3 Best Restaurants in Dakar, Senegal

Local fishermen supply the catch, but diners at this restaurant in the Hotel Le Lagon feel like the anglers, in seating areas that replicate fishing yachts or resemble cushy cabins. Captain chairs encircle the bar. From the menu you can hook simple grilled fish or raw oysters or sea urchin; shrimp might arrive in leek and ginger cream, and prawns may be sautéed with citrus. Fresh herbs zest calamari salad. The deck overlooking the water is a fine place to exchange fish tales over wine, cold beer, or a swanky cocktail. Service is attentive and friendly.

Yes, sushi in Dakar. It’s served in a chic, sleek, modern setting, but that’s not the only surprise—a wood-fired oven cooks pizzas at lunchtime. Simple and fancy seafood dishes reflecting world flavors round out the menu. Think grilled steaks, seafood risotto, deep-fried noodle-wrapped shrimp, and beef carpaccio. Save room for tiramisu. White and black pleather chairs furnish the chrome-trimmed dining room.

The exterior may not grab you, but take a chance—the North African cuisine shines here in dishes such as monkfish tagine, stuffed crabs, and lamb curry. Don’t just think dinner. Lubricating rum drinks set the mood for dancing, and the dining area’s warm, sunset colors suit a livelier tone when the music and dancing begin. Kizomba and salsa classes are offered weeknights and sometimes on the weekends, a practiced team of dancers arrives to strut their stuff and get the crowd ready to cut a rug.