Café Pouchkine Crowned Favorite Café at FACT Dining Awards Qatar 2026

Café Pouchkine at Galeries Lafayette Doha has been named Favorite Café at the FACT Dining Awards Qatar 2026, adding another distinguished accolade to its growing legacy of excellence and reaffirming its status as one of Qatar’s premier café destinations.

The award was presented during the FACT Dining Awards Qatar 2026 ceremony held in Doha on 23 June 2026, bringing together leading names from the country’s dynamic hospitality and dining sectors to celebrate outstanding achievements across the industry.

Inspired by the elegance and charm of Parisian café culture, Café Pouchkine has become synonymous with sophisticated dining experiences, exquisite French pastries, artisanal desserts, premium beverages, and exceptional hospitality. The latest recognition reflects the café’s unwavering commitment to quality and its ability to consistently deliver memorable experiences that resonate with guests.

Commenting on the achievement, the Group General Manager of Ali Bin Ali Hospitality, which manages Café Pouchkine, Mr. Bassel Salim Ammar, said, “This recognition reflects the passion and dedication of our team to delivering an exceptional guest experience every day. We sincerely thank our guests for their continued trust and support, and we remain committed to setting new standards of excellence within Qatar’s hospitality industry.”

More than an award, the recognition highlights the enduring connection Café Pouchkine has built with its guests through a distinctive blend of French artistry, refined hospitality, and attention to detail. As the brand continues to evolve, it remains dedicated to creating elevated café experiences that celebrate both tradition and innovation.

Widely recognized as one of the most influential hospitality awards in the region, the FACT Dining Awards celebrate venues that have excelled in creating exceptional culinary and guest experiences.

Café Pouchkine’s win is a testament to the dedication and passion of its team, whose commitment to excellence continues to elevate the brand’s presence within Qatar’s competitive dining landscape—an achievement that further reinforces Ali Bin Ali Hospitality’s dedication to delivering world-class concepts and exceptional experiences, while supporting Qatar’s position as a leading destination for hospitality and dining excellence.

Ali Bin Ali Hospitality Participates in Web Summit Qatar 2026

Ali Bin Ali Hospitality participated in the third edition of Web Summit Qatar 2026, reinforcing its commitment to hospitality excellence at one of the region’s most prominent technology and innovation gatherings.

ABA Hospitality participated from February 1-4, 2026 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), where its portfolio of five brands, Juan Valdez, Café Pouchkine, 974 Delights, Cioccolatitaliani, Joe’s café and Wahaj Catering, operated dedicated kiosks serving a wide selection of food and beverage offerings throughout the event.

Across the four-day summit, the brands collectively catered to thousands of local and international visitors, contributing to the overall guest experience and supporting the dynamic atmosphere of the event. Attendees were able to enjoy diverse concepts ranging from premium coffee and refined patisserie to Italian desserts and tailored catering services.

Commenting on the participation, The General Manager of ABA Hospitality, Mr. Bassel Salim Ammar said “We were proud to be part of Web Summit Qatar, supporting this landmark event through its food and beverage offerings and reinforcing its role as a trusted hospitality partner for large-scale international events in Qatar.”

Web Summit Qatar 2026 welcomed more than 30,000 attendees from over 120 countries, bringing together global founders, investors, policymakers, media representatives, technology leaders, and startup teams. The event featured keynote talks, panel discussions, startup pitches, networking sessions, and exhibitions, positioning Qatar as a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Ali Bin Ali Hospitality’s participation at Web Summit Qatar underscored the group’s dedication to delivering high-quality dining experiences at large-scale international events. Through its diverse brand portfolio, the group successfully created memorable culinary moments that complemented the summit’s forward-looking and global spirit.

Café Pouchkine celebrates Arabian Women with its exquisite catering and exclusive lounge experience

Renown restaurant, Café Pouchkine catered the opening ceremony of the 8th Edition of the Arabian Women event, held from October 5th to 10th, 2024, at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) in Doha, Qatar. This prestigious event celebrated the achievements and contributions of Arabian women, fostering a spirit of unity and empowerment within the community.

The event attracted a diverse audience, including media representatives, bloggers, and esteemed guests from the Qatar Cancer Society and Qatar Chamber. This gathering not only highlighted the importance of supporting women in various fields but also served as a platform for networking and collaboration among influential figures in the community.

During the event, Café Pouchkine had the exclusive honor of setting up and operating an elegant pop-up lounge exclusively for the occasion, where guests were treated to an exquisite ambiance that reflected the elegance and sophistication of Arabian culture. The lounge similarly complemented the stunning fashion show and captivating entertainment that was organized at opening ceremony of the event, creating an additional vibrant atmosphere that resonated with the theme of the celebration.

Attendees enjoyed a carefully curated selection of culinary delights, including trays of filled dates, mini savory pastries, and an array of refreshing drinks. Additionally, a specially designed menu was available for the public, ensuring that everyone could partake in the wonderful experience that Café Pouchkine is famous for.

Café Pouchkine is committed to creating welcoming and indelible experiences that celebrate culture and community. As Café Pouchkine reflects on this remarkable week, it is reminded of the significance of events like the Arabian Women gathering. They play a crucial role in empowering women, promoting unity, and celebrating the rich heritage of Arabian culture.

For more information about Café Pouchkine and its delectable cuisines please visit its restaurants in 21 High Street or Place Vendome in Doha, Qatar.

Pinktober Was All Smiles for Breast Cancer Awareness at 21 High Street

To support the Qatar Cancer Plan 2023-2026, which aims to ensure that everyone in Qatar has access to accurate information and the highest quality cancer care, 21 High St, the ultimate outdoor shopping destination in Katara, launched a 360-degree photo booth. Visitors took fun and creative pictures and videos to show their support for breast cancer awareness.

The booth was prominently located in 21 High St. and was open from 5pm to 10pm on weekdays and 5pm to 12pm on weekends, starting on Thursday, October 5th and running for two weeks.

Decorated with white flowers and pink ribbon which are universally recognized symbols of breast cancer awareness, the 360-degree photobooth was both eye-catching and meaningful.

“We are proud to partner with Qatar Cancer Society to support their important work,” said Evelyn De Croutte, General Manager, 21 High Street. “Women often have to juggle many different roles, from running the household to working full-time jobs. Therefore, we need to look at our well-being from a 360-degree angle taking into consideration our physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health.”

Shoppers had a lot of fun at the 360-degree photo booth and captured some amazing memories with their friends and family! They were also able to receive their photos and videos via AirDrop or email, and were encouraged to post them on social media using the hashtag #SmileForBreastCancerAwareness to support the fight against breast cancer.

Throughout the month of October, the Qatar Cancer Society is partnering with various organizations across the country to raise awareness.

Café Pouchkine expands its presence in Qatar with new outlet at Place Vendome

Café Pouchkine, renowned for being one of Qatar’s popular luxury dining locations with a unique Russian heritage, opened its second outlet at the glamorous Place Vendome Mall in Lusail City. Hosted by Ali Bin Ali Hospitality in Qatar, the café opened its doors to the public on the 5th of January, 2023.

Stationed right at the heart of Place Vendome, Cafe Pouchkine is located on the ground floor of the mall’s south side. The café sits right under the glass dome of the Parisian-inspired structure and blends seamlessly into the architecture, which radiates luxury and extravagance while conveying a touch of cultural and artistic feel. The interiors of the café are equally elegant with the all-white décor. The intimately carved woodwork creates a modern yet classic look that quintessentially describes Café Pouchkine.

Already known as one of the best tea-rooms in Qatar, Café Pouchkine offers a wide range of gastronomical delights. From a snack menu that includes surprising club sandwiches to the timeless café de Paris streak, via delicious Blini – or lunch “à la carte” with crispy dusk salad, or a beef Stroganoff, the cafe promises to take taste buds on an international voyage of discovery. Enjoy a dreamy afternoon with their signature tea and coffee accompanied with a crowd-pleasing section of desserts, including honey cake and macrons.

Commenting on the launch of the new café, General Manager of Ali Bin Ali Hospitality Mr. Bassel Salim Ammar said, “Ali Bin Ali Hospitality is always looking to elevate the hospitality experience for the people of Qatar, and the opening of the new Café Pouchkine outlet is part of that mission. Place Vendome, with its touch of cultural and artistic feel, made it the perfect pairing for us as a location to house Café Pouchkine. The entire team at Café Pouchkine is ready now to serve guests in a new and exciting location, while remaining true to the superior dining experience we have been known to deliver, time and time again.”

Since the brand opened its first café in 2019 at 21 High st as the country’s only restaurant, tea-room and patisserie with an authentic origin hailing from Moscow, Café Pouchkine has continued to rise in popularity among locals and residents in Qatar, who seek unique, high-end experiences.

 

Café Pouchkine hosts Breast Cancer awareness workshop

On the occasion of the breast cancer awareness month on October 2022, Café Pouchkine at Galeries Lafayette, Doha, in partnership with the Qatar Cancer Society, hosted a 2-hour breast cancer awareness workshop on October 16, 2022. The invite-only workshop, attended by forty women from different sectors, educated participants about the disease, how best to tackle it and how to support cancer victims.

The all-pink event was graced by two breast cancer survivors, who gracefully shared their journey towards recovery. In the discussions, it was mentioned that everyone in the society has a role in fighting cancer. The survivors pointed that due to their relapse and experience, they have taken an active role in educating humanity on breast cancer.

In her presentation, the speaker of the event, Ms. Heba Nassar, emphasized the need to be proactive in order to detect the disease early and effectively treat it. “Information and early detection saves lives,” Ms. Nassar added. She continued that breast cancer, just like and cancer and disease should not be outlawed, instead the community should look for a way to curb the spread of the disease. She informed participants that currently there are support groups across the world that counsel the infected.

During the event, participants enjoyed pink afternoon tea prepared by Café Pouchkine. Similarly, giveaways of macaron boxes, coupled with pink beauty products from Galeries Lafayette, and complimentary breast cancer screening vouchers were handed out to all the participants.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer type, accounting for 1 in 8 cancer diagnoses worldwide. Thus, October is the month designated for Breast Cancer Awareness globally. Café Pouchkine takes this opportunity as a social responsibility to educate its audience and customers on the importance of health mindfulness. In this era, technology and advancement in medicine has enabled humanity to address cancer. As with all cancers, the chances of successful treatment are vastly improved the earlier it is caught. We must play our role in accessing information, tools such as screening services and medication that can help us live a better and dignified life.