Review: Qatar Airways Al Mourjan The Garden lounge in Doha’s Hamad Airport
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This is our review of the Qatar Airways business class lounge, Al Mourjan The Garden, in Doha’s Hamad International Airport.
I recently found myself with a five hour layover in Doha after a holiday in Vietnam. This was my first visit since Hamad International Airport opened the terminal extension by Gates D and E replete with an indoor tropical garden called The Orchard.
With nothing better to do, I made the 10-minute walk (a shuttle train is also available) down to the new Al Mourjan The Garden business class lounge and had a look.
Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Garden lounge access requirements
Although it’s part of oneworld, Qatar Airways has a stricter access policy for its flagship lounges than most of its partner airlines.
Both Al Mourjan lounges – this one and the original one by the transfer facility – are accessible only if you are a business class customer travelling on Qatar Airways with a business classic ticket or above. This includes tickets booked with Avios.
If you have booked a ‘Business Lite’ fare (normally the cheapest option) then you do NOT get access to the Al Mourjan lounges, as these fares come without lounge access.
If you are not travelling in business class on Qatar Airways but have oneworld status, then you can use Qatar’s special status lounges including the Platinum Lounge (for oneworld Emerald) and the Gold Lounge (for oneworld Sapphire). These are also open to status passengers travelling on other oneworld airlines.
Introducing The Orchard
The Orchard is Doha Airport’s answer to Singapore Changi’s The Jewel. It is the centre piece of a new V-shaped extension to the airport terminal which adds additional gates.
Unlike The Jewel, the 10,000 square metre rainforest atrium is accessible only to airside passengers (The Jewel, if you have never been, is really more of a mall attached to the airport; whilst airside passengers can glimpse inside on the monorail that passes through, they can’t really explore it.) It claims to have 300 trees and 25,000 plants, some as high as 15m, as well as a large water feature.
Three geometric glass funnels swoop into the floor for a little extra drama. You can walk through the space at multiple levels, with a treetop walkway connecting the two sides. It is rather nice, although I think The Jewel still beats it on sheer spectacle thanks to its plunging terraces and dramatic water feature.
Around the outside of The Orchard you’ll find luxury shopping – probably the world’s biggest collection of luxury duty free boutiques. Louis Vuitton, Loro Piana, Dior, Gucci, Burberry, Tiffany, Omega, and Bvlgari are all here whilst a Fendi Cafe and Ralph’s Coffee Shop make their airport debuts.
Surveying the scene from a mezzanine level is the vast 7,390 sqm Al Mourjan Business Lounge – The Garden, with arguably the best views of the Orchard.
Where is Al Mourjan Business Lounge The Garden?
The Al Mourjan The Orchard Lounge is located in the new Northern extension of the terminal, near Concourse C.
The first time I tried to find the lounge entrance, I walked straight past it. If you can see The Orchard then you have gone too far.
The entrance to the lounge is in front of the Louis Vuitton store, which you’ll recognise thanks to its illuminted glass exterior walls. The signage is a bit too discreet, but you’ll see two lounge attendants and two banks of lifts to whisk you up to the upper floor.
Inside Al Mourjan Business Lounge The Garden
Once upstairs, you’re greeted with a large lounge reception. Since you’ve already scanned your boarding pass they’re really only there to answer any queries and questions you might have. Annoyingly, I had a ticketing issue they weren’t able to help me with and sent me back all the way to the transfer desks at the other end of the terminal.
Opposite this is the Louis Vuitton cafe. This is not included for free in your lounge access and anything you eat or drink will cost extra. I don’t think I saw a single passenger inside during my five hour layover. I think it may also be restricted to elite members of Qatar Airways Privilege Club, but don’t quote me on that.
You can then choose to turn either left or right. The left-hand side of the lounge features lots of casual seating, a snack bar and a self-serve drinks station. On the right, meanwhile, you have the proper dining area and bar, both with table service.
Like the original Al Mourjan lounge (which I reviewed here) The Garden lounge has an open-air feeling and is fully open to The Orchard and the rest of the terminal. The ceiling height alone must be at least 10 metres.
There’s also a familiar water feature in the centre of the lounge area:
Seating is divided into individual spots, areas for those travelling in pairs and even more private areas for families.
At the rear, you’ll find some co-working desks. Virtually every seat has a wireless charging pad and mains and USB-A ports. It’s a shame there are no USB-C ports given how modern the lounge is.
At the very back of this section is a connection through to the Dior Spa which, like the Louis Vuitton cafe, costs extra.
Food and drink
A few basic snacks as well as wine, beers and soft drinks are available on this side of the lounge. For anything more, you should head to the other side where you’ll find restaurant style seating and table service.
A buffet is available but you can also order from an a la carte menu. Breakfast is served from 5:30am until 10:30am with lunch and dinner from 11am until 4am.
The breakfast menu includes items such as scrambled eggs with za’atar potato wedges and grilled tomato, omelette with roasted cherry tomatoes and asparagus and eggs benedict with turkey ham, asparagus and Hollandaise sauce.
The lunch and dinner menu is more extensive. In addition to a list of main courses, there is also a salad bar and a sushi bar, the latter of which includes Unagi rolls, smoked salmon rolls, prawn nigiri, tamagoyaki and other assorted sushi.
Main courses, meanwhile, feature:
- Asian sticky beef strips
- Seabass fillet marinated with honey mustard dill
- Spinach and Ricotta stuffed chicken breast
- Paneer pasanda
- Pumpkin ricotta mezzelune with tomato Parmesan sauce
- Quinoa risotto
Not wanting to spoil my appetite, I went for some sushi:
When it comes to drinks, at least two champagnes were available: Lanson Black Label Brut and J.M. Gobillard & Fils Cuvée 2017 Prestige rosé.
Red, white and rose wines were all available, as were beers; cocktails could be ordered from the bar although they had run out of Worcestershire sauce for my Bloody Mary!
Gym, spa, showers and other facilities
Because this is Qatar Airways we are talking about, there are a number of other facilities in the lounge that appear to go unused 90% of the time. These includes a small gym:
…. and a gaming room:
A (paid for) spa offers 15 minute and 30 minute treatments. There are 24 quiet rooms which you can book, as well as luggage storage.
With nothing else to do I booked myself in for one of the 24 shower rooms (just for men – there are, I assume, another 24 shower rooms for women). Each has a luggage rack, wash basin and shower clad in stone:
There are no toilets inside the shower rooms – an odd choice. Toiletries are provided by Diptyque.
I really wanted to brush my teeth but it turns out a dental kit is not pre-stocked. I’m sure the staff would’ve brought me one but by then I was already naked!
Conclusion
The palatial Al Mourjan Business Lounge The Garden adds some much-needed lounge capacity for Qatar Airways at Hamad International Airport: the existing Al Mourjan lounge is often overrun during peak periods overnight.
My daytime layover was a different story, and when I first arrived I was virtually the only passenger. It did get busier towards boarding time but only slightly.
It’s hard to convey the scale of the Al Mourjan Business Lounge The Garden, which is both its biggest asset and flaw. The spaciousness is incredible but it also makes it feel like you are simply inside the main terminal building. Leaving your laptop or bag out whilst you dash to the toilet feels less comfortable than it does in smaller lounges which feel cosier and, somehow, safer.
With views of The Orchard, it’s definitely worth popping into The Garden lounge instead of the existing lounge by the transfer desks. You get a better view and it’s also quieter as it’s a bit more of a trek unless you are flying from D or E gates.
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How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (April 2025)
Here are the five options to get FREE airport lounge access via a UK credit card.
The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,500 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here.
You also get access to Eurostar, Lufthansa and Delta Air Lines lounges. Our American Express Platinum review is here.
You can apply here.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
The Platinum Card from American Express
80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with four free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here.
Additional lounge visits are charged at £24. You get four more free visits for every year you keep the card.
There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and you get a 20,000 points sign-up bonus. Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold review here.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold
Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review
HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free Priority Pass card, allowing you access to the Priority Pass network. Guests are charged at £24 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.
The card has a fee of £290 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer. Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.
HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard
A good package, but only available to HSBC Premier clients Read our full review
Got a small business?
If you have a small business, consider American Express Business Platinum which has the same lounge benefits as the personal Platinum card:
American Express Business Platinum
50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review
You should also consider the Capital on Tap Pro Visa credit card which has a lower fee and, as well as a Priority Pass for airport lounge access, also comes with Radison Rewards VIP hotel status:
Capital on Tap Pro Visa
10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review
PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.
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