La Mar Doha by Gastón Acurio — Restaurant in Doha

A masterpiece of culinary art and ambiance. This Peruvian restaurant offers an unforgettable experience. The setting is calm yet alive with an immaculate Peruvian and Latin musical vibe that strikes just the right chord.

The high ceilings and grand interior design set the tone for something special, while the dimly lit ambiance and smooth Peruvian music make the entire experience feel elegant and immersive. It’s the kind of place where you feel like you’re in for more than just a meal—it’s an experience.

I was particularly impressed by the privatised area in the middle of the restaurant, which allowed for an intimate dining experience without losing the vibrant atmosphere. The room allocation for the guests is flawless, making sure we were celebrating our friend's birthday not only privately but also keeping a balanced distance between us and the other guests. The attention to detail here is impeccable, with service that feels both attentive and effortless.

Now, the food—wow. Each dish is crafted with such precision that every bite feels perfectly balanced. I can’t recommend the beef tenderloin enough. The balance of quantities was spot on; every bite of tenderloin paired seamlessly with the last spoon of rice, leaving me fully satisfied without a single element overshadowing the other. The oyster sauce paired wit the tenderloin was a thing made in heaven.

The food is outstanding, from the perfect portions to the incredible sauces and thoughtfully paired dishes. Every meal feels curated to impress. I’ve been here more than three times, mostly for birthdays, and it’s consistently delivered. The beachfront adds another layer, making it the perfect spot to relax during the day at the beach bar before heading to dinner.

What really stands out is the tasting menu—it’s complete, flavorful, and worth every bite. The music is another highlight. It’s not just background noise; it’s perfectly tuned to the mood, enhancing the entire dining experience in a way that’s rarely achieved. It’s calming but also lively enough to make you sway to its rhythm, adding a unique touch that makes the night feel better than going out to party.

The only downside is the service. While the waiters are attentive and genuinely caring, there’s a sense of pressure or hesitation during busy moments that slightly disrupts the otherwise smooth experience. With a bit more polish and flow, the service could truly match the perfection of the food and ambiance.

La Mar is the kind of place where high-class service meets a laid-back vibe, where everything from the music to the food to the service is in perfect balance. It’s easy-going yet refined, making it a must-visit if you’re in Doha, especially during off season where you can enjoy the setting fully.

Between the grand design, impeccable food, and music that completes the vibe, it’s a place that feels like a celebration every time.

I left with nothing but admiration and a strong desire to return. Highly, highly recommended and would give more than 5...

Firstly, I want to say that I cannot fault the food at all here. Everything we ate was excellent. However, I was extremely disappointed with the service we received during our dining experience at La Mar. We arrived for our reservation on time at 20:30 and were shown to a table immediately. However, once we were seated, I can confidently say that we received less than the minimum service one would expect at a high-end dining establishment. Whilst water was provided relatively quickly and drinks were ordered at the same time, we saw nothing of those cocktails until about 35 minutes later, after the gentleman who took our order confusedly noticed that nothing had appeared on our table. We also had to explicitly ask to order food at this time, as it seemed that none of the staff were specifically assigned to our table, so we were just ignored. The gentleman who did see to us was nice enough and helpful when present, but only seemed to notice we were there when we appeared disgruntled or annoyed (in fairness, I don’t think he was assigned to be looking after our table anyway, so I can hardly blame him).

The result of all of this was that we did not see our drinks until 45 minutes after we were seated, and any of our food until nearly an hour after we were seated. From the point of receiving our drinks, it appeared that nobody had any interest in visiting our table unless they were carrying an item from the kitchen with a receipt attached to it that had our table number printed on it - no further drinks offered, no refill of our water, though we did get an explainer of the main that was ordered for the table when it arrived. All the while, other tables around us were being doted on and obsessed over by multiple members of the crew (including visits by the chef, manager, etc) which made me wonder why we were being ignored.

For the redeeming part - the food. Everything tasted great, and we shared between two a criollo ceviche, 4 empanadas, and the arroz de pato. All had a great flavour and very nearly made the waiting worthwhile. The atmosphere was good in a nice setting, though at one point the volume of the music did exceed what I would define as ‘background’.

I’m not usually one to moan about service in busy establishments (I know how it is, I’ve worked in one before), but the attentiveness of the staff here left something to be desired and left a sour taste in my mouth on my last night in Doha. In summary, do come for the food but don’t be surprised if you don’t get...

La Mar has always been on my list to visit and I finally did. Located in the Intercontinental Hotel in separate building with a beautiful seating area inside and outside. Delicious and beautifully presented Peruvian food!

They first served us a bowl of crispy plantain chips, which were incredible, super and light and basically tasted like potato chips!

Started off with my top dish at the restaurant, Tuna Dashi, with thin slices of tuna in a delicious yellow chili dashi leche de tigre with torched avocado and sweet potato. The sauce was delicious and paired so well with the tuna, I highly recommend. Then for the ceviche, we tried the Trio Cebichero, which came with Barrunto, Nikkei and Clasico, each very different and yummy. I just prefered the tuna dashi over them.

For the main course we tried the Carne Anticuchos, tender grilled Wagyu pieces with chimichurri, on a bed of potatoes and corn. And then we got the Middle East Chaufa, which was an incredible fusion of a fried rice with middle eastern touches. Topped with Anticucho Lamb pieces, super tender and juicy, with labneh and stir fried vegetables.

Then for the dessert we had the must try Torta de Chocolate, a chocolate cake topped with a yummy chocolate dulce de leche sauce with cacao nibs with vanilla ice cream. I'm not a huge fan of chocolate cakes but this was done perfectly and could be the best I've tasted. Also got the Tres Leche, which was nice and creamy, but nothing too special.

Food: 8/10 Price: 8/10 Location: 10/10

Recommend: Tuna Dashi Carne Anticuchos Middle East Chaufa Torta...