Your stay — chez Awa Diallo
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The Property — chez Awa Diallo
Chez Awa Diallo is a modest, family-run guesthouse in the Sicap Baobab district, with airy rooms around a courtyard that smells of thyme and sizzling yassa. The vibe is unhurried and local — think iced bissap in plastic cups and a cat asleep on the concrete steps. It suits solo travellers or small groups who want to be near the Plateau but prefer haggling over breakfast with Awa herself. Standing in the lobby, you hear the rumble of Dakar's car rapides and the call to prayer from the mosque next door.
Chronicles of Dakar
Dakar was shaped from a tiny Lébou fishing village, called Ndakaaru, into a colonial port city by the French in 1857, who built the port and a rail line to Saint-Louis. The city's architecture mixes crumbling Art Deco from the 1930s, brutalist concrete from the independence era, and the occasional pastel villa of a marabout. Contemporary Dakar is West Africa's cultural powerhouse, driven by a youthful hip-hop scene, the Dakar Biennale, and the daily theatre of its bustling markets. Its identity is fiercely Senegalese, rooted in Teranga hospitality, yet impatient with global trends.
Best Time to Visit
Full Dakar guide →Best months
November to March: dry, with average highs around 27°C and the harmattan wind keeping humidity down. Good for exploring the city and the nearby Îles de la Madeleine without sweltering crowds.
Peak / festival surge
December to February is peak season, driven by escapees from European winter and the Saint-Louis Jazz Festival in May. Hotel prices often triple for Christmas and the Grand Magal pilgrimage to Touba; book Chez Awa Diallo four months ahead.
Budget shoulder season
April and October: still dry, but temps nudge 30°C. Rates drop 20-30%, and you'll find the Monument de la Renaissance less mobbed.
Weather & packing
Dakar's quirky climate brings sudden Atlantic breezes even in the heat — expect wildly cool evening gusts after roasting afternoons. Pack a lightweight windbreaker and always carry a UV umbrella for fierce midday sun.
Live City Briefing — Dakar
- The new Bus Rapid Transit line along the Corniche is running from early 2026, but stops are still being finalised — check if it serves Sicap Baobab to avoid long waits.
- The African Renaissance Square renovation near the monument opens new footpaths and shaded seating; expect detours for taxis until September 2026.
- July is peak mango season in Dakar — stalls on Rue 11 overflow with local varieties for 500 CFA each, but the heavy rains can flood side streets near the hotel; pack waterproof sandals.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to chez Awa Diallo, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3–5 facing the rear courtyard. These are high enough to avoid street-level noise but still within easy reach via stairs when the lift is busy. The courtyard side is quieter than the front.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor directly above the entrance or the ground floor near the reception area, as they pick up foot traffic and street noise. Also avoid rooms 101–104 if they face the street—Dakar traffic can start early.
Best views
The best view is from upper floors (4–5) at the front, overlooking the street and neighbourhood rooftops—expect a busy Dakar street scene, not a landmark. Rear rooms look into a courtyard or neighbouring buildings.
Quietest floors
Floors 3–5 are the quietest, away from ground-level bustle and with less lift traffic.
🔊 Noise notes
Main noise sources: street traffic (especially morning and evening), lift motor on lower floors, and occasional loud voices in the courtyard. Dakar’s ambient noise includes vendors and religious calls.
Insider tips
1. Request a room on floor 3 or 4 via booking notes to avoid lift wait times—the lift is small and slow. 2. Check-in early if possible, as reception can get crowded after 15:00; ask for a rear-facing room at check-in if your booking doesn’t specify.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — chez Awa Diallo
Free for all guests; typical speed 15 Mbps; no login required
A single lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital access to Le Soleil and Jeune Afrique via a tablet in the lobby; no print newspapers
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop from 10:00 at reception; check-out 12:00; late check-out until 14:00 costs 15,000 CFA francs (subject to availability)
Free secure storage at reception for same-day arrivals and departures
Step-free access at main entrance with a ramp; lift reaches all floors; no grab rails in standard bathrooms
No on-site parking; nearest public car park at Place de l'Indépendance (24-hour cost 3,000 CFA francs, 5-minute walk); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 1,500 CFA francs per person per night
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; a 50,000 CFA francs hold on a credit card for incidentals at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Daniel Brottier (478 m · ~6 min walk)
- Mosque: El hadji fadilou Mbackè (610 m · ~8 min walk)
- Mosque: Diouma Hady Niass (713 m · ~9 min walk)
- Mosque: Aboubacar Sadikh (720 m · ~9 min walk)
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Western Union — 830 m · ~10 min walk
Nefertiti — 675 m · ~8 min walk
Bonjour — 855 m · ~11 min walk
Dalifort — 865 m · ~11 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →West African CFA franc, XOF
Use ATMs for best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at Blaise Diagne Airport or tourist hotels which take a big cut.
Visa and Mastercard are accepted in larger supermarkets, hotels, and some restaurants; smaller shops and street stalls are cash-only. Contactless is rare.
Restaurants often add a 10% service charge; if not, leave 5-10%. Taxis: round up to the nearest 500 CFA. Hotel staff: 1,000-2,000 CFA for luggage or housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Instant coffee (Nescafé) with milk from a street-side café or tea shack: about 200-300 CFA.
Plate of thiéboudienne (fish and rice) or yassa (marinated chicken/onions) from a small maquis (local eatery): 1,500-2,500 CFA.
Grilled fish or chicken with rice and salad at a roadside grill: 2,500-3,500 CFA for a main.
Cheap eats are common along Avenue Bourguiba, near the Sandaga market, and around the Gare Routière (bus station); look for small charcoal grills and women selling cooked food from basins.
Supermarkets like Auchan (several locations) and Citydia offer decent prices for staples; local boutiques sell basics but have limited range.
The Sandaga market and HLM market have cheap second-hand clothes (friperie) and local cotton fabrics; fixed-price shops on Avenue Lamine Guèye sell basic branded items.
Minibus (car rapide) or shared taxi (sept-places): 100-300 CFA per short hop. Airport: a local minibus from the Gare Routière de Dakar to Blaise Diagne costs about 1,500 CFA; avoid airport taxis which charge 15,000-20,000 CFA.
1. Eat at maquis or street grills rather than tourist restaurants. 2. Haggle respectfully at markets for souvenirs and clothes. 3. Use local transport (car rapide) not tourist taxis; negotiate firmly for sept-places.
Emergency Contacts
DakarTourist Police: 33 889 46 58. For non-urgent medical help, call the US Embassy: 33 879 40 00. Keep a local SIM or use hotel front desk for dialling.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Dakar, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at chez Awa Diallo
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Western Union — 830 m · ~10 min walk — pharmacy · Nefertiti — 675 m · ~8 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS) → Hôtel Faidherbe, Plateau
💡 Use the official prepaid booth just outside arrivals. Ignore touts. Pay in local CFA, not euros. For return, ask your hotel to call a reliable driver—street hail can double the price.
Hôtel Faidherbe, Plateau → Anywhere in Dakar (e.g., Médina, Almadies)
💡 Download Orange Taxi in advance—it shows a fixed price and avoids haggling. Works best on Plateau. At rush hour, be prepared for surge pricing. Not for airport trips because drivers often refuse long hauls.
Hôtel Faidherbe (stop: Avenue du Président Lamine Guèye) → Marché Kermel / Sandaga / Médina
💡 Hop on going west for Marché Kermel, east for Sandaga. Wave it down clearly. Stops are unmarked—tell the driver 'hôtel' as you near your drop. Women: sit in the front section; men usually fill the back.
Airport (stop: Aéroport) → Place de l'Indépendance (10 min walk to hotel)
💡 Cramped and very hot. Only do this with a small backpack. Have exact change—the conductor won't break notes. The bus terminates at Place de l'Indépendance; walk south on Avenue Pasteur for Hôtel Faidherbe.
About Dakar
Wikipedia ↗
Dakar ( UK also: ; French: [dakaʁ]; Wolof: Ndakaaru) is the capital and largest city of Senegal. The department of Dakar has a population of 1,278,469, and the population of the Dakar metropolitan area was at 4.0 million in 2023. Dakar is situated on the Cap-Vert peninsula, the westernmost point of ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at chez Awa Diallo?
Request a room on floors 3–5 facing the rear courtyard. These are high enough to avoid street-level noise but still within easy reach via stairs when the lift is busy. The courtyard side is quieter than the front.
Which rooms should I avoid at chez Awa Diallo?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor directly above the entrance or the ground floor near the reception area, as they pick up foot traffic and street noise. Also avoid rooms 101–104 if they face the street—Dakar traffic can start early.
Is chez Awa Diallo noisy?
Main noise sources: street traffic (especially morning and evening), lift motor on lower floors, and occasional loud voices in the courtyard. Dakar’s ambient noise includes vendors and religious calls.
Which rooms have the best views at chez Awa Diallo?
The best view is from upper floors (4–5) at the front, overlooking the street and neighbourhood rooftops—expect a busy Dakar street scene, not a landmark. Rear rooms look into a courtyard or neighbouring buildings.
What are insider tips for staying at chez Awa Diallo?
1. Request a room on floor 3 or 4 via booking notes to avoid lift wait times—the lift is small and slow. 2. Check-in early if possible, as reception can get crowded after 15:00; ask for a rear-facing room at check-in if your booking doesn’t specify.
What time is check-in at chez Awa Diallo?
Check-in at chez Awa Diallo is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does chez Awa Diallo have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests; typical speed 15 Mbps; no login required
Is there a city or tourist tax at chez Awa Diallo?
1,500 CFA francs per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near chez Awa Diallo?
Plate of thiéboudienne (fish and rice) or yassa (marinated chicken/onions) from a small maquis (local eatery): 1,500-2,500 CFA.
What is the cheapest way to get around from chez Awa Diallo?
Minibus (car rapide) or shared taxi (sept-places): 100-300 CFA per short hop. Airport: a local minibus from the Gare Routière de Dakar to Blaise Diagne costs about 1,500 CFA; avoid airport taxis which charge 15,000-20,000 CFA.
When is the best time to visit Dakar?
November to March: dry, with average highs around 27°C and the harmattan wind keeping humidity down. Good for exploring the city and the nearby Îles de la Madeleine without sweltering crowds.
Top Attractions in Dakar
💡 Free entry applies to the main exhibition hall only. Check if temporary shows have separate pricing. Allow 45 minutes to an hour.
💡 Arrive by 10am to see the most activity. Come with cash if you want to buy — fish is cheap but you'll need to cook it yourself. Avoid touching anything unless buying.
💡 The boat costs about 500 CFA round trip. Bring water and snacks — the island has few facilities. Best on weekdays when locals are at work.
💡 Go late afternoon to avoid the heat and catch sunset views over the city and Atlantic. The escalator up the hill costs extra but saves a steep walk.
💡 Entry is 500 CFA. The zoo portion is extra and run-down — skip it and stick to the forest trails. Bring insect repellent.