A vendor simply known as Mrs. Kodjo has been selling the most delicious beignets on the streets of Dakar for the past 20 years. Located in the Ouest-Foire neighborhood, her stall attracts a mixed crowd of locals. As you approach the stand, you’ll spot the energetic matron rolling balls of batter with her palm and dropping them in blisteringly hot oil. Crunchy on the outside, yet sweet and airy on the inside, the beignets are absolutely delicious. By Kodjo’s side, her two assistants cater to customers’ various other orders, such as akara, black-eyed pea fritters, and small turnovers filled with fish known as pastels or fatayas. 

Tucked away at the far end of Les Almadies, this restaurant was a hidden gem a decade ago, but its reputation has spread all over the city. While the place is popular for its seafood paella and dishes from the wood-fired grills, check out the Thai beef with red curry and coconut milk, or the crab and shrimp gratin. Visit on the weekend for brunch and a dip in the pool.

This atmospheric spot buzzes with a relatively young crowd, partly thanks to the stunning views. The sunset calls for inventive cocktails like the sweet-and-sour Maad, a crowd-pleaser made with a local favorite fruit of the same name (also known as saba Senegalensis). Expect a mix of Senegalese and European cuisines, including slow-cooked lamb shank and mango curry prawns.

This family-run business, led by renowned Senegalese food blogger Aistou Cuisine and her sisters, prepares healthy, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly meals with fresh, seasonal ingredients, all while supporting local producers. Moringa, a plant known for its health benefits (vitamin C, potassium, calcium) is a star ingredient in several dishes, including moringa cookies and a moringa latte. Other options include Nioro du Rip — a wrap made with cowpea hummus — and Tekrour, a bowl made with shrimp, mango, corn, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and fonio, which adds a nutty flavor. Pair your meal with some refreshing baobab juice or a kinkéliba latte.

Opened six years ago, Melo has built a strong following with its popular brunch and friendly staff, leading to an inevitable wait on weekends. Owner and pastry chef Anna Gueye Diagne brings in customers with appetizing baked goods like lemon pie and Oreo cheesecake, but there are plenty of savory items as well, including breakfast tacos, kebabs of tender and juicy roasted lamb, and vegan salads. Vintage touches like chandeliers and colorful velvet armchairs contribute a cozy feeling to the whole affair.

One of the most welcoming places in Dakar, Lulu is run by two cousins, the fourth generation in various furniture trades, and the place is named for their grandmother, who fell in love with Senegal 20 years ago. The eclectic space functions as a home goods store, a cafe for breakfast and lunch, and a coworking space for locals and expats. The daily menu brings treats like a jerk chicken bowl or sauteed prawns with herbs. Check out the deli/market area too, where you’ll find jams made with seasonal fruits, cashews, sourdough, and even some salt from the famous pink Lake Retba.

Floodlights and fiery grills illuminate the beach between the Terrou Bi Hotel and the Court of Cassation, giving this group of seafood vendors its name. It’s a scenic place to dine on shrimp and prawns, as well as fresh fish such as sea bream or thiof (grouper). Pick out the vendor with the best-looking catch, select your meal from among the fish and seafood, and find your way to any of the available tables that line the beach while your dinner is cooked.

Le Mboté is one of Dakar’s most popular dibiteries, a place specializing in dibi, the local grilled street meat of choice. This spot is relatively small, and as you step inside you are immediately welcomed by the warmth of the blazing fire in the roasting area, a giant hole in the wall. With sheep carcasses hanging overhead, cooks stay busy grilling meat seasoned simply with salt and pepper. Once cooked, the meat is cut into pieces and served with lots of onions and mustard in brown paper. Le Mboté has minimal seating, so you may wish to pick up your dibi to go.

This iconic upscale restaurant was the first location for the Group La Fourchette, which runs several glitzy spots in Dakar. The place has been going strong for more than 25 years, but it has constantly reinvented itself over that time to keep customers interested. The menu is a blend of cuisines from all around the world, including Japan, Italy, Mexico, and France. The gnocchi with three cheeses and the seafood linguine are excellent paired with a lovely selection of wines.

Chez Loutcha is a family business in the Plateau area owned by Cape Verdeans, making a great place for comfort foods such as feijoada, a black bean stew often cooked with pork or lamb, and cachupa, a slow-cooked stew with hominy, dried beans, yucca, and salt pork or corned beef (the restaurant serves different kinds of cachupa, with or without meat, only on Thursdays). The portions are ridiculously generous.

It’s easy to become a regular at Kotao Coffee, especially since brunch is served every day. At two locations, one in Plateau and one in Les Almadies, the cafe offers relaxing vibes paired with fresh, homemade goods. Everything on the menu may sound tempting, but go for hits like the perky, savory waffle topped with avocado, turkey bacon, poached eggs, and creamy lemon sauce, or the bo-bun bowl with rice vermicelli, stir-fried beef, onions, and crushed peanuts. You don’t want to miss the banana bread with chocolate chips or the caramel macchiato.

Le Beluga brings a taste of Peru to the heart of Dakar. The menu includes an array of ceviches and other seafood dishes depending on the catch of the day, but look for the ceviche criollo with aji amarillo (yellow Peruvian chile pepper) and anything with the restaurant’s truffle sauce. Salmon is a consistent star across the rest of the menu; try the spicy grilled salmon or the salmon poke with avocado and soy sauce.

The Oceanium is a diving center and a bed-and-breakfast, but the bistronomy-focused restaurant is worth a visit on its own too. The kitchen team prides themselves in sourcing ingredients locally and supporting Senegalese farmers. Check out the fritto misto, Camembert roti, filet de kassaw (demoiselle) with passionfruit sauce, and gnocchis au pesto.