Your stay — chez Mourtala
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The Property — chez Mourtala
Chez Mourtala is a no-fuss, family-run guesthouse in the Médina district, offering basic but clean rooms with a small courtyard. It feels like a well-kept local home: bright, slightly worn furniture, a shared fridge, and the faint smell of grilled fish from the neighbourhood. The USP is genuine Dakarois hospitality and a very central but residential location. It suits independent travellers on a strict budget who want to be close to the Plateau, not tourists after a resort.
Chronicles of Dakar
Dakar was founded in 1857 as a French colonial fort and quickly grew into the capital of French West Africa. Its architecture is a dusty mix of Art Deco, neo-Sudanese, and modernist villas, decades past their prime but now reborn as galleries and cafes. The city is the cultural engine of Senegal—home to the bright, billowing boubous of the Lebou, the saxophones of mbalax, and the defiant spirit of the 1944 Thiaroye massacre. Today, Dakar is a sprawling, brash metropolis of 3.5 million, where beat-up bush taxis dodge luxury SUVs and the sea is always a few blocks away.
Best Time to Visit
Full Dakar guide →Best months
November and December: the long dry season is in full swing, humidity drops, and the Harmattan wind keeps nights cool. January also works—clear skies, no rain, and fewer tourists than December.
Peak / festival surge
February: the Dakar Rally (actually January–February) + the Moda Makena festival can spike hotel occupancy. Chez Mourtala may raise rates 10–15%. March also busy with cultural events. Prices follow the event calendar, not just weather.
Budget shoulder season
May and June: the pre-rainy season stays hot but not wet yet; crowds thin after Easter. October: end of rainy season, landscapes still green, lower prices than November. Note: July is not shoulder—rains are heavy.
Weather & packing
July is the heart of the rainy season: expect afternoon downpours that can flood streets, then fierce sun. Pack a waterproof shell that covers your daypack, and a fast-dry pair of sandals or plastic clogs—don't rely on canvas trainers.
Live City Briefing — Dakar
- The Dakar–AIBD train extension is now operational, offering a reliable link to Blaise Diagne Airport—but check the schedule as delays still happen.
- Several new art and craft markets have opened on the Corniche (e.g., Marché des Arts) but insist on cash—ATMs reliably dispense CFA, but note many machines cap withdrawals at 200,000 CFA.
- The city is cracking down on unlicensed street guides in the Sandaga market area; hire an official guide via the tourist office if you want a taste of the chaos without hassle.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to chez Mourtala, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 2 or 3 facing away from the street (courtyard side). These floors offer a balance of quiet and accessibility, as the building has a lift but no higher floors to buffer street noise from Dakar's busy roads.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor — these are closest to the street and reception area, making them prone to noise from foot traffic, entrance activity, and early morning street sounds. Also avoid rooms directly above the main entrance, which can pick up car horns and arriving guests.
Best views
Rooms on the courtyard side of floors 2 or 3 offer views over the inner garden or courtyard — a slice of greenery in central Dakar. Street-facing rooms give views of the bustling Rue de la République, interesting but noisy.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 are the quietest — enough elevation to reduce street rumble, and away from ground-floor bustle. The lift only goes between floors 1 and 3, so top-floor rooms are best for sleep if you don't mind stairs for minor trips.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel is on a main throughfare in the city centre — expect honking, mopeds, and market sellers from early morning (around 6am). The lift mechanism can be audible on floor 2 if you're near it.
Insider tips
1. Request a courtyard room on floor 2 or 3 when booking — these are consistently quieter than street-facing options. 2. If you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs, as even a courtyard room may pick up some city hum; the hotel's location is central but not silent.
- 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 Mourtala
Free throughout; typical speed 5–8 Mbps download, 2 Mbps upload; single device per room, no login
One small lift serves all three guest floors; no stairs-only sections
No digital newsstand; free print of Le Soleil at breakfast; building is a 1950s colonial-style villa with arched verandas
Check-in 15:00–23:00; early bag-drop from 08:00 at reception; late check-out until 14:00 for 5,000 CFA
Free at the reception desk, no luggage room
No step-free entry – two steps at main door; lift fits a standard wheelchair; no accessible bathroom on any floor
On-site gated parking for 4 cars, 2,000 CFA per night; nearest public car park is Parking Place de l'Indépendance, 2 km away, 500 CFA per hour; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 50 CFA per person per night
Deposit & card hold: 50% advance deposit; 10,000 CFA incidental hold on a credit or debit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Mosquée Dieppeul 3 (132 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Paroisse des Martyrs de l'Ouganda (249 m · ~3 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosquée Liberté 4 (400 m · ~5 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosquée Liberté 5 (745 m · ~9 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
EURO PLUS — 2.1 km · ~26 min walk
Jardin Public Liberté 6 Extension — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
Chez Abdou — 2.2 km · ~27 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 739 m · ~9 min walk
Pharmacie Seydina Limamoulaye Al Makhdi — 112 m · ~1 min walk
Super Deals — 363 m · ~5 min walk
Terminus Dakar Dem Dikk Liberté 5 — 801 m · ~10 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →West African CFA franc, XOF
Change money at banks or exchange bureaux in the city centre; avoid airport and hotel counters, which give poor rates.
Cards accepted at mid-range hotels and supermarkets; cash essential for taxis, markets, and small shops.
Restaurants: 5-10% if service not included. Taxis: round up to nearest 500 CFA. Hotel staff: 1000-2000 CFA for help with bags.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Street-side café (Nescafé or espresso) costs about 500-700 CFA.
Plate of thieboudienne or yassa at a local dibiterie: 1500-2000 CFA.
Grilled fish or chicken with rice at a nearby maquis: 2500-3500 CFA for a main.
Street stalls along Avenue Bourguiba and around the central market offer grilled brochettes and sandwiches for 500-1000 CFA.
Budget supermarkets: Auchan and City Dia are common in this area.
Affordable high-street shopping at Sandaga and HLM markets, plus the central-side stalls near Boulevard de la Libération.
Cheapest way: shared minibus (car rapide) for 150-200 CFA per ride. Budget airport transport: Dakar Dem Dikk bus line to the city centre for 300 CFA.
Eat at local dibiteries and street stalls for filling meals under 3000 CFA. Use shared minibuses rather than taxis. Avoid buying bottled water from tourist stalls; get large 1.5L bottles from supermarkets for 500 CFA.
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 Mourtala
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 739 m · ~9 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie Seydina Limamoulaye Al Makhdi — 112 m · ~1 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 Mourtala?
Request a room on floors 2 or 3 facing away from the street (courtyard side). These floors offer a balance of quiet and accessibility, as the building has a lift but no higher floors to buffer street noise from Dakar's busy roads.
Which rooms should I avoid at chez Mourtala?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor — these are closest to the street and reception area, making them prone to noise from foot traffic, entrance activity, and early morning street sounds. Also avoid rooms directly above the main entrance, which can pick up car horns and arriving guests.
Is chez Mourtala noisy?
The hotel is on a main throughfare in the city centre — expect honking, mopeds, and market sellers from early morning (around 6am). The lift mechanism can be audible on floor 2 if you're near it.
Which rooms have the best views at chez Mourtala?
Rooms on the courtyard side of floors 2 or 3 offer views over the inner garden or courtyard — a slice of greenery in central Dakar. Street-facing rooms give views of the bustling Rue de la République, interesting but noisy.
What are insider tips for staying at chez Mourtala?
1. Request a courtyard room on floor 2 or 3 when booking — these are consistently quieter than street-facing options. 2. If you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs, as even a courtyard room may pick up some city hum; the hotel's location is central but not silent.
What time is check-in at chez Mourtala?
Check-in at chez Mourtala is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does chez Mourtala have Wi-Fi?
Free throughout; typical speed 5–8 Mbps download, 2 Mbps upload; single device per room, no login
Is there a city or tourist tax at chez Mourtala?
50 CFA per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near chez Mourtala?
Plate of thieboudienne or yassa at a local dibiterie: 1500-2000 CFA.
What is the cheapest way to get around from chez Mourtala?
Cheapest way: shared minibus (car rapide) for 150-200 CFA per ride. Budget airport transport: Dakar Dem Dikk bus line to the city centre for 300 CFA.
When is the best time to visit Dakar?
November and December: the long dry season is in full swing, humidity drops, and the Harmattan wind keeps nights cool. January also works—clear skies, no rain, and fewer tourists than December.
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.