Morning Options:
Lifehouse
(33 Sinari Daranijo Street, Off Younis Bashorun Street, Off Ajose Adeogun, Victoria Island)
Take a beginning yoga class at the Lifehouse, a cultural / recreation center with a café, yoga studio, and clothing boutique. You can take a class, warm up with some coffee and meet Lagos professionals who frequent this spot before heading to work.
La Saison
(42 Raymond Njoku Street South west, Ikoyi)
If you’re not a morning person or just want to stick to food in the morning, head over to La Saison in Ikoyi, off Awolowo Road. It is a favorite for foodies with discriminating taste and provides a lot more than the standard Nigerian breakfast.
Mid-Morning:
Elegushi or “Lekki” Market
(2nd roundabout, off Lekki-Epe Expressway)
After Lifehouse, I would continue on to the Elegushi Market at the 2nd roundabout. It is an arts & crafts market with authentic African jewelry that is not at exorbitant prices. This is a great place to get gifts that you wouldn’t find elsewhere.
Lunch and Dinner:
After the market, you will be going against traffic back to Victoria Island or Ikoyi for lunch. Good restaurants which might be in the Lagos version of a Zagat survey include:
Cactus
(20-24 Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island)
Great food and massive outdoor terrace on the waterfront. The restaurant will be on your way back from Lekki, so stop by if you’re in the mood for a casual, predominantly continental meal. Very healthy portions. Credit Cards accepted.
Skye Lounge, Eko Hotel
(12th floor, Eko Hotel & Suites, Plot 1415 Adetokunbo Ademola, Victoria Island)
Formal fine dining experience with breaktaking views of Lagos and world class continental/fusion food. Generally uncrowded during the daytime and full of ex-pats. Bar area is a good place to enjoy the view and enjoy exotic cocktails. VERY expensive though. Credit cards accepted.
The Blowfish Hotel
(No.17, Ojun Olobun Street, Off Bishop Oluwole Street)
Another good place for business travelers. Lebanese-fusion menu with a unique twist on the American hamburger. You’ll enjoy the food, ambiance, and if you’d like—the pool. I used to go there frequently to swim, hang out with friends, and pretend I was in paradise in the middle of the city. Subtle house music is played by the poolside on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, which draws a crowd. Credit cards accepted.
Yellow Chilli
(27 Oju Olubun Close, Victoria Island)
Cozy African restaurant with large portions of continental and international dishes. (Try the Combo Platter with Prawns if you’d like a mixture of both. The prawns are excellent by any international standard and the “Efo Riro” vegetables with plantain are a good starter dish for foreigners.) Jollof rice and Chicken is also a good dish for foreign travelers wary of gastrointestinal issues. Credit cards accepted.
Terra Kulture
(Plot 137, Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island)
This place is a mainstay for any business traveler, as the atmosphere, internet connectivity, and central location in Victoria Island allow you to stay in touch with business affairs back home while enjoying a mini-cultural experience. The space hosts plays on Wednesday and Sunday nights that are entertaining and showcase local artistic talents. The library is stocked with African books, the art gallery with high-end African artwork. Any of the grilled fish dishes with jollof rice and plantain are the most tourist-friendly. If you’re like to try something hot and spicy, go for the catfish pepper soup. Sadly, my favorite thing to do in this place is enjoy the complimentary chin-chin (Nigerian snack pastry) and order a bottle of Star and Sprite (Shandy). Credit cards accepted.
Ice Cream Factory
(Plot 1613b Omega Bank Ave off Adeola Hopewell, VI)
Nothing breathtaking or revolutionary coming from the U.S., but if you want to cool down and get a taste of home, try out the Caramel Waffle. It’s to die for! Good for an afternoon snack or coffee date. Tends to be crowded with law school students at lunch and late afternoons though. Credit cards accepted.
The Southern Sun
(47 Alfred Rewane Road, Ikoyi)
Hub for business travelers because of its internet connectivity, lounge seating, and blend of continental and local food. Will run into major finance and consulting professionals coming in and out of Lagos. Great meeting place if you need to set up back-to-back meetings and avoid traffic. Credit cards accepted.
Evening Activities:
Marquee
(14 Idowu Martin Street, Victoria Island)
This is an amazing space built above Mega Plaza, a mall located on Idowu Martins Street. It has a swanky interior décor and an outdoor seating area overlooking most of Victoria Island. The restaurant is open for business, but the lounge/bar upstairs is the perfect place for afterwork drinks. At 11 p.m., Marquee erupts into one of the hottest clubs in Lagos with hits from the increasingly rich and dancehall-like Nigerian music industry.
Bogo Biri
(9 Maitama Sule St. South-West Ikoyi)
This small boutique hotel in the heart of Ikoki has wireless internet, interesting artwork and a diverse menu of food options. The chili prawns are my favorite. With jollof rice and plantain on the side, you can’t go wrong. In the evenings there is sometimes a live music performance in the courtyard.
Dinner and a Movie - Silverbird Cinemas and Manuela’s Residence
(133 Ahmadu Bello)
The Silverbird Galleria is a massive shopping complex and movie theater located in Victoria Island. Go see an early flick at Silverbird, then head to a small close called Taslim Elias for an Italian-owned guest house that makes you feel like you’re in Italy! Amazing pizza. Authentic Italian cuisine. Casual dining.
By Feyi Olopade, MBA Candidate 2012, The Wharton School (former Investment Officer, African Capital Alliance)
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