If you’re looking for a sleek, reliable hotel within spitting distance of Dakar’s international airport, the ultra-modern Hotel Onomo is an excellent bet. Initially designed in 2012 to resemble mid-range chain hotels in the United States and Europe, the owners of the Onomo have given it a real local stamp, decorating the modern walls with local photography and art and hosting cultural events in the hotel grounds.

Admittedly, the hotel doesn’t look like much when you pass it on the main road (it’s no more than a two-minute drive from the airport.) But once you enter the imposing brick walls, you’ll find a sleek courtyard with stylish garden furniture, modern topiary and welcoming staff. The on-site restaurant and bar serves dishes with a Senegalese kick such as Yassa Chicken – stewed with lemon, olives and onion – and Thieboudienne – a traditional Wolof dish of sauteed fish, eggplant, rice and carrots – and there’s a breakfast buffet and of course room service.

The spotless rooms – US90 for a standard double – are carbon copies of one another, and they all come with spacious, comfortable beds adorned with local fabrics and throws. The AC is powerful – and that’s not something to ignore in Dakar, where temperatures often linger in the 100-plus range in summer. The wet rooms have impressive shower pressure, and many of the rooms come with balconies that look out onto the courtyard. And of course there are all the usual mod-cons, such as flat screens, fans and reading lights.

A stay here is good value and the service is faultless, the Onomo’s only flaw is that it sits too far from the main road to flag down a taxi. Instead, charter taxis ply the hotel road, charging up to three times the price of a normal trip to town. If you don’t have your own transport, don’t be afraid to bargain hard for a fair price.