All you can see in Souq Waqif

Doha’s Souq Waqif is easily one of the best tourist destinations of Qatar. For a first time visitor, it can be easy to lose your way in the several streets of the souq that appear as mazes with no defined geometric pattern, but they are a peculiar characteristic of the many bazaars across the region,  as are the low-rise single-storied buildings of the souq, which are a trademark of Qatari architecture. One of my personal favourite feature of the design and architecture of the souq is the rough plastered buildings with small openings facing the streets, which combine to make a walk through souq both warm and welcoming.Souq is a popular destination for many food lovers thanks to an array of restaurants, almost all of whom have exquisite outdoor sitting areas, and who also serve some of the best Shisha in the country. Then there are the frequent festivals and many theatrical and musical performaces that will keep you entertained while at the souq.But for a majority of Doha residents, souq is the place they go to shop for groceries and seasonal delicacies. The many small shops lined along the paths in the souq offer a dazzling selection of authentic merchandise from spices and seasonal delicacies to perfumes, jewellery, clothing and handicrafts that can often only be found there. So next time you visit Souq Waqif, make sure you have a look at the merchandise available at the souq, which you also can bargain for— unlike other markets in the country.— Text by Azmat Haroon, photos by Rinzy Ismail