Few breakfasts feel as decadent as French toast, and it’s our go-to order when we fancy something sweet to start the day.
If you’re the same, head to these top spots for French toast in Doha ASAP.
Halo
Dough bar Halo easily serves up some of the best desserts in the city, whether you’re in the mood for soft serve ice cream or a perfectly on-trend cronut. Halo does both traditional options and treats with a twist equally well, but when it comes to the French toast here, opt for the latter. The custard-soaked doughnut French toast is a combination we never knew we needed, but are super glad it was invented. It’s got a real crunch to it, and is served topped with honeycomb, blueberry compote and vanilla mascarpone. Try it ASAP – and fall in love.
QR65. Various locations including Qanat Quartier, The Pearl-Qatar and The Gate Mall, West Bay, halo.qa.
Horatii Tiramisu Lounge
One of the main reasons to visit Horatii Tiramisu Lounge is to try the authentic Italian desserts on offer (duh). But as tiramisu is a dessert, and we would consider French toast to be a breakfast dish, we recommend heading here for a two-course start to the day. The French toast in question is soaked in vanilla cream and eggs before being toasted, and then coated in an unbeatable chocolate sauce and fruit. Maybe we should call it Italian toast instead?
QR98. Open Sat-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri 2pm-midnight. Al Hazm Mall, Al Markhiya (3309 7715).
IZU
Chef Izu Ani’s Doha outpost should really be considered two restaurants in one. The mezzanine floor serves up spectacular lunch and dinner options, while the downstairs is just perfect for coffee and cake. The French toast here – which has the actual French name, pain perdu, or “lost bread”, on the menu – has somewhat of a cult following in Doha. When the weather is nice, you can expect a queue for seats on the outdoor terrace, with nine out of ten people waiting to order that French toast served with ice cream.
QR65. Open daily 9am-11pm. Mandarin Oriental Doha, Msheireb Downtown Doha (4008 8888).
Le Colonial
Every part of the breakfast room Le Colonial from the thoughtful wall décor to the next-level toilets (with sinks encased in suitcases!) tells a story of the impact of the colonial era on Qatar. What story does the French toast here tell? We think it says that the melting pot of cultures has had a wonderful impact on the food, as proven by the fantastic addition of lemon labneh in this dish.
QR45. Open daily 6am-noon. Alwadi Hotel Doha – MGallery, Msheireb Downtown Doha (4009 9999).
Rosemary Café
This picture-perfect café in Al Hazm Mall is undoubtedly best known for the rose-covered ceiling, but even if it wasn’t made for the ‘gram, we would be stopping in for the French toast. Not satisfied with just the one sauce, this bad boy is given a generous dousing in caramel and maple, plus cinnamon, cream and berries. How could we say no?
QR97. Open Sat-Thu 9am-11.30pm. Al Hazm Mall, Al Markhiya (4465 0797).
Rusk
When it comes to bread, artisanal bakery Rusk knows its stuff. So it should come as no surprise to you that the French toast here is obscenely good. To let the bread shine, it’s served with the toppings on the side.
QR55. Open Sun-Wed 7am-10pm; Thu-Sat 8am-midnight. Msheireb Downtown Doha, rusk.mnu.qa (6667 7830).
The Kitchen
If there’s one place to be in Doha on a weekend morning, it has to be The Kitchen. The breakfast buffet here is legendary, and you can order all your favourites – like French toast. There’s no need to mess with a classic, and the French toast here is served with caramel sauce and strawberries. Yum.
QR110 (breakfast buffet). Daily 7am-11am. Hilton Doha The Pearl Hotel & Residences, Abraj Quartier, The Pearl-Qatar, thekitchendoha.com (4492 4444).
Twisted Olive
Don’t get it twisted – this eatery in the Burj Doha is one of the best around when it comes to breakfast. And that’s in no small part thanks to the French toast. Keep it sort-of classic with the berries jubilee, with some ingenious cherry meringue kisses, or go all-American with the cinnamon crunch.
From QR60. Open Sat-Thu 7am-10pm; Fri 7am-11am, 1pm-10pm. Burj Doha, West Bay, twistedolive.qa (4425 2727).
