transformed in to an exquisite Suhoor venue.
Looking for a traditional Iftar and Suhoor in a relaxed, family-friendly ambience? The Business Park with its Aramede Restaurant and the new Arabic lounge, Arguelina at Crowne Plaza Hotel has just that to offer.
As the sun sets, you can partake in the Iftar buffet at Aramede restaurant offering both Oriental and international cuisines including lamb ouzi, specialty stations and Arabic sweets. Iftar is open from sunset until 9pm. As an added delight, a Juice Man goes around the restaurant to offer refreshing drinks as you break your fast.
The newly-opened Argeulina, the elegantly designed new Arabic lounge, has transformed to an exquisite Ramadan venue for Suhoor. With an exclusive a la carte menu featuring Arabic favourites until midnight, Argueline will have an Oud player performing over the course of the evening.
“The Arguelina Lounge is a place that provides us with the opportunity in the market to provide something that no one else provides,” Marcus Sutton, General Manager of The Crowne Plaza tells Community at a Suhoor evening hosted for the media.
“Having a lounge that serves food and environment like this where we can operate it year-round with the retracting roof is something that we are really excited to roll out and introduce to the market,” says Sutton. The lounge has been open for just over a week, a soft opening, as there still are elements that are yet to be finalised, says the GM.
“Everything will be as we wanted it to be probably in about 6-8 weeks. But because of the time of the year, Ramadan, we wanted to make sure that we can provide our guests with an experience to start with and we are looking forward to enhance this experience over the coming weeks and months,” says the hotel GM.
Sutton says they have tried to provide more high-end offerings which are still accessible. They are not placed at very high-price point. Positioned at a mid-range price point, the lounge looks to be attractive and affordable yet provide the visitors the same five-star level of environment that a lot of others don’t provide, he adds.
One unique element of the new lounge is the retractable roof that makes it more attractive and also enables it to operate year-round. It does not matter if the weather is hot but if the weather is nice they can open the roof of the lounge. They also serve Suhoor at the Argueline lounge which is open until 4am.
“As things progress and once we are fully operational, we will be potentially looking at operating this outlet to serve light breakfast through until early morning,” Sutton reveals. New to The Crowne Plaza, he just landed in Doha two months ago and yet possesses a vast experience in the hospitality industry, and of Middle East.
“I have been in this industry for 19 years. I pretty much got into the hospitality industry straight out of my high school. And during that time I have lived in many different countries. I have been working in Sweden, Switzerland, Tennessee (USA), London in 4 years,” says Sutton.
He has spent a lot of time in Middle East from working in United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai, Jordan, back to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and then to Doha for many years.
“It is really good so far (in Doha). It is always that when you enter a new country in the Middle East in the middle of summer, it is a little bit different experience,” says the new hotel GM, adding it is actually quite nice being in a place like Doha during Ramadan as it would allow him time to catch up with work and lifestyle.
He has visited Doha before for leisure and with places like Souq Waqif, the Corniche, the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), Sutton says Doha has a lot to offer. Apart from the Iftar and Suhoor in the Aramede and Argueline lounges, if the guests choose to stay in their rooms, Crowne Plaza Doha-The Business Park offers special in-room Suhoor menu ideal for quiet, private dining.
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