The 10-story Protea may not be the smartest hotel in Ikoyi, but it is clean and has the advantage of overlooking the waterways that lead through to Lagos Lagoon.

The downstairs bar/restaurant area benefits hugely from those river views. It’s not overly stylish, but it does boast a large patio area on which to enjoy a sundowner while watching the boats go by. The bar’s interior offers a comfortable space with some nice African touches, like the oversized faux-wood carvings and tribal masks that dot the shelves.

Upstairs, rooms are on the small side – and the dark side – but beds are comfortable. There is a small desk where a laptop can be set up easily, as well as 12 channels of DSTV, in-room safes and air conditioning. The bathrooms are also small and dark – the choice of dark tiling and marble makes them almost a little gloomy – but they have large rainfall showers, and are clean and tidy overall.

When booking, it’s worth asking for a west-facing room in order to watch the speedboats and local dugout canoes as they traverse the stretch between Ikoyi and Victoria Island. It’s also worth noting that the hotel runs on a generator based in the car park, which may keep light sleepers awake.

The Protea sits at the top end of Awolowo Road where it meets the E1 ring road. Awolowo Road is a relatively safe spot with a range of shops and small eateries. It is possible to wander the streets during the day in relative safety and also possible to walk to nearby La Scala restaurant or the National Museum.