Review: Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Class Lounge Doha
Intro
Following a decent flight onboard the Qatar A350-1000 from Denpasar, it was time to try and find the Al Safwa First Class Lounge. I have always been excited to visit the Al Safwa First Class lounge, as I heard some of the most amazing things about it from fellow travel bloggers, including the Jacuzzi😳.
Anyway, I found the lounge to be very good, and it ranks in my top three-class lounges around the world. The food was excellent, the hotel was beautifully decorated, and there was fantastic service. The spa was also nice. However, it almost feels more like a first-class terminal rather than a lounge.
Let's get into it!
Location+Access
The Al Safwa First Class Lounge is located in Terminal 1, right after the duty-free south station. If you originate in Doha, this is an absolute breeze, as after you check in, you can head through security and be outright by the lounge. However, when in transit, just head to the south side of terminal 1. If you see a sign close by to the B gates, you are on the right track.
Once you are able to locate the lounge, a representative will be standing at the bottom of the stairs to validate that you can enter.
The 24-hour First Class Lounge sees little crowds throughout the day, probably due to the entry requirements, which are as follows:
Anyone flying in Qatar Airways First Class, whether that be on a long haul product or short haul to the Middle East/Cairo/etc. Yes, award tickets are eligible.
Anyone connecting from a First Class flight to a Business Class flight (I have heard that sometimes this might not work).
Those traveling in First Class on a one-world partner such as AA
Qatar Privilege Club Platinum members when flying in Business Class (not One-world Emerald)
If your ticket is eligible for the Al Mourjan Business Class, you can pay 165$ to use the Al Safwa First Class Lounge for the day.
As you can see, the entry requirements are definitely on the harsher side, but for a good reason.
Around The Lounge
First impressions: wow, this place is huge! I'd be lying if I said I didn't get lost countless times during my 3-hour stay here. The lounge has everything you could ask for, from a 5-star hotel to more, such as a spa, a prayer room, a smoking room, a full-scale restaurant, and nap rooms.
Dining
Behind the large fountain (pictured above) lies a ginormous dining room. Let me tell you, you better come hungry and thirsty if you plan on visiting the lounge, especially since they serve the likes of Hennesey Paradis.
Upon entering the restaurant, I was warmly greeted by an attendant who directed me to the QR code for the menu. I would have preferred to have physical menus, but I understand.
The menu read as follows:
I was asked what I would like to drink and I decided on a mimoffee (mimosa+coffee and sparkling water. Within minutes, my mimosa appeared. However, as the coffee is barista-made, my cappuccino took a little bit longer. Both were delicious!
Seeing as it was breakfast time, I opted to go with the pancakes and a pastry basket. The lunch menu looked a lot more appealing, but you can't have it all😅. The display was elegant, the food was divine, and the service was top-notch.
Smoking Room
I appreciate when airports in Asia have smoking rooms, and even more so when lounges have smoking rooms. There is nothing quite like lighting up a cigar or enjoying a mimosa before/after your flight. Interestingly, I found the smoking room to be the busiest area of the lounge during my stay.
The smoking room is located in the back of the restaurant, but don't worry. The ventilation is good, and you can't smell anything unless you are inside.
The Bathrooms
Bathrooms are scattered around the lounge, but the main one is right by the dining room as well. See a trend here?
Every single detail of the bathrooms was immaculate, from cleanliness to design to privacy. A true First Class product.
The Spa
Now for the highlight of the lounge: the spa. The spa is located on the other side of the lounge from the dining room. When entering the lounge, hang to the right, and there will be signs to take you there.
As soon as I entered, I inquired into using the jacuzzi. They said it was possible, but it would take around 40 minutes to prepare. There is a beautiful area to hang out in, featuring a departure board to keep a tab on your flight.
Eventually, though, I was escorted back to the single jacuzzi that the Al Safwa Lounge has. Passing by, I found the treatment rooms which I wish I had time to use. A facial runs about 50$, while a 50-minute full body massage is about 110$ USD.
HOLY F**K. Wow, this might be the craziest feature I have ever seen in an airport. Just how beautiful is this jacuzzi?
Housecoats were provided, the jacuzzi was perfectly set to a good temperature, and everything felt like I was in heaven.
A couple of notes:
No food or drink is allowed in the spa
When you arrive at the lounge, visit the spa first to reserve your jacuzzi slot. You can always come back when it is ready.
You are limited to 45 minutes in the room.
There is a beautiful shower inside of the jacuzzi room, which I tested for research purposes😉 before leaving the lounge.
Eventually, my time came to an end, and it was time to leave the spa to go board over to Cairo. Passing by the lounge, I could see just how much thought and detail went into this space. Relaxation areas, beautiful decoration, and everything were as if it was a 5-star resort.
Other Amenities
Even if I spent 3 hours in the lounge, I didn't even get to explore all of the amenities this lounge has to offer. The Al Safwa Lounge also features a beautiful business center, a kid's room, and about a dozen nap rooms, which I am annoyed I didn't check out.
Service
The service was top-notch in every regard throughout the lounge. It shows what kind of airline Qatar Airways is. The staff were always extremely kind, whether that be with assistance with directions, or if I needed a drink, etc.
The one aspect that stood out to me was when I found out my aircraft had swapped from a Q-Suite Aircraft to a non-Q-Suite aircraft. Originally, I was assigned seat 1A, but I then got moved. The staff did everything to make sure they could try to put me in a window, but instead, they put me in a middle row with no one next to me.
Final Thoughts
The Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Class Lounge is one of the best first-class lounges in the world. However, perhaps I should call it more like a First Class terminal due to its size. Theoretically, you could spend a full day here and still not explore everything😅.
The service was phenomenal in every aspect, the food was delicious, the decorations were top-notch, and the spa, where do I even begin? The ability to have a jacuzzi in the lounge, full spa treatments, and places to relax, there are options for everyone. Lastly, on the good notes, I like how exclusive the requirements are to enter, meaning it never becomes too crowded. If they allowed OW Emeralds access, then QR could never provide the same services.
My only drawback is just how big it is. Yes, this was my first time, but for some reason, it took me countless efforts to find different places😅. I know this is a champagne problem, but they intriguing nonetheless.
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