Parisa Persian Cuisine – The Prettiest Restaurant in Doha

Interior of Parisa Persian restaurant in Souq Waqif, Doha

Souq Waqif, a large marketplace in the center of Doha, is a popular place to spend an evening in Doha. Filled with shops, cafes, sit down restaurants, shisha spots, street vendors and general fun in the evenings, Souq Waqif is home to what must be Doha’s most beautiful restaurant – Parisa Persian Restaurant! Parisa is located on one of Souq Waqif’s main drafts. Guests enter through an arch way and are admitted inside the actual restaurant, which spans two floors, only when a table is ready. I suggest reservations in advance, as this restaurant is popular with tourists and locals.

Parisa Persian restaurant in the Souq Waqif market, Doha

Parisa.

A friend recommend Parisa and we decided to go last minute, meaning that did not make a reservation. We luckily got a table after waiting just a few minutes. Once inside, we were blown away by the decor. Parisa is colorful and sparkly and feels you are stepping into a luxury home. Inside are hand-painted, Persian artworks of myths and legends, intricate mosaics, ornate chandeliers and thousands of tiny mirrors that were handpicked from Iran. Its really beautiful.

The archway entrance to Parisa in Souq Waqif, Doha

The entrance to Parisa.

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A Weekend in Doha En Route to the Maldives!

Doha, Qatar.

On a recent trip to the Maldives, Dan and I spent a few days in Doha, Qatar en route. We selected Doha because (1) you have to connect when traveling to the Maldives from the New York area and (2) we have already been to Dubai and Abu Dhabi (the other two big connection spots in the Middle East – the other connection option is Europe). We enjoyed our weekend stay, but we are not in a rush to return to Doha, simply because we didn’t find too, too much to do, and it was very reminiscent of a less exciting Dubai. That being said, the people of Doha were lovely, we were treated very well in Doha, and I would have no problem stopping over in Doha again if the time/price was best (its just not the most exciting IMO). This post details what we did in Doha during our weekend getaway!

Doha, Qatar

Souq Waqif in Doha, Qatar – one of Doha’s best activities for tourists.

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