Must-see restaurants in West Africa

  • La Belle Époque

    Lomé

    One of Lomé's finest tables, La Belle Époque – all crisp white tablecloths and dimmed lighting – serves a refined, French-inspired cuisine. You can enjoy…

  • Indigo

    Lagos

    Subtly flavoured Indian food served in a refined atmosphere in lovely metal dishes. There's a picture window onto the traditional clay oven, where fresh…

  • Le Nandjelet

    Abidjan

    Tucked away in Blokosso (opposite the cemetery), this enchanting local spot offers good kedjenou (slowly simmered chicken or fish with peppers and…

  • Le Mechoui

    Abidjan

    In an elegant setting that overlooks the lagoon, Le Mechoui serves fantastic Lebanese food. All the ingredients are fresh, the taste is top-notch, and the…

  • Centre Grill

    Togo

    An attractive place with a straw roof, wicker light shades and blackboard menus, Centre Grill serves divine Togolese food and good Western dishes. Try its…

  • Le Calypso

    Burkina Faso

    Run by the same jovial Franco-Burkinabé family as Le Calypso hotel, this popular restaurant is a wonderful place for tasty, slow-cooked fish, marinated…

  • La Canne d'Or

    Burkina Faso

    This villa-style eatery, with its African decor and riot of fairy lights, serves French fare with an African twist. House faves include frogs' legs and a…

  • Aboussouan

    Abidjan

    Take Côte d'Ivoire's best maquis dishes, ask top chefs to prepare them and add fine, innovative touches – that's Aboussouan. Foodie heaven, and there's an…

  • La Plazza

    Cameroon

    Something of a N'Gaoundéré institution, this place has live music nightly and cold draught beer from the thatched bar. The Lebanese and pasta dishes are…

  • Patagonia

    Accra

    Beef lovers will feel at home in this elegant steakhouse and seafood grill on the ground floor of West Africa’s tallest building. Imported from South…

  • Auntie Muni Waakye

    Accra

    Waakye (a mix of beans and rice served with spaghetti, meat or fish stew, boiled eggs and lots of hot shito pepper sauce) is Ghana’s most popular street…

  • Outside view, Burger & Relish

    Burger & Relish

    Accra

    Gourmet burgers have come to Accra in this hip, industrial restaurant, which doubles as a trendy cocktail bar in the evenings, and a family-friendly…

  • Le Djembé

    Dakar

    A block west of Pl de l'Indépendance, this inviting, colourful eatery is the whispered insider-tip for anyone in search of a filling platter of…

  • O Curral

    Santo Antão

    Along the road in the tiny settlement of Chã João Vaz is O Curral, known to locals as Alfred's, a straw-roofed restaurant, farm shop and grogue distillery…

  • La Chaumière

    Accra

    There's stiff competition these days, but La Chaumière remains one of Accra's best and fanciest restaurants. It excels in old-school elegance, with soft…

  • Chuck's Bar & Restaurant

    Ghana

    You won't see many locals in here, but as far as expat havens go, this is a good one. A wood-burning pizza oven produces excellent pizzas and the menu…

  • Chandinho

    Boa Vista

    An elegant spot that specialises in hot stone cooking – flavourful meat, fish or vegetables grilled up at your tableside. Large grilled prawns, grouper…

  • Nautilus

    Mindelo

    Near the waterfront, Nautilus has an open-air courtyard with a sizzling grill where you can get tasty plates of char-grilled tuna, grouper, octopus,…

  • Mama's

    Serekunda & Atlantic Coast Resorts

    Mama's is a long-running institution in Fajara, with a huge menu of satisfying comfort food: brochettes, grilled fish, schnitzel, spaghetti, salads and…

  • Gida's Garden

    Serekunda & Atlantic Coast Resorts

    This hidden oasis tucked one block south of the Atlantic Blvd is best known for its delectably prepared grilled meats (grilled T-bone, barbecue ribs),…

  • Mamba Point Lagoonda

    Sierra Leone

    Mamba Point is one of Freetown's most popular (and expensive) restaurants. Come for dinner in the chic dining room, or just to sink a few cocktails and…

  • El Sol

    Serekunda & Atlantic Coast Resorts

    One of the best eateries in the Senegambia area, El Sol spreads a Latin feast, with enchiladas, quesadillas and fajitas, plus a first-rate grilled red…

  • Le Bideew

    Dakar

    In the cool shade of the garden of the Institut Français Léopold Sédar Senghor, this colourful arts cafe is perfect for a break from the city. The varied…

  • O Pirata

    São Tomé

    Enjoying the best location in the city, the Pirate is little more than a deck perched on a crashing sea wall, facing a rusting shipwreck barely 100m…

  • Blue Marlin

    Boa Vista

    On Sal Rei's main square, this matchbox-sized restaurant with checked tablecloths and graffiti-covered walls serves some of the island's best seafood…

  • Churrasqueira Dragoeiro

    Cabo Verde

    Follow the scent of fresh barbecue and the wafts of smoke pluming overhead at this famous, open-sided grill-house in Achada de Santo António. It's a very…

  • Estendera Vivier Beach

    Dakar

    A charming little eatery with tables overlooking the crashing waves, Estendera has a small, well-executed menu of seafood, grilled meats and Italian…

  • Casa Maracujá

    Santo Antão

    This charming open-air rooftop eatery with mountain views serves up some of the island's best cooking, with delicious, locally sourced ingredients…

  • Utonde Beach Club

    Rio Muni

    This is one of two beach resorts in Utonde and was about to open at the time of our visit. It's very stylish, with thatched umbrellas set around a large…

  • Clay Oven

    Serekunda & Atlantic Coast Resorts

    In a converted house surrounded by gardens, the Clay Oven serves up excellent Indian food, with classics like palak paneer, chicken tikka massala and…

  • Restaurant Farid

    Dakar

    Squeezed between grey inner-city walls, this little oasis serves the best Lebanese meze in town, plus quality grilled meat and fish. You'll also find…

  • Giramondo

    Sal

    The island's best gelato draws big crowds most nights. There's outdoor seating in front, perfect for snacking on a cone of lemon, pistachio and strawberry…

  • Luigi's Pizza & Pasta House

    Serekunda & Atlantic Coast Resorts

    A song of praise to Italy and its culinary achievements. The pasta is al dente, the pizzas (widely hailed as Gambia's best) are deep-dish and everything…

  • La Pergola

    Mindelo

    This cosy cafe, under a straw roof inside the courtyard of the Alliance Française, has delicious salads, pastas and mixed seafood plates, plus tempting…

  • Gusto's

    Sierra Leone

    Decked out in Neopolitan colours, this airy space serves the most authentic pizza you'll find in Sierra Leone. There's also a deli stocked with a healthy…

  • Tutti Frutti

    Cabo Verde

    Serves up excellent seafood and Italian cooking on the main drag in Porto Inglês. Stop in to reserve one of the outdoor tables for dinner. Brenda, who…

  • La Linguère

    Senegal

    A reliable local eatery that serves up tasty poulet yassa, thiéboudienne and other Senegalese classics. Friendly service and attention to details (and…

  • Senegalese Restaurant

    Sierra Leone

    Ignore the no-frills interior – this tiny gem serves up delicious West African meals and cold beers. The yassa chicken (or fish) is excellent and it even…

  • Le Voilier

    Libreville

    A very smart restaurant, Le Voilier is kitted out like a ship, with wood panelling and brass instruments, and has a small terrace in the front. The food…

  • Moti Mahal Restaurant

    Kumasi

    One of the fanciest and best-loved restaurants in Kumasi, Moti Mahal is a formal place serving some of the country's finest Indian cuisine in elegant,…

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