Review Al Mourjan "The Garden," Qatar's new business lounge is something crazy

When we review on TFC we always try to keep in mind the context and standards. If in hotels or aboard airplanes it is easier, when it comes to lounges everything becomes more complicated. It would not be fair to use the same yardstick when evaluating the "Piemonte Lounge" at the Turin airport. with the Marhaba lounge in Dubai. Or the official lounge of a company with the independent lounge at a secondary airport.

It is like at the market when you compare the price of fruit, if you want to buy apples you will look for the one with the best price-quality ratio, and you will not compare with the price of pears.

Qatar is in another category

I visited the lounges of all the Middle Eastern carriers, QR, EK and EY, and there is just no match. Actually between what Qatar offers in Doha, I don't think there is any match with any other carrier in the world.

Not only are all the lounges in Doha exaggerated in size, but they are also beautiful to live in. Which, for example, Emirates fails to do in its two Dubai lounges, which are as large as the entire Terminal 3, but too unattractive and stuck in an "elegance" that is now old and out of step with the times.

Location

This lounge runs along almost the 50% of the Orchard, That is, the small forest that was planted under the dome of glass and steel in the new airport area of the Qatari capital last year. Access to the elevators leading into this lounge is manned, as in all other airport lounges.

Scan the ticket and you have access to the "noble" floor

Access

Qatar's policy in Doha, and beyond, is different from almost any other global airline, Qatar rewards ticket not status. This means that unlike what Lufthansa, Swiss, Emirates, British, American Airlines, and other carriers that have multi-level lounges do, does not reward on the basis of loyalty, but only on the basis of the ticket.

This means that This lounge is entered only and exclusively with a business class ticket, Of any oneWorld company.

The lounge

The lounge opened its doors to this spring and to date Is not yet fully active at 100%. Still missing gymnasium and SPA to be in service at 100%.

The plaza in front of the reception area overlooks the Rooftop of the Louis Vuitton store, here the airline in collaboration with the French fashion house has set up an ultra-reserved restaurant. Here you can only dine if you have platinum or gold level in the Privilege Club, QR's proprietary frequent flyer.

Turning right will take you into the food section, on the opposite side is the lounge relaxation section.

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As mentioned soon there will be an open gym and spa open H24, there will also be a room in collaboration with Dior for beauty treatments, which should also be operational any day now. There is a small kids room, evidently there are not many children traveling on business, or Qatar didn't care to pamper them. There is of course a dedicated prayer room and quieter areas.

The whole lounge has a crazy view of the Orchard, from every corner a different view, a different plant and a glimpse, never seen before. Let's just say that sitting in front of the balustrade observing how fast life flows by on the floors below is one of the things I enjoyed doing during my long stay.

The restaurant

I think it is reductive to call it a restaurant since it is huge, it could easily accommodate 500 if not more diners at once. Even in the original Al Mourjan the restaurant is large, but here we are at a much higher level.

There are sushi men preparing continuous ribbon plates, there is a buffet that could feed passengers on a cruise ship, and then there is a menu for ordering freshly prepared dishes.

Of course everything is free and everything is of good quality. It goes without saying, but in addition to the kitchen there is an equally well-stocked bar counter and bartenders ready to fulfill every guest's wish.

The relaxation area

On the opposite side is the relaxation area, there are all kinds of chairs and armchairs. Positioned differently and with different views, in short you can waste 20 minutes looking for your favorite place.

In my opinion, the favorite seats are armchairs that reminded me of loungers in northern Europe, placed in front of the balustrade with a garden view.

Everything is perfectly neat, lined up, polished. There is nothing out of place and in case there is less than a minute left because orderlies are everywhere.

In the center of the relaxation area is a swimming pool, not where to bathe, but water is a constant element of the Al Mourjan, and even here it has a decorative and other function; sitting on the bank of this 50-meter-long "river" is relaxing and beautiful. QR has thought of everything: small tables with built-in induction charging and multiple power outlets at every location (or almost every location).

If you want to be a tad secluded there are more protected seats, but there is no Nap room, and there are also no phonebooths where you can work in peace. There is, however, a business area, which is definitely less than what you have at the lounge located on the opposite side of the airport.

What is missing in this lounge

Beautiful, beautiful, but there is one thing that Emirates and Qatar have in common in the lounges. They thought more about the substance leaving out the fantasy, the wow effect.

The decor is elegant, but not modern. It's like when you walk into a St Regis and compare it to a W Hotel. It seems to come from a bygone era, designed for a traveler who today is no longer just the business man in a suit and tie smoking a cigarette with a mouthpiece.

There is nothing except the view and the size that make people say wow, I want to go back there.i. The feeling it leaves you with. Virgin Atlantic's Clubhouse, or the lounge at Air France terminal 2F in Paris, or even the new Los Angeles SkyClub with a killer runway view terrace And street food stalls. There is no pool table or movie theater. There is no area to isolate yourself and take a nap.

In conclusion

I don't want to be misunderstood, the lounge is beautiful, but it is the view of the orchard that makes the difference, without this it would be two immense open spaces with a restaurant and buffet level

The verdict

I think it's one of the most beautiful lounges as a location I've ever seen, the view of The Garden is crazy, of course during the day it feels like a greenhouse and maybe they should push a little more on the air conditioning. Just too bad it lacks the WOW effect, the one that makes you say I can't wait to go back. Food and wine proposal, almost perfect.

8.5

Rated Location

10

F&B

9

Services

7

Pro

• Location
• View

Against

• It lacks that extra something in services