King Fahd Palace Hotel

Built in 1985 on the Almadies headland and gifted by the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, this is one of Dakar's two grande-dame five-stars. It occupies the westernmost point of mainland Africa, with sweeping Atlantic views, a clifftop pool and a private beach, a nine-hole golf course, four restaurants and the city's largest conference facilities. The scale is the point: vast public spaces, a spa, a gym, and free airport shuttles that make it a practical landing pad for business travellers and stopover guests as well as holidaymakers. Air conditioning, free WiFi and parking come as standard across the property. The Almadies location puts you among Dakar's best restaurants and beaches, ten minutes from the airport and a taxi ride from the Plateau and the Gorée ferry. For a landmark five-star with a sense of occasion, it's a Dakar institution.