Your Lagos, Unlocked
From the boardrooms of Ikeja to the beaches of Lekki, Lagos moves at a pace all its own. Here is everything you need to get the most out of Africa's most dynamic city.
Twenty million people. A thousand languages. One coastline that runs from mangrove creeks to the Atlantic. Lagos is the kind of city that rewards the curious and challenges the unprepared. We have put together this guide so that every guest, whether you are here for a three-day conference, a month-long project or a weekend of culture, can step out of the hotel and straight into the city with confidence.
Culture and Heritage
Lagos carries the weight of its history lightly. Kalakuta Republic, Freedom Park and the National Museum sit within reach of galleries and street art spaces that put the city at the heart of Africa's creative renaissance.
Heritage
The compound that Fela Kuti turned into a declaration of independence from the Nigerian state is now the Kalakuta Republic Museum. Walking through it, you move through the history of Afrobeats, African resistance politics and one man's extraordinary decision to live exactly as he believed. The shrine, the bedroom, the broadcast tower: it all remains.
The New Afrika Shrine, rebuilt by Fela's son Seun Kuti on the original site at Agidingbi, hosts live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Go on a Saturday. Arrive early enough to eat from the roadside kitchens outside.
Museum
The Benin bronzes, Nok terracottas and Yoruba regalia collections make this one of the most significant museums in West Africa. Allow two hours, minimum. The on-site restaurant serves solid local food.
Heritage
Built on the site of Lagos Colonial Prison, Freedom Park is now a cultural hub with live music, open-air theatre and art installations. The architecture preserves the original cell walls. Evenings here are something else.
Art
Four floors of Nigerian art spanning textiles, sculpture, painting and photography. Nike Davies-Okundaye's gallery is one of the finest collections of contemporary Nigerian art in any single space. The rooftop studio hosts workshops.
Food and Drink
Suya from a roadside grill at midnight. Bole wrapped in newspaper. Jollof rice that will settle every argument you thought you had. Lagos street food and restaurant dining coexist without hierarchy.
Street Food
The buka — a no-frills local restaurant — is where Lagos eats lunch. Egusi soup, white rice, fried plantain and goat meat, served fast and hot from clay pots. The stretch running from Isale Eko into Surulere has the most consistent quality. For something closer to the hotel, the bukas along Obafemi Awolowo Way in Ikeja are a ten-minute walk.
Under NGN 3,000 per person
Fine Dining
Arguably the city's most considered fine dining restaurant, Nok by Alara offers pan-African tasting menus in a setting designed by the Alara concept store. Reservations essential. The cocktail programme draws heavily on local botanicals — the zobo negroni is worth the trip alone.
NGN 30,000 to 80,000 per person
Night Eats
Suya is Nigeria's great street food: spiced beef skewers charred over open charcoal. The best suya spots open at sundown. The Hausa mallam grilling on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, two minutes from the hotel, has been there since the 1990s. Eat standing at the grill. That is the correct way.
NGN 2,000 to 5,000 per portion
Business Travel
The hotel sits at the centre of Lagos's commercial infrastructure. Murtala Muhammed Airport, the Lagos State government complex, Ikeja GRA and the manufacturing belt of Ogba are all within fifteen minutes. Here is what frequent business travellers need to know.
Bolt and inDriver are the most reliable ride-hailing apps in Lagos. Always confirm the fare before accepting. For regular airport transfers, ask at reception to arrange a dedicated hotel driver. Traffic builds from 7:00 am; for Lekki or VI meetings, leave before 6:30 am or after 10:00 am.
Our 24-hour Business Centre on the second floor provides printing, scanning, courier services and private workstations. Dial extension 1008 for assistance. Meeting rooms seating 12 to 300 are available on-site. Speak to Events at extension 1007.
High-speed fibre Wi-Fi (BWPAMBIENCE) covers the entire property including all meeting rooms. For large data transfers or video conferencing with bandwidth guarantees, dedicated wired connections are available in the Business Centre.
Murtala Muhammed International Airport is 8 km from the hotel. Domestic Terminal (Departures): 6 km. The hotel offers early check-out and luggage storage for guests on early flights. Late arrivals are always accommodated with full 24-hour check-in.
Key Business Districts
Murtala Muhammed Airport
Domestic and InternationalIkeja City Mall
Retail and Banking HubComputer Village
Tech and Electronics MarketIkeja GRA
State Government ComplexVictoria Island
Financial and Corporate HubUniversity of Lagos
Akoka, YabaMICE and Group Events
Best Western Plus Ambience Hotel is one of Ikeja's leading venues for meetings, conferences and events. Five dedicated spaces accommodate everything from a bilateral boardroom to a 300-person gala dinner.
75.85 sqm of flexible conference space on the events floor. Theatre, classroom, banquet and cocktail configurations all available. Built-in AV, breakout area adjacent.
Capacity: up to 80 theatre
45.51 sqm of dedicated meeting space, ideal for workshops, training sessions and breakout groups. Natural light, dedicated climate control and in-room display screen.
Capacity: up to 40 theatre
When combined, the two halls create 122 sqm of uninterrupted space suitable for plenary sessions, product launches and large training events.
Capacity: up to 120 theatre
106.8 sqm premium boardroom with fixed boardroom table seating 20, leather executive chairs, dual display screens, video conferencing infrastructure and private reception area.
Capacity: 20 boardroom
141.8 sqm of our largest event space, ideal for gala dinners, award ceremonies, networking receptions and large corporate gatherings. Full stage, dancefloor and in-house catering.
Capacity: up to 300 reception
Our events team handles everything from audio-visual setup to catering menus, accommodation blocks and delegate transport. Tell us your brief and we will handle the rest.
What's On in Lagos
Lagos's events calendar runs year-round. These are the recurring festivals, fairs and cultural moments that fill hotel rooms and define the city's rhythm.
West Africa's biggest fashion event showcases emerging and established Nigerian designers across runway shows, trade events and off-schedule activations.
Venues across Lagos Island and VI
The Lagos edition of the world's biggest Afrobeats festival draws international artists and tens of thousands of attendees to the Lekki shoreline.
Eko Atlantic Beach, Lagos
International and Nigerian jazz artists perform across two weekends at Freedom Park, Lagos Island — one of the city's most atmospheric event settings.
Freedom Park, Lagos Island
Nigeria's largest international art fair brings galleries, collectors, curators and artists from across Africa and the diaspora for four days of exhibitions, talks and performance.
Eko Hotel, Victoria Island
Nigeria's largest food festival features over 200 vendors, live cooking demonstrations, wine and spirits tastings and performances over two packed weekends.
GTBank HQ, Victoria Island
December in Lagos is a season in itself. Concerts, beach parties, yacht events and food festivals run continuously from the first weekend through New Year. Book accommodation early — this is the most competitive hotel period in the city.
Citywide
Curated Experiences
The hotel does not operate tours directly, but these Lagos-based operators offer well-regarded experiences for individual travellers and corporate groups. Always confirm availability and pricing directly.
Guided walking tours through the eating streets of Surulere, Yaba and Lagos Island. Groups of two to twelve, three to four hours, breakfast and lunch included. A genuine way into how the city feeds itself.
Food / Culture / Walking
Guided kayak and boat tours through the Lagos lagoon system, including Tarkwa Bay, Badagry Creek and mangrove forest routes. Full-day and half-day formats, suitable for corporate team activities.
Nature / Water / Team Building
Full-day itineraries covering the National Museum, Freedom Park, the Brazilian Quarter on Lagos Island and a return boat crossing from Five Cowrie Creek. Excellent for international delegates and first-time Lagos visitors.
Heritage / History / Culture
Custom itineraries for corporate teams: private dinner cruises on the Lagos waterway, Afrobeats music evenings, craft market tours and cooking classes. All can be built around your group's schedule and size. Ask at reception to arrange.
Corporate / Groups / Custom
Day Trips from Ikeja
Lagos State extends well beyond the mainland and island districts. These destinations are reachable in under two hours and offer a complete contrast to the city's energy.
Beach
Tarkwa Bay sits inside the Lagos harbour mouth, accessible only by boat from the marina. The sheltered waters make it the calmest beach near Lagos. Ferries depart regularly from Roro Jetty, Victoria Island. Plan for a full day, as the crossing alone is part of the experience.
Heritage
Badagry, 56 km from Ikeja, was one of West Africa's most active slave ports. The Slave Relic Museum, the Point of No Return monument and the 1845 Seriki Williams Abass compound form a circuit that is sober, important and unlike anything else in the region. Allow a full day and hire a local guide on arrival.
Nature
The Lekki Conservation Centre, run by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, contains the longest canopy walkway in Africa at 401 metres. The adjacent Epe district is known for its freshwater fish market and lagoon-side eating. Hire a driver for the day — the drive along the Lekki-Epe Expressway is notable in itself.
Practical Tips
Experienced Lagos travellers know these things. First-timers are glad someone told them.
Lagos traffic is an infrastructure fact, not an anomaly. Build 60 to 90 minutes of extra time into any cross-city journey. Avoid travel between 7:00 am and 9:30 am and between 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm if you can. The BRT lane on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway is faster than private cars at peak times.
Both apps are reliable in Ikeja and cover the whole city. Always verify the driver's plate matches the app before entering. Negotiate ride-hailing prices before entering a non-metered vehicle. The hotel can arrange a dedicated driver for full-day engagements — ask at reception.
Many markets, street food vendors and smaller restaurants are cash-only. ATMs are available at Ikeja City Mall and at the hotel's partner branch nearby. GTBank and Access Bank have reliable machines. Withdraw in the daytime.
The Third Mainland Bridge, crossing Lagos Lagoon at 11.8 km, is the longest bridge in sub-Saharan Africa. From the road, particularly at dawn or dusk, the scale of the lagoon is extraordinary. Ask your driver to cross it rather than take the Island expressway at least once during your stay.
Lagos sits at 6 degrees north and is warm year-round. Light natural fibres work during the day. Evenings on the Island are more dressed-up than you might expect — many restaurants and lounges maintain smart casual standards. Carry a light layer for heavily air-conditioned meeting rooms.
The front desk team has local knowledge that no app can replicate. Whether you need restaurant recommendations, a trusted driver, a church near the hotel or a pharmacy open on Sunday, dial 0 from your room. This is what the Ambience Assurance programme exists for — call extension 9 for anything that does not have an obvious answer.
Book your stay at Best Western Plus Ambience Hotel Ikeja and explore Lagos with a reliable base in the heart of the city.
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