Robert Larnyoh
Accra, Ghana
Dimaensa
“Eat and finish it” is literally what this place is called when translated from the dialect of Akan. Tucked away on a corner in Abelemkpe. Dimaensa is my favourite spot to have some local food. Their pot-serve option gives you an authentic dining experience that’s sure to make you feel special. Have a local food you want to try? This place has it all and more. I recommend the spicy grilled meat (popularly called kebab) with some palm wine or zobo juice while you wait for your meal to be served. Be sure to grab a seat on the top deck of this place to get some good views.
Buka
Buka restaurant offers a taste of proper African cuisine and caters to the middle-income business community and the discerning traveller. Its environment is an evocative aura of excitement and the African landscape, all amid a calm and scenic atmosphere that sets the tone for an immersive local culinary experience. With a variety of main Ghanaian dishes form Ghanaian jollof, ripe plantains with beans stew, fufu and goat soup, and banku and okra, there’s plenty to indulge in to give yourself a taste of Accra.
Osu Oxford Street
Osu is located in the heart of Accra and is known as the hub for nightlife, commercial businesses, and a plethora of dining experiences. It’s the place to check out local and continental restaurants, including Buka Restaurant and Chez Clarisse, or to relax and work in cafes like Vida E Café and explore local street food. There’s no shortage of clubs, like Republic Bar and Grill and the popular terrace known as Bloombar. Osu can be quite fast-paced, but you can catch a few relaxed moments, too, if you’re feeling like exploring the fashion and art being sold by the street. Day or night, Osu will keep you living your best life.
Mangoase
Located in East Legon, this rooftop terrace offers a stunning atmosphere to accompany its variety of dishes. Meals here are hearty in a way that feels like they were made in a Ghanaian home – you’ll see what I mean after just one bite. The setting is great for dates, groups, and family dine-outs. The jollof rice and goat meat meal are must-haves, and if you're in for a swallow meal, the fufu with either palm nut or groundnut soup will elevate your meal experience. There’s also occasional live music to set you in the right mood.
All day long – starting with an early-morning breakfast of the street food waakye, then an afternoon that will no doubt lead me to various hidden gems I’ll see throughout town that will fuel my aesthetic escapades, ending, of course, with the friends I’ll meet up with at night – Accra’s energy makes me feel creative, full of life, and free. What more could you ask for from a city?
My name is Robert and I’m creative strategist and content creator – mainly travel video/photography – who loves exploring Accra. My passion is finding new and hidden gems scattered across the city and sharing those unique experiences in ways that improve the lives of people in my community and around the world.