Doha's Best Child-Friendly Brunch: Superhero Picnic at The Lagoon, Ritz Carlton

It's not an easy task to make a Doha brunch stand out amidst the plethora of options available to the hungry diners (and drinkers) that take to the city's hotels on a Friday afternoon, but earlier this year the Ritz Carlton rose to the challenge and launched the highly original and innovative Picnic Brunch. Combining table service with live cooking stations dotted around the hotel's bright and breezy spaces, including their pretty garden verandah, the brunch ticked all of the boxes for groups of friends and families alike.

Now, six months down the line, and the hotel has surprised us again with the launch of their monthly Superhero Picnic Brunch which falls on the last Friday of every month. 

With a Marvel comic-inspired atmosphere, waiting staff dressed in character and touches of the theme everywhere you look (including fun twists to the food itself!), the thought and creativity that has been put into every aspect of the brunch is apparent. This isn't just somewhere to come to eat and drink until you can't move, this brunch is all about the fun you can have along the way.

It is extremely rare to find a brunch in Doha that is almost exclusively catered to children, while remaining appealing to the adults too, but I think that the Ritz Carlton has got the balance just about right. While children in fancy dress enjoy the bouncy castle, face painting and numerous real-life superheroes roaming about the place, the adults (also in fancy dress if the mood takes you!) can take advantage of the great range of food and drink on offer.

Highlights include the tasty starters which are preset on your table, especially the Fantastic Four Atchara with Green Papaya Salad...

The Giant Hulk Smash Hotdogs, made to order by Spiderman no less...

The Dragon Ball Dim Sum...

 

The tender, melt in the mouth braised lamb shank, which makes up part of the 'Avenger's Table' selection of main courses which are delivered to you at your seat when you've had your fill of the pre-set starters...

And the dessert platter, which is again brought to your table and includes a delicious banana dessert which is cleverly disguised as a hotdog.

In fact, this brunch does desserts pretty well, and the dessert buffet is full to heaving with delicious-looking treats. This might be a brunch to reconsider if you're trying to watch the waistline.

Sophia and I had come to The Lagoon with my good friend Donna and her son Lachie (a.k.a. Ryder from Paw Patrol), who was delighted to see all of his heroes together in one place (and even more delighted when mummy treated him by allowing him to have two desserts at once, one in each hand!).

Sophia on the other hand, was a little nonplussed by the superheroes...

But LOVED the bright colours and fun atmosphere as well as the balloon animals and building blocks in the kid's play area.

By the time that Batman served me my tea at the end of the afternoon, both babies were completely wiped out and more than ready for a long nap to sleep off all of the excitement (and sugar).

And as a mummy, there isn't a better mark of a successful day than that!

The details:

The Lagoon, Ritz Carlton Hotel, PO Box 23400, West Bay Lagoon, Doha
+974 4484 8000

Picnic Brunch: Every Friday, 12:30-4:00pm
Superhero Picnic Brunch: Last Friday of every month, 12:30-4:00pm
Price: QAR 249 with soft beverages; QAR 349 with selected house beverages; QAR 99 for children aged 5-12.

Best of the rest

Marsa Malaz Kempinski: The Little League Brunch

Starting last Saturday with the theme 'Princes and Princesses', the Marsa Malaz has introduced a rotational set of child friendly brunches, which continues on the 15th October with 'Heroes & Villains' followed by, 'Adventureland' and 'Sports Superstars'. Games and activities will include a thematic photo booth, crowns and chef hats, story telling, a bouncy castle, cupcake academy and burger & hotdog creation. And the adults amongst us will be pleased to hear that all of the usual delectable spread put on by the Sawa chefs will still be available.

Radisson Blu Friday Brunch

With music, cartoon characters in fancy dress, a face painting station and children's corner, the Radisson Blu is a great choice for those looking for a slightly cheaper option for Friday brunch for all the family.

Which is your favourite family-friendly brunch in Doha?

We were guests of the Ritz Carlton on this occasion, but as always all views are my own.