Eko Hotels & Suites

Eko Hotels & Suites is the biggest and best-known hotel in Lagos, a self-contained complex on Adetokunbo Ademola Street on Victoria Island. It opened in 1977 as the Eko Holiday Inn and is owned by the Chagoury Group. Today it has around 825 rooms and suites spread across several buildings, including the main Eko Hotel, Eko Suites with 88 large suites, Eko Signature and Eko Gardens, so it can suit very different budgets and lengths of stay within one address.

The hotel looks out over the Atlantic Ocean and the new Eko Atlantic City development. Its convention centre, which can hold about 6,000 people, is the largest in Nigeria and hosts large concerts, conferences and weddings, which explains why the lobby is often busy with event guests. For leisure there is a large swimming pool, a spa, a salon and nail studio, and a gym.

Eating and drinking are a big part of the stay. The Sky Restaurant occupies the top-floor penthouse of the main building. Other venues include Lagoon Breeze beside the pool, the Calabash Bar, the Lagos Irish Pub, RED Chinese Restaurant and Lounge, Atarodo, and 1415, the Italian restaurant in Eko Signature. Having so many choices on site is useful in a city where evening traffic can make going out a long trip.

The hotel suits business travellers, conference delegates and families who want a secure base with everything in one place, as well as couples who choose the more modern Eko Signature rooms. Because it is so large it can feel impersonal, and the experience varies between buildings, so check which wing you are booking. Non-residents pay extra to use the pool. If you are in Lagos for a major event at the convention centre, book early, as rooms sell out.

When comparing rates, check which building the price refers to and whether breakfast and taxes are included, as these differ between room types. If you are attending an event at the convention centre, staying on site saves a great deal of time, because traffic around the hotel can build up sharply before and after large shows.

The hotel says the airport is about 45 minutes away, but allow longer in rush-hour traffic. From the gates it is a short drive to the restaurants and bars of Victoria Island and to the bridges to Ikoyi and Lekki. Reservations and sales enquiries are handled by the hotel's own teams by phone and email, and booking directly is useful for event packages.