Qatar Airways’ long-teased second Al Mourjan business lounge at Doha Airport is finally open, and the roll call of features within the vast 7,000 sqm space dubbed ‘The Garden’ are as impressive as you’d expect from the Gulf carrier.
Perched overlooking the leafy ‘Orchard’ atrium at Concourse C, the new premium hangout is home to multiple dining venues, 24-hour quiet rooms, a gym with treadmills and exercise bikes, and even its own day spa offering seven treatment rooms. And that’s just a start.
But The Garden’s guest list is a little shorter than you might expect, in line with Qatar’s Al Mourjan access policy:
- if you’re in business class with Qatar Airways, that ticket must be one of Qatar’s Classic, Comfort or Elite business fares – not the Lite fare, which doesn’t include business lounge access (although if you have frequent flyer status, you can get get into the relevant Platinum or Gold lounge
- Qatar Airways business class fares purchased using frequent flyer points or miles – ranging from QR’s native Avios currency to Qantas Points and Velocity Points – do qualify for lounge access at The Garden, but not those who use miles or points to upgrade from economy to business
- business class passenger on Oneworld partners like British Airways and Royal Jordanian are of course welcome
- frequent flyer status alone doesn’t grant you access to The Garden or other Qatar Airways business class lounges: if you’re in economy (or premium economy on the likes of British Airways) and holding Platinum or Gold status with Qantas and Virgin Australia, or Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire status, you will be directed to Qatar Airways’s new Platinum and Gold frequent flyer lounges.
- The lounge has a similar aesthetic to its southern sibling.
- The lounge has a similar aesthetic to its southern sibling.
The 707-seat Garden lounge complements the existing Al Mourjan at Concourse A, which has been renamed ‘Al Mourjan business class lounge – South’ and remains the larger of the two, welcoming some 800 guests and boasting a footprint of over 10,000 sqm. Guests are free to choose which lounge they visit.
Many transit passengers will find themselves already in the Orchard area, making the new lounge a handy option. Those departing Doha or transitting from another concourse can access the Orchard easily via a convenient monorail connecting Concourses A and C.
Instantly familiar, yet different
Inside, the Garden lounge adheres to the established aesthetic of its sibling – natural finishes of marble and timber, as well as a relaxing central reflection pool. Where it differs however is the abundant greenery, no doubt inspired by the concourse it overlooks.
From the balcony guests also enjoy an impressive view over the Orchard’s central forest and treetop walk, not to mention its bold geometric glass ceiling and waterfall, frequently compared to that of Changi Airport’s Jewel shopping complex in Singapore.
Bordered by retail outlets, a transit hotel and several departure gates, the Orchard opened just in time for the World Cup in November 2022 and will eventually house three frequent flyer lounges. It’s an enchanting space, yet so is the new Al Mourjan.
Buffets, à la carte dining and a patisserie bar
On top of an array of seating options – low-set leather lounges and wingback chairs alongside lamp-lit coffee tables – are two dining areas at opposite ends of the East and West Wings.
The East Wing is where the primary dining venues are located. Similar to the Main Dining Room at the North lounge, guests can enjoy à la carte dining, as well as peruse hot and cold buffets. Local and international flavours are all on the menu.
Those after a caffeine fix, sweet treats or sandwiches can head over to the coffee and patisserie bar, while a cocktail and bistro bar pours an extensive selection of wines, spirits, cocktails and mocktails, together with a savoury snack menu.
The West Wing houses the lounge’s showers, quiet areas, prayer rooms and meeting rooms, along with another coffee and patisserie bar featuring pastries, sandwiches and juices.
Spa treatments, quiet rooms and a gym
If a little solitude is what you seek, book one of the single and double quiet rooms. These are available 24 hours a day and free of charge for the first six hours. Or, head over to the spa.
Neck and shoulder massage chairs, mani-pedi stations, relaxation chairs and seven treatment rooms are found within, giving plenty of opportunity for some pre-flight pampering.
Other features include a gym housing treadmills and exercise bikes, in addition to a children’s room, nursery, games room and smoking room. Showers are available too.
A garden within an airport
The Garden lounge is the centrepiece of the Orchard concourse, which houses over 300 trees and over 25,000 plants sourced from sustainable forests and plantations around the globe, selected to acclimatise to the airport’s indoor conditions.
Linking the current D and E concourses and serving as a focal point for travellers, the garden dominates the new concourse, with the central forest a great place to sit and relax.
Beyond the gardens, the expansion includes the 100-room Oryx Garden Hotel, which opened in September, and numerous dining and retail options, including a line-up of prestigious brands such as Louis Vuitton Boutique, Gucci, Burberry, and Tiffany.
The concourse also includes nine more gates for the twin-aisle aircraft which form the bulk of Qatar’s long-range fleet, plus an additional transfer area to reduce connection times.
Source: https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/qatar-airways-the-garden-al-mourjan-business-lounge-doha
