I’m willing to bet that Café Puerto is one of the best restaurants in Ghana. It’s a simply designed restaurant made mostly of wood that appropriately looks like a dock, because this is the last port of rest before travelers can catch canoes headed to the Nzulezo, the village on stilts.

My visit to Café Puerto came after my visit to Nzulezo, so it was nice to unwind with a late lunch, gaze at the lake, and listen to house music while I ate what was one of my best meals during my entire stay in Ghana. Café Puerto is a Spanish restaurant owned by an expat (from Spain), who has been living in Ghana for years. The menu reflects typical Spanish fare like paella, empanadas, croquets and tapas, but Ghanaian food is also available.

I chose roasted chicken, fried rice and cabbage as my dish, because I’m probably one of the only people on Earth who isn’t a fan of paella. But based on what I had, I’m pretty sure that everything else on the menu is really good, because my simple dish was exceptionally good. The staff was friendly, the service was great, and I felt really special when the actual owner came to check on me. He probably does that to everyone because he’s friendly and hospitable, but minor details like that can make or break an experience. Mine was made.

The vibe here is that of a restaurant/lounge or local hangout joint that could also work well for date night or general leisure. The diverse group of patrons ranged from locals to people from various other parts of the world, most likely on their way to Nzulezo.  If you find yourself in this part of Ghana then make visiting Café Puerto a priority.