Outdoor Dining in Dakar: The Terrace at Ge'eza, Point E

For outdoor dining in Dakar, the villa that houses Ge'eza in Point E opens its terrace under the trees, Tuesday to Sunday, 8am to 10pm. It is one of three spaces at the restaurant, alongside the gallery lounge and the glass-roofed room, and requesting an outdoor table is as simple as mentioning it when you book, whether for a dinner for two or a larger table.

What sets the terrace apart

The terrace sits in the villa's garden, shaded by the trees, set back from the avenue. It suits a dinner for two just as well as a larger table, and it is often the space people choose for a meal that stretches out, between courses and a last coffee. In the evening the air is cooler than during the day, which makes it a particularly pleasant setting for dinner, once the sun has gone down behind the trees.

Unlike the gallery lounge, where the walls carry the exhibited works, the terrace puts the garden and the trees front and centre. For anyone who wants to combine art with the meal, a quick look through the gallery lounge before or after dinner is still possible, on the same hours.

It is also a setting that suits an unhurried conversation, away from street noise, without feeling formal. Tables are not packed tightly together, which leaves each group a little room of its own, whether the evening is meant for a quiet dinner or a longer gathering with friends.

What to order for outdoor dining

Nothing on the menu is specific to the terrace, but some dishes suit it particularly well, built to be shared outdoors rather than eaten one plate at a time. A beyaynetu, the seven fasting dishes gathered on one injera, from 7,000 F for one person, works naturally for a convivial table. For a table with different preferences, Ye Fisig Beyaynetu, seven fasting sauces and two meat sauces, comes at 8,000 F for one, 13,000 F for two, 19,000 F for three.

For a table that prefers meat, doro wot (chicken, 8,000 F) or tibs (sautéed beef, 8,000 F) work just as well outdoors, set at the centre of the table to share.

To go with the meal, tej, the Ethiopian honey wine at 3,500 F, or a bissap, ginger or bouye juice at 1,500 F, drink well outdoors. A coffee ceremony after the meal, at 5,000 F per person, fits naturally on the terrace, under the trees, for about 45 minutes.

A budget guide for two

For two people, plan on two fasting dishes at 5,500 F, two juices at 1,500 F and two Ethiopian teas at 2,000 F, which comes to 18,000 F. Choose the Ye Fisig Beyaynetu for two at 13,000 F instead of the two dishes and the total becomes 20,000 F. A coffee ceremony after the meal adds 5,000 F per person.

Requesting an outdoor table

When booking on the booking page, a notes field is provided for a message to the team (allergies, a birthday, a terrace table). That is the place to mention a preference for outdoor seating. The request then depends on availability that day and the weather. For a group of more than six or a partial reservation of the terrace, it is best to write directly on WhatsApp at +221 78 660 07 07, in addition to the form if the party is larger than eight. Confirmation then comes back the same way, by WhatsApp or by phone, so there is no need to wait until arrival to know whether an outdoor table has been set aside.

Booking is advisable in the evening and at weekends, with slots offered from 08:00 to 21:00. The restaurant is closed on Monday.

Terrace comfort depending on the weather

The terrace sits under the trees in the open garden. In case of rain or strong heat, the glass-roofed room and the gallery lounge remain available in the same villa, and mentioning this to the team makes switching spaces easy. The choice is usually made on the spot, depending on what suits the day best.

The terrace at other times of day

The terrace is not only for dinner. In the morning it hosts Ethiopian breakfast, served from 8am to 11am. At midday it serves the Senegalese dish of the day, Tuesday to Friday. It is also where the house holds its brunches with live music during certain exhibitions, with dates announced on the calendar. For a wider look at evenings out in the city, Dakar evenings out offers a broader overview. For a group dinner, large or small, the same booking rules apply regardless of the time of day chosen.

Snacks for the terrace, and the weekday lunch

For a shorter stop outdoors, lentil or meat sambusas (1,500 to 2,000 F for two pieces) travel well to a shaded table, and a peanut baklava (5,000 F) makes a sweet, easy way to end a terrace meal without ordering a full dessert course.

At midday, Tuesday to Friday, the terrace also serves the Senegalese dish of the day: mafé on Tuesday, thiéboudienne on Wednesday, supou kanja on Thursday, and chicken yassa on Friday, each a different rhythm from the dinner menu and its slow-cooked Ethiopian sauces.