Noflaye Beach

Noflaye Beach is a laid-back restaurant on the Corniche des Almadies with its own small beach, the kind of place where a lunch can easily stretch into the late afternoon. It offers a calm escape from the noise of the city, with tables facing the Atlantic.

The dining room is cosy and built largely of wood, and there is seating looking out to sea. The private beach means you can swim or lie in the sun between courses, and Selamta notes that lunch here can easily last until sunset.

The menu mixes French and European dishes with Senegalese seafood. Crêpes and galettes are a speciality, and grilled fish is a reliable choice. The airline magazine Selamta singled out its thiéboudienne, cooked until slightly charred and smoky, with tomato rice and large chunks of vegetables, which is a good reason to try the national dish here if you are in this part of town.

Arrival Guides lists daily opening from 10:00 to 22:00; call ahead to check before making a special trip. Weekends are busiest, so book for Saturday or Sunday lunch, ideally asking for a table facing the water, and bring swimwear and sun protection if you plan to use the beach. Prices are moderate for the Almadies, with seafood the most expensive part of the menu. For anyone new to Senegalese food, thiéboudienne means fish with rice in Wolof, and the grilled, slightly smoky version served here is a good introduction to the dish.

Les Almadies is the westernmost district of Dakar, and the Pointe des Almadies nearby is the westernmost point of the African continent. The area is the city's most cosmopolitan, home to many hotels, restaurants, cafés and bars, as well as a golf course at King Fahd Palace. Noflaye Beach is a short taxi ride from King Fahd Palace and the surf spots of Ngor and Les Almadies, and close to Le N'Gor and La Cabane du Pêcheur if you want to compare beachfront seafood. In the evening, the Phare des Mamelles, with its terrace and music, is a few minutes' drive away for a sunset drink.