I spent 9 hours in Qatar Airways’ newest airport lounge. It had perks, but the quiet rooms felt like a dentist’s office.
August 12, 20240
We could see the night sky above The Garden lounge.
Tammy Barr
Passengers flying first or business class on Qatar Airways or any other Oneworld carrier have complimentary access to the lounge. Lower-tier passengers can purchase access at the entrance.
I was worried about how busy the lounge would feel, but upon entering, I found a tranquil atmosphere.
The layout is a U-shape, and it overlooks The Orchard, the airport’s lush indoor tropical garden.
One side of the lounge offers full-service and buffet dining options, including a sushi and salad station. The other side has a coffee bar, beverage station, and various seating areas.
The lounge has various spaces for travelers to wait comfortably.
The quiet rooms had an entrance desk in front of it.
Tammy Barr
To get to the quiet rooms, I stopped at the area’s dedicated front desk.
The rooms are first-come, first-served, and the free bookings last for six hours.
According to the airline, these spaces are designed for napping, resting, and reading. When I visited, there were 18 single rooms and six double rooms. Since it was the middle of the night, they were all full when I arrived.
I waited nearby so my travel partner and I would be first in line in case anyone left early. Thankfully, two adjacent single rooms became available after only 15 minutes.
The rooms did feel set up for resting, not for deep sleeping.
My room came with a small fridge and water bottles.
Tammy Barr
Visitors weren’t allowed to eat in the rooms, but the space had a small refrigerator and complimentary bottled water.
There are no restrooms or showers in this quiet area: Those must be accessed in the main lounge.
The quiet rooms didn’t feel super secure because the sliding doors to get in didn’t appear to have locks, but nappers also have the option to store their luggage at a separate secure counter if they’re worried.
I struggled to get comfortable but I eventually fell asleep.
My business-lounge breakfast was nice.
Tammy Barr
After about four hours of somewhat unsatisfactory snoozing, I freshened up and rejoined the main area of the lounge.
As the sun began to rise, the light streamed through the massive lounge windows and illuminated the space.
I sat at one of the few open tables in the restaurant section of the lounge and had avocado toast with poached eggs and mimosas for breakfast.
The service in the lounge was excellent, and I loved all of the natural light.
The quiet rooms weren’t the best, but they were better than gate seating — or even the main area of the lounge.
The business lounge was packed with complimentary food and beverages.
Tammy Barr
The quiet room is a fine place to relax for six hours during a layover in Doha, but I’d tell other visitors not to expect the most comfortable sleep of their lives.
The quiet room’s chair wasn’t nearly as comfortable as the lie-flat seats in Qatar Airways’ epic business class, where the seat is adjustable and the crew can provide a mattress pad and pillow.
If they were, I would’ve had a much better rest. Next time, I’d sleep more on the plane and take extra time to enjoy the lounge’s other wonderful amenities.
