Dakar offers some of the best weather for sun-seekers in Africa, with warm year-round temperatures and an idyllic location on the Atlantic Ocean. It’s also becoming a popular destination to soak up the fusion of African and French culture while jetting off to other locations around Senegal and west Africa. Luckily, if you plan on a stay, there are plenty of fabulous places to rest your head and entertain you on vacation. Here are our picks for the best luxury hotels in Dakar, Senegal.

Radisson Blu Hotel

This hotel features all the trappings of an exquisite luxury hotel and was the choice of Barack Obama when he made a stop in Senegal on his 2013 tour of Africa. It features sleek rooms, an infinity pool, and a romantic restaurant overlooking the ocean. The hotel has 6 presidential suites, 13 junior suites, 7 luxury equipped apartments, and a royal suite for a truly exceptional occasion. Many of the rooms also offer great views of the Atlantic Ocean or Dakar’s great skyline. Guests can enjoy live jazz under the stars on weekday evenings as they lounge on love seats. It’s also conveniently located to Sea Plaza, Senegal’s first shopping mall, where you can shop at upmarket clothing stores and dine at fantastic restaurants.

Terrou-Bi

If you’re looking for luxury on the coast, it doesn’t get much better than Terrou-Bi. As one of the top luxury hotels in Dakar, it offers several restaurants, a casino, a private beach, a solarium and more. The hotel’s premiere restaurant Gastronomique is known as one of the top restaurants in the cities and features French gastronomy mixed with divine local flavors. The swimming pool and beach provide guests with a small oasis with magnificent views to relax the afternoon away. All of the rooms are modern and stylish — most coming with fantastic views of the ocean. And if you get bored hanging out in your room, just head down to the onsite casino to play some slots, grab a drink, or even enter a poker tournament.

Savana Jardin-Hotel

The tropical-themed Savana Jardin-Hotel is one of the finest in the city and offers over 100 rooms, including 3 suites that open up onto the ocean. Guests have direct access to some of Dakar’s best beaches, along with an Olympic swimming pool, sauna, and fitness center. There are two restaurants and three bars on site, including The Dolphin which keeps with the hotel’s theme and specializes in gourmet tropical dishes. The grounds of the hotel are quite lavish to walk around in, and feature numerous palm trees and other exotic wild plants. It’s also across the water from Goree Island, where you can see tons of bird life and visit the famous House of Slaves.

Lagon 2 Hotel

This quirky hotel was inspired by the popular Lagoon 1 restaurant and is based around an ocean and fishing theme. The entire hotel is themed like a luxury yacht and is anchored on the sea in a truly unique setting overlooking the water on stilts. The architecture throughout is full of diagonal shapes and and extremely colorful with lots of blues, pinks, and purples. Many of the modern suites have fabulous views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean along with large private decks that hang out over the breaking waves. Guests will enjoy the elegant restaurant and ambiance of the bar which both also overlook the ocean.

Pullman Dakar Teranga

The Pullman is one of the sharpest and sleekest places to stay in Senegal and can easily go toe to toe with The Radisson Blu. It features 230 rooms with all the amenities you’d expect, coupled with enchanting views of the ocean. The hotel is also in a prime location just off the Place de l’Independance, making it easy to get to anywhere you want in the downtown Plateau area. Rooms are soundproof with blackout curtains and up to par with the modern furnishings expected of a luxury hotel. The vibrant lobby is a great place to hang out, or head to the two on-site restaurantsto sip cocktails after coming in from a day at the large pool.

Hotel Sokhamon

Last but not least, the Hotel Sokhamon is one of the most stylish hotels in Dakar and comes with more reasonable prices than the more upmarket offerings in the city. Most of the elegant and spacious rooms overlook the ocean, and there’s a fabulous terrace that’s popular with visitors, particularly around sunset. Other amenities include a great live jazz band playing every night, and a relaxed bar with a robust wine list. Even if you aren’t staying here, it’s worth coming over to hang out by the pool terrace for drinks and watch the sun come down.

 

 

More from AFKTravel:

15 Photos Of Senegal That Will Make You Want To Go

10 Reasons To Visit Senegal

Destination Dakar: A Guide To Getting Around Senegal’s Capital

This article was originally published on June 30, 2015.

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