Wellness took centre stage as Sirine Boudjadi explored Doha Oasis, from the serene Banyan Tree to Printemps Doha’s elegant spaces.
My restorative journey through Doha Oasis began at Banyan Tree Doha, the beating heart of this shimmering destination with unlimited experiences where wellness seamlessly intertwines with art, architecture and nature. Pulling up to the entrance, I could sense the hum of the city fade away. The air outside was dense with heat but a cool breeze and the sweet, heady scent of lilies spilt out to greet me when the doors opened. Check in took no more than two minutes: a welcoming smile, effortless courtesy and a key card discreetly passed across the counter.
Even though I was eager to see my room, I couldn’t help but pause before the lifts. The lobby unfolded like a living sculpture: a sanctuary designed around the four elements of nature. Two oryx statues stood poised at the entrance like guardians of this serene world, towering metallic trees rose from the polished marble floor and stretched into a mirrored ceiling. Across the space, two vast animated screens shimmered in dialogue, one glowing deep crimson, symbolising fire, and the other radiating cool electric blue, representing water. The gentle play of air connects the outer garden dome with the interior, creating a seamless harmony that evolves with the weather, reflected through the screens’ dynamic display system.
INSIDE MY SERENITY SUITE
Eventually, curiosity pulled me away from the lobby. It was time to trade spectacle for stillness and discover the Serenity Suite that would become my private refuge. When I opened the door, I actually stopped for a moment. Not out of surprise, but from the way the room seemed to exhale. It had an instant sense of calm, like stepping into an apartment I wished were my own. The light was the first thing I noticed: soft and honeyed in the afternoon, turning cooler and bluer as evening approached. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the view unfolded in layers: the hotel’s conical glass towers gleaming nearby, a serene courtyard garden just below and, beyond it all, Doha’s skyline glittering under the Gulf sun. Everything was in beautiful harmony: amber velvet sofas, caramel leather chairs and smoky black tables resting on a golden-honey carpet.
A welcome plate of miniature pastries was waiting for me: delicate squares of chocolate, slivers of baklava that cracked under the fork, rose-scented sweets dusted with sugar and crushed pistachio. On the bed, I found two towel swans facing each other, their curved necks meeting to form a heart. Scattered around them were rose petals, deep red against the immaculate white linen, some caught in the folds of the towels, others trailing toward the pillows.
I wandered toward the bathroom, wondering if the magic of the room carried through beyond the door. A deep soaking tub stretched along one wall, facing a rainfall shower encased in glass. On the counter, sleek black bottles labelled in gold script read Body Lotion and Liquid Soap, Banyan Tree’s own blends, delicately botanical and soft against the skin.
TASTES TO REMEMBER
As tempting as it was to stay cocooned in the suite, the promise of dinner eventually drew me out. On the 25th floor at Qalamkarri, the lift doors opened to a haze of spice and sound: cumin, cardamom and tandoori smoke mingled with live melodies drifting through the air. Every Thursday, the restaurant brings to life NH44 Night, named after India’s longest highway which connects the country from north to south. Lamb or vegetable biryani, butter chicken, rolls and samosas – the buffet stretched like a map of flavours.
Returning after dinner, I found the room dimmed to an amber glow, curtains drawn and, on the bed, a tiny turtle plush, its shell patterned in shades of brown and green. It waited there as though it had wandered in from the ocean. It made me smile, genuinely. And then, of course, there was the bed itself – wide and deep, dressed in linen so crisp it gave off a faint rustle as I sank into it. Even the pillows were a small luxury of choice: bolster, reading, anti-ageing, viscoelastic – a menu of comfort waiting to be personalised. One quick call to the team, and a fresh set arrived minutes later, fluffed and neatly arranged.
I slept the way one only does in a truly good hotel: deeply, dreamlessly, as if the world outside had been switched off. By morning, sunlight was already spilling through the curtains and I caught that first flicker of hunger that only follows a restful night’s sleep. I got dressed and made my way down to Jardin, a sunlit Mediterranean-inspired restaurant. There, I decided to go for the Healthy Breakfast, a balance between freshness and indulgence. My plate came alive with creamy avocado toast, a quinoa and Greek yoghurt bowl drizzled with honey and a vibrant fruit salad. My partner went in a different direction and tried the Traditional Oriental Breakfast, served on a generous platter of soft white cheeses, turkey ham, hummus and kibbeh, spinach fatayer and tiny eggplants stuffed with walnuts and chilli.
FINDING MY BALANCE
It was Friday, which in Doha means brunch day, but before surrendering again to temptation, I wanted to slow things down. And I couldn’t have chosen a better place to embrace a wellness pause, since it has always been at the heart of Banyan Tree’s philosophy. Tucked a few floors below the hum of the hotel, the spa offered exactly the reset I needed.
From the long list of Asian-inspired treatments, I was drawn to the Thai Essence, a traditional dry massage that relies on pressure, assisted stretches and joint mobilisation, rather than oils. It’s designed to improve flexibility, stimulate circulation and restore the body’s natural energy flow.
My therapist worked with calm and precision, pressing along energy lines and pausing at key points to release long-held tension I thought would never go away. Right after that, I lingered in the vitality pool, letting the warm water melt away what little fatigue remained. I also tried the herbal sauna scented with chamomile and mint, the brine steam room and the rainforest walk, a circuit that left me both grounded and light. Lying back on a lounge afterwards, wrapped in a robe and sipping ginger tea, I could have spent the whole day there.
WELL-BEING, THE PRINTEMPS WAY
After hours of slow indulgence, I wasn’t quite ready to leave Doha Oasis, so I wandered next door into one of its most talked-about places: Printemps Doha, one of the largest department stores in the Middle East. Walking through its marble halls, I felt an unexpected sense of familiarity. The subtle lighting, the perfume counters, the understated elegance of the space – it all reminded me of my beloved Paris, where I spent the past 11 years.
It was also the perfect excuse to explore Soluna, Printemps’ new wellness department that blends beauty, fashion, lifestyle and gourmet experiences into one seamless world of well-being. I was there during the launch, when Printemps hosted a series of immersive ateliers, and I joined a Dore & Rose Sound Bath and Cacao Ceremony, guided by an instructor from Asaya. The experience was deeply soothing and left me with only one desire: to curl up under a soft blanket and drift away.
Yet I resisted the temptation to call it a night. Mosavali, the Georgian restaurant tucked within Printemps, was calling. Georgian cuisine is hard to find in Doha, and this was my first encounter with it. I tried a few of the signatures: the comforting Khachapuri (warm cheese-filled bread), the delicately pleated Khinkali (dumplings filled with minced meat, onions and aromatic broth) and the rich Shkmeruli (grilled chicken in garlic and cream sauce).
The next morning, I had an Italian breakfast at Cova, a stop I can only recommend. The Milanese pasticceria, originally founded in Milan in 1817 by Antonio Cova, felt instantly welcoming and familiar, with a great smell of espresso filling the air. Breakfast was classic and done right: a light omelette, creamy scrambled eggs with cheese and turkey, and a crisp salad on the side. Everything came out beautifully plated, followed by a tray of mini pastries with a note wishing me a great weekend. Of course, I couldn’t leave without trying the real showstopper: the signature tiramisu with its airy layers of mascarpone and coffee-soaked sponge dusted with cocoa, as light as a whisper yet deeply indulgent. Paired with a black coffee, it was like taking a quick trip to Milan and proof that the best journeys don’t need distance, just a pause.
For wellness lovers, seekers of balance or simply those craving a breath of calm, Doha Oasis is a destination to return to, not once, but rhythmically. A place where Banyan Tree Doha nurtures the spirit and Printemps Doha inspires the senses. A place where wellness is not an escape, but a way of experiencing life beautifully, intentionally and completely.
For more information or to make a reservation, please visit dohaoasis.com or
call 4410 4100.
@dohaoasis
@banyantreedoha
@printempsdoha