"In its rush to compete with Dubai, Qatar has scored a twofer with this sleek 20-story tower, at once architectural eye candy and the embodiment of a fresh hospitality concept: the gourmet business hotel. The ground-floor lobby’s bespoke Baccarat crystal tables, Murano glass chandeliers, kinetic paintings by Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz-Diez and decorative wall of Rolex watches speak to the property’s luxurious excess, while the adjoining Le Cigalon restaurant and pastry shop serve beautifully presented Middle Eastern delicacies such as bahsaliye, a star-shaped pistachio cake, and viscous ice cream made with salep, a ground orchid powder. The 191 rooms and 34 suites have a masculine dark-wood Art Deco theme. The spa and the sweetshop are popular with abaya-clad ladies who lunch, and the second-floor piano bar is the see-and-be-seen venue for Qataris and expats who drink. (Le Cigalon does not serve alcohol.) The location, equidistant from the airport, the financial district, and Doha’s sports stadiums and university campuses, makes the hotel convenient for business tycoons; the third-floor pool, on a glassed-in terrace, is nirvana for lap swimmers." - Jenna Scatena
