Coffee shops are a perfect escape from this busy city of Lagos and excellent for first dates. There is rising presence of amazing coffee shops dotted around the city. Accordingly to Quartz, it is predicted that Nigerians will drink more than 1,000 tons of coffee in 2020, 20% higher than what was consumed in 2016. Enough data!
Coffee dates in Lagos are great for a number of reasons: dinner dates are not always appropriate; a coffee date can be as long or as short you want depending on the conversation; great selection of iced or cold espresso coffee. Most importantly, because we know you need to impress, we’ve done a prowl of the city to bring you a list of the best coffee shops for a first date in Lagos:
Art Cafe
282 Akin Olugbade Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
The name says it all – it’s an art cafe; there’s a lot to good inspiration and creative stuff to look at. Apart from the fully fledged art gallery and Home Deco shop in the same building, the cafe space itself has plenty to entertain: from trendy African art to vintage posters to interesting knick knacks made out of used cans. Art Cafe has a retro vibe, an outdoor space with nice shade and a nice assortment of organic teas, coffees, freshly squeezed juice as well as delicious baked goods and sandwiches. The banana bread here is legendary and the friendly owner of the cafe might stop by for some chit-chat. There is also happy hour deal of buy one get one free on Wednesday and Thursday between 5-7pm. This is our go to cafe for a second date.
Cafe Neo
Various Locations
Cafe Neo has come to symbolize the coffee movement in Lagos and is probably the most popular name on this list with over 10 outlets in Lagos (with outposts in Yaba and Ikeja as well). Its closest th`ing to Starbucks that Lagos has. All Cafe Neo’s locations have a few things in common: amazing and unique spaces, ‘African-themed’ interiors littered with creative arts, friendly baristas and delicious roasted brews. Yes, you’re not in Brooklyn but you get the vibe. The menu at Cafe Neo includes a range of hot and cold coffees, juices, paninis, pastries and salads. The coffee served at Cafe Neo is sourced from Lake Kivu in Rwanda; each coffee bean is nurtured then roasted to perfection to produce that perfect cup. One idea would be to invite your date to one of the many book club reading sessions at a Cafe Neo location.
My Coffee Lagos Wings
Wings, 17A Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island, Lagos
In a relatively short time frame, My Coffee Lagos has grown from its humble beginnings on Adetokunbo Ademola with 2 additional locations in Mega Plaza and Wings Office Complex both in Victoria Island. All the locations are great for a coffee date however the My Coffee Wings is particularly impressive. At My Coffee Wing, you can get probably one of the best views of Lagos against “the blue sky and lagoon melding into fascinating panorama”. The desert selection at My Coffee is extensive and the staff is very friendly. Looking for a new date spot to grab an indulgent caramel macchiato? Here’s your place.
Choco-Latte
38/40 Isaac John Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos
Situated on ground lobby floor of the newly opened Renaissance Hotel, Choco-Latte is comfortable chic workspace with excellent lighting inviting you to work and play. This lively coffee lounge offers fresh pastries, aperitifs and lattes which makes it an awesome stop for a coffee date in Ikeja.
The Jazzhole
168 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos
Jazzhole is a lot of things: it’s a book/record store, a hidden treasure and a coffee shop. The place is the perfect cocoon right there on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi – one of the busiest roads on the Island. The record store has everything from Afro-Jazz to Juju music – great place to swap musical notes and history. It is a warm eclectic space where you can sip a cup of tea poured from one of their colourful tea pots while having an awesome conversation with your date. This is exactly the sort of place to get culture with your crumble cake, jazz with your jasmine tea and books with your brewed coffee. Most evenings, there are live jazz concerts which is always fun.
Stranger Lagos
3 Hakeem Dickson Road, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos
Stranger Lagos is another cafe that pulls in the creative and eccentric crowd in Lagos. Stranger was started by Yegwa and Bibi Ukpo as concept boutique store for international avant-garde fashion and local designers. Located in Lekki Phase 1, the space has evolved to include a mini-boutique, co-working space and cafe becoming a must visit for Lagos’ hipster crowd. The café at Stranger Lagos serves freshly brewed continental teas, coffees and whiskies alongside pastries and light snacks. Bring your date here for the authentic cold brew coffee against the back drop of the contemporary art installations and exhibitions.
Vestar Coffee
26A Oju Olobun Close, Victoria Island, Lagos
Vestar has everything you want from a coffee shop – warm décor with lots of wood and arm chairs that swallow you up in comfort, board games, soft classical music and sumptuous glazed donuts to die. It’s located on a quiet street in Victoria Island and you could easily spend the day there if you had the time. Vestar is great for coffee dates – snuggle time over hot chocolate. And for those days you want to be by your lonesome, finishing up a new book, Vestar Coffee is exactly where you want to be.
Brown’s Cafe
15 Oduduwa Crescent, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos
It is located inside the quiet GRA, Ikeja is this cafe fondly called ‘Brown’s’ – a lovely cafe and restaurant that has held its own on the mainland. It is great escape for a coffee date. It is a nice classy spacious cafe that would work for business breakfasts, meetings and a long cup of coffee in a soothing environment.
Caffe Tranche by Araba
14C Karimu Kotun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
Caffe Tranche is an oasis away from the Lagos hustle. Everything about space is perfect. From the outdoor space dotted with lovely palm trees providing a relaxing green ambience for a date to cosy couches for putting up feet and snuggling up with date if the situation permits. Normally the main attraction here is the full English breakfast at Sunday brunch. During the week, the pastry and dessert selection is also amazing which makes this cafe our top recommendation for a first date on the Island.
La Pointe Cafe
4A Akin Olugbade Street, Off Idowu Martins Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
La Pointe, one of the best supermarkets in Lagos has a quaint little cafe. The amazing thing is that you get see your coffee being brewed right behind the counter and this cafe stocks Starbucks as their house brew. This homely cafe is great for quick breakfast date and offers a wide variety of gourmet food items in intimate, warm space.
Delis Coffee Shop
1291 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
This bar/cafe is located above its founding grocery store, Delis Delicatessen on Akin Adesola in Victoria Island. It is a warm, small space with exciting coffee creations and a nice menu of salads, smoothies and sandwiches. It’s right on the main road and easy to find, the view might not be the greatest but the ambiance makes up for it. Definitely a place that would win you points with your date.
Inspiro Galeria
1 Joseph Nahman close, Off Karimu Kotun street, Victoria Island, Lagos
Inspiro Galeria is an art gallery, a craft store and a cafe located on the Island. The space juggles all its ambitions quite nicely. There’s a nice outdoor cafe for tea parties and smaller events. Enjoy the cosy setting and soothing atmosphere with contemporary music whilst reading the having a cup of coffee. There’s a nice afternoon tea between 2pm and 4pm for a quick midday date.
La Brioche
22b Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
La Brioche, a Parisian-themed cafe is all the rage in some circles in Lagos. If you would like to be briefly transported to Europe while sipping on an extensive collection of teas in gold-trimmed teaware on lace-covered tables, here’s your spot. It’s a small space but oh so cosy and pretty. La Brioche serves some of the best pastries on the island.
