The Highmore

The Highmore is the rooftop bar and lounge on the 11th floor of the Waldorf Astoria Doha Lusail, north of central Doha. It is a licensed hotel venue, and it is set up as a series of spaces rather than a single bar: a main bar and dining area, a game room, a cigar lounge, a library and a terrace with unobstructed views over the city. That variety makes it a good choice for a long evening, moving from drinks on the terrace to a quieter corner later on.

The drinks list includes cocktails, mocktails and wine, and there is a happy hour. Food is designed for sharing and grazing, with dishes such as a cheese platter, steak Cobb salad, nachos, apricot chicken wings, a harissa honey chicken sandwich, a short rib burger, pizza and garlic bread, and vanilla bean cheesecake to finish. Live jazz nights are part of the programme, with a band playing late into the evening; check the current schedule with the hotel, as the night has changed over time.

The Highmore opens daily from 5pm to 3am, which makes it one of the later options in the city. Bookings can be made by phone. Carry your passport or Qatari ID, as licensed venues may ask to see it, and smart casual dress is the safe choice for a hotel rooftop of this kind.

It suits couples, small groups and anyone staying in Lusail or visiting for an event at Lusail's stadium or marina. The cigar lounge will appeal to cigar smokers, while the terrace is best on mild evenings between late autumn and spring. As with most rooftop venues in Doha, the programme and hours may change during Ramadan and in the hottest summer months.

In Qatar, alcohol is served only in licensed venues, which are almost all inside hotels, so rooftop bars like this are where much of the city's nightlife happens. Doha's weekend falls on Friday and Saturday, so Thursday and Friday nights are usually the busiest, and booking ahead is sensible then.

Lusail is a drive north of West Bay, so a taxi or ride-hailing app is the simplest way to arrive and leave. Never drink and drive in Qatar, and keep drinking to the licensed venue itself.