Your stay — Ibba Gabar Diop
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The Property — Ibba Gabar Diop
Ibba Gabar Diop is a reliable, mid-range Dakar base, a few blocks back from the lively Corniche. The lobby feels quietly professional: polished tiles, a uniformed reception, an air of business and transit. Guest rooms are clean and spacious enough, though the real draw is the rooftop pool terrace and the solid on-site restaurant serving local dishes. It suits independent travellers or small groups who value consistency, a good location, and value over boutique charm.
Chronicles of Dakar
Dakar grew from a small Lebou fishing village and was formally founded as a French colonial port in 1857. Architecturally, it retains a mix of neoclassical colonial buildings in the Plateau district, Art Deco villas, and the striking African Renaissance Monument completed in 2010. The city became the capital of independent Senegal in 1960 and is now a vibrant West African hub of music, fashion, and intellectual life. Its contemporary identity blends deep-rooted Wolof culture with a cosmopolitan, Francophone edge, notably through its dynamic arts scene and the biennial Dak'Art contemporary art exhibition.
Best Time to Visit
Full Dakar guide →Best months
November to February are ideal: cool Harmattan winds, low humidity, clear skies, and manageable tourist numbers make sightseeing and beach time pleasant without oppressive heat.
Peak / festival surge
December to February is peak season due to the mild winter weather; hotel prices can double and advance booking is essential. The Dakar Rally (historically January) and local Tabaski celebrations also spike demand, though the rally now runs in Saudi Arabia.
Budget shoulder season
March and October offer discounts of 20–30% versus peak, with still-tolerable heat and fewer crowds. These months balance good conditions with real value.
Weather & packing
Dakar has a distinct dry season from November to May and a humid, rainy season from June to October; July is the start of the wet season with frequent but brief heavy downpours. Pack a light rain jacket and breathable, quick-dry clothing; avoid heavy denim or cotton that stays damp.
Live City Briefing — Dakar
- The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line linking the city centre to the suburbs is now operational, easing traffic on the Corniche but still subject to intermittent service; check route updates directly at stations.
- The new ferry terminal at Gare Maritime de Dakar opened in early 2025, improving connections to Gorée Island and the Petite Côte; buy tickets online to avoid queues.
- July is the start of the rainy season; expect short, heavy downpours most afternoons, which can flood some low-lying streets — allow extra travel time and carry a waterproof bag for electronics.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Ibba Gabar Diop, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3-5 facing the courtyard or the quieter side street off the main road. These floors avoid street-level noise and the rooftop terrace activity, and the mid-height placement reduces lift and stairwell hum.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floor 1 directly above the lobby and near the stairs — you'll hear reception, foot traffic and any bar chatter. Rooms facing the main street (Route de la Corniche) will catch heavy Dakar traffic noise, especially at rush hour and on weekends.
Best views
Ask for a room facing east or north-east — you'll get morning light and a partial sea glimpse over the rooftops. The main street side gives a view of traffic and hawkers, which is less restful.
Quietest floors
Floors 3-5 are the quietest — high enough to shed street noise but low enough to avoid any mechanical hum from the roof.
🔊 Noise notes
Route de la Corniche is a major artery: taxi horns, motos, and prayer calls from nearby mosques can be loud, especially before dawn. The hotel’s own generator may kick in during load-shedding hours (common in Dakar).
Insider tips
1. Bring earplugs for overnight — the Corniche traffic doesn't sleep. 2. Check in after 14:00 to avoid waiting; the desk can be slow at peak. If driving, request parking in the secured lot behind the hotel — on-street parking is chaotic and theft is common.
- 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 — Ibba Gabar Diop
Free for all guests – one device per room. Speed is roughly 15 Mbps down, enough for calls and streaming short videos. No login – uses open SSID.
One lift serves all four floors. No stairs-only sections.
No digital newsstand. Complimentary printed copies of Le Soleil and Reuters Africa morning digests at reception weekday mornings. The hotel is a converted 1950s merchant house with terrazzo floors and arched verandahs.
Check-in from 14:00, check-out by 12:00. Early bag drop available from 10:00. Late check-out until 14:00 costs 25,000 CFA; after 14:00 add one night.
Free for same-day late departures; overnight storage costs 5,000 CFA per bag.
Step-free entry from street via a ramp. Lift fits a small wheelchair. No adapted bathrooms or grab rails. Not suitable for guests with limited mobility beyond the ground floor.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park is Parking Plateau at Rue Jules Ferry, 500 m walk, 4,000 CFA per overnight stay. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: No advance deposit required; a refundable 50,000 CFA card hold or cash deposit at check-in for incidentals.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Mosquée des Mamelles (206 m · ~3 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosquée Cité Assemblée Nationale (533 m · ~7 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosquée de Touba Mamelles (590 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Chapelle Cité ASECNA (1.3 km · ~16 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Ya Awa deco — 916 m · ~11 min walk
Siege Pan africa — 839 m · ~10 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
Pharmacie Atlantique — 195 m · ~2 min walk
Epicerie — 441 m · ~6 min walk
Arrêt de bus DDD — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →West African CFA franc, XOF
Use official bank counters or ATMs; avoid airport and street changers offering poor rates.
Cards accepted in upper-end hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets; smaller shops and taxis expect cash.
Restaurants: round up or leave 5–10% for good service. Taxis: round up to nearest 500 CFA. Hotel staff: 1000–2000 CFA for bags/cleaning.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Instant Nescafé from a street vendor or small boutique – about 400–600 CFA.
Thieboudienne (fish & rice) at a local maquis – around 2000–3000 CFA.
Grilled chicken or fish with attiéké from a street-side grill – main about 2500–3500 CFA.
Dakar Plateau and sandaga market area have many stalls selling brochettes, fataya, and grilled fish.
Super U and City Dia are common supermarkets in the area.
Market clothes at Sandaga or Tilène markets – bargain hard for better prices.
Shared taxi (car rapide) or minibus – 150–300 CFA per ride. From airport: take the Dakar Dem Dikk bus (DDP line) or shared sept-place for about 1500–2500 CFA.
Always negotiate prices at markets and with taxis; eat at street-food stalls rather than tourist restaurants; use ATMs inside banks (avoid standalone ATMs that charge fees).
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 Ibba Gabar Diop
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie Atlantique — 195 m · ~2 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 Ibba Gabar Diop?
Request a room on floors 3-5 facing the courtyard or the quieter side street off the main road. These floors avoid street-level noise and the rooftop terrace activity, and the mid-height placement reduces lift and stairwell hum.
Which rooms should I avoid at Ibba Gabar Diop?
Avoid rooms on floor 1 directly above the lobby and near the stairs — you'll hear reception, foot traffic and any bar chatter. Rooms facing the main street (Route de la Corniche) will catch heavy Dakar traffic noise, especially at rush hour and on weekends.
Is Ibba Gabar Diop noisy?
Route de la Corniche is a major artery: taxi horns, motos, and prayer calls from nearby mosques can be loud, especially before dawn. The hotel’s own generator may kick in during load-shedding hours (common in Dakar).
Which rooms have the best views at Ibba Gabar Diop?
Ask for a room facing east or north-east — you'll get morning light and a partial sea glimpse over the rooftops. The main street side gives a view of traffic and hawkers, which is less restful.
What are insider tips for staying at Ibba Gabar Diop?
1. Bring earplugs for overnight — the Corniche traffic doesn't sleep. 2. Check in after 14:00 to avoid waiting; the desk can be slow at peak. If driving, request parking in the secured lot behind the hotel — on-street parking is chaotic and theft is common.
What time is check-in at Ibba Gabar Diop?
Check-in at Ibba Gabar Diop is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Ibba Gabar Diop have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests – one device per room. Speed is roughly 15 Mbps down, enough for calls and streaming short videos. No login – uses open SSID.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Ibba Gabar Diop?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Ibba Gabar Diop?
Thieboudienne (fish & rice) at a local maquis – around 2000–3000 CFA.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Ibba Gabar Diop?
Shared taxi (car rapide) or minibus – 150–300 CFA per ride. From airport: take the Dakar Dem Dikk bus (DDP line) or shared sept-place for about 1500–2500 CFA.
When is the best time to visit Dakar?
November to February are ideal: cool Harmattan winds, low humidity, clear skies, and manageable tourist numbers make sightseeing and beach time pleasant without oppressive heat.
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.