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Best Cafés in Dakar (2026)

Dakar's café culture runs from street stands to stylish concept stores. Across the city, vendors sell café Touba, coffee ground with a local spice called djar and served sweet, which is worth trying at least once. For a sit-down coffee, the options are concentrated in the Plateau and the western districts.

In the centre, Le Bideew sits in the garden of the Institut Français under a large kapok tree, and is good for a juice, a set lunch or a quiet hour with a book; the institute's concerts and exhibitions are next door. The Brasserie du Café de Rome on Avenue de la République is the classic choice for a French-style breakfast. In Mermoz, Lulu Café combines a café menu with Senegalese twists, a co-working space and a shop of local designers' products, and in Les Almadies, Sweet Coffee has a palm-fringed terrace, pastries, crêpes and free Wi-Fi.

Many cafés close by early evening or on Sundays, so check hours before setting out. Most are informal and do not need booking. They make convenient breaks between museums in the Plateau or before the beaches and surf spots in the west.

4 places · Updated November 12, 2026

Our top 3 cafés in Dakar

  1. Lulu Café Café, concept store and co-working, MermozBright café and concept store in Mermoz with Senegalese twists on burgers and pasta, a co-working space and a shop of local designers' products.
  2. Le Bideew Garden café-restaurant, Dakar PlateauGarden café-restaurant under a large kapok tree at the Institut Français in the Plateau, popular for set lunches, juices and evenings around concerts.
  3. Sweet Coffee Café and snack bar, Les AlmadiesTerrace café on the road to King Fahd Palace in Les Almadies, serving coffee, homemade pastries, crêpes, salads and sandwiches.

Café

1. Lulu Café

Café, concept store and co-working$$Mermoz

Bright café and concept store in Mermoz with Senegalese twists on burgers and pasta, a co-working space and a shop of local designers' products.

View details — Lulu Café

Café

2. Le Bideew

Garden café-restaurant$$Dakar Plateau

Garden café-restaurant under a large kapok tree at the Institut Français in the Plateau, popular for set lunches, juices and evenings around concerts.

View details — Le Bideew

Café

3. Sweet Coffee

Café and snack bar$$Les Almadies

Terrace café on the road to King Fahd Palace in Les Almadies, serving coffee, homemade pastries, crêpes, salads and sandwiches.

View details — Sweet Coffee