The Plaza Doha Review: A Luxury Hilton LXR Hotel Near DOH

The Plaza Doha – a Hilton LXR Property

On a recent trip to Finland via Doha, I intentionally booked two separate itineraries to secure one of my long-standing aviation bucket-list items, flying Qatar Airways’ QSuite! That decision came with a long layover in Doha, which made an airport-adjacent luxury hotel not just convenient, but essential. I redeemed 51,000 Hilton Honors points for a night at The Plaza Doha, a five-star Hilton LXR property. It is a dry hotel and does not serve alcohol, something worth noting upfront, though it had little impact on my short stay. Even before reaching my room, it was clear this hotel takes its positioning as a luxury layover property very seriously.

Hotel Exterior (credit: The Plaza Doha)

The Plaza Doha is located a short distance from Hamad International Airport (DOH), making it ideal for transit stays or positioning flights. My booking was originally for a King Deluxe room, priced at 51,000 Hilton Honors points for the night, a solid redemption considering this category of hotel often prices closer to 70,000 points. Cash rates during my stay were significantly higher, which immediately made the points redemption worthwhile.

Check-in and First Impressions

Getting to the hotel from DOH is straightforward and quick. The Uber ride took approximately 15 minutes and cost 40 QAR, or just under $15 CAD. Qatar also has Bolt as a rideshare option, and having both apps installed allows you to choose the cheaper option at the time of booking. Upon arrival, the doorman immediately took my luggage and escorted me toward the reception. As is standard in the region, my bags were briefly scanned through an X-ray machine before entry, a routine security measure across many Middle Eastern hotels.

Hotel Lobby

The moment you step inside The Plaza Doha, the tone of your stay is set. Immediately to the right of the entrance is a dramatic staircase with black and gold railings, while to the left stands a striking statue of a golden elephant wearing a crown and holding a falcon. Directly ahead hangs an oversized glass chandelier finished in gold tones, instantly creating a sense of grandeur. The doorman handed me a luggage claim ticket and explained that my bags would be delivered to my room once check-in was complete.

Hotel Restaurant

Rather than a traditional reception counter, check-in takes place in a space that feels more like a private reception room. Portraits of both former and current Emirs of Qatar line the walls. Four black tables with paired chairs are arranged around the room, and a central black granite table with fresh flowers anchors the space. Yellow and gold-toned carpeting complements the curtains, reinforcing the hotel’s regal aesthetic. I was invited to sit while my check-in was processed, which took roughly five minutes. Even before seeing my room, the level of service and attention to detail had already made a strong impression.

My Upgraded Room – King Plaza Residence Suite

My original booking was for a 430-square-foot King Deluxe room. Leveraging my Hilton Honors Diamond status and a bit of friendly “suite talk,” I was upgraded to a King Plaza One Bedroom Residence Suite on the seventh floor. This suite typically sells for 172,000 points per night or approximately $575 CAD. The upgraded suite measured an expansive 1,162 square feet and was located in a corner of the building, requiring a scenic two-minute walk from the elevators through hallways dressed in vivid red and gold carpeting and artwork depicting Italian museums, including the Uffizi in Florence.

Elevator lobby

The suite layout was impressive from the moment I entered. To the left was a fully equipped kitchen complete with oven, stove, microwave, dishwasher, and a compact washer-dryer. Straight ahead was the main living and dining area, featuring a dining table for four positioned beneath a chandelier. The seating area included a cream-coloured couch, two rose-toned sofas, and a glass-top coffee table, along with an additional side table holding a lamp and phone. The carpeting throughout the suite was light blue and white, providing contrast to the darker furnishings.

King Plaza One Bedroom Residence Suite

Living Room

Seating area in the suite

Wall-mounted switches controlled the air conditioning, curtain automation, and lighting presets, including a dedicated dining mode that illuminated the chandelier and another optimized for television viewing. Just off the main living area was a guest bathroom with a shower, toilet, and sink. Beyond that, the suite opened into a second living room that mirrored the first, complete with another flat-screen TV, additional seating, and ample storage closets, making it ideal for entertaining or extended stays.

Suite Kitchen

Window Views from the suite

The master bedroom was equally well-appointed. A king-sized bed faced a flat-screen TV, and floor-to-ceiling windows offered sweeping views of the city. Storage was plentiful, with generous closet space and drawers. An antique-style writing desk with a leather-bonded chair sat beneath a Roman-inspired lamp, alongside a yellow accent chair. Bedside nightstands with lamps completed the space. The ensuite bathroom featured a shower, bidet, toilet, and sink, along with an extensive range of amenities including shaving, dental, and vanity kits, a shower cap, and more. I didn’t need to unpack a single toiletry from my bag. The overall design blended modern finishes with classical Italian and Roman influences in the lamps, furniture, and artwork, resulting in a suite that felt luxurious.

Bedroom – King Bed

King Bed – room

En-suite Bathroom

Bathroom Amenities

Breakfast and Happy Hour

Breakfast is served at the Courtyard restaurant, located straight ahead of the main entrance. The space is visually stunning, with marble columns, orange-draped windows, and ornate chandeliers. Although breakfast is served from 6:30 a.m. until midnight, I wasn’t able to experience it due to an early departure. I did, however, walk through the restaurant during dinner service and immediately regretted missing the breakfast buffet. Staff members consistently described it as exceptional, particularly for guests who appreciate a strong culinary offering while travelling.

Breakfast Restaurant

In-room breakfast

For guests departing early, the hotel offers room-service breakfast at no additional charge. The limited menu includes eggs prepared any style, coffee, tea, juice, breads with jams and butter, and fresh fruit. During my stay, the hotel’s evening “sundowner” happy hour ran from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Despite being a dry hotel, the offerings were substantial, including finger sandwiches, fresh fruit, desserts, soft drinks, and juices. It was more than enough to replace a full dinner. The rooftop bar area, adjacent to the infinity pool, offered stunning skyline views, particularly at sunset. While daytime heat in Doha can be intense, the early evening temperatures were comfortable, and the experience was relaxed and enjoyable.

Evening Snacks – Sundowner Happy Hour

Amenities – Sauna and Roof Top Pool

The hotel is well equipped with amenities that cater to both families and solo travellers. On the lobby floor is a dedicated kids’ playroom featuring an air hockey table, a foosball table, a jungle gym, and a large television playing cartoons. The room operates from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and was busier than expected during my evening visit, likely because my stay coincided with Eid. I was told the playroom is usually located on another floor, but was temporarily relocated to this larger space for the holiday period.

Kids Playroom

The 24-hour gym can be accessed either directly or via the wellness area near the jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room. The facility is exceptionally well stocked, with stationary bikes, elliptical machines, treadmills, a StairMaster, free weights, and resistance machines. Complimentary water, fruit, and bottled water are available throughout the gym.

The Plaza Doha – Gym

in-house Jacuzzi

On the eighth floor, designated as level P, is the rooftop pool area and bar. Multiple shallow pools, approximately 3.5 feet deep at their deepest point, are spread across the terrace, along with an outdoor jacuzzi. In keeping with local customs, there is also a separate indoor pool reserved for women and children. Adjacent to the pool area are hot and cold jacuzzis, a steam room, and a sauna, all located within steps of each other. The changing facilities are spacious and well equipped, featuring lockers with programmable electronic locks, additional showers, fresh towels, robes, and bottled water. The sauna and steam room are open until midnight and connect directly back to the gym, making it easy to move between relaxation and fitness.

Roof-top Pool area

Roof top views

Takeaway

For a stay of less than 24 hours, The Plaza Doha delivered a level of comfort and luxury that far exceeded expectations. Its proximity to the airport made it an ideal choice for a positioning flight, and from the moment I walked beneath the chandelier in the lobby, it was clear this was a true five-star property. My only real complaint is that I didn’t allocate more time to experience everything the hotel offers. The dry-hotel policy is something to be aware of, but for a short layover stay, it was hardly a drawback. The hotel is particularly well-suited to families, with ample indoor activities that allow guests to avoid the intense Doha heat.

If flying Qatar Airways QSuites is on your aviation bucket list, this Hilton LXR property makes for an excellent layover base. Between the spacious upgraded suite, extensive wellness facilities, generous happy hour, and refined service, the experience was memorable. I would not hesitate to stay here again and would gladly extend the visit next time. My overall rating for The Plaza Doha is a strong 9 out of 10.

Featured Image Credit: The Plaza Doha