In April 2023, Qatar Airways unveiled a spectacular new business class lounge in Doha: "The Garden." Officially named the "Al Mourjan Business Lounge - The Garden," it's located right next to Hamad International Airport's (HIA) newly expanded tropical indoor oasis, "The Orchard." You can think of this new addition as an incredible extension of their original Al Mourjan Business Lounge. Covering a massive 7,390 square meters, the two lounges combined can now host up to 1,600 passengers!

The Garden features an airy, open-concept design. From the seating areas, you can look down and take in sweeping, panoramic views of The Orchard below. Paired with the lush greenery scattered throughout the lounge itself, it truly lives up to its name—an enchanting garden from the inside out!

We've been lucky enough to visit both of Qatar Airways' business class lounges in Doha. So, alongside our tour of the brand-new The Garden, we'll also be sharing our personal thoughts on how the two lounges compare!

📌 Recommended Reading: [Doha · Qatar Airways Business Class Lounge] A Luxurious, Serene Oasis in the Desert | What Does the World's Best Lounge Look Like? | Al Mourjan Business Lounge

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Location

Hamad International Airport features a massive, iconic landmark: a giant yellow teddy bear with its head stuck inside a desk lamp! It was famously purchased at a New York auction in 2011 by a member of the Qatari royal family for a cool $6.8 million. Its quirky, adorable look has made it the most recognizable photo spot in the entire airport!

Standing 7 meters tall and weighing an impressive 18-20 tons, this bear isn't just a great photo op; it marks the central crossroads of the airport. To the right, left, and behind the bear are Concourses A, B, and C respectively. The sign above even shows the estimated walking times!

Photo via official website

If you're heading to the original "Al Mourjan Business Lounge," you'll want to take the escalators to the left when facing the Teddy Bear. For the "Al Safwa First Lounge," head up the escalators to the right.

To get to the new The Garden, head behind the Teddy Bear, following the signs toward Gates C, D, and E. If you don't feel like walking, you can also hop on the skytrain on the second floor and get off at Gate C!

The Garden is situated right above the Louis Vuitton boutique. In the map above, the circled area labeled "300" is exactly where LV is located.

The entrance elevators are tucked just behind the LV store, with sleek, transparent glass elevators on both sides.

Lounge Eligibility

Both of Qatar Airways' business class lounges at Hamad International Airport are exclusively for passengers flying Business or First Class on Qatar Airways or other Oneworld alliance airlines. (First Class passengers, of course, also have access to the ultra-luxurious Al Safwa First Class Lounge).

It's important to note that Qatar Airways' basic "Lite" Business Class fares do not include lounge access. However, aside from the "Lite" tier, all other Business Class tickets—including award tickets booked with points/miles—grant you access to both the Al Mourjan Business Lounge and The Garden! If you're flying in the "Lite" Business Class or Economy, you can still purchase lounge access through their official website.

📌 Recommended Reading: [Doha · Qatar Airways Business Class Lounge] A Luxurious, Serene Oasis in the Desert | What Does the World's Best Lounge Look Like?

Lounge Tour

The reception area of The Garden is beautifully spacious. On the floor right in front of the front desk, gorgeous leaf and petal patterns are projected, setting a tranquil mood right from the start.

The glass elevators are completely surrounded by potted plants! There are so many plants in this lounge, it’s impossible to ignore them!

Once you step into the lounge, the first thing you see is the LV Lounge. Facing the LV Lounge, The Garden is roughly divided into two main wings. The East Wing (on the right) primarily houses the main dining area, kids' playroom, and family rest areas. The West Wing (on the left) is a dedicated "Quiet Area" with various comfortable seating zones, private resting pods, quiet rooms, and prayer rooms.

Before entering the dining area, you'll spot this sculptural wooden bench that doubles as an art installation!

The restaurant seating area.

You can even snag front-row seats facing the indoor garden!

You can order hot food directly at your table. While you're at it, definitely try Qatar Airways' signature drink: the Lemon Mint! It's perfectly sweet, sour, and refreshingly minty—absolutely delicious!

As for the food, after our previous experience at the original Al Mourjan Lounge, we honestly didn't have the highest expectations 😅. But to our pleasant surprise, the salmon we ordered this time was genuinely delicious! It was tender and well-seasoned.

Aside from the à la carte menu, there's a fantastic self-service buffet.

A whole row of hot food options!

There was a great variety of hot dishes. Cherry's absolute favorite was the sautéed zucchini, while our picky-eater son was pretty happy with the fusilli pasta!

These side dishes looked incredibly familiar… and looking back at our photos, we realized several of them are the exact same ones served at the original Al Mourjan Lounge!

Fresh salad bar.

They also had a selection of savory quiches and croissants.

And some colorful sushi that looked quite tempting~

We couldn't resist trying the sushi. However, we have to admit—just like our experience at the Al Mourjan Business Lounge, it still leaves a bit to be desired 😅. (Based on our visit in June 2023)

The Family Rooms, Children's Playroom, and Baby Change Rooms are all conveniently grouped together in the same zone.

The facilities in The Garden’s playroom are noticeably more extensive than those at the original Al Mourjan Lounge.

There’s also a very spacious and well-equipped nursing/baby changing room.

The highlight for us: The Garden features four private Family Rooms. If you're traveling with kids, just ask the staff if any are available!

We were incredibly lucky to snag one. It’s wonderfully spacious, and the sofa is large enough to lie down and sleep on! The absolute best part is that the Family Room actually has a door. Even though it doesn't lock, it offers fantastic privacy and incredible soundproofing. We tested the soundproofing firsthand when our son had a massive meltdown inside. We were so worried we were disturbing everyone else, but when we stepped outside, we genuinely couldn't hear a peep!

While the Family Rooms at the original Al Mourjan Business Lounge are also roomy, we recall they didn't have doors. We highly recommend families traveling during off-peak hours try their luck at The Garden—you might just score a private room!

The West Wing on the opposite side is a dedicated quiet zone. The Quiet Area, showers, and prayer rooms are all located here.

This massive seating area boasts towering ceilings, and one entire side looks out over the vibrant greenery of "The Orchard." Unlike the bold royal blues and reds in the Al Mourjan Business Lounge, The Garden utilizes earthy, warm tones—a perfect reflection of its botanical theme!

The sweeping garden views are wonderfully therapeutic for travel-weary eyes.

In the center of the seating area sits a reflective pool. Although it's much smaller than the grand water feature at the original lounge, it provides a nice architectural tie between Qatar Airways' two flagship business lounges.

Plenty of seating surrounds the water feature.

Individual rest pods.

If you need to catch up on work, there are ample desks available too.

Additionally, the Quiet Area in The Garden features 24 private rest rooms, available in both "Single" and "Double" configurations. These are complimentary for the first six hours! They feature doors, loungers, and wardrobes for your clothes and cabin bags. While they don't have proper beds, the setup is honestly better than some airport transit hotels! Just remember to ask the staff if any are available when you arrive.

There is no main restaurant in the West Wing, but they do offer a selection of beverages and light snacks.

There's also a small bar area. But if you're craving a hot meal, you'll need to head over to the restaurant in the East Wing.

Photo via official website

Qatar Airways adding "The Garden" lounge to this newly expanded part of the airport was an absolutely necessary move. During our previous visits to the original Al Mourjan Lounge during peak hours, it felt overwhelmingly crowded, especially in the dining areas. The Garden can accommodate an additional 707 passengers, which will undoubtedly help ease the congestion!

The two lounges are located in different parts of the airport. The original Al Mourjan Lounge is closer to Gates A and B, while The Garden is near Gate C. Their design themes are also strikingly different. We have to admit, the massive reflective pool, dazzling crystal chandeliers, and grand spiral staircase at Al Mourjan leave a slightly stronger visual impact. But The Garden offers something entirely unique—it feels like stepping into a fresh, serene forest where even the air feels cleaner!

The only slight downside to The Garden is its lack of tarmac windows. If you're an aviation geek who loves watching planes take off and land, you might prefer heading to the original Al Mourjan Lounge. If you have a tight connection and only have time for one, it really comes down to your personal aesthetic preference. Cherry personally might still lean slightly toward the classic Al Mourjan Business Lounge!

However, if you have a long layover and want to get some solid rest, we highly recommend checking out The Garden first to see if you can snag one of the stellar Family Rooms or Quiet Area resting pods!

Doha Travel Info

★ [Internet] Middle East eSIM

★ [Tickets] Museum of Islamic Art｜National Museum of Qatar

★ [Tours] Inland Sea Day Trip｜Doha City Tour｜Desert Safari

★ [Accommodation] Ultimate Guide to Where to Stay in Doha

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