Flying in Qatar Airways business class comes with several perks, including priority check-in, access to fast track lanes at certain airports, priority boarding, à la carte dining, and access to the airline’s business class lounges. On certain routes, you can even experience the Qsuite, which is considered one of the best business class products in the world.

While Qatar Airways has a few business lounges worldwide, the airline’s most stunning lounges are undoubtedly at its hub at Doha Hamad International Airport. During a personal trip to Thailand, I had a chance to experience Qatar Airways’ business class offering, which came with complimentary access to the Al Mourjan business lounges in Doha. I visited the Al Mourjan Business Lounge – The Garden on the first leg and the Al Mourjan Business Lounge – South on the return leg. Let us take a look at the features and see how they compare.

Accessing the lounges

Al Mourjan – The Garden

I flew from Johannesburg to Bangkok to enjoy a ten-day holiday in Thailand with an industry colleague. Flying on the Airbus A350-900, we departed Johannesburg at 20:28 and arrived in Doha at about 05:09 local time. After disembarking and passing through security, we headed straight to the Al Mourjan – The Garden Lounge.

It is located in the northern expansion of the airport and is open 24/7. It is accessible to full-fare business and first class passengers, but paid access and single-day access are also available for business lite and economy passengers. You can access the lounge via lifts.

Al Mourjan – South

On the return leg, we departed Bangkok at 02:51 and landed in Doha at about 04:49 onboard the Boeing 777-300ER equipped with QSuite. Once again, we immediately headed to the lounge, which is located on Level 3.

The lounge is also open all day and is accessible to first and full-fare business class passengers. While paid access is available for business lite and economy passengers, single-day access is not available. You can enter the lounge via lifts or escalators.

Space and general aesthetics

As the name suggests, the Garden Lounge, part of the Central Concourse, has a garden as its focal point. It incorporates natural light and stunning greenery, reflecting the scenery of the tropical garden and water features of the Orchard below.

The garden can be viewed from the open seating area, and with the sound of water flowing in the distance, it is a nearly perfect spot to kick back and relax. The Garden Lounge measures an impressive 79,545 sq ft (7,390 sq m) and can accommodate up to 707 passengers. When we visited, it was clean and tidy and not too crowded.

The South Lounge, on the other hand, is more elegant, showcasing a modern flair and style with exclusive marble, designer furniture, high ceilings, and bronze walls. There is a large pool/fountain at one end of the lounge, complementing the exquisite nature of the place. At the end of the pool, there are several large windows that provide a fantastic view of the apron.

The South Lounge also has Mezzanine Dining, which can be accessed via the staircase located by the pool. Ultimately, both lounges are very spacious and provide a unique experience. However, regarding space and general aesthetics, I would choose the Garden Lounge over the South Lounge because of the stunning Orchard view.

Facilities and amenities

Given the size of both lounges, it isn’t easy to explore all their facilities in just a couple of hours. They both have free conference rooms, smoking zones, clean restrooms, showers, quiet rooms, prayer rooms, seating pods, complimentary WiFi, and kids zones.

After my seven-hour flight from Johannesburg, I visited the private showers at the Garden Lounge. They are located on the opposite side of the lounge, closer to the Louis Vuitton lounge. The showers can accommodate carry-on bags and have all the amenities you need for a shower, including fresh towels, body wash, shampoo, and body lotion. They also have a hairdryer and an outlet to plug in a shaving machine.

The showers in the South Lounge are located past the Global Deli area. They are a bit bigger and provide a private toilet. An additional perk is that the quiet area is located just outside the showers, so guests can take a nap immediately after freshening up. The quiet area features private suites with leather couches and flight information screens.

Additionally, the staff will happily alert you when it’s nearly time for boarding so you do not miss your flight. Ultimately, both lounges provide similar amenities and exclusive areas to relax individually or with company. While the South Lounge has bigger showers, I would say the two lounges are tied in this category.

Food and dining options

Both lounges offer hot food, snacks, a buffet, à la carte meals, and waiter service. Guests can also request drinks at their tables or visit the bar and choose from a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. To access the menu, you can simply scan the QR code on the table.

Breakfast is served from 05:00 to 10:30. When I visited the Garden Lounge, I tried the Eggs Benedict served with turkey ham, asparagus, and Hollandaise sauce. It was well-prepared and served on time. I also had a glass of rosé champagne just before the boarding gate opened.

The Al Mourjan South Lounge offers a wider variety of dining options. The main floor features the Global Deli, which offers an array of international cuisines. For à la carte dining, guests can visit the upstairs restaurant. When we visited the lounge, it was a bit packed, so we had to wait about 10 minutes to get a table in the restaurant.

Eventually, we were admitted in and enjoyed breakfast with a great view of the apron. Similarly, the menu can be accessed through a QR code and guests can also choose their meal from the buffet. Given the South Lounge’s upstairs restaurant, I would put it as the winner in this category.

Service and final verdict

Given that both lounges are operated by the same airline and cater to the same cabin classes, it is no surprise that they are similar on many fronts. The service is also consistent throughout both lounges, with friendly staff, waiters, and bartenders.

When visiting a business lounge, all guests expect to receive top-notch service. All facilities, including showers, meeting rooms, and quiet areas, were kept clean and readily available for use. As both my flights were departing in the morning, I didn’t get to try the lunch and dinner, served between 11:00 and 04:00.

If you’re flying in business class through Doha, either lounge would be a great choice. However, if you do not want to be rushing for your flight, you can choose the lounge closest to your gate. Ultimately, I enjoyed both visits but preferred The Garden Lounge due to its unique tropical garden atmosphere.