The Ned opens in Doha

The sleek hotel and members’ club from the group behind Soho House has opened in the Qatari capital.

Membership Collective Group, whose portfolio includes the hugely popular Soho House brand of upscale global members’ clubs, has debuted The Ned in Doha, Qatar.

It marks the third international opening of the sophisticated establishment—which operates as a members’ club and upscale hotel—following The Ned London in 2017, and a second location in New York in 2022.

The Ned Doha features 90 rooms and suites, seven restaurants, a pool and club lounge, a health club and spa, and a fitness centre, set over five floors of the former Ministry of Interior, overlooking the Arabian Gulf and city skyline.

Design notes

Lebanese architect William Sednaoui designed the distinctive Brutalist building in the 1960s. Berlin-based David Chipperfield Architects has undertaken a redesign, while interiors have been conceptualised by Soho House Design—the architecture and design arm of Soho House, which has become known for its contemporary and luxurious aesthetic with nods to bygone eras.

A new podium has been installed around the concrete building, providing an inviting public space with shade, greenery, and views of the Al Corniche Waterfront.

Inside, terrazzo flooring, silk drapery, marble finishes, and woven and mirrored fabric boards are some of the design touches that evoke the glamour of the 1970s.

The public spaces mirror those of the original London address, with a live performance stage beneath an atrium, surrounded by a collection of restaurants and with liberal use of green marble from the Greek island of Tinos.

Guest rooms come in three sizes, with features like glass chandeliers, silk-covered ottomans, curated drinks cabinets, and marble bathrooms. Large rooms have claw-foot bathtubs in their generously sized bathrooms.

At the top end of the accommodation, 12 suites come with separate living areas. Design details include mirrored headboards, walk-in wardrobes with dressing tables, period walnut coffee tables and wingback armchairs, and separate powder rooms.

An extensive collection of original artworks is displayed throughout the property, commissioned by Wadha Al-Aqeedi and Elina Sairanen, the co-founders of Mathqaf. Of the close to 100 local and regional artists commissioned for the collection, more than three-quarters are female, and over 350 works cover themes like identity, history, culture, globalisation, and ecology.

Dining

Seven restaurants cover cuisines around the globe, from pan-Asian at Kaia to Northern Italian classics at the well-known staple restaurant of Soho House, Cecconi’s. Electric Diner offers American deli-style fare such as burgers, milkshakes, and salads; while Nickel Lounge is where guests can enjoy drinks and live performances.

Millie’s Grill is a European-style brasserie serving afternoon tea, and Hadika offers Levantine cuisine in an airy garden setting. Malibu Kitchen, the California-inspired hotspot, has a menu of plates like seabream tacos and courgette flatbreads served al fresco.

Introductory room rates at The Ned Doha start at 1,400 QAR (about AUD$550) per night; while global founding annual membership rates start at US$6,500 (about AUD$9,300).