The Maysan LXR, an oasis of tranquillity in the heart of the city!

During the last February holidays, we discovered Qatar. We stayed in seaside resorts in the north and south of the country and also spent two nights in Doha.

Doha’s hotel offer is very extensive and mainly made up of gigantic hotels. We wanted a more confidential location. That’s why we chose to book at the Maysan LXR. This boutique resort consists of just 33 villas, 1 restaurant, 1 gym, 1 kids’ club and paddles courts. The hotel is located around 20 minutes from the city’s major attractions. It is close to Aspires Park, the famous Torch Tower and the Khalifa National Stadium. Nearby is the Villaggio shopping mall, which epitomises the grandeur of Doha, with its Venetian canal and gondola ride.

The hotel, on the other hand, is untouched by these gimmicks. It is designed as a refined, warm retreat. We loved the chic decor. We had the feeling we were in Bali or Comporta. The staff are helpful and many speak French, which was particularly appreciated by our son Achille, who felt comfortable communicating.

At the kids’ club, Achille made some Italian friends with whom he played table football, billiards and table tennis during meals. The food is really very tasty and the prices are in line with those of a good Parisian restaurant. The spa is one of the hotel’s strong points. I fell for a relaxing 60-minute Balinese massage. My therapist was originally from South America and gave me a treatment I’ll remember for a long time! The spa prices are commensurate with the level of service and I was given a €50 voucher in my room. There’s also a magnificent hairdressing salon, but I didn’t try it out.

You can tell that the Maysan pays particular attention to detail and well-being. At check-in, we were presented with three bottles of perfume so that we could choose the scent that would be diffused in our villa. When we arrived at the villa, Achille was pleasantly surprised to discover a teepee, inflatable balls and games in his room.

Our villa was truly incredible. We had never seen such a large private space: 700 sqm for a villa with two bedrooms, three bathrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a beautiful terrace and a large outdoor swimming pool. We were literally stunned when we discovered the place and this feeling never left us during our stay. The materials are noble and uncluttered: wood, stone, cane, waxed concrete, linen and so on. The reception products (large, eco-friendly formats) are by Bvlgari and the technological equipment is state-of-the-art: gigantic televisions, B&O portable speakers, tablets that allow you to control the villa’s home automation system, electric curtains and much more…. The private pool is particularly child-friendly, with a 25 cm-deep paddling pool that’s perfect for babies.

We had a late breakfast every day in the Maysan restaurant. On the menu, à la carte dishes were very well executed. Our son enjoyed the pancakes and their homemade granola. My husband and I really enjoyed the avocado toast, eggs Benedict and freshly squeezed strawberry juice. One day we had lunch in our villa. The hotel can also organise a festive barbecue in the villa, with delicious oriental food.

We didn’t have dinner in the hotel restaurant as we wanted to explore the city.

One evening we ate in the big, beautiful zouk Wakif. We went there by metro and it was a great experience as the Doha metro is so clean, safe and efficient. An unlimited day ticket costs just €1.50 per person.

On the second evening, we ate in a traditional restaurant on a hill in the Qatara district. This is THE cultural and artistic district of Doha and with its Galeries Lafayette and Haussmanian architecture, it is reminiscent of Paris. The restaurant offers a 360-degree view of the city and its famous skyline. I highly recommend this warm and relaxed restaurant, where Emmanuel Macron and David Beckham dined when they visited the capital.

There’s no doubt that you’ll be pleasantly surprised by this confidential address, which will plunge you into an immediate state of relaxation and disconnection, just a stone’s throw from the centre of Doha!