the rug man

If  you haven’t invested in a family heirloom, it’s time.

I first visited the rug man in Doha two years ago and I am daily in love with what I found. Riyaz introduced me to this beauty:

Check me out on @Rugmanofdoha‘s Instagram account!

 

When Riyaz shows you a rug, he also tells you its story. He has worked in rug trading for years and knows unique details about each piece.

My rug is a Turkmen, hand woven in north Afghanistan with 450 thread knots per square inch. It was made the year I was born.

These rugs are not cheap but are quality and in many cases, priceless. If you go into his shop with an idea of what you want, you will likely leave with something you never imagined.

He has been featured on CNN and TimeOutDoha.

You can get directions to his store here. He closes between 1-4:30pm. Tell him I said hi 🙂

guests in town

Looking for things to do in Doha? Look no further. Here are Leah’s ‘must dos’ in the Qatari capital: 

>>>EXPLORING (points in red may require 4×4 driving):

• Dune Bashing ***A MUST DO IN DOHA***
  • Book with Inbound Tours. The group picks you up from your home. About $50/person
  • Website: http://www.inboundtoursqatar.com/desert_safaris.php 
  • Email Shiraz for booking: info@inboundtoursqatar.com 
• Walk the Corniche 
• Al Shahaniya Camel Race Track, 9:30am training (on the way to Zikreet) 
  • Call for timings (races in winter): +974 44 87 2028
• Tour Al Jazeera English (only private tour with AJE Staff member) 
• Walk along Lusail corniche/marina and eat from the food trucks
• Rent a dhow and go swimming at Al Safliya Island (cheaper in a group) 
• Villagio Mall/Aspire Zone (looks like Venice inside, real park outside)
• Visit the rug man for a history on carpet trading
• Souvenir Shopping 
  • Souq Waqif
    • Visit Sa’ad, an original Qatar pearl diver. His store is at the front of the souq. His shop closes at 9:15pm
  • Virginia Commonwealth University, Education City
    • Best ‘made in Doha’ souvenir shopping 
  • Gift Shed
  • National Museum of Qatar gift shop
  • City Centre, top floor
    • Cheap Arab gifts, across from Asics 
• Group mangrove kayaking/snorkeling/windsurfing (best to go early morning)
  • Website: http://www.entalek.org/
  • Reservation: entalek.org@gmail.com 
  • Great seafood place to eat in Al Khor: Pearl of Beirut
    • https://maps.google.com/?q=25.685896,51.514568&hl=en&gl=us
• Museums
  • National Museum of Qatar 
  • National Library
  • 999 Art Museum
  • MIA (Museum of Islamic Art)
    •  Park + Cafe (inside)  
  • Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum
  • • http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294009-d3583902-Reviews-Sheikh_Faisal_Bin_Qassim_Al_Thani_Museum-Doha.html
• Best Beaches
  • Al Thakira Beach, Mangrove Bay
  • Qanat Quartier, The Pearl (Tell guards you are visiting ‘Murano Palazzo 1’)
  • Fuwairit Beach (to the north. Dropped pin information below) 
• Castles 
  • Zubarah Fort (northern tip of Qatar)
  • Several forts to explore along the main highway (only road) in the north
  • http://www.explore-qatar.com/culture_and_heritage/places_to_visit
• Secondhand souq
  • https://www.google.com.qa/maps/place/Al+Najma+Souq/@25.2709244,51.5376482,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x3e45c56135c02d99:0xc64677ab8c87d4?hl=en 
• Snorkeling 
  • Fuwairit  (last live reef in Qatar)
    • http://goo.gl/maps/yuRO2
  • The Pearl
    • Snorkel and swim around the canals, around bridges 
  • You can rent snorkeling gear from Poseidon Dive Center by Ritz Carlton Doha (near the Pearl): http://www.pdcqatar.com/ 
• Richard Serra’s ‘East Meets West’ 
  • Highway exit: http://goo.gl/maps/UXWQL
  • Actual structure: https://maps.google.com/?q=25.517522,50.870203&hl=en&gl=us
• Mystery Village
  • http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1592998-d2471092-Reviews-Film_City-Al_Rayyan.html 
  • https://maps.google.com/?q=25.584148,50.837103&hl=en&gl=us
• Singing dunes 
  • https://goo.gl/maps/koHcFJjxYrB2   
• Sink hole
  • https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1ua2TWPimlfaemJDkJpxglJp4vUw&hl=en 

>>>DINING: 

• MIA, for coffee and cakes (wonderful view)
• 999 cafe (then take a walk in Al Bidda park!)
• Al Jazeera Media Café, Katara
• JG Sandwich Cellar https://www.facebook.com/JGSandwichCellar/app/254084314702229/ 
• L’wzaar, Katara (fresh seafood) 
• Sushi
  • Maison Du Sushi, West Bay, 01 Mall
  • Sushi Minto https://www.zomato.com/doha/sushiminto-al-hilal/menu 
  • Yee Hwa
• Souq Waqif 
  • Damasca One
  • Bandar Aden (Yemen restaurant at front right) 
  • Shebestan Palace (Iranian on the main drag)
  • Zaatar w Zeit

• Al Wakra Souq 
  • Several places to eat by the water
• Fancy Dining: 
  • Three Sixty, Aspire Tower, 47th floor, reservations: 4446 5600
  • La Varenne (28th floor), Tornado Tower, Reservation: 4499 0680
  • Aroma, Kempinski West Bay (ground floor). Try their camel burgers! 
  • Eat a meal at Banana Island (includes boat ride to island)
    • Must make reservation: http://doha.anantara.com/dining.aspx or call 4040 5050
    • Takes an entire afternoon 
    • Expensive but worth it. Minimum 200 QR/person to go, includes boat ride
• Brunch
  • Ritz Carlton (they have Cronuts!!!) 
  • Sheraton (ask to sit by the sea)
  • Nobu (great, great sushi) $$$
  • The W Hotel
• Arabic Restaurants
  • Al Anabi (delivers)
  • Turkey Central
  • Mamig (Lebanese-Armenian, Katara) ***Leah’s Favorite Doha Restaurant***
  • Royal Istanbul: 4493 3737
  • Hala Istanbul: 4488 1002 or 4412 2129 
  • Marmara Istanbul (near sports + TV round-about): 4436 5414
  • Al-Khayyal (across from Al Jazeera by TV roundabout, QNB bank. Great Arab food) 
  • Layali restaurant (Lebanese) at the Gate Mall
  • Petra (cheap food but so good)
  • Egyptian stuffed pigeon (a dive in a sketchy part of town but so good)
    • https://maps.google.com/?q=25.272730,51.540199 
  • Al Mayass Armenian restaurant (Near building 30, The Pearl) 
  • Sheesha Garden, La Cigal Hotel – Sheesha + good shawarma
  • Burj Al Hamam, The Pearl  (Porto Arabia) Arabic food + sheesha
  • Debs w Remman, The Pearl (Medina Centrale) Arabic food + best grilled Halloumi cheese
  • Mourjan Restaurant, Corniche. Mainly for the view (only restaurant at the Corniche)
  • Khosh Kabab Iranian (best lamb chops)
    • https://www.google.com/maps/place/Khosh+Kabab+Iranian/@25.2797108,51.5372568,15z/data=!4m6!1m3!3m2!1s0x0:0x243bf2bfcd9481c6!2sKhosh+Kabab+Iranian!3m1!1s0x0:0x243bf2bfcd9481c6 
• Indian Restaurants
  • Saffron Lounge, Katara /Bukhara 
  • MRN (across from Al Jazeera at TV Roundabout) 
• Burger Boutique, Gulf Mall (best burger joint)
• Al Aker Sweets (best Knafeh)
• Pool Grill, Four Seasons
• Mado Restaurant (Turkish)
• Paper Moon (Italian) – Movie nights on Mondays at the outdoor terrace
• Sugar and  Spice, Lagoona Mall/Aspire Park
• Top of Aspire, Torch Tea Garden, Torch Hotel (expensive but has a good view) 
• Pearl of Beirut, Al Khor 
  • https://maps.google.com/?q=25.685896,51.514568&hl=en&gl=us
• Open, Double Tree by Hilton (open 24/7)
• Quick Bites, Marriott, City Centre (open Friday)
  • http://www.marriottmarquisdohadining.com/restaurant/hotels/hotel-information/travel/dohmq/restaurant.aspx?id=009 
• French Olive (open Friday)

>>>GOIN’ OUT:

• NOBU
• Backyard, The Sheraton (picnic tables and happy lights) – only during the winter info@candelaentertainment.com  
• Sheesha Garden, La Cigal Hotel (Sheesha + good shawarma)
• Krossroads, Horizon Manor (Filipina live band and karaoke) 
• Rooftop, St. Regis (gets cold at night)
• Tora Tora, Kempinski, The Pearl (great drinks)

>>>OTHER IMPORTANT LOCATIONS:  

• QDC (alcohol store) 
  • https://goo.gl/maps/Y8tv9dPmLPA2 
• Phone fixing store. Will replace your phone battery (to the left of car mechanic)
  • https://goo.gl/maps/mKCGyxtwxUU2