Blue Cigar Writer's Lounge — Restaurant in Al-Daayen

I had been wanting to visit Blue Cigar ever since it opened. Admittedly this venue looks amazing. High ceilings keep the cigar smoke from being overwhelming, the books make for an interesting aesthetic, and the seating is pretty comfortable. Apart from that, I can't recommend this place over other cigar bars in Doha.

The cigar selection is abysmal. Only 3 cigars are sold here and each is way more expensive than what a person should be paying for a cigar. My cigar, the mid-priced one, cost 300 Riyal. We were told the selection is small because the venue can't always get the same cigars every month, but that is no excuse. Menus can be reprinted monthly with the new selection (especially with the money this place charges) and I will not be returning purely because there is no choice here.

The second issue was the drink situation. One in our party asked for Dewars only to be told they only had enough for one serving. Another asked for a red wine and was told the same. We were there on a Tuesday night when only 3 other people were in the venue. Running out of basic drink items is inexcusable for such a seemingly high class bar.

The third issue was the service speed. As mentioned, we went on a Tuesday and the place was virtually empty (a frequent occurrence I'm told by others I know who go here), and still it took almost 20 minutes for our first drinks to be made. And we had 4 of the exact same drinks ordered. A similar situation arose when we wanted new drinks, even though these orders were for simple glasses of whisky. Our server for the night was pleasant and knowledgeable about his craft, and I don't want to put the blame squarely on him. But when you look around and see no other patrons who could be causing the slow service, it adds a negative element to the visit.

The final issue I have is the price. Anyone who lives in Doha knows that vice is insanely expensive here already, for reasons this review won't go in to. But when a place charges you a third of the price of a bottle in America or Europe for a single shot, the expense becomes a joke. The drinks and cigars cost much more than they would anywhere else in the world and the looks of the venue did not validate that excessive cost.

I would steer clear of this bar unless you're trying to impress your friends. There are places in Doha with much better cigar selection, much more reasonable drink prices, and similar ambiances. Until I hear things have changed for the better at Blue Cigar, I won't...

The cigar lounge at Raffles Doha may look luxurious, but the hospitality was disgraceful for a hotel of this caliber.

On August 23, 2025 at 12:05 AM, I first presented my official Saudi digital national ID, which the receptionist, Ahmed, refused. He told me to bring my physical Saudi national ID. I left, wasted over 40 minutes, and returned with it, only for him to reject it again and claim that only Qatari resident IDs are accepted, and that I can only enter with a passport. Never once did he mention that a passport was required when I came the first time. Then he brought in Gabriella, who said exactly the same, but said something conflicting with the “policy”. She said, if you were staying I would not need a passport. So, basically she is saying there is a way and we use it for guests. As if she is saying we don’t want you here.

I was finally admitted only because the night manager intervened, but by then the damage was done. Neither Ahmed nor Gabriella offered so much as an apology, let alone the level of hospitality one expects at Raffles. Instead, I was treated like an unwanted intruder.

This is not just poor service, it is unprofessional, unwelcoming, and embarrassing for the Raffles brand. A stunning lounge ruined by staff incompetence and a complete lack of...

Blue Cigar Writer’s Lounge is an intimate drink and cigar lounge that offers you old-world sophistication, with Art Deco interiors, soft leather sofas and a book collection featuring over 6,000 literary classics and 200 first editions!

For bookworms, you can request first editions or artists’ releases on display and have them brought to you with white gloves for a truly authentic experience.

And in true homage to the theme, every drink is inspired by literature. Drink names reference classics like Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and The Sea and Jack Kerouac’s On The Road.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more awesome, there’s a secret library hidden in the lounge that contains a unique collection of spy novels. You’ll have a fun time finding the part of the bookshelf that opens up into the...