Day 1
09:00 Sleep in (you’ll need it) at budget boutique hotel White Orchid. It’s clean, friendly, and sits on Victoria Island, which is where you want to stay while in the Nigerian capital. Breakfast-wise, if you’re like me making a scene out of how you can’t have a hot meal first thing in the morning (working on this crap habit), then take a palm fringed walk to the pretty Flowershop café a few blocks away. Start your day with a bowl or a smoothie and then zip it, and get on with fufu or jollof rice for lunch.
10:00 Once fueled up, take a cab to Lekki Conservation Centre, and take a walk above the treetops on the longest canopy walkway of Africa. It’s a wee bit scary, but totally worth it. You’ll spot rare birds, monkeys, snakes and crocodiles. Definitely worth a visit, specially if you’re only staying in Lagos. This is your chance for a bit of nature and serenity in the madness.
11:00 It’s about time you dip your toes into Nigeria’s insane art scene. Forgive a Swede for her preconceived ideas of the West African artistic landscape. I knew it would be interesting and probably jaw-dropping, but perhaps in more of a woodwork kind of way. Be prepare to be proven wrong again and again over the last few days. First, head to the Nike art gallery, a huge whitewashed building packed with artists showcasing their work. It’s very welcoming (though pretty pricy) and you could easily loose yourself in the thousands of paintings and sculptures for a few hours.
13:00 Too hot for lunch! Have a snack now, and hang in there for a later meal! Don’t be afraid of trying the street food! Have the sugar coated beignets or fufu. This will hopefully keep you quiet for a few hours.
14:00 For really beautiful hand made wooden furniture, jewelry, beautiful fabrics, masks, figurines and what not, look no further than the Lekki arts and crafts market. It’s only a few blocks from the Nike art gallery, so you might as well get those Nigerian gifts right now.
15:00 Head back to Victoria island for a late lunch at the amazing Slow restaurant. Food and interiors aree another level and though it’s most likely your most expensive lunch in West Africa (no prices on the menu) you’d pay the double because it’s just divine.
17:00 One great thing about White Orchid Hotel is its roof top pool. Lagos is hot, so have yourself a little break from the honking and yelling. Afternoon hangs by the pool area when it’s still 30 degrees in the shadow is bliss. Have yourself a local beer or a Chapman, a cooling Nigerian mocktail while you get ready for the evening.
21:00 Have your dinner at Locale. An aesthetically pleasing joint with good affordable food and delicious cocktails, great vibes and a fun crowd. You’ll read mixed reviews about the quality of the food at Locale. I thought it was super tasty but then again I’m not a super foodie.
Day 2
08:00 Stop wining about your non existing bowl of cereal and go ahead and stuff your face with a Nigerian hot breakfast at the hotel. It’s actually really yummy. If you’re down for a second breakfast and and more art, head to Alliance Française for really good pastries and a proper cappuccino. There’s always a new exhibition going so stick around for that after your pastry.
10:00 Makoko is sometimes referred to as the Venice of Africa, owing to its waterways, which is really taking the piss as Makoko is a huge slum on water. A third of the community is built on stilts along the lagoon and the rest is on the land. So the debate will go on if you, as a white traveller, have anything to do in a slum. Perhaps we don’t. Whenever I travel I try to learn as much as I can about the place, and that you don’t do by only hanging out in fancy spots. We went to see a how the community worked with school and health care. The biggest lump of the price of being introduced to Makoko went directly to the community.
12:00 Go have lunch at Art café. It’s not fancy, just great for Nigerian local dishes.
14:00 Not over the art just yet head to Signature beyond art gallery After this have yourself an afternoon glass of wine at Botanikka wine bar & kitchen. You’re very likely to see local Tik Tokers working hard on their content in this pretty place.
16:00 Time for some retail therapy! Alára is this super cool concept. You’ll find amazing African fashion brands and homeware in this super cool red building.
18:00 Connected to Alára is this beautiful African contemporary restaurant NOK and this is where you’ll have an early dinner.
22:00 Skip the roof top bars looking like a Diddy themed white party (there’s a few of those). Instead head to The Terrace, the coziest rooftop bar in Lagos. Not done yet? Head to Mood Lagos to finish the night.
Amazing colors and vibes! Looks like a beautiful place.
Hi Brandi!! Thank you! It sure is Beautiful and really cool (also dirty and chaotic 🤡) btw I checked out your newsletter, like!!!! Subscribed!