Your stay — La Résidence
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The Property — La Résidence
La Résidence is a straightforward three-star in Dakar's central Plateau district. The lobby is tiled, air-conditioned and modest, with a small reception desk and a seating area where locals and guests sip coffee. The USP is location: you're a five-minute walk from the presidential palace and Place de l'Indépendance, and a short taxi ride to the Corniche. It suits business travellers and independent tourists who want a clean, no-frills base in the historic core rather than beachfront luxury.
Chronicles of Dakar
Dakar was founded in 1857 as a French colonial port on the Cap-Vert peninsula, chosen for its deep-water harbour. Under Governor Faidherbe, the city expanded with a grid of wide boulevards, and the Plateau became the administrative and commercial centre, filled with Art Deco and neo-Sudanese buildings. After independence in 1960, Dakar grew rapidly as Senegal's capital, absorbing rural migrants into sprawling suburbs like Médina and Pikine. Today its architecture mixes crumbling colonial facades, modernist blocks and vibrant street markets, while its cultural identity is defined by the Dakar Biennale, mbalax music and a thriving contemporary art scene. The city is a political and transport hub for West Africa, but also a place where the Atlantic surf meets dusty, chaotic streets.
Best Time to Visit
Full Dakar guide →Best months
November to February: the dry, cooler season with average highs of 25-27°C and low humidity. Clear skies, comfortable evenings, and hotel rates are moderate before the European winter escape surge.
Peak / festival surge
December to February: peak season for European and North American tourists escaping winter. The Dakar Biennale (usually May/June) draws art crowds, but December's maritime trade fairs and Christmas holidays push hotel prices up 30-50%. Expect full occupancy on the Plateau.
Budget shoulder season
March and October: March stays dry but gets hotter (30°C), while October is the tail of the rainy season with sporadic showers and lower humidity. Rates drop 20-30%, and the city is quieter.
Weather & packing
Dakar's climate is coastal, so mornings bring Atlantic mist and evenings a sea breeze even in hot months. Pack a light windbreaker or pashmina for evening restaurant terraces; in July, expect one or two short downpours, so include a compact umbrella.
Live City Briefing — Dakar
- The Dakar Dem Dikk bus network has introduced a new express line from the Plateau to the airport, reducing taxi reliance; buy a prepaid card at the main terminal.
- Construction on the Corniche road extension near Hann Bay is causing weekend lane closures and extra traffic between the city centre and Yarakh.
- The IFAN Museum of African Arts on Place Soweto has reopened after renovation, with a new gallery dedicated to Senegalese post-independence sculpture.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to La Résidence, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd floor – high enough to reduce street-level noise but low enough for quick stair access if the lift is busy. North-facing rooms avoid the morning sun and the main road.
Rooms to avoid
Rooms on the 1st floor directly above the entrance or reception – these pick up lobby chatter and door noise. Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft, common in mid-range hotels in Dakar.
Best views
North-facing rooms look onto quieter residential streets; ask for a higher floor (3rd) to see over the low-rise buildings towards the coastline, giving a partial sea glimpse.
Quietest floors
3rd floor – set back from street traffic and above the lower-floor activity.
🔊 Noise notes
The main road outside Dakar’s city centre carries through taxis, buses, and moped traffic, especially weekdays 7-9am and 5-7pm. The lift is older and audible from adjacent rooms. Service entrance at the back may have kitchen or delivery noise early morning.
Insider tips
1. Check in after 2pm – the small reception desk gets crowded at peak times, and you can request a specific floor more easily then. 2. If you’re driving, ask about the hotel’s secured parking lot (often limited to 8-10 spaces) – worth reserving ahead for safety and convenience.
- 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 — La Résidence
Free for all guests; average speed 15 Mbps download; login via room number and surname
One lift serves all three guest floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital access to Le Monde and Jeune Afrique via QR codes in lobby; no physical papers
Check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop allowed from 07:00 if room not ready; late check-out until 18:00 costs 50% of one night's rate
Free for same-day collection; 2000 CFA per bag per 24 hours beyond that
Step-free access at main entrance; lift to all floors; one accessible room on ground floor with roll-in shower; no grab bars in public toilets
Free on-site secured parking for 20 cars (first-come, first-served); 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: 1000 CFA per person per night
Deposit & card hold: 50% of total stay charged at booking; a 50,000 CFA card hold for incidentals at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Paroisse Don BOSCO (399 m · ~5 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosquée Apecsy 3 (471 m · ~6 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosquée Nord Foire (797 m · ~10 min walk)
- Mosque: Ya-Seydi (909 m · ~11 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Jardin de la Cité Mixta — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk
Pharmacie Ama Ndiaye — 234 m · ~3 min walk
Superette Aida — 533 m · ~7 min walk
Terminus bus 121 — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →West African CFA Franc, XOF
Use banks or official exchange bureaux in town; avoid airport kiosks and hotel desks, which give poor rates.
Major credit cards accepted in upscale hotels, supermarkets and some restaurants, but most small shops, markets and taxis want cash.
Restaurants: 5-10% if no service charge; taxis: round up fare; hotel staff: 500-1000 XOF per service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Instant Nescafé from a street stall or bakery – around 300-500 XOF.
Plate of thieboudienne (rice and fish) from a local maquis – about 1500-2000 XOF.
Grilled fish or chicken with attiéké and salad – main around 2000-3000 XOF.
The Corniche and Almadies area have evening street-food stalls selling grilled fish, brochettes and yassa; also look for senegalese doughnuts (beignets) from roving sellers.
Auchan, Casino and Citydia supermarkets are common in Dakar and stock staples reliably.
Marché Kermel and Marché Tilène (Sandaga) for second-hand and new clothing; also the HLM market for cheap fabrics and tailoring.
Minibus (car rapide) – 100-200 XOF per ride, no day pass; from the airport take a sept-place (shared taxi) to downtown for about 1000-1500 XOF, or a regular bus to the Plateau for 200 XOF.
Always negotiate prices at markets but not in fixed-price shops. Buy street food at lunch rather than dinner (same food, cheaper). Use local sim data (e.g., Free or Orange) instead of roaming for mapping and phone calls.
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 La Résidence
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie Ama Ndiaye — 234 m · ~3 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 La Résidence?
Request a room on the 3rd floor – high enough to reduce street-level noise but low enough for quick stair access if the lift is busy. North-facing rooms avoid the morning sun and the main road.
Which rooms should I avoid at La Résidence?
Rooms on the 1st floor directly above the entrance or reception – these pick up lobby chatter and door noise. Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft, common in mid-range hotels in Dakar.
Is La Résidence noisy?
The main road outside Dakar’s city centre carries through taxis, buses, and moped traffic, especially weekdays 7-9am and 5-7pm. The lift is older and audible from adjacent rooms. Service entrance at the back may have kitchen or delivery noise early morning.
Which rooms have the best views at La Résidence?
North-facing rooms look onto quieter residential streets; ask for a higher floor (3rd) to see over the low-rise buildings towards the coastline, giving a partial sea glimpse.
What are insider tips for staying at La Résidence?
1. Check in after 2pm – the small reception desk gets crowded at peak times, and you can request a specific floor more easily then. 2. If you’re driving, ask about the hotel’s secured parking lot (often limited to 8-10 spaces) – worth reserving ahead for safety and convenience.
What time is check-in at La Résidence?
Check-in at La Résidence is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does La Résidence have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests; average speed 15 Mbps download; login via room number and surname
Is there a city or tourist tax at La Résidence?
1000 CFA per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near La Résidence?
Plate of thieboudienne (rice and fish) from a local maquis – about 1500-2000 XOF.
What is the cheapest way to get around from La Résidence?
Minibus (car rapide) – 100-200 XOF per ride, no day pass; from the airport take a sept-place (shared taxi) to downtown for about 1000-1500 XOF, or a regular bus to the Plateau for 200 XOF.
When is the best time to visit Dakar?
November to February: the dry, cooler season with average highs of 25-27°C and low humidity. Clear skies, comfortable evenings, and hotel rates are moderate before the European winter escape surge.
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.