Detty December: 5 Lagos Restaurants for IJGB's Stomachs

What is a Detty December trip to Lagos without eating your way through the city? Let's be honest, December in Lagos is not the time to count calories or preach portion control. This is the season where fit-fam takes the backseat and real food steps forward. After months of eating “foreign everything” abroad, nothing resets your taste buds like a proper Nigerian meal made with firewood flavour, real pepper, and ingredients that actually taste like home. No matter how fancy the jollof is overseas, it never quite slaps the way it does here.

Lagos is a melting pot of cultures, and the food scene reflects that beautifully, classics, fusions, fine dining, street-style plates, and everything in between. Whether you're an IJGB trying to reconnect with your roots through food, or just looking to eat good while you detty the whole month, these restaurants deserve a spot on your itinerary. From traditional dishes that taste like Sunday at grandma’s, to modern Nigerian cuisine with a twist, Lagos has something for every craving and every budget.

Below are 5 solid restaurants to start with, each offering a different flavour of Lagos, literally.

Ilé Iyán

The go-to spot for real Nigerian comfort food. No experiments, no fusion—just proper swallow, thick soup, and that “home after a long flight” taste. If pounded yam is on your December checklist, this is where you tick it.

Address: Plot 6, Dr. Muiz Banire Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos

Contact:  0902 447 5402

Menu & Price Range: Traditional Nigerian meals, mostly swallow and soup combos. Average spend: ₦10,000 – ₦20,000 per person.

Zayda Lagos

A stylish, luxury dining space where food meets nightlife energy. Not your casual eat-and-go spot think dinner, drinks, soft life and visuals. More “dress up” than “grab a quick bite.”

Address: 1 Chief Collins Uchidiuno Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos

Contact: 0908 070 0007

Menu & Price Range: Nigerian and continental fusion dining in an upscale lounge-style setting. Average spend: ₦25,000 – ₦50,000 per person depending on service area and drinks.

Terra Kulture Restaurant

A Lagos staple that blends food with culture, art and heritage. You get classic Nigerian meals in a calm, well-curated space. Good for group outings, lunch meetings, or a soft re-entry into Lagos life.

Address: Plot 1376, Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island, Lagos

Contact: 0810 422 4137 

Menu & Price Range: Classic Nigerian dishes, breakfast options, and cultural plates. Average spend: ₦6,000 – ₦15,000 per person.

Hanes & Jones

Trendy, modern, and intentionally Nigerian with a twist. The kind of place that takes familiar flavours and gives them a premium, restaurant-style presentation. Great for people who like food with creativity, not just tradition.

Address: Block 2, Plot 1, Okunade Bluewaters Scheme, Lekki, Lagos

Contact: 0816 262 2266

Menu & Price Range: Modern Nigerian food with creative twists, cocktails and dessert options. Average spend: ₦12,000 – ₦25,000 per person.

Sankofa Lagos

Mainland energy with solid Nigerian meals at reasonable prices. Relaxed, casual, and not trying too hard. Perfect if you want real food without the island fine-dining markup.

Address: 62 Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Surulere, Lagos

Contact: 0817 936 1063

Menu & Price Range: Affordable Nigerian meals, rice dishes, grilled proteins and cocktails. Average spend: ₦7,000 – ₦15,000 per person.

Detty December isn’t just about concerts, beaches, and night-long parties the food is a full-time event on its own. Lagos will feed you in every way possible, from luxury dining to that first spoon of smoky jollof that makes you remember why nothing abroad ever tastes the same.

Whether you’re an IJGB returning for the December reset or a Lagos resident curating a festive food tour, these restaurants give you a solid mix of flavour, vibe, and experience. So eat well, explore boldly, and let December taste as good as it feels.