Let’s talk about fine dining restaurants in Lagos Island. The Island region of Lagos, popularly known as Eko, is made up of Lagos Island (Isale Eko), Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and the Lekki Peninsula. The area lies across the Lagos lagoon and can only be accessed by ferries or any of the three interconnecting bridges that link the island and mainland of Lagos, the Third Mainland Bridge, Eko Bridge, and Carter Bridge.
Lagos Island is very well known as the business metropolis of Lagos, but it is also the heart of Lagos’ social life, the exact spot where business meets leisure, home to hundreds of fine-dining establishments and many of the more refined and sophisticated entertainment and leisure centres in Nigeria.
Top 10 Restaurants In Lagos Island
1. SloW
2. Shiro Restaurant
3. La Chaumiere
4. Ona Restaurant
5. Circa Restaurant
6. RSVP Restaurant
7. Ekaabo Restaurant
8. Hardrock Cafe
9. La Scala Restaurant
10. Ile Iyan by Pods
Top 10 Restaurants In Lagos Island
Eko is the perfect blend of historical culture and modern sophistication, and is home to thousands of locals, expatriates, and tourists, all ready to have a good time after a day of business. Here are the top 10 restaurants in Lagos Island:
1. SloW
If you are looking for a restaurant for a special occasion, then SloW might just be the one for you. An oasis amid modern architecture, it incorporates nature-themed aesthetics and elements into its decor, inviting guests to take a step back from the bustling hustle of Lagos and just relax.
The restaurant offers guests a brunch and dinner option with dishes of Mediterranean and Latin American origin, like the rock shrimp tacos or the lamb chops. It also has an extensive and creative range of cocktails to complement your meals. Although the restaurant does seem like the perfect spot for a romantic getaway with your significant other, it does have a pretty affordable kids’ menu, operational only on Saturdays and Sundays.
The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor dining options, all beautifully decorated with plants and greenery, and the seatings are strategically positioned to maximise space, although you can always sit at the bar or in a booth if you prefer your privacy.
SloW has wonderful service, with valet car parking, hosts that warmly usher you in, and waiters that are all ready to discuss the menu options with you until you settle on what you prefer. The restaurant is on the pricier side_so do come wallet heavy and you might have to wait a bit for your food. Its access is almost strictly by reservation, as it is almost always fully booked ahead of time, so you might be surprised to get there on a whim and find there are no seats available.
Location: 2 Musa Yar’ Adua St, Victoria Island, Lagos 106104, Lagos
Price Range: ₦40,000 – ₦100,000
Hours Open: 10:00 am – 12:00 am
2. Shiro Lagos
The first thing you notice when you get to Shiro is the decor. It is a pan-Asian restaurant with dramatic towering stone statues mixed in between the spacious dining area, and earthy colors that kind of remind you of a mausoleum, making the location just right for content creation and lots and lots of pictures.
The restaurant offers a range of Asian dishes from Japanese teppanyaki to Thai khai seafood, Chinese dimsum, Korean bulgogi and Malaysian chicken sambal, It also offers guests a lot of vegetarian options for those who can’t or choose not to eat meat, and of course, dessert options for those with a sweet tooth.
One of the greatest parts of dining at Shiro’s, from the food and decor, is more food. It does have a buffet menu on Sundays, where you can serve yourself with unlimited food with the assistance of the staff. The service is awesome, the live music is good, the food comes out hot and timely, what more could one ask for? It does get a bit noisy during peak hours, so if you are looking for something quiet and intimate, maybe skip this.
Location: Block XVI 3&4, Oniru Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos
Price Range: ₦20,000 – ₦50,000
Hours Open: 12:00 pm – 12:00 am
3. La Chaumiere
La Chaumiere is that restaurant in Lagos that is quickly becoming a hot spot for families, with its attentive and polite staff, good food, family-friendly zone, kiddies play area, and a cosy interior, you can guess that is no surprise.
The restaurant serves a range of dishes from international meals to pastries and desserts, and has a pretty packed menu to choose from. The food is really good, and the portion size is very generous and filling. The restaurant also has a range of drinks and mocktails to go with meals, but serves no alcohol. Once again, making it perfect for families and people looking to eat and relax without the haze of alcohol.
A perk of La Chaumiere is that it does offer themed days, such as the Wednesday Italian day for unlimited pizza and pasta, and irregular small fun events for kids, like the last Easter party for kids. It also has valet parking, although parking yourself can be pretty cumbersome.
Location: 1384 Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
Price Range: ₦20,000 – ₦40,000
Hours Open: 8:00 am – 11:00 am
4. Ona Restaurant
Ona is a fine dining African restaurant with a twist, blending African flavors with international cuisines to create exquisite fusion delicacies. Headed by Chef Obehi, the restaurants cater to all kinds of clientele, with themed days like the Ona Sunday Brunch or Tuesday Bao Down.
Perfect for romantic dinners or an outing with friends. Ona’s chic, white, and earthy interior is the epitome of sophistication and elegance, with beautiful, soulful music and warm lighting. It is also known for the outdoor extension, beautifully decorated with trees and potted plants, where guests can take their meal under the open canopy and warm breeze.
It is important to note that access to the restaurant is influenced heavily by reservations, the portion sizes are a bit small and pricy for their size, and the place can get crowded quickly, so you might have to wait a bit for your food. The staff makes up for it, though, with their impeccable service.
Location: 1701 Violet Yough Cl, Victoria Island, 106104, Lagos
Price Range: ₦80,000
Hours Open: 12:30 pm – 11:00 pm
5. Circa Restaurant
Moving away from Victoria Island to the peninsula of Lekki, Circa, not to be confused with Circa non pareil, is a chic and trendy restaurant perfect for a brunch date or night out with friends or a solo outing to try something different from the everyday local food. It serves modern fusion international dishes from a simple American breakfast of cheesesteaks and fries to dinner meals of pan curry and rice. It is also pretty popular for its creative cocktails.
Circa has both an outdoor and indoor dining area with minimalist decor, modern lighting, and neutral tones that somehow manage to feel warm and cozy. The dining area (especially indoors) is pretty packed close to each other, so it can quickly become noisy during peak hours, and the service is pretty good, although staff do tend to look overwhelmed during rush hours.
Location: 2 Kola Adeyina Close, Off Jerry Iriabe St, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos
Price Range: ₦15,000 – ₦20,000
Hours Open: 7:30 – 11:30
6. RSVP Restaurant
Back to Victoria Island, the home of fine dining, but this time we are discussing RSVP. A casual new American-style restaurant. While the food is great, the restaurant is better known for its extensive hidden bar and drinks inspired by the prohibition era in America (when moonshine was banned). The decor makes you feel like you’ve been thrown back in time to a 1930s bar in New York.
RSVP offers simple international dishes to its guests made from scratch, and these can be taken indoors or outdoors on the patio. The restaurant also contains a poolside in its backyard for_21 years and above for guests who would like to take a dip, and relax with a glass of cocktail. The service is wonderful with well-trained professional staff, although reservations can be a bit of a hassle during the weekends.
Location: 9 Eletu Ogabi St, Victoria Island, Lagos
Price Range: ₦20,000 – ₦35,000
Hours Open: 11:00 am – 11:30 pm
7. Ekaabo Restaurant.
Located inside the Lagos Continental Hotel, Ekaabo is a Nigerian-International fusion restaurant that incorporates buffet-style meals in its services. It offers guests a range of delicious Nigerian dishes like swallows and soups, giving them the opportunity to try out diverse Nigerian meals at a spot, but also offers them the choice of contemporary international dishes like grilled seafood.
The interior of the restaurant also follows its fusion theme with modern architecture tastefully sprinkled with traditional artwork. Service is relatively okay, though it does lag a bit during rush hours. One of its major perks is that Ekaabo is very family-friendly, even offering high chairs for babies to be fed and a play area. It has a terrace area perfect for watching the city view with an extensive selection of cocktails and local brews or desserts if you prefer.
Location: 52b Kofo Abayomi St, Eti-Osa, Lagos
Price Range: ₦10,000 – ₦20,000
Hours Open: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
8. Hard Rock Cafe
HardRock is located on the beach in Victoria Island, which serves its guests a classical American meal experience, and is large enough to fit more than 200 diners into its space. Its interior is tastefully designed to look like a warehouse carelessly arranged to accommodate dining furniture, with walls covered with artworks, but also has an outdoor lounge for guests who prefer their meal a la carte.
It boasts an extensive outdoor and indoor bar, live music performances, rock n roll artifacts, historical memorabilia of iconic rock stars and contemporary artists, and simple American meals like a burger or sandwich cooked to perfection.
Location: Landmark Village, Water Corporation Road, Oniru, V.I, Lagos
Price Range: ₦10,000 – ₦20,000
Hours Open: 12:00 pm – 12:00 am
9. La Scala Restaurant
Nestled within the premises of the Musical Society of Nigeria Centre (MUSON). La Scala doubles as a French restaurant that is also a home to classical music. The restaurant tries to pay homage to the countries it has adopted while still staying true to its location by creating an infusion of African and Continental artworks that blend seamlessly together to create an elegant and refined atmosphere.
One of the few upscale and fine-dining restaurants on this list, La Scala offers guests an eight-page menu with several French and Italian cuisines (be sure to double-check with waiters what a meal is so you aren’t pleasantly surprised), wine and cocktail options, and simple desserts.
Portions are good and can easily feed two. If you do not have a really large appetite, the service is good, and the waiters are generally happy to help you with your choice. The restaurant also holds events and parties on special occasions, and can be rented out.
Like most fine dining establishments, La Scala is a bit pricier than typical Lagos Island restaurants, so you might want to come cash-ready to splurge. But we can’t deny that it is the perfect spot for a romantic date or simply a chance to try something new and different on a budget.
Location: 8/9 Marina, Muson Centre, Onikan Road, Lagos
Price Range: ₦10,000 – ₦25,000
Hours Open: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
10. Ile Iyan by Pods
If there is just one restaurant in Lagos that sells good Iyan (Pounded Yam), then it would be Ile Iyan by Pods. These traditional food restaurants serve some of the best Nigerian Yoruba meals, and they are well-made. The Iyan is soft and authentic, and the soups come in really large portions that are served inside a calabash. The restaurant also offers guests a limited menu of local drinks, fruit juice, and mocktails.
Perhaps one of the most enticing features of Ile Iyan is its decor, which takes its concept seriously by blending modern designs with old traditional furniture and African artworks, making it look like you’ve gone back a few centuries. The staff are very friendly and are dressed in traditional Yoruba dress, even greeting you in the language. It also has an outdoor lounge if you prefer to eat outdoors. The restaurant is a tad small for such a popular restaurant, and service can be a bit slow, especially for some dishes like the pepper soup, especially when crowded. Yoruba fuji music and great food do lessen the sting of waiting a bit.
Location: Plot 6, Muiz Banie St, Lekki Phase 1 Lekki Lagos
Price Range: ₦15,000 – ₦25,000
Hours Open: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Lagos Island might be the city of business, but when it comes to leisure, “Eko no dey carry last”. The number of fine dining restaurants is second to none, making it a bit difficult to choose the best. Although there are many upscale restaurants in the locality, especially in Victoria Island, these are some that both locals and tourists alike must try at least once during their stay in Eko.
