Souq Waqif is Doha's most beloved public space — a restored traditional market of narrow lanes, wooden shopfronts, and hawkers of spices, textiles, falcons, and local crafts that captures the spirit of pre-oil Qatar with remarkable authenticity despite its relatively recent renovation. The falcon souk at its edge is one of the most extraordinary commercial spaces in the Middle East. The Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I.M. Pei on a purpose-built island at the foot of the Corniche , is a masterpiece of contemporary architecture housing one of the world's finest collections of Islamic art. The National Museum of Qatar, designed by Jean Nouvel in the form of overlapping desert rose petals, tells the story of Qatar from its geological formation to the present with a curatorial ambition that matches its architectural drama. Katara Cultural Village is a 1-kilometre cultural and arts precinct on the beach, hosting exhibitions, performances, and the famous Katara beach along a bay of striking natural beauty. The Pearl is Doha's most luxurious residential and retail island, its European-inspired marina districts and luxury boutiques offering a very different experience from the historic character of the old city. Alwadi Hotel Doha - MGallery Collection in Msheireb is steps from Souq Waqif and 15 minutes from the airport, with the best rooftop lounge in Doha offering panoramic city views. Raffles Doha and Fairmont Doha together anchor the Katara Towers on the West Bay waterfront, while Swissôtel Corniche Park Towers Doha rises above the palm-fringed Corniche with six dining venues and a Pürovel Spa.