The first date has to be perfect regardless of where you find yourself. It is ultimately why we are spending time searching for the best restaurants in Lagos. Everything is supposed to be perfect in other to make them want another date. Even in Lagos where it seems like everything exists – finding the best restaurant can be hard.
Lagos
Lagos is found in the West and it is the largest city in Nigeria and takes the number two spot in Africa. This was the capital of Nigeria up until 1991 when that was moved to Abuja. Being the business hub of the country comes with both advantages and disadvantages. However, one of the advantages would be the fact that you have a diverse culture here. The city is mainly occupied by the Yorubas but other tribes have found settlements here.
A disadvantage will be overpopulation but none of these is issues we want to talk about. We are trying to find the top restaurants in Lagos because we want your first date to be amazing.
First Date in Lagos – The Perfect Restaurants in Lagos
Having a first date under $50 here seems like a hard task especially when you want it to be perfect. Subsequently, the largest city in Nigeria comes with so many amazing places to enjoy your first date. We however make a checklist with which we measured the eligibility of the restaurants. Some of them include;
- The ambience and environment of the restaurant – this might seem like the smallest thing but it is the most important. What type of music do they play there? How is the environment? What type of setting and setting arrangement is in place? Answer these questions to see if they correspond to the desires of whoever you date.
- The food and drinks on offer – we cannot run away from the fact that a restaurant will have food as the main feature. So, having variety is always a good thing. You might have talked about food with him/her but is good to give them options. This is the first date and you want them as comfortable as possible. Nothing says comfort like your comfort food.
- Proximity to other fun places and activities – when you are looking for restaurants in Lagos to visit, considering this is a must. You might want to do something else after eating and going far sometimes kills the vibes.
Restaurants in Lagos to Consider
There are so many factors even more than the ones we have mentioned when looking for the best restaurants in Lagos. We did consider all and some of the stand-out restaurants would include;
1. Cactus
All things being considered this has to be among the finest restaurants in Lagos. The Cactus is located on Victoria Island of Lagos and is a combination of both a restaurant and a bar. This restaurant offers you so many amazing things and ambience is one of them. Thus, there isn’t a restaurant that stands a chance in all of Lagos.
They open every day from 7:30 am to 10 pm which makes this the perfect place for any time of the day. Coffee date, dinner night, or lunch break rendezvous. The menu here is a winner – everything you are looking for can be found here. They have so many cactus specials. However, it is important to note that they serve mostly intercontinental dishes. So, when you are looking for something special, Cactus is also up to the task.
Menu – click here to see their menu
Take-out and Delivery – Yes
Directions – click here to go to google map
Address – 20 24 Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Lagos, Nigeria
Hours – Open 7 am every day and closes by 10 pm except on Fridays and Saturdays when it is 10:30 pm
2. Prime Chinese
Still keeping the focus on intercontinental dishes because we want to impress our date – we go to the Prime Chinese. 20 years running and this is still one of the top restaurants in Lagos. Passion is what this Asian-inspired restaurant brings to the table regardless of what they serve you.
The Asian theme desired makes this restaurant quite fancy and gives the perfect ambience for the first date. This is our favourite option among the best restaurants in Lagos and the explosiveness of their menu is another reason. Also, this is one of the few restaurants in Lagos that serves vegan food. Therefore, if you are looking for a good time on the Island then this should be your choice.
Menu – click here to see their menu
Take-out and Delivery – Yes
Directions – click here to go to google map
Address – Plot 860A, Bishop Aboyade Cole, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
Hours – Open 24 hours every day
3. The Best Restaurants in Lagos – Yellow Chilli
Sometimes your date just wants something close to home and when that is the case, the Yellow Chilli must be considered. Their goal is to bring authentic Nigerian food and amazing aesthetics into the same sentence. Moreover, the menu of the Yellow Chilli brings you closer to home but that is not the only thing.
The ambience of the Yellow Chilli is simply on another level. Nothing says perfection on the first date than this. Jollof rice on both plates, a glass of wine, music in the background than you and your future partner. Everything here is simply perfect which is why it is on the list of restaurants in Lagos.
Menu – click here to see their menu
Take-out and Delivery – Yes
Directions – click here to go to google map
Address – 35 Joel Ogunnaike St, Ikeja GRA 101233, Ikeja; Bishop Oluwole Street, 27 Oju Olobun Cl, Victoria Island, Lagos
Hours – Open every day from 12 noon to 10 pm
4. Z Kitchen
When you are looking for one of the new restaurants in Lagos to try on the first date, you come here. Z kitchen is located on the Island and this upscale restaurant is simply going to be bliss. It comes with an alluring ‘multi-shaped’ setting providing you with different spaces for your distinct moods. Nothing says a perfect first date than food and wine and this is what Z Kitchen offers to you. Also, there is a cosy indoor garden, a vibrant trendy bar, an elegant main restaurant and a refined wine room here.
The food is also mind-blowing here. Everything you can eat from local to international dishes is found here. When you are considering the best restaurants in Lagos for your first date, this has to be there.
Menu – click here to see their menu
Take-out and Delivery – Yes
Directions – click here to go to google map
Address – 19 Saka Tinubu Street, VI, Lagos Nigeria
Hours – Monday 6pm–11pm; Tuesday – Thursday 12pm–11pm; Friday – Saturday 12pm–11pm; Sunday 12pm- 11pm
5. Noir – Restaurants in Lagos to Consider
The first of its kind, that is what Noir Lagos is. There is no way we talk about restaurants in Lagos without mentioning this at least once. This French-inspired culinary restaurant is the perfect place to be when you want a fancy date. It is not just the choice of food that does the work for you. The environment takes 50% of the credit for giving your date the time of their life.
They say Paris is the city of love and a taste of Paris is up for grabs at this establishment. Also, in addition to the amazing restaurant, they have a VIP lounge, café and an outdoor terrace. Everything combines to give you the best first date under $50 in Lagos.
Menu – click here to see their menu
Take-out and Delivery – Yes
Directions – click here to go to google map
Address – 44 Akin Olugbade Street, VI, Lagos
Hours – Opens every day at 10 am and stays that way till around 11 pm
6. Native Tray
It is not just one of the best here but also one of the most affordable restaurants in Lagos. Thus, this restaurant is perfect if you are going on a first date with someone who misses their roots/home. Lagos is a multicultural society – people from all over Nigeria and the world live here. Sometimes, they want to remember home and the native tray restaurants are here for exactly this. They serve dishes local to a lot of tribes in the country including Efik, Ijaw, Igbo, Urhobo, and Yoruba. They also serve classics which might not be indigenous to a certain tribe but a local favourite nevertheless.
It is not just the meal that makes them stand out but also the environment. So, whether he/she is culturally curious or misses home, this is the perfect place for a first date for under $50.
Menu – click here to see their menu
Take-out and Delivery – Yes
Directions – click here to go to google map
Address – 19 Saka Tinubu Street, VI, Lagos Nigeria
Hours – Open every day from 9 am and closes at midnight
7. Yin Yang Express
Asia in Lagos – a lot of restaurants in Lagos have attempted this but none has gotten it like the Ying Yang Express. When you are looking for affordable restaurants in Lagos this is usually a good place to consider. Moreover, they have one of the biggest delivery chains in the city but still offer one of the best dine-in options. Branches of Ying Yang express are scattered all around the state and quality is an exception in all.
Creating great value Chinese meals that help make those special moments even more precious is the goal.
Menu – click here to see their menu
Take-out and Delivery – Yes
Address – multiple locations, check the website for the one closest to you
Hours – Open 7 days a week from 10 am to 10 pm.
8. Top Restaurants in Lagos – Nok by Alara
Finesse – that is the only word that summarizes Nok by Alara. Order is even too much, just being here is enough to impress your date. It will be insane not to consider this for your first date under $50 in Lagos. The interior and design of this restaurant are simply amazing – nothing compares.
The only thing close to the amazing setting and atmosphere is the food. Sometimes we even have to ask ‘why is such an amazing experience not costing more?’ your food is made with the same artistry that the environment is made from. This leaves you with both aesthetics as well as great taste.
Menu – click here to see their menu
Take-out and Delivery – Yes
Directions – click here to go to google map
Address – 12a Akin Olugbade, VI, Lagos Nigeria
Hours – it is open from Tuesday – Sunday from 12 pm – 4 pm and then from 6 pm to 10 pm. The closing time on Friday and Saturday is 10:30 pm.
9. Talindo Steak House
Meat lovers are not overlooked when you are trying to find the best restaurants in Lagos. Talindo Steak house is one of the few steak restaurants in Lagos that gives an amazing experience. Although this is a stacked house, not everything is about meat when you come here. People say this is the best restaurant you are not going to and that is simply the truth. The idea of a steak house sounds weird until you try it.
This is not for those who want a proper meal but for those who want a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Steak alongside pasta, salads of many kinds and then burgers – no better combination. It isn’t one of the new restaurants in Lagos as it has been standing since 2003. One other selling point here will be the old-school decoration used on the inside.
Menu – click here to see their menu
Take-out and Delivery – Yes
Directions – click here to go to google map
Address – Karimu Kotun 7b, Victoria Island, Lagos Nigeria
Hours – Monday 6pm–11pm; Tuesday – Thursday 12pm–11pm; Friday – Saturday 12pm–11pm; Sunday 12pm- 11pm
10. Shiro
It is impossible to have been in Lagos without hearing about one of the top restaurants in Lagos. There is no list of restaurants in Lagos that does not have this particular restaurant on their list. The Shiro restaurant is a fancy restaurant that gives more than just aesthetics to its guests. The first selling point is the location and the fact that you get a good view of the sea from inside.
This Pan-Asian restaurant offers you a long range of dishes from Japanese, Thia, Korean, and Mediterranean cuisines. It also has a bar and lounge to offer extra activities after dining.
Menu – click here to see their menu
Take-out and Delivery – Yes
Directions – click here to go to google map
Address – Block XVI 3 & 4 Victoria Island Oniru Estate, 101241, Lagos Nigeria
Hours – It is open on weekdays from noon till midnight and on weekends from 12 noon till 1:30 am
Amazing Things to do on the First Date in Lagos
Dinner, Lunch or Breakfast cannot be the only thing you have as a first date idea. Even before you consider restaurants in Lagos. It is important to explore your other options for what to do on the first date. Some of the other things you should consider will include;
- Go see an outdoor movie with your date
- Indulge in art – sip/paint, dance classes, museums, art galleries, poetry open mics, etc.
- Spend some time at the beach
- Visit any of the parks for a picnic
- Go for a silent disco
- See a movie at the cinema
However, if you are done with the first date and things work out well, you should be considering locations for the best honeymoon in Nigeria.