This article is part of the Globetrotter’s FT Guide for Wet
I was born in Lagos and spent my first years there up to 11 years old, when I went to the Dormitory School, first to Nigeria and then in the United Kingdom. Most of my school holidays went there, and now I go at least four times a year; Last year, weddings, family and work would say I made 10 trips to Lagos, almost one month. Visit visit I present me with a new culinary experience. Growing up there, if you were not looking for fast food or traditional local Nigerian food, your choices were limited – there was a “really good” pizza place, a “really good” place, a “really good” place “, etc. That used to say, these places were really good.
These days, lagos boasts a much more diverse kitchen landscape. Seeing open people thoughtful spaces, experimenting with new techniques or to honor traditions has been particularly beautiful. Food has always been essential for Lagos life, and now it is also like the city’s favorite passage. People are becoming more adventurous with what they eat. Dinner in Lagos is a way to celebrate Nigerian culture, to know food from other cultures and to exchange experiences. I like to explore new additions to the dining scene as they reflect how Lagos is becoming more of a cosmopolitan city, global.
Reconstruction
4 Chucks Subsignia, Lekki Stage I, Lagos 106104
Àjọjẹ is an intimate, family -style dining concept, focused on the spirit of the community. They have only one reservation a day, with a large dining table that can sit 10 or more guests. You can hire the whole space, or you can participate in a social event where you reserve a place or two on the table to dinner and mix with other guests.
It is a curated experience where you feel like you are at home eating great food. They usually prepare questions cards that help people open – it’s an intimate evening. Food combines traditional aromas with modern techniques. The menu consists of three courses, with many different options placed on the table for each of them. In my visit to my cousin’s birthday, these included smoked turkey salads and nuts, salty brioche with wild honey and caramel butter, and then a brilliant snapper grilled with brown butter and pumpkin puree. Everything is very fresh and made at home, and every course was paired with a summer. Municipal eating and thoughtful dishes make it feel so much about the connection as it is about the meal. Website; Direction
gestation
Flat 3, second floor, 16 Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
Thai Thai is a family -led restaurant with a cozy, home -made feeling, perfect for lunches and casual dinners. Friendly staff and thoughtful design, containing many plants and greenery, create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. I love the vegetable spring rolls, Thai green curry and dumplings – try joining them with icy Thai tea. On a quiet midweek evening, he always feels like a small, welcoming rescue from the annoying lago streets (though in a compressed area). Opening times: Tuesday – Sunday, noon – 10:00 am. Website; Direction
Lagosia
10 Street Adetokunbo Ademola, Victoria Island, Lagos 106104
Lagosia, also located on the island of Victoria (also has a post in Ikoyi), epitomizes traditional Nigerian cuisine, serving fresh, authentic dishes that stand true for their roots. It gives exactly what a man expects from a Nigerian restaurant: a lot of fragrance and filling, making him go to anyone who wants genuine local food. Here, I would order the Okra of the sea, a soup made of okra, peppers, chillies, shrimp beans and spinach cooked in palm oil. You will probably find all the different “soup and swallowing” options from many tribes throughout Nigeria. Swallow is a complement similar to dough made of main food in Nigeria such as Yam, Cassava, and the plant and turned into a dense paste that then dip into the soup. Typically it is starch and quite fillers; The closest western comparison is the mashed potato. Price is of the middle-interval for me, it is somewhere where I have trust will always give. Instagram; Direction
Nok by alar
12a Yubade Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
Nok is a key element of the Lago dining scene, celebrated for obtaining pan-African cuisine. It offers a variety of dishes in contemporary or traditional styles. I recommend sitting in the garden and selecting from the Grill menu. I often order chicken watery and the goat rolls to start. For a main, my favorite dishes are the Oxtail and Yam hit -off and yam melonA soup made with melon seeds.
Also a good place for drinks with friends, as they make excellent cocktails such as tamarind-tequila infected with tamarind, cinnamon syrup, lime juice and ginger ale-and light heart: Mussgrave pink gin, grapefruit juice, rose strips, soda water. The internal and general décor shows the splendor of Nigerian craftsmanship, and the environment, especially in the evening, makes it a memorable experience beyond the food itself. Opening times: Tuesday – Thursday and Sunday noon – 4 afternoon and 6-10 in the afternoon; Friday – Saturday, noon – 4 in the afternoon and 6 in the afternoon – 10.30. Website; Direction
Slow
2 Street Musa Yar ADUA, Victoria Island, Lagos
Slow attracts inspiration from Latin America and West Africa. It is ideal for family lunches and has a metropolitan vibe, often with a free jazz group playing. Sea bream, Peruvian rice and duck croquettes are indispensable, and the wide cocktail menu suits all flavors. As one of the richest restaurants in Lagos, Slow offers sophisticated eating experience. If you go with a large group, you are best to make a reservation, though they also take a walk. Then the type of place where everything, from food and drinks to the atmosphere, makes you want to wake up. Opening times: Monday – Friday, 8am – midnight; Saturday-Sunday, 10 morning morning. Website; Direction
Bakery xo
4a on Olugbade Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
Xo Bakery is probably my favorite morning place in Lagos. It offers freshly baked goods and breakfast options that keep customers return for more. Breeze baked bread, bagels and croissants are probably the best in lagos, and they also make excellent pancakes served with maple syrup, bacon and eggs. The pastes are constantly fresh, and it’s the type of place where you can catch a quick bite or spend your breakfast and get meetings from there. Opening times: Monday – Saturday, 7am – 10:00 am; Sunday, 10am – 8 in the afternoon. Website; Direction
Iré Hassan-product is the co-founder of Ikoyi180 Strand, London Wc2r 1ea
What is your favorite food in Lagos? Tell us in the comments below. And follow FT Globetrotter on Instagram at @Ftglobetrotter
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