We invited Sarah Bozon, founder of GURSHA, an afro-diasporic creative studio that explores identity through art, storytelling, and cultural rituals, to take us on a tour of her favourite places in Dakar—the city she called home for two unforgettable years.
Welcome to Dakar—a vibrant artistic capital at the crossroads of Afro-diasporic cultures. Senegal’s capital is a melting pot of creativity that brims with cutting edge art galleries, vibrant concept stores, striking architecture and culinary gems where every bite tells a story.
This first edition in my The Taste of Sharing African City Guides series is more than a list of must-sees. It’s a heartfelt, sensory invitation to experience the soul of Dakar—a place where energy pulses through every street; where tradition and imagination live side by side. Through my eyes, this journey becomes one of connection, emotion, and transmission. A tribute to shared meals, exchanged glances, inherited gestures—a love letter to the art of feeling.
Fashion
In Dakar, fashion is a living language—an expression of pride, memory, and modernity. Here, garments speak before words and style carries history on its shoulders. Designers blend Senegalese craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics, creating pieces that celebrate African heritage while pushing global trends.
L’Artisane: Known for reviving the boubou with a modern twist, Khadija Aisha Ba integrates retro-chic styles with Fulani-inspired jewellery and accessories. 📷 @lartisane.shop
Romzy Studio: A striking blend of bold storytelling and cultural memory. 📷 @romzystudio
Romzy Studio: A striking blend of bold storytelling and cultural memory. 📷 @romzystudio
Maison Kébé: Understated elegance, refined silhouettes, and poetic lines.📷 @maisonkebe
Also worth exploring: BAAX Studio, Maison Detta, Bolé, and Nio Far — each with a unique approach to contemporary African design. 📷 @baaxstudio_ 📷 @maisondetta 📷 @bole.dakar 📷 @niofarbymilcos
Dungandzy 2023 fashion experience show, Romzy Studio
Homeware
Dakar’s homeware stores reflect the city’s rich artisanal traditions. From handwoven textiles to contemporary furniture, each piece carries memory, meaning, and spirit while blending functionality with artistry.
Éluwa Studio: Sculptural luxury scented candles that marry earthy minimalism with continental consciousness. 📷 @eluwa.studio
Ousmane Mbaye: A pioneer in upcycled furniture with attitude. Playful, colourful, and unmistakably bold. 📷 @ousmanembaye_design
Tisserand Dakar: Traditional weaving meets modern sensibility. A celebration of craft and patience. 📷 @tisserand.dakar
Food
In Dakar, food is always an act of love. It’s how stories are passed down, how communities connect, and how strangers become family.
Bante Yi at Sandaga market: More than just street food, it’s a journey into the heart of Sandaga’s energy. Brave the smoky air and join the locals savouring freshly grilled skewers seasoned with ‘kankan.’ This is Dakar in its purest, most vibrant form—an experience that awakens the soul.
Ban Café: A cosy, sunlit spot for early morning brews and gentle rituals. 📷 @ban.cafe
Il Pappagallo: A relaxed Italian escape, wrapped in warmth and charm. 📷 @il_pappagallo_dakar
Hidden gems like Noliane, Basilic, and KOTAO Coffee are perfect for quiet moments and thoughtful bites. 📷 @nolianedakar 📷 @lebasilicdakar 📷 @kotao.coffee
Nightlife & entertainment
When the sun sets, Dakar shifts into a new rhythm. The nights here are electric, spontaneous, and full of soul.
Copacabana Surf Village: A beachfront venue perfect for laid-back evenings and chill Sundays. The ocean breeze, sand between your toes, music in the air, a place to call home. 📷@copacabanasurfvillage
TRAMES: An artistic hideaway and safe haven for creatives, with their mythic ‘Les Jeudis de Trames’ musical rendezvous on the rooftop. 📷@espacetrames
GROOV: A brand new intimate spot where curated sound, crafted cocktails, and urban-inspired cuisine come together for a unique sensory experience. 📷@groovdkr
Try Boma Terrasse, Dousman, Funky Monkeys or The Bashment parties for vibrant evenings and diverse vibes. 📷 @bomaterrasse 📷 @thebvshment 📷 @dousman.dkr 📷 @funkymonkeys.mvt
Architecture
This is a city that remembers. Walk its streets and you’ll see how past and future coexist in every arch, dome, and curve. Dakar’s architecture is a testament to its history and innovation. From colonial-era landmarks to futuristic designs—the cityscape is a visual feast.
Dakar International Trade Fair Centre (FIDAK): A relic of Pan-African dreams and monumental ambition. 📷 @foireinternationalededakar
Mosque of the Divinity: A striking example of Islamic architecture rising gracefully by the Atlantic ocean—serene and symbolic.
Our Lady of Victories Cathedral: Powerful lines, quiet power.
The Bubble Houses: Whimsical, almost surreal—architecture that’s an ode to freedom, fluidity, and utopia in built form; designed by architect Antti Lovag.
Dakar Train Station: A beautifully restored colonial-era building.
Immeuble Kébé—One of the first modern skyscrapers in West Africa (completed in 1973). It features 21 floors and a contemporary architectural style, symbolising Dakar’s urban development during the 1970s.
Concept stores
More than boutiques, these are spaces of encounter and expression — curating lifestyle, fashion, and artistry under one roof.
L’Atelier Nomad, Anne Calfo, Le Sandaga, SassyChic Boutique — each store holds its own world, where tradition meets trend. 📷 @lateliernomad 📷 @annecalfo.dakar 📷 @lesandaga.shop 📷 @sassychicboutiquedakar
Art galleries
Art is everywhere in Dakar — in the streets, in the galleries, in the rhythm of daily life. These spaces shine a light on emerging voices and rooted narratives.
Galerie Cécile Fakhoury – J’aimerais me voir dans tes yeux by Rachel Marsil, 2022
OH GALLERY – Théodore Diouf, Cinquante ans de création by Théodore Diouf, 2023
Selebe Yoon, OH GALLERY, RAW Material Company, Galerie Cécile Fakhoury, Galerie La Pièce—champions of creativity and cultural dialogue. 📷 @selebe_yoon 📷 @oh.gallery 📷 @raw.gram2011 📷 @galeriececilefakhoury 📷 @rana_salehob
Artistic activities
From ceramics to photography—these artistic activities nurture hands-on creation, shared knowledge, and emotional expression. Discover the heart of Dakar’s spirit through tradition and innovation.
- Green Wave: Green Wave is an ethical jewellery brand that teaches traditional silversmithing techniques to women living in shelters. Pieces are made with 100% recycled silver cast in natural materials from the ocean (like cuttlefish bones and beach sand). They also run workshops to the public. 📷 @greenwavejewellery
Ban Workshop: Pottery workshops to reconnect with the self. 📷 @banworkshop
Le Sel Dakar: An analogue photo development workshop. 📷 @le_sel_dakar
LES BALLADES ARCHITECTURALES: Guided explorations into the city’s rich architectural landscape led by an amazing Senegalese architect and activist. 📷 @afrikadaamagazine
This guide is not just a list—it’s a living map. An invitation to slow down, to look closer, to savour, and to connect. Because at the heart of The Taste of Sharing, there’s always this belief: True luxury is about shared moments—a gaze, a gesture, a bite.
Welcome to Dakar!
For a break of the city bustle and hustle, Onomo Hotel Dakar will be your perfect home away from home: https://www.onomohotels.com/hotel/onomo-hotel-dakar/
About the author
Sarah Bozon is a Franco-Ethiopian creative and the founder of GURSHA, a strategic design studio supporting artists, emerging designers, and cultural institutions across the Afro-diasporic creative scene. Through The Taste of Sharing—an immersive event concept and new-generation city guide—she invites travellers to experience African cities through the lens of art, design, culinary rituals, and hospitality.
Born in Ethiopia and raised in France, Sarah now lives between Dakar and Marseille, building bridges between continents, cultures, and generations. Her work is rooted in the desire to reconnect diasporic communities with their heritage, while offering a contemporary and sensitive vision of Africa.
GURSHA—meaning ‘the bite’ in Amharic—is a tribute to the traditional Ethiopian gesture of offering food as an act of love and connection. With each project, Sarah creates spaces and narratives that celebrate Afro-diasporic identity and inspire new ways of experiencing the continent.
