Admiral’s Club: This venue has definitely grown on us recently, ever since they began offering breakfast on a Friday to help kickstart our weekend. At other times you can order from an impressive range of nibbles, or something more substantial like a sushi and sashimi platter or strip steak and fries. The mini burgers with wagyu bacon are particularly impressive. The Friday breakfast is QR150 and offers everything from omelettes to eggs Benedict. But any time is perfect to come here and admire the watery views from the wooden decking outside.
Ritz-Carlton (484 8000). Open Sat-Sun, Tue-Thu 3pm-11.30pm; Fri 10.30am-11.30pm. Closed Mon

Al Dana: Al Dana has an attractive sundeck jutting out onto the Gulf from its clean, sleek interior, making for an aesthetically alluring evening. Thankfully the ambience is matched by the simple yet expertly prepared dishes, which show flashes of invention using flawless ingredients. There are a few meaty items on the menu, but seafood is king here. You can pick your own fish and let the kitchen do the rest, while you enjoy the sparkling vibe and generally sterling standard of cuisine.
Sharq Village & Spa (425 6666). Open daily noon-3pm, 7pm-11pm

Al Mourjan: Netting the premier position on Doha’s corniche, the sweeping waterfront views from Al Mourjan make it a popular place to while away the afternoon. Be warned, though, the owners know this, and have enforced a rather steep minimum spend of QR75 per person, crushing any plans to stop off for a swift mint and lemon juice. While the interior of the restaurant is stylish, the outdoor seating area is the best spot to sit and sample the Lebanese cuisine. Order a mix of mezze, and slather it on warmed Arabic bread with chunks of charcoal-grilled meat, all washed down with a fresh fruit juice.
Balhambar building, near the ‘Orry’ statue on the corniche (483 4423/483 4333). Open daily 1pm-1am

Al Sayyad: Now that the Pearl is starting to take shape, Al Sayyad has itself an idyllic waterfront position, and the stellar Lebanese offerings here rank among the city’s finest. Seafood is a particular speciality, a truism that is plainly apparent from the fish kibbe, where a quartet of rugby-ball-shaped morsels reveal an interior of subtly-spiced calamari, hammour, bulgur wheat and pine nuts. Tasty stuff.
Diplomatic Club (484 7444). Open daily noon-3pm, 7pm-midnight

Bice Ristorante: Founded in 1926, Bice now has 18 venues around the globe, and was the first restaurant to open on the Pearl. It’s quite impressive to walk through the slick interiors, featuring a floor-to-ceiling wine cabinet (with an outstanding selection) and even a white grand piano, but it’s outside on the terrace where you want to nab a table, which enjoys sweeping marina views. Then choose from the classic, albeit expensive, Italian trattoria repertoire, such as the oven-roasted sea bass with porcini, olives, roast potato and spinach, finished with a mango, raspberry and lemon gelato.
Pearl Qatar (495 3876 ext 1441). Open daily 12.30pm-3.30pm, 7pm-11pm

Garvey’s: The Garvey brothers recently reopened the doors to their popular expat hangout, serving up such delectable favourites as fish and chips, roast dinners and a ‘Full Monty’ breakfast featuring bacon, sausage, steak, eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes and more – or scrambled eggs and smoked salmon if you prefer the lighter version. And best of all, you can enjoy it in the outdoor area next to the pool, although after that lot you may prefer to just jump in and work off the calories.
Off Al Azizya Street (468 7381), off Salwa Road after Tata roundabout behind Patisserie Suisse. Open Sat-Thu 10am-9pm; Fri 9am-9pm

Rocca: Rocca has a partially gorgeous setting overlooking the hotel’s stunning, modernist swimming pool and the Pearl. The interior of the restaurant is, appropriately for its poolside locale, designed to look like an upscale cabana, and there’s an open kitchen where chefs grill and cook behind white marble countertops. Rocca’s cooking spans the breadth of Mediterranean flavours, with touches of Morocco, France, Italy and more in classics like tajine, steak frites and pizza. We love the starter of sautéed mussels with white wine, garlic and flat leaf parsley, and the signature lamb shank tagine simply falls off the bone. Finish with the fresh fruit jalousie and lemon gelato.
Grand Hyatt Doha (435 1234). Open daily 10am-10pm