Bar
Phare des Mamelles
Restaurant, lounge and club beside Dakar's 1864 lighthouse on the Mamelles hill, with city and ocean views, live music and late DJ nights.
Just 4 U
Open-air restaurant and live music venue opposite the university on Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop, hosting Senegalese and international acts from jazz to rap.
At a glance
- Type
- Live music venue and restaurant
- Area
- Point E, Dakar, Senegal
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
Good to know
- Live stage
- Outdoor seating
- Restaurant
- Concerts most nights
Why we recommend it
Just 4 U, also written Just For You, is one of Dakar's best-known live music venues, on Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop opposite Cheikh Anta Diop University. For years it has been a gathering place for musicians, students and the city's intellectual crowd, and if you only have time for one live music night in Dakar, it is a strong choice.
The set-up is simple: an outdoor restaurant with tables facing a compact stage. The programming covers a wide range of styles, including jazz, rap, folk and reggae, and the venue regularly books leading Senegalese bands as well as international performers. Recent shows have included a night headlined by DJ Awadi with the Cape Verdean artist Boy G Mendes opening, in October 2025. Concerts take place on most nights, and Thursday to Saturday are usually the liveliest.
You can eat before the show, which makes it easy to spend a whole evening here. Big-name concerts are ticketed, sometimes with a pass that must be reserved in advance, while ordinary nights are more relaxed. Shows tend to start late by European standards, often around 21:00 or later, and the atmosphere builds through the evening.
Check the programme before going: Dakar's event listings and the local guide Au Sénégal have published its weekly line-ups for years, from Thursday residencies by local bands to weekend live sessions, and the venue has historically closed during Ramadan. Dress is casual, and the open-air setting is pleasant on warm evenings. It suits music lovers, groups of friends and solo travellers who want to see how Dakar goes out, and it is a good way to hear Senegalese musicians play live.
Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop runs through Point E and Fann past the university campus, a short taxi ride from the Plateau and the Corniche Ouest. Ask the driver for Cheikh Anta Diop University or for Just for You. Combine an evening here with dinner at L'Endroit on the VDN, a little further north, or start with drinks by the ocean at the hotels on the Corniche Ouest. Take a taxi home late at night, and agree the fare before setting off.
Just 4 U FAQs
Where is Just 4 U?
At 36 Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop, opposite Cheikh Anta Diop University.
What kind of music is played?
Live jazz, rap, folk and reggae, with leading Senegalese and international acts.
Which nights are best?
Thursday to Saturday are usually the liveliest.
Can you eat there?
Yes, it is an outdoor restaurant with a stage, so you can have dinner before the show.
Do you need tickets?
Big concerts are ticketed and may need a reserved pass; ordinary nights are more relaxed.
Is it open during Ramadan?
It has historically closed during Ramadan, so check before going.
What time do concerts start?
Usually from around 21:00, sometimes later.
How do you get there?
By taxi; ask for the university or for Just for You.