The first thing you notice upon entering the Red Velvet Cupcakery is the smell. A wave of buttery sugar and pastry wafts out the minute you push the door open. It’s strictly cupcakes inside, and beverages of the coffee and hot chocolate varieties.

The place itself is a work of art, with cupcake-inspired chairs and tables – the tables styled like the cupcake wrappers, the chairs topped with colourful squishy cushions. I go for the American chain’s namesake, the Red Velvet, and because I’m intent on foundering myself with sugar, I also slip in cupcake number two, the peanut butter cupcake. Both sound superb.

While I wait for my coffee and sweet treats, I take a seat, eagerly plopping myself down. But it’s not all rainbow unicorns, alas: the chairs are as comfy as Ms Muffet’s tuffet, but the tables are not. While they look utterly adorable, there’s no leg room, and I’m left splay legged or awkwardly crooked – I’m glad I wore jeans.

But all is forgiven when the cakes arrive: smaller than other cupcakes on offer around the city, they’re dense and fluffy. First up, the Red Velvet, known here as the Southern Belle: rich, moist dense cake topped with signature cream cheese icing. It’s not as fluffy or effervescent as other cupcakes I’ve had in Qatar, but it doesn’t have to be: it just tastes good. But nothing makes my mouth quite so delirious as that first bite of peanut butter cupcake. Words. Not available. To describe. This cake. The peanut butter icing is once again dense, almost candy like, with a sharp salty bite tempered by intense sweetness, all atop a chocolatey-peanuty sponge cake. I have to resist the urge to immediately order another one.

This is a decent addition to Katara and the sweets scene in Doha. These might not be the biggest or flashiest cakes on the market, but they are definitely worth the trip.

The bill (for two)
1x Southern Belle QR18
1x Peanut Butter cupcake QR18
1x Café latte QR15
Total QR51