Circa Lagos

Circa Lagos is a restaurant and lounge tucked away on Kola Adeyina Close, in the residential side of Lekki Phase 1. It opened in 2018 and was co-founded by Francis Obozuwa, who also runs the furniture company Eton House and co-launched The Borough Lagos hotel. Its location away from the main roads gives it a calmer feel than many Lekki venues.

The menu combines Nigerian favourites with continental dishes. Reviewers have highlighted asun, the spicy smoked goat meat popular as a party snack, alongside a Circa burger, prawn pesto pasta, seafood marinara, crispy calamari and prawns, and home-made naan with smoked chicken. It is the kind of menu where a group can share small plates and drinks before moving on to mains, and the lounge side makes it easy to stay for cocktails after dinner.

It works for both a casual lunch and a dressier evening. Parking is available, which is a real advantage in Lekki.

Circa suits couples, groups of friends and visitors staying in Lekki or Victoria Island who want a reliable, attractive place to eat that is less hectic than the big rooftop venues. Prices are upper-middle for Lagos. Booking ahead is wise for weekend evenings; call the restaurant directly.

Asun and small plates make a good start for a group, followed by pasta or seafood mains. Because the menu changes over time, check current dishes and prices when you arrive, and ask whether service charge and VAT are added to the bill. Let the restaurant know about allergies when you book. If you are driving yourself, note that Lekki Phase 1 streets can be confusing at night, so save the location on your phone before you set off, and arrange a ride-hailing car home if you plan to drink. Lunch is usually quieter than weekend evenings, which makes it a good time for a relaxed first visit or a business meeting.

Kola Adeyina Close is off the main roads of Lekki Phase 1, so give your driver the full address and a landmark. It is a short ride from Admiralty Way, the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge and the hotels of Oniru and Victoria Island. After dinner, Mood Lagos on Admiralty Way and Sailor's Lounge on the lagoon are nearby options for drinks.