This June is an important month for football fans – the Copa America is already underway, and the first match in UEFA’s Euro 2016 tournament kicks off this evening.
However, the games coincide with Ramadan this year, so many of bars and pubs that screen the matches are closed this month in Qatar.
Additionally, some fans are still struggling to gain viewing access at home following the removal of BeIN Sports channels from Ooredoo’s Mozaic TV and Ooredoo TV services last month.
So for those still trying to work out how to catch your favorite teams, here’s a list of venues where you can watch the games around town:
Trader Vic’s
The Doha branch of the Polynesian restaurant chain said it has turned itself into a “fan zone” for the duration of Euro 2016.
Football fans will be able to watch matches on 14 different screens at the Hilton Doha venue, which will be open and serving food and non-alcoholic drinks from 3pm (in time to catch the kick off of the first Euro 2016 games each day) to 2am.
Those who drop by today, June 10, will be able to enter a competition to win a return economy ticket to any destination in Europe with Turkish Airways.
To book, call 4423-3333 or visit their website here.
Eatopia
Eatopia at The Gate Mall in West Bay is showing Euro 2016 matches during suhoor. The restaurant is open daily from iftar time until 1am.
Iftar buffet costs QR165 for adults and QR60 for kids, and is free for children under six years old. Delivery is available from 10am onwards. To book, call 4020 6400.
Eggspectation Qatar
The Canadian restaurant Eggspectation – located in Medina Centrale on the Pearl-Qatar – has said it will screen all UEFA Euro 2016 and Copa America 2016 matches on several large screens in its restaurant.
Diners will be able to order special Euro 2016 party platters to eat while they watch the games.
The restaurant will be open for those wishing to dine-in from iftar time until 3:30am daily, and for takeaway from 2pm daily during Ramadan.
Banana Island
Or you can take a boat to Banana Island, where their air-conditioned Zen Garden has been set up with TV screens which will show Euro Cup matches from 6:30pm to 2am.
Tickets cost QR100 per person including the boat trip over, with a QR50 credit to be used at the venue. To book, call 4040 5050 or email doha@anantara.com to book.
Hotel Ramadan tents
Many of Qatar’s hotels are showing matches live on screens at their special iftar and suhoor venues.
This means that though they won’t be showing the afternoon matches (which kick off at 3pm Doha time), attendees will be able to watch the action live on the TV screens at night.
Here are some of the options around town:
The Grand Hyatt‘s Ramadanak tent will be showing UEFA 2016 matches during iftar and suhoor. Iftar begins at dusk and costs QAR220; suhoor starts at 10pm and costs QR200 per person. To book, call 3000 7513.
The W Doha will also be screening the games in its Ramadan tent every night, beginning at Iftar. Iftar costs QR230 and suhoor is QR285/person. Children under six years old eat free. To book, call 4453-5000.
The Four Seasons Doha‘s Ramadan Tent will feature three HD projection screens showing Euro 2016 matches during iftar and suhoor. The buffets are priced at QAR235 per person for iftar and QR270 per person for suhoor. To book, call 4494 8600 or email dining.doh@fourseasons.com.
The St. Regis Doha‘s Al Sukaria Ramadan tent will be open one hour earlier for suhoor on match days, from 8pm until 1:30am, with a buffet priced at QAR145 per person. To book, call 4446 0000 or email doha.butler@stregis.com.
The Saray tent at the Mövenpick Hotel West Bay Doha is also showing the games on “giant screens” from 8pm for QR200 a person. To book, call 44966561 or 6690013.
The Crowne Plaza Doha‘s Savor Lounge will screen Euro 2016 matches live from 6pm daily starting tonight, June 10. Food is served à la carte. For more information and reservations. call 4408 7777.
The Intercontinental Doha The City hotel is screening matches at suhoor time at its Al Jawhara Ramadan Pavilion from 9pm to 2am. À la carte menu packages start at QR180/person and can be booked by calling 4015 8700.
Do you have any other suggestions? Please tell us in the comments section below. Thoughts?