is outlawed in Qatar, so cannot be bought anywhere, and it is illegal to bring into the country.

Pork aside, Muslims are forbidden to eat the meat of an animal that has not been slaughtered in the correct manner. The meat of animals killed in accordance with the Islamic code is known as halaal.

xxxxxxxxAlcohol

You won’t be able to get a beer in a shopping mall or street cafe, or anywhere that is not attached to or inside a hotel or sports club. Residents can get a licence to buy alcohol for home consumption but don’t expect to find a dedicated aisle in your local supermarket. Instead you will have to visit the special liquor store. See Liquor Licence on p.45 and Purchasing Alcohol on p.152.

xxxxxxxShisha

Smoking a shisha pipe is an important part of socialising for locals. It is often savoured in some l...