Restaurants
The best food and drink in Accra, reviewed anonymously by experts
Accra's top restaurants
For those seeking something a little bit special, Accra is home to some exceptional restaurants for haute cuisine. Predictably, some of the best are French, but Asian and Italian flavours are also served up from the capital's finest kitchens. Prices range from reasonable to budget-busting - be prepared - but if you're after fresh, expertly-crafted dishes, attractive surroundings and the chance to mix with Accra's elite, these spots are where to eat. Some of these places are seriously popular, so make sure to book where possible.
Little Havana
Located in the hip, creative, and entrepreneurial enclave around Osu Ako Adjei Park is an old colonial-style building that is seeing a rather flamboyant new lease on life in the form of Little Havana: Ghana and West Africa’s first Afro-Latino inspired street-food style restaurant and bar.
XO Restaurant & Cocktail Bar
It's amazing there hasn’t been anything like this in the city before. Pan-Asian cuisine is such a crowd-pleaser. Whether it’s Wagamama in a Heathrow terminal or food on the streets of Thailand, there’s something everyone will like. XO has steamed into Accra to fill this gap, and it’s done it with great panache. It is located in One Airport Square, also home to the excellent Cafe Kwae, an area already known for its high-end dining. It’s a low-lit, intimate place, think calming wood and stone tones, that looks mostly to Japan for influence. The menu casts its eye across the Far East, however. Starters alone include Chinese tofu with an Asian sauce, a Vietnamese shrimp crispy roll and calamari with Thai sweet chilli sauce. The sumptuously-presented mains include Thai green curry and a fantastic baked sole fillet with black beans and ginger. The cocktails are easily among the best in Ghana, no surprise with Chris Beaney behind them. Journey to the West, a lapsang souchong-infused vodka with creme de peche, ginseng, honey and lemon, is beautifully presented in a tea pot. It is such a welcome addition to dining in Accra. Good food, brilliantly- executed.
Latest restaurant reviews
Little Havana
Located in the hip, creative, and entrepreneurial enclave around Osu Ako Adjei Park is an old colonial-style building that is seeing a rather flamboyant new lease on life in the form of Little Havana: Ghana and West Africa’s first Afro-Latino inspired street-food style restaurant and bar.
The Counter
Have you gone through sleepless nights wondering whether the crab cake would ever make it into a burger, you can finally lean back and relax. A new kid is in town: The Counter: Custom Built Burger, a US franchise has opened an outlet in Accra Mall. Guests create their own culinary burger experience by checking off from an impressive list of fresh ingredients on a clipboard menu. There is a five-step process where you can choose from beef, chicken or veggie burger (or the crab cake), a selection of eight kinds of cheese, four toppings and sauce. Toppings range from grilled pineapple to roasted corn and black bean salsa, while sauces include a horseradish aioli, mango chutney and – for a couple of extra cedis - premium guacamole. The decision-making doesn't stop there; for the everlasting traditional burger side dish, select either shoestring or sweet potato fries – or why not mix both. Those counting carbs and calories can opt for a bun-less burger of mixed baby greens instead. With thousands of combinations, The Counter has made sure to cater to every diet imaginable: paleo, vegan, gluten-free – you name it. Burger lovers could, feasibly, dine here every week for the rest of their lives, and still not try everything on the menu. Dominating a corner of Accra Mall, this modern industrial design restaurant features concrete floor, wooden desk, Formica furniture and modern lighting. If the culinary skyscrapers aren’t enough, the menu also has dessert including apple crum
The best restaurants in Accra
Best for local cuisine
Where to sample traditional Ghanaian fare While Accra offers a wide range of international cuisine, there's nothing quite like sampling traditional dishes in some of the capital's best-loved spots. From jollof rice to waakye, freshly-caught fish to spicy stews, you're bound to find something on the menu to tickle your tastebuds. Dining Ghanaian-style is an experience for the novice - you'll often find yourself navigating a dish without a knife and fork, for starters. It's all part of the fun. Here's our pick of the best places in Accra for some local flavour. Buka Conveniently situated close to the centre of Osu, Buka is, without question, one of the best lunch spots in the city. More often than not it has the full tables to show for it. Set on the first floor, so there’s a sense of escape from the throng, with lively music and wraparound wooden trellises adding to the ambience. The food itself hinges largely on Ghanaian and Nigerian specialties – dishes include okra stew and eba (a dough ball eaten with stews). Service can slow down during busy lunches. Country Kitchen You would have thought, judging by the government officials, the occasional tribal leader and the Reverend Jesse Jackson (whose picture in the restaurant hangs in pride of place) that Country Kitchen is an upmarket joint. However, the main appeal here is hearty home cooking that remains true to Ghanaian classics. The atmosphere is as relaxed as the staff, but the food is freshly cooked. Fufu, banku and jollof
Best for international cuisine
Time Out recommends the best places to eat without borders - the top tier in Accra's cosmopolitan dining scene Over the centuries foreign influences have seeped into Ghanaian culture - from its days as a West African hub for trade with Europe in the 1400s right through to the colonial era and beyond. This cosmopolitan outlook is reflected in its capital city's restaurant scene, where international cuisine is flourishing. Here are Time Out's recommendations on the best restaurants to find the best non-local delicacies...
Best for a quick snack
Our top three recommended places for your fast-food fix - where to go for burgers, fries and fried chicken with an African twist Barcelo’s Chicken This branch of Accra’s favourite chicken chain also has a bakery and an ice cream parlour. Think Nando’s and you are pretty much there, and the food is of similar quality. The chicken is very juicy, the jollof rice has a bite, and there’s a selection of pepper and peri-peri sauces from mild to steam-coming-out-of-your-ears cartoon style. Salad, coleslaw and other embellishments are available for side dishes. There’s also a selection of chicken burgers. With prices from around GH¢12 for chicken and chips, it’s a reliable and quick option – with a good ice cream for dessert. Chicken Republic Is there room for another fried chicken joint in Accra? Judging by the constant stream of people in here, and at the other two recent additions, it seems so. Rotisserie and fried chicken pieces are on offer as well as burgers, jollof rice and salads. Other locations Spintex (0302 817 094); Ring Road (0302 233 869). KFC Yes, this is a KFC. But as KFCs go, it is one of the more eye-catching – largely owing to a gigantic bargain bucket on a pole out front that glows well into the night. Its arrival on Oxford Street caused a great deal of commotion back in 2011, and this shiny three-floor chicken emporium has been serving streams of enamoured locals cartons of its golden-crumbed fast food ever since. A second branch has opened in the Melcom Plus bui
Accra's cheap eats
Accra has a number of high-quality fine dining establishments - with equally high price tags. Thankfully, places to eat on a more modest budget also abound in the capital. Some of the best are often the simplest, doing a handful of dishes or a speciality dish really well - juicy chicken and traditional favourites like jollof rice often make great, affordable meals. And don't be put off by its humble appearance - often the roadside shack serves up some of Accra's most authentic, flavourful and wallet-friendly bites.
Al fresco dining in Accra
Places to dine al fresco are plentiful in the Ghanaian capital. Whether you're after beachside dining or looking for a breezy terrace, Accra will have something to offer. Time Out's pick of open air restaurants - or restaurants with outdoor space - serve up a range of dishes, from traditional West African to less traditional - but equally delicious - pizza, fresh from a proper wood-burning oven. Here's where to go for great food in the great outdoors.
More popular restaurants in Accra
Buka
Conveniently situated close to the centre of Osu, Buka is, without question, one of the best lunch spots in the city – and more often than not has full tables to show for it. Set on the first floor, it gives a sense of escape from the throng, with lively music and wraparound wooden trellises adding to the ambience. The food itself hinges largely on Ghanaian and Nigerian specialties – dishes include okra stew and eba (a dough ball eaten with stews). Try and avoid peak lunch hours.
Mamma Mia
Set around an agreeably rustic courtyard some five minutes’ walk from Oxford Street, Mamma Mia, now well into its second decade, combines quality thin-crust, wood-fired pizzas with an attractive setting, easily making it easily one of Accra’s best options for Italian food. But it’s not just pizzas – we’d also highly recommend the large and reasonably priced seafood platter. The outside area has a trattoria-like feel, with rough-hewn paving, terracotta tilework and warm, simple decor. Air-conditioned dining is also available inside.
Il Cavaliere Pazzo
Set in one of the most prestigious spots in the city, overlooking the Polo Club’s field, Il Cavaliere Pazzo rises to the occasion. It’s one of the most impressive buildings in Accra, making effective use of wood both on the interior and exterior. It’s also refreshingly understated. Its recently revised menu is unswervingly Italian, with genuine (and genuinely good) risottos, gnocchi and ravioli with spinach and ricotta. The steaks and the grilled fish are also excellent. New items include Gnocchi al Pesto and Scaloppine alla Sorrentina (thinly sliced beef fillet with tomato sauce and mozzarella. The service is attentive too, among the best in Accra. It’s also worth saying that the proximity to the airport makes it a good stop on the way out.
La Chaumiere
La Chaumiere’s sophisticated French dishes have been catering to Accra’s discerning diners for more than a decade. It offers a smattering of North African flavours for good measure – dishes such as grouper with harissa and mint yoghurt – but the mainstay is classic and honest French cuisine, from a crispy Nicoise salad to a wonderfully thick and sticky onion soup au gratin. It’s popular with visiting dignitaries and Ghanaian politicians.
Country Kitchen
You would have thought, judging by its clientele of government officials, the occasional tribal leader and even the Reverend Jesse Jackson (whose picture in the restaurant hangs in pride of place) that Country Kitchen is an upmarket joint. The main appeal, however, is hearty home cooking that remains true to Ghanaian classics. The atmosphere is as relaxed as the staff are, but the food is freshly cooked – fufu, banku and jollof rice all come with a choice of chicken, beef, mutton or fish, (usually ‘red fish’). The larger grilled tilapia comes with banku.
The best Ghanaian restaurants in Accra
Buka
Conveniently situated close to the centre of Osu, Buka is, without question, one of the best lunch spots in the city. More often than not it has the full tables to show for it. Set on the first floor, so there’s a sense of escape from the throng, with lively music and wraparound wooden trellises adding to the ambience. The food itself hinges largely on Ghanaian and Nigerian specialties – dishes include okra stew and eba (a dough ball eaten with stews). Service can slow down during busy lunches.
The Chop Bar
Enjoy authentic Ghanaian cuisine in a modern atmosphere at The Chop Bar. With all the mouthwatering Ghanaina dishes on the menu, you won't be disappointed. Reasonably priced and with great service, the Chop Bar is a great lunch spot. Be sure to visit. Its Chop Time! You're Invited!
Maquis Tante Marie
There are two branches of Maquis Tante Marie. The newer is in Accra Mall, but the original Labone branch is the most atmospheric. All the seating is open-sided and the tasteful bamboo furniture and bright yellow tablecloths add to the exotic vibe of the place. The menu is definitively African with authentic dishes predominantly from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, such as tilapia and banku, nyama choma (grilled, spiced meat, usually mutton) and fish yassa (grilled in a tangy lemon marinade). It’s a great place for some traditional West African food. Other location Accra Mall (0224 322 5181).
Chez Afrique
This popular restaurant often has live bands, including highlife musicians. The food’s good, but the music’s better. Many sets start off with a mixture of reggae, and other (random) hits before returning with a highlife set that gets everyone up and dancing. The musicianship is usually excellent.
Katawodieso
More of a street stall, Katawodieso is almost legendary in Accra. Run by the matriarch Ruby Duff-Tay and her sisters, it serves traditional Ghanaian food. Within a courtyard are bubbling pots of banku, fufu and jollof rice. The speciality here, however, is waakye – a dish of refried beans, rice, spicy sauce, some well-cooked meat and a bit of fish, usually eel. Walk in, take a seat if there is room, or order in the kiosk from one of the smartly dressed waitresses and see what arrives. The restaurant has been at this location for a quarter of a century and is known by everyone in Accra.
Country Kitchen
You would have thought, judging by the government officials, the occasional tribal leader and the Reverend Jesse Jackson (whose picture in the restaurant hangs in pride of place) that Country Kitchen is an upmarket joint. However, the main appeal here is hearty home cooking that remains true to Ghanaian classics. The atmosphere is as relaxed as the staff, but the food is freshly cooked. Fufu, banku and jollof rice each come with a choice of chicken, beef, mutton or fish, usually ‘red fish’. The larger grilled tilapia comes with banku, a bowl of water, washing up liquid and a lack of cutlery. It offers a take-away and delivery service.