STROLL
In the cooler months (November to March), head to Torba Market – a sustainably-minded farmer’s market, held every Saturday. Along with crates of farm-fresh heritage vegetables, there’s plenty to sample as you stroll, from crepes and burritos to rose petal-sprinkled lemonade. Look out for crafts by local makers, along with creative workshops.
DISCOVER
A hub for high-flying universities and research institutes, the Education City campus is dotted with dramatic architecture. Don’t miss the calligraphy-inscribed mosque, its minarets sweeping skywards, or the vast, open-air Ceremonial Court, framed by latticed panels. The Qatar National Library is another landmark, designed by maverick genius Rem Koolhaas.
DRINK
If Qatar has a national drink, it’s karak; slow-steeped tea laced with condensed milk, sugar and cardamom. Originally introduced by traders from the Indian subcontinent, it’s become a national obsession. The place to try it is Chapati & Karak, where they’ve taken it up a notch by adding ginger, and pairing it with excellent chapatis.
SHOP
In this city, the best luxury shopping malls are destinations in their own right. A 20-minute drive from the hotel, Alhazm scales opulent new heights, inspired by Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Think Tuscan marble walls and temperature-controlled gardens dotted with ancient olives trees, along with a succession of sleek flagship stores and upscale eateries.