Michelin is pleased to announce the inaugural launch of the MICHELIN Guide in Doha in a ceremony that took place on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at the iconic Raffles Doha.
The selection that makes up the first-ever edition of the Doha Guide includes a total of 33 restaurants, two of which receive their one MICHELIN star distinction and four of which receive Bib Gourmands.
Two restaurants in this edition receive the coveted MICHELIN Star:
Jamavar – sister to the London restaurant, offering an extensive menu of dishes from across India, all of which are prepared with care and considerable skill.IDAM by Alain Ducasse – the ethos of Alain Ducasse may be obvious, but chef Fabrice Rosso also manages to imbue his visually impressive and elegant dishes with subtle Qatari influences.
“We are delighted to finally announce The MICHELIN Guide’s arrival in Qatar with our first Guide to Doha,” said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides. “Our famously anonymous Inspectors have explored and experienced the city’s restaurants and their cuisines from all around the world and have selected the very best, across all price ranges and styles.”
“This inaugural Guide not only celebrates the best of Doha's dining scene but will also put the city on the international culinary map. The selection of these 33 restaurants in The Guide is testament to the many talented chefs and culinary teams who have made Doha their home and who bring passion, creativity, and respect for local traditions to their craft.”
When deciding which restaurants receive MICHELIN Stars, the Inspectors use the same five criteria all around the world: the quality of the ingredients; mastery of cooking techniques; the harmony of the flavours; expression of the chef’s personality in the cuisine; and consistency, both over time and across the entire menu.
Four restaurants receive a Bib Gourmand:
Named after Bibendum, the official name of the Michelin Man, the Bib Gourmand is an award for restaurants that offer great quality, great value cooking. The restaurants are:
- Isaan – for its flavorsome Thai cooking, with three on-view kitchens providing different regional specialties.
- Jiwan – on the fourth floor of Qatar’s National Museum, where traditional Qatari dishes are reinvented in a modern style.
- Argan – authentic, great value Moroccan dishes on a pedestrianised street on the fringes of the Souq Waqif marketplace.
- Hoppers – where Sri Lankan and South Indian food is the draw, at an outpost of the popular London original.
MORE IN DOHA: MICHELIN Guide Inspectors unveil their favourite dishes in Qatar's capital
MICHELIN Special Awards
With its Special Awards, The MICHELIN Guide aims to highlight and celebrate the amazing diversity of the roles within the hospitality industry, as well as its most talented and inspiring professionals.This year’s Young Chef Award, presented by presented by Place Vendôme Qatar, goes to Sirijan Saelee of Isaan restaurant. The winner of our Young Chef Award oversees this large restaurant with consummate skill. The menu covers all of Thailand with three different kitchens set around the room, each specialising in a different cooking technique, so the challenges are obvious.
The Service Award goes to Paulo Bastos and the team at Morimoto. An eye for detail, anticipation of diner needs, presence, knowledge, personality, charisma, and humor: this manager has it all and his team display equal levels of energy, passion, enthusiasm, and fun. Every diner will leave feeling they’ve been so well looked after.
Our third award goes to Robi Ratan at IDAM by Alain Ducasse for his Exceptional Cocktails. Robi leads the team responsible for creating their imaginative and very appealing selection of mocktails. Our Inspectors were impressed by the skillfully matched non-alcoholic pairings using local spices, fruits, and ingredients that enhance and heighten the overall dining experience.
The MICHELIN Guide is a benchmark in gastronomy. Now, it’s setting a new standard for hotels. Visit the MICHELIN Guide’s official website, or download the MICHELIN Guide mobile app (iOS and Android), to discover every restaurant in the selection and book an unforgettable hotel.
