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Latest Cotonou hotel reviews
Le Festival des Glaces is a popular restaurant chain with restaurants in Cotonou, Lomè, Douala and Dakar. They have bakery, pizzeria and ice cream as the speciality. The food and the prices attract tourists and the local middle class.
There are two Festival restaurants in Cotonou. One close to the traffic circle, Carrefour de Cadjehoun and one in Boulevard Steinmetz, not far from the Missebo market. The warm streets of Cotonou makes this aircondion restaurant a good choice.
This restaurant is a meeting point for young, middle class Africans.
Updated Nov 7, 2010
Address: Boulevard Steinmetz
Phone: +229 21317343, +229 21318125
Salon Glacier is a eating place located 200 m from the airport terminal. I ate a skinny chicken and icecream as desert right before I left Benin. Without stumach problems afterwards.
It is a tivoli or children playground right beside this restuarant. Maybe a good place for the children to use up their energy before a long air flight.
Updated Nov 6, 2010
The food is Belgian, and many dishes can be called authentic Belgian. The owner, Valerie, takes pride in serving Belgian food and her restaurant is cosy.
It is special for good service, good food, good wines and ...
Favorite Dish: Shrimps Croquettes and Steak Tartare. It's the only restaurant in West Africa where I will eat a Steak Tartare (raw minced beef where you add the condiments yourself). You do not want to mess with the condiments yourself, ask Valerie to prepare it for you. Delicious. And I never got sick, not even a stomach ache, from the Steak Tartare.
Written Mar 19, 2009
Address: Haie Vive main road, turn at Brasserie L'Europe.
Helpfulness
Intimate small restaurant with a choice of genuine Moroccan dishes. Nicely decorated. The owner is very helpful explaining the dishes. GO there.
Favorite Dish: The stews are excellent. You can also ask if they can propose dishes. GREAT.
Written May 25, 2006
Address: Piste Amalco in Haie Vive
Helpfulness
Outside restaurant of the Benin Marina Hotel. The right place for lunch. Very nice staff. Good value for money and the view is great around the poolside. Their extensive a-la-carte menu also offers indigenous african dishes.
Favorite Dish: Langouste Thermidor.
Written May 25, 2006
Address: Boulevard de la Marina (opposite French school)
Helpfulness
Nice place to have your meal. Enclosed patio. Live music on saturday nights. Pizza's and Lebanese food. Good value for money.
Favorite Dish: The fist page of their menu. Order must be for 3 minimum but check with the waiters. It is a table full of delights from Lebanon. Not their cheapest dish but definetely their best.
Written May 25, 2006
Address: Piste Amalco (almost at the end) in Haie Vive
Nice to sit outside and have your meal. For 5.000 Fcfa per head you'll have a meal. Drinks are not to expensive. Place is frequented a lot by expatriates living in Benin. Pizza's, Pasta's, Seafood etc.
Favorite Dish: Crevettes Americain
Written May 25, 2006
Address: Piste Amalco (Haie Vive)
Like most nice restaurants in Cotonou, it is above street level. The tables are arranged so that each table seems private. The owner is accommodating and has a daily menu. This is a great place to have a business lunch or dinner.
Written Feb 27, 2004
Address: just off Avenue Clozel
Too good--you enter by passing the 6'x6' grill where the pork is cooking. You let them know how many you are and then grab a seat at one of about 9 picnic style tables with benches. The center is open air and the tables are under a palm/thatch roof.
What you get--a plate with pieces of grilled pork, fat pieces and liver pieces. You probably get every part of the pig, but in our 3 trips that's all I had on my plate.
Accompaniaments-a plate with strips of onion and two pepper sauces. You also get a plate with a sauce that tastes a bit like bean soup, there may be a bone with some meat on the plate also.
Then you can dip in peppers and sauces to your heart's content. It's very good and relaxed eating. I think you can also request feet and other parts, but we passed on those specialties.
I drank beer at most meals, but they did have a wrought iron tree wine rack sporting some red table wines.
Updated Jun 2, 2003
Address: Off the main road from Cotonou toward Ekpe
Helpfulness
They don't open until 9:00ish and if something has come up with the family they won't open. There are 6 tables outside next to the grill and the sky is your ceiling. It's dark and quiet in the evening.
Favorite Dish: You'll choose from FRESH fish caught that day which will be grilled in a local style with a spicy sauce and a diced tomato/vegetable mix with a side of your choice. You eat with your hands. I always chose rice (harder to eat with your hands) or plantain. You can eat really well for a great price. I think with a beer it was US$2 or less.
Updated Jan 27, 2003
Address: near p.za Lenin
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They don't open until 9:00ish and if something has come up with the family they won't open. There are 6 tables outside next to the grill and the sky is your...
5 members live in Cotonou
Q: Will be one day in Cotonou May 2010, can anybody recommend tour guides? Thank you
A: Hi Our VT member janiebaxter has travelled extensivly in Africa, including Benin , and has made a page about Cotonou. Regarding the guide, maybe you could email Janie...
Read 3 Replies
1
Cotonou sits on the Atlantic’s Bight of Benin where the sea runs inland to form a large lagoon, and is next to Lake Nakoue. It is one of the most surrounded-by-water main cities I have ever visited......
2
I lived in Cotonou for 2 years and enjoyed it very much. Great beaches (if you like strong waves), a very interesting country and very friendly people! Although there are no so called "top sights"...
3
Go for the Benin Marina Hotel. It's big, it's safe, it's clean and you will have a great time there. Only 2 minutes from the airport, hotel provides shuttle. It is an oasis away from the hectic hassle...
4
Cotonou is the largest city in Benin with 1.2 million inhabitants. It is also the economic capital of Benin. The city is very spread out and more westernized than other West-African cities. The...
5
The pace is relaxed at home, but in the street in town it can be HECTIC. The main market seems to spread out everywhere and everyone is selling something. Enjoy bargaining. Most places we eat are......
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