A short, five-minute stroll from some of West Africa’s best surfing beaches, Le Lodge des Almadies combines beach flavour with elegant charm. It’s located on the main Almadies road – which is surprisingly quiet and free from traffic noise at night – which lies parallel to the beach road, with its surf shacks, crepe joints and fresh fish restaurants. Opposite the hotel is the excellent restaurant Alkimia.

Le Lodge’s centrepiece is its very fine restaurant, which straddles the inside dining room and the terrace of the swimming pool. The restaurant is highly regarded in Dakar; expect fine French fusion cuisine, served in a somewhat formal but absolutely unpretentious setting. On the menu are dishes such as soupe des poissons, seafood-stuffed ravioli, rib-eye steak and an impressive dessert list featuring perfect crème- brulee. The wine list is even better; oenophiles say it’s among the best in Senegal.

The rooms in the new part of the building look out over the pool or the ocean and vary in size and price. Standard doubles cost US75, while suites go for US140. Most have balconies, some have sleek bathtubs and all have the requisite Dakar mod cons, including good working AC, blackout curtains and beds to sink into after a long day in town. There are also a handful of rooms in the old part of the building, but we recommend avoiding these when you book; they are older and shabbier than those in the rest of the hotel.