Dining at Ikoyi is nothing short of a revelatory experience--an extraordinary journey of flavor, creativity, and artistry that sets a new standard for contemporary fine dining in London. From the moment you walk through the door, the restaurant's minimalist and elegant aesthetic creates a sense of calm and anticipation. The warm lighting, understated décor, and impeccable table presentation immediately signal that you're about to experience something exceptional. Ikoyi's tasting menu is a remarkable exploration of bold spices, seasonal ingredients, and inventive culinary techniques. Every course is a masterpiece--beautifully plated, meticulously balanced, and full of vibrant, unexpected flavors. What truly sets Ikoyi apart is its ability to elevate familiar ingredients into entirely new expressions. The interplay of heat, smoke, sweetness, and umami is done with absolute precision. Each dish tells a story, and together they create a symphony of tastes that is both exciting and refined. The attention to detail in every component--from sauces to garnishes--is outstanding. The service at Ikoyi is flawless. The staff is knowledgeable, gracious, and attentive without ever being intrusive. Their explanations of each course enhance the experience, giving context to the ingredients and techniques in a way that feels engaging rather than formal. They tend to have a strong accent... so be patient. The staff is so remarkable to hay every need is anticipated, glasses are refilled seamlessly, and the pacing of the meal is perfectly orchestrated. The hospitality is warm and genuine, contributing to a dining experience that feels both luxurious and welcoming. The atmosphere at Ikoyi strikes the perfect balance between sophistication and comfort. It's intimate yet energetic, with an open kitchen that allows guests to witness the culinary team working with incredible focus and artistry. The subtle design details--tones, textures, and the harmony of the space--create a beautifully curated environment that complements the inventiveness of the cuisine. Ikoyi is a destination restaurant--one that surprises, delights, and leaves a lasting impression long after the meal ends. It is rare to find a place where creativity, technique, hospitality, and atmosphere blend so seamlessly, but Ikoyi achieves exactly that. This is not just a meal; it's an unforgettable culinary experience that deserves every accolade it has earned. Highly recommended for anyone seeking one of the most thoughtful and inspired dining experiences in London. read more

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Definitely the most unique in flavors experienced at a Michelin starred restaurant! The meal awakes your senses and makes you question what's familiar trying to place what you connect as flavors recognized even if it's a spice you have never had. We liked the majority of the dishes but didn't love the final sweet treats. There was a mild smell of bleach on the fruit and I was unclear on what it was coming from. read more

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It was my first time in London, and in my rushed planning, I made time for one fine dining experience. London's vast food scene felt intimidating as a first-timer, but one name kept surfacing: Ikoyi. It defies easy classification, perhaps because there's nothing else like it. I managed to snag a week-of lunch reservation and opted for the condensed lunch tasting menu (though the full version is also offered midday). The progression of dishes grew steadily on me, and by the end, I was especially captivated with the desserts, where the interplay of heat and sweetness sang. The meal began with a rich gola pepper chicken broth. I skipped alcohol and chose a Da Hong Pao oolong, floral and earthy, which paired beautifully. I found the tempura-style turbot with bright crab salad to be a textural delight, and the aged beef rib with their signature smoked jollof rice and lobster custard met expectations. Pepper appeared in many forms and shown most for me in the dessert: Jasmine sorbet warmed with chili oil, peppercorn mousse over brown butter ice cream and ginger cake, and sweet melon offset with unexpected numbing spice. Service was warm and conversational, though timing between courses was noticeably slow. When I mentioned my plans to explore cocktail bars, a manager returned with a handwritten list of some favorites. I also loved the design of the space, it was sculptural yet comforting, reflecting the same balance of discipline and warmth that defined the food. Overall I enjoyed my experience, and though I wouldn't say I necessarily craved any dish afterward, the menu stretched my palate in ways few meals do. Ikoyi was inventive and quietly bold. Next time, I will opt for the full tasting menu. read more

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Awarded two Michelin Stars and currently seated 15th on W50b Ikoyi most certainly has its fans, the venture between Chef Jeremy Chan and business partner Ire Hassan-Odukale thrusting West African flavors into a previously unprecedented global spotlight. Located on the Strand, a severe room and joyless service fond of the term "umami" placing added heft on bold flavors, dinner consists of 15 items ranging from single bites to substantial portions of largely British protein and produce. Focused on "spice based cuisine," frequently to the Food's detriment as with a delicious Sweetbread lost in a pick 'em of ingredients beneath Sausage buried in Horseradish, highlights arrived mostly early such as with the Beef Tart or Crème Caramel with Caviar and Razor Clams, but at $575pp (1 cocktail each, no wine) there are far too many plates later where "less" would have been more. read more

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What a fantastic meal - definitely wouldn't hesitate to come back! From the service to the food to the overall experience, everything was done very well and clearly practiced to a tea to create an amazing meal. I've never had West African cuisine and loved this introduction to it. I came here right at opening for lunch and was seated quickly. The preset menu was well portioned and brought out in a timely manner - not too quick or too slow. The entire experience took ~2-3 hours given the amount of portions so definitely take that into account! I loved the drink I got - pretty strong and went well overall with the meal. For each of the plates, there were no misses. Everything was extremely well made and delicious. Some notes I made while eating: 1. Caramelized chicken broth with peppercorn oil (goya) - very warm, not too spicy but a bit of heat 2. Beef tartare - such nice meat, very soft and well seasoned 3. Squid - MELTED IN MOUTH, extremely tender and amazing 4. Soup with veggies - many flavors, nice veggies good texture 5. Creamy crab and fried sweet bread - cheesy almost, very savory, spicy and a bit sweet 6. Scallop - lot of bold, strong flavors that mix very well 7. Mutton and mushrooms with rice - amazing flavors, well cooked meat, so tender 8. Peach sorbet with saffron glaze - not too sweet, loved the mix of flavors 9. Ice cream with melon at bottom and cookie on top with pepper - salty sweet, very good 10. Miso cookie with peruvian chocolate, candied walnut with fig on top - not too sweet, very thin, good mix of flavors Just overall, amazing. I'd gladly recommend this as a spot if you're looking for a fine dining experience and have a bit of money to spend - thanks, Ikoyi! read more

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What an amazing dining experience here! I absolutely loved the interior -- super warm and relaxing vibes, modern and lots of wood accents. Service was top notch, and the timing between the courses was perfect. Everything was so flavorful, fresh, and balanced. Presentation was carefully planned and it was like a work of art. Only thing that I think can be improved upon is the length of the experience. I was here for just about 3.5 hours for lunch, which is kinda crazy. Regardless, one of the best meals I've had in a very long time. You need to come here! read more

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Very thoughtful lunch tasting menu with many flavor layers that encouraged me to be mindful so I would not miss anything. Sommelier was excellent - helped me understand why he selected each wine for each dish and helped me appreciate the flavors by priming me to know what to look out for. Service was also excellent and mindful. Small space and felt cozy. Music was understated so you don't have to strain to hear. read more

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This is one of the top 10 restaurants for us and we've eaten at many many Michelin star restaurants this is well deserved of a ranking in the top 50 worldwide. I believe they're currently 42 on the worldwide list. They have it very creative menu that's not really indicative of any cuisine but more enhancing the natural umami of extremely fresh wonderful ingredients that they often dry age both meat and fish and serve it with great technique to enhance the umami flavors. This was our best dinner in London expensive but well worth it. read more

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First time I've been back to Ikoyi since they moved to their new location on the Strand, and it was an absolutely astounding experience. Starting with the fabulous reservation team (thank you, Arezu!) to the gorgeous interior space and impeccable service and finishing with the unbelievably delicious and beautiful food (Chef Jeremy Chan is 10-star worthy). I can't wait to return, and I'm already dreaming of the experience. If you are looking for a great dining experience in London, this is it! read more

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Continuing my conquest of London, I wanted to explore great food that was well-rewarded, and not just the same old boring fancy food that you find everywhere. So I found Ikoyi, a Two Michelin Starred joint that specialized is sub-Saharan, West African food. Um, easiest decision ever. The restaurant I went to was very small and intimate. Room for maybe a dozen parties, so it was very nice, and you felt very well taken care of. They have since moved to a new location, since my time, so I'm not sure what it looks like now, but it has to be an improvement. Anywho, so you get a tasting menu. That's your only option, which I love. Just tell me what to eat, and I'll eat it. I couldn't find a menu online, so I don't have any accurate description of what I ate, but I can give you high points and low points. But, there were no low points. The first course was three small plates, and you're already deep in the thick of things. A black rice encrusted, fried octopus tentacle was Amazing. Not chewy, crispy from the crust, served with a nice sauce. A couple other small bites take with it, not sure what they were, but one of them was definitely slathered in caviar, a nice treat. This was also one of the two or three places in London that served me sweetbread. If you don't know what that is, go look it up, be surprised, and then take my word for it that it is delicious. Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside. You can tell that this is a true delicacy. Their mascot is obviously a fried plantain that is coated in a blueberry salt. That big red smear looking thing you see in all the pictures, that's it. It's a nice plantain that's cooked all the way through, and coated in a coating that would be way overpowering on it's own, but it's served with a side of some yellow sauce, I forgot was it was, but I know it was necessary and created a very nice balance. Scrolling through my pictures. There was a very nice fish, an squid omelet with some truffle, an amazing rice dish with some sort of deep, earthy sauce. Gosh, it was all just so good. We finished up with three dessert courses. A matcha ice cream with some black garlic sauce. Black garlic does Amazing things to ice cream, and I recommend you play around with it. The very last plate was a trio of single bites that were fun. There was a jelly; a burnt once that was bitter on the outside and sweet on the inside. Overall, this place definitely earned its two stars. It was quite a ride. It was a lot of food. A lot of things I haven't ever eaten before. Yes. Just yes. Come here. read more

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One of our friends got food poisoning and was unable to make it to dinner, yet they refused to accommodate and will still charge you full price. I understand cancellation policies for no-shows or people without ample reason, but if someone physically CANNOT eat, some hospitality is expected. Reading the other negative reviews, the poor service and attitude seems to be consistent. Regardless, myself and my other two friends still went with high expectations and ready to enjoy the night but it fell flat pretty much immediately and continued that theme throughout the meal. Service is terrible; no one explains the dishes in detail or they mumble and you have to ask them to repeat things over and over again. No insight is given on the ingredients or culture they are supposedly pulling from; you have to ask for clarification and the servers won't know the answer anyways so they have to leave to ask the kitchen for every basic question. On top of this, 90% of the staff here are unfriendly and have pompous attitudes about them. We went to Restaurant Story a few days before and the staff there was INCREDIBLE! Super accommodating and friendly, very personable and they really went the extra mile to make us feel welcomed. At Ikoyi, everyone has this aura about them like THEY are doing YOU a favor by letting you eat there. It was really weird and uncomfortable. Even with all that, I was expecting the food to make it worth it since they have 2 stars, but unfortunately that too ended up being the worst Michelin meal I've eaten, Bib Gourmand included. I did not finish many of my dishes, and the only one I was legitimately impressed by for the flavor and execution was a simple one bite dry aged salmon with ikura appetizer. I have absolutely no idea how this place has managed to get 2 stars; it's a ridiculous establishment with subpar food and rude staff. Even the kitchen seemed unserious and like there was no passion; just a bunch of 20 year olds laughing with each other and trying to get their check and clock out, uncaring of the reputation they are feeding into. 2/3rds of the way through the meal they even started soaping and hosing down all the kitchen walls, climbing on top of the counters, and breaking it all down despite the dining room being full. All I could smell were the cleaning products for the last few courses. Save yourself the headache and the money and go to any of the other countless Michelin restaurants in London. read more

This is a tough one. As I am now living in Los Angeles since 1997, I have been eating West African and Ethiopian food for years. These cuisines are everywhere here. And they are delicious, and ancient, and complex. But they are also the food of the poor and cheap as hell. No matter how good the chef is at Ikoyi in London, or how "locally foraged" the leaves and twigs are that you use - the food you serve is still just simple Rice and Beans and a starving Chicken. What I see in this video are great authentic Nigerian dishes like Jolof Rice and Pounded Yam that are traditionally served as hearty portions in a plastic bowl at a curbside food stand on a noisy street, but now served here at Ikoyi as a dollop on a plate and then covered in caviar or truffle shavings just to make it seem high end. But it's still just beans and rice. It's still just yam starch paste shaped in a ball. If you walked up to a food stand on a busy street in Lagos and threw a handful of truffle-shavings on top of some local working-mans lunch-bowl of Jolof Rice & bean-paste-Moin-Moin, and then tried to charge him extra for it, he would either laugh or he'd kick the crap out of you. This stuff is street-food, it's family food, it's sacred traditional survival food that is delicious as it is - and no amount of Sevruga Caviar or Gold-Flake sprinkles is going to improve on that. It's just sad that those wealthy Brits need the permission of a Michelin Star before allowing themselves to try this cuisine. I've been to Africa many times, and believe me, the traffic sounds and the plastic bowl doesn't take an iota of the original flavor away. read more

Beautiful meal from start to finish. Note this meal was from pre-pandemic times and in person dining at the restaurant. It was delicious enough for me to remember it 11 months later. Simply beautiful. We got the multiple course menu and wine pairing. Each dish was like an adventure with a palette of flavors unexpected from each. The fried chicken was standout, as was the spicy plantain starter. The food's appearance was architectural in nature. I especially appreciated the plate / bowl pairings which visually accompanied each dish. One thing I appreciated was this seems like a place where single diners thrive; multiple individuals plopped down solo, savoring each dish and the service. Post pandemic I hope to be able to travel back to Ikoyi to revisit one of my most memorable meals. read more

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This was my first time eating African food & I loved it! I got the 7-course tasting menu, which they change up frequently, & was so impressed with each dish & the concept! They were all unique, yummy, & I would love to try African food again - skillfully cooked, beautifully presented! Wonderful service too! Courses: Plantain with Raspberry Salt & Smoked Scotch Bonnet I feel like the restaurant is known for this dish - very strong way to start off our meal, but definitely a highlight! Cassava & Corn Gazpacho This was a refreshing dish after the first one. It was much lighter - the cassava was crisp and the corn gazpacho went down smoothly (loved this btw) Galician Octopus & Coffee Shito I don't eat that much octopus, but this one was just so delicious. It's chewy, nicely cooked, and the sauce paired really well. Pink Fir Potatoes with Groundnut & Berries I remember really enjoying the sauce of this dish, and the potatoes were super soft! Aged Beef with Ndole & Aubergine Probably my favorite dish of the night - unbelievably flavorful & cooked perfectly! Smoked Jollof Rice & Crab Of course we need some carbs to end the night! Mixed it up and found it well-seasoned & smelled oh so good. Peach, Buttermilk & White Chocolate This dessert was a bit too sweet for me, but still a good way to end the night! Drinks: Both a little strong, but still very refreshing! Ogbono Bush Mango Gimlet Guava & Apricot read more

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Ikoyi led by Jeremy Chan is a high end restaurant with a unique concept. The food is West African inspired and all the ingredients are really unusual but so delicious! I came here with my friend for the AMEX London Restaurant Festival and we were both so impressed. The menu changes constantly and is very well thought out. We started with a welcome drink and the Buttermilk Plantain & Smoked Scotch Bonnet. This dish had a lot of heat and was all about bold flavors. The Ribs and the Honey Butter Pumpkin were amazing as well but my favorite of all the courses had to be the Mackerel. It was super succulent with rich flavors. The sauce was also full of umami, a rich savory flavor that Jeremy Chan tries to incorporate in his food. We finished with some Remy Martin XO paired with a dessert made with yam mousse, white rice ice cream and red beans (a play on the traditional African rice and peas). Overall, Ikoyi was an amazing experience. I highly recommend trying the tasting menu! read more

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Wow. If you are anywhere near London you will truly be missing out on a culinary experience if you do not visit Ikoyi. I was sooo impressed by this place it deserves all the recognition and accolades it gets. The flavors were unlike anything else I've tasted, very bold but pleasant. My favorite off of the blind tasting menu (4 course) had to be the plantains. They were so perfect! I want to go back already. The smoked jollof Rice was also a delight. The unveiling of the rice with smokey aromas is a nice touch as well. The staff was very friendly as well. I went for a late lunch with my boyfriend and we were seated right away. The restaurant wasn't too busy and the 4-course tasting menu (+dessert) was perfectly sized. Next time I am in London I will be back! read more

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Ikoyi offers an absolutely spectacular pre-theater tasting menu. I was blown away by how fresh and flavorful all of the dishes were. Definitely want to come back and try to full 7-course tasting menu. read more

Ikoyi - African Near Me - London, XGL

Absolutely wonderful. One of the best meals I've had in a year's span. Ikoyi represents a new evolution in the restaurant space. What you'll find here is all the elements of quality, service, and atmosphere seamlessly met as if it's an obvious accomplishment. They do all of this in a refined yet casual approach, making it seem so easy. Where they make their mark is by being bold, creative, and interpreting things in ways that surprise - especially when it comes to re-imagining spice. Their modern and sophisticated approach daringly plants a flag that shows that 'ethnic' cuisine doesn't have to be cheap and made with the loving hand of an old aunt, but rather it can be elevated, refined, and has an equal footing amongst the best. As someone familiar with African cuisine, there were many moments of surprise and delight for me, and the meal marked an indelible place in my mind's 'creative food bank'. The food was deep and it had moving moments. read more

Ambience was great and the service was awesome. I have a big problem with the fact that this place comes up as a Nigerian restaurant. I thought it was an upscale Nigerian restaurant but the food definitely was not. For £35 standing supposedly 4 course meal as advertized, I received a 3 course meal of one piece of heavily coated plantain as an appetizer, something with asparagus with a chocolate looking delicacy, and a small bowl of supposedly Jollof rice, not more than three table spoons of burnt Jollof. The meat was not well cooked like home food - the pieces still had blood on it. If you are looking for a Nigerian restaurant, please look somewhere else. The place and the food looked more like a Japanese restaurant with a fusion of wannabe west Africa flavor. The food was tasty but I went with the intention of eating a Nigerian food. Nigerians know that Ikoyi is an upscale neighborhood in Nigeria, and the fact that the restaurant comes up under a Nigerian restaurant is quite misleading. The three star was really for ambience, service, and location. read more

Ikoyi - One piece of heavily-coated plantain, with a spicy-cheesy sauce - African Near Me - London, XGL

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I'm no expert on West African food - but this was great. Really nice plantain with nicely hot mayo based sauce. Great lamb chop and nice spivey spinach. For clarity this is a high end restaurant. Not cheap but cooking of the highest quality. read more

Ikoyi - African Near Me - London, XGL

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Beautifully deconstructed and reimaginings of West African dishes cooked to perfection. You can taste the the preparation, the attention to detail in every plate served. I appreciated the creativity and risks they took pushing spices to the limit without completely overwhelming the natural flavor of the high quality ingredients. Excellent service, clean tasteful interior, extra comfy seating. Best meal I had in London, not really close. read more

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Amazing amazing place. The flavors are unique and IMO very well paired. A truly unique flavor experience for me anyways. Warnings: Yes. A bit spicy. And it's a FIXED BLIND menu. You are getting 7 courses and you don't know what you are getting. Albeit it seems like there are stand bys. We had the plantain. Chestnut. Monkfish. Cabbage. Steak. Crab rice. And an interesting white sweet potato ice cream. The wine pairing was QUITE nice. Just my opinion reasonable priced at 60£ for the fixed menu and the wine pairing is reasonable as well. Don't miss it read more

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Great first stop in London recent bday trip. Walking distance to Tralfagar Sq. Small intimate space. We loved most of what we had. Very distinct flavor palettes ..West Indies w a British mix. It gave us spice trade vibes lol. I was not expecting this at all. I will say some were liked and understood better than others. Enhanced our experience and Minds were opened. Thats the whole point right? read more

What a lovely and unique experience! I had the wine pairing with the meal and it did not disappoint. Every course was beautiful, aromatic, delicious, a feast for the senses. Service was warm and personable. One thing worth mentioning, the food is fairly spicy, especially for such a refined presentation. I loved it but it might not work for everyone. Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

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A+ food, service and atmosphere. The chef has really transformed the way I react to spices. Each dish was even better than the next and I was continuously surprised by the perfect balance of savory and sweet. The food combinations are unlike anything i've ever had before. I wish I had taken more photos of the food we ordered but we were all just too excited to try. I will definitely make it a point to come back anytime i'm in London! read more

Ikoyi - African Near Me - London, XGL

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Super interesting food concept that elevates common ingredients with West African preparation sprinkled with unusual condiments, ie raspberry dust. I came on a foodie friend's recommendation to host a client dinner. It seemed a bold choice but knew it would at least be interesting if nothing else. It was the right move and an instant conversation starter! We had rounds of the plaintain old fashioned to pair with our food. The menu is sparse so we had all the snacks: the cow skin sandwich, which was a refreshing mix of crunchy and bright, courtesy of edible flowers; the melon and beetroot was a surprisingly flavourful combo; and the scotch bonnet and buttermilk plaintain was a soulful kick! For first courses our table opted for the chicken gizzards, squid and coffee Shito and the mushroom Suya. Everyone enjoyed this fine but it was probably the lower point of the meal. My squid and coffee was muddied in flavour and a bit slimy. The mains recovered as most of the table had the chicken or duck. My duck was perfectly medium rare but the strong notes of the opening snacks were lost in the larger dishes. The bacon was missing and the leaf (two of them) seemed like an afterthought. Those who got the chicken seemed to have a better balance of veg and protein. Service was fantastic; pacing of food arrival was excellent and our waitress was responsive and attentive. The price points are high which I accept for something so unique and in its posh address. Overall, go for a food experience unlike others and don't skip the snacks to start! read more

This might well have been the best meal I have ever eaten. Unbelievable service, unbelievable food, in a setting that worked for me. We had the "tasting menu" in which they decide what you eat and serve it to you one plate at a time. And the presentations were visually spectacular. read more

I reactivated my Yelp just to write a review about this place. I've had West African food maybe twice in my life, both at the same friend's house when I was a teenager. But my friend's mom wasn't serving a 7 course blind dinner menu. Simply put, the food lives up to the expectations. My "dining partner" and I both chose the 7 course blind tasting menu as opposed to the 9 course (which at that date had fried chicken and caviar as options). The scotch bonnet plantain is alone worth coming for, and the subsequent options were just as worthy--namely the fish and pork. The true, legitimate disappointment was what we didn't get to try, namely the beef and jollof. But if you hadn't read the press, you wouldn't know what you're missing. "Buyer beware." The meal isn't too "expensive" but given how different it is than other high end cuisine, worth it. read more

This was one of the best meals I've ever had. Not only because the food was great, but the experience was really unique. As far as I know it's the only African restaurant in the world with a Michelin Star. I tasted things I've never tasted before. I saw things I've never seen before. The aromas were amazing and all off the dishes were visually appealing. I can't say enough about Ikoyi. We had the 4 course lunch tasting menu for 35£ each. The highlights were the plantain with raspberry salt & scotch bonnet emulsion and the smoked crab jollof rice. The smell of the jollof was amazing. The cocktails were great and the dessert was very good as well. You can tell a lot of thought is put into the menu and very skilled chefs are executing the dishes. Ikoyi deserves more than 1 Michelin Star. This is a must visit restaurant for anybody who loves food. You will be hard pressed to find anybody in the world doing what they do. read more

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Really off the charts - they managed to make a five star eating experience with flavors and styles that you would not expect. On some level, you cannot compare them with any other five star restaurant because its almost apples to oranges. Ikoyi is really operating in its own sphere - make the effort to get here, really cannot over emphasize how much its worth the while. read more

We had hibachi.... The food was very salty, puts the cook didn't clean the spatula after scrapping off the burned food from the grills and moving it into the pit. Using the dirty spatula, he to continue cooking... the waiting staff was great and tried to help with the issues but, I will never go back again. read more

Everything was amazing and beautiful! I am allergic to fish and seafood so tasting menus are always a bit of a concern. The food was excellent and they were able to accommodate me. My favorite part was the jolloff rice and pork. The plantain with raspberry salt was great too. read more

Fantastic food with beautiful service. All dishes were great. Our favorite was the lamb chop. Small portions loaded with great taste. A very different find from all the great restaurants that are around nowadays. Go taste for yourself, you will not be disappointed. read more