Plateau (Dakar) Travel Guide - Free

Explore Plateau in Dakar with Evendo's free guide. Find the best shops, historic streets, restaurants, and gems on web or mobile.

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Plateau
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Plateau, Dakar’s historic centre, brings together colonial landmarks, markets, museums, ocean views, Senegalese cuisine and city life in one walkable district.

Colonial Streets and Civic Grandeur

Plateau is Dakar’s administrative and historic centre, occupying the southern end of the Cap-Vert peninsula between the port, the railway station and the Atlantic shore. Its broad avenues, older commercial streets and formal public buildings reflect the urban plan of the French colonial period, while busy pavements and market streets reveal the daily energy of Senegal’s capital. The district is more functional than residential, but its concentration of institutions, museums, places of worship and transport links makes it an important starting point for understanding Dakar.
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Museums, Markets and Memory

Within a relatively compact area, visitors can move between the IFAN Theodore Monod Museum of African Art, the Grande Mosquée de Dakar, Dakar Cathedral, Marché Kermel and the larger Sandaga market near the edge of the central district. Place de l’Indépendance forms Plateau’s civic centre, surrounded by offices, banks, cafés and government buildings. The streets are often busiest during working hours, when commuters, traders and civil servants fill the area, then become quieter in the evening away from the principal hotel and restaurant corridors.

Atlantic Outlooks and Urban Life

Plateau’s waterfront offers views towards Gorée Island and the harbour, while the ferry terminal provides an important connection for visitors travelling across the bay. The district’s character lies in the contrast between monumental institutions and ordinary city life: a cathedral beside commercial streets, market stalls near colonial-era façades, and seafood restaurants and cafés serving both local residents and international visitors. It is a place for walking with attention, since the most revealing details often appear in the transitions between major landmarks rather than in any single attraction.

Best attractions in Plateau

Plateau’s attractions are concentrated within a walkable historic centre. Place de l’Indépendance provides the clearest introduction to the district’s civic role, while the IFAN Theodore Monod Museum of African Art presents important West African artistic traditions in a major cultural institution. Marché Kermel brings together food stalls and everyday commerce in a landmark market setting, and the streets around Sandaga offer a more expansive, crowded view of Dakar’s trading culture. Dakar Cathedral is notable for its scale and religious importance, while the waterfront and ferry terminal open views across the bay towards Gorée Island. The Grande Mosquée de Dakar is another significant presence, though visitors should observe appropriate dress and access arrangements. Between these places, Plateau’s older shopfronts, government buildings, cafés and harbour-facing streets provide much of the sightseeing interest, revealing how commerce, religion, administration and ordinary urban movement coexist in Dakar’s historic core.

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Best landmarks in Plateau

Plateau’s landmarks express Dakar’s political, religious, commercial and maritime history. Place de l’Indépendance is the district’s central civic space, framed by administrative and business buildings and associated with Senegal’s post-independence public life. The IFAN Theodore Monod Museum of African Art represents Dakar’s long-standing role as a centre for African cultural scholarship, while Dakar Cathedral provides a prominent religious and architectural counterpoint within the central streets. Marché Kermel is important not only as a place to buy food but also as evidence of the commercial infrastructure that supported colonial and post-colonial Dakar. The railway station links Plateau to the city’s regional transport history, and the port-facing edge recalls the district’s Atlantic trading role. The Grande Mosquée de Dakar is another major religious landmark near the commercial core; visitors should confirm access arrangements and follow local etiquette rather than treating it simply as a photographic site.

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Explore Plateau on the map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots in Plateau, mapped for you.

Best restaurants in Plateau

Dining in Plateau reflects its role as Dakar’s central business and administrative district, with options ranging from Senegalese home-style cooking and market food to cafés, bakeries, hotel dining rooms and restaurants serving international dishes. Around Marché Kermel, visitors encounter the practical food culture of the city, while the commercial streets near Place de l’Indépendance offer cafés suited to a pause between museums and offices. Look for local staples such as thiéboudienne, the rice-and-fish dish closely associated with Senegal, along with grilled fish, chicken, mafe and fresh juices, while recognising that menus and opening patterns vary. Seafood is naturally prominent near the port, although the most atmospheric setting is not always the most formal. Plateau’s dining scene is less concentrated as a restaurant quarter than areas such as Almadies, but its central location makes it useful for tasting Senegalese dishes amid the district’s markets, offices and historic streets.

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Best bars in Plateau

Plateau is not Dakar’s main late-night clubbing district, and its evening character is generally more restrained than that of Almadies or the Corniche Ouest. After offices close, some streets quieten considerably, while hotel bars, established restaurants and a selection of central cafés provide places for an unhurried drink or dinner. Evening entertainment is more likely to take the form of live music, conversation and cultural programming connected with hotels or institutions than a dense concentration of nightclubs. Near the waterfront, the port and ferry area can remain active around departures, but it is not a substitute for a dedicated nightlife quarter. Visitors should arrange their return transport in advance when staying out late, particularly if moving away from the better-known central avenues, and should avoid assuming that a venue’s advertised event or opening pattern is permanent.

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Best nightclubs in Plateau

Plateau is not Dakar’s main late-night clubbing district, and its evening character is generally more restrained than that of Almadies or the Corniche Ouest. After offices close, some streets quieten considerably, while hotel bars, established restaurants and a selection of central cafés provide places for an unhurried drink or dinner. Evening entertainment is more likely to take the form of live music, conversation and cultural programming connected with hotels or institutions than a dense concentration of nightclubs. Near the waterfront, the port and ferry area can remain active around departures, but it is not a substitute for a dedicated nightlife quarter. Visitors should arrange their return transport in advance when staying out late, particularly if moving away from the better-known central avenues, and should avoid assuming that a venue’s advertised event or opening pattern is permanent.

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Best shops in Plateau

Shopping in Plateau is rooted in markets, specialist commerce and the practical retail activity of a central business district rather than in a single polished shopping boulevard. Marché Kermel is the most approachable place to observe food trading, with produce, ingredients and prepared foods arranged around a historic market setting. Sandaga, on the edge of the central district, is larger and more demanding, with clothing, household goods, fabrics and other everyday merchandise; visitors should expect negotiation and crowded passages. The streets around Place de l’Indépendance contain pharmacies, bookshops, banks, department-style retailers and small independent businesses serving office workers and residents. For visitors, useful purchases may include Senegalese fabrics, baskets, jewellery, books and packaged food, but quality and provenance vary, so inspect goods carefully. Plateau is better for encountering Dakar’s working commercial life than for browsing a concentrated luxury or designer scene.

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Plateau essentials

Getting There
Plateau is served by major roads and bus connections from Dakar’s other districts, with taxis widely used for direct journeys. Dakar railway station stands in the historic centre and is an important reference point for rail travel towards the outskirts and beyond, subject to current service arrangements. The port and ferry terminal are also within the central area, providing the principal departure point for Gorée Island. From Blaise Diagne International Airport, visitors generally continue by road in a taxi, private transfer or airport connection; allow for traffic rather than relying on a fixed journey time.
Getting Around
Plateau is one of Dakar’s more rewarding districts to explore on foot, particularly between the railway station, Place de l’Indépendance, Marché Kermel, the cathedral and the waterfront. Distances are manageable, though pavements can be uneven, crossings busy and some streets crowded with parked vehicles or market activity. Taxis are useful for longer connections and for returning after dark. The ferry terminal is walkable from much of central Plateau, but confirm the correct entrance and departure arrangements locally. Heat, glare and limited shade make water, a hat and comfortable footwear practical additions.
Safety
Use ordinary city precautions in Plateau, especially around crowded markets, transport points and busy commercial streets. Keep valuables out of sight, close bags securely and be attentive when using a phone near traffic or in dense pedestrian areas. Traffic can be unpredictable, so cross carefully and avoid assuming that vehicles will yield. The central district is busiest during working hours; visitors exploring quieter streets or returning after evening meals should use a known taxi or travel with company. Be calm and courteous when approached by persistent vendors or unofficial guides.
Emergency Situations
In Senegal, call 17 for police, 18 for the fire service and 15 for medical emergencies through SAMU, where available. Give the operator a clear landmark such as Place de l’Indépendance, Dakar railway station, Marché Kermel or the ferry terminal, since street addresses may be less useful in crowded areas. International visitors should carry identification, travel insurance details and the contact information of their accommodation. For non-urgent medical assistance, ask hotel staff, a local host or a pharmacy to direct you to an appropriate facility rather than relying on an unfamiliar online listing.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress modestly when visiting the Grande Mosquée de Dakar, Dakar Cathedral or other religious places, and follow instructions about access and photography. Ask permission before photographing traders, worshippers and people in markets; a friendly greeting in French or Wolof is appreciated. Bargaining may be part of market shopping, but keep it good-humoured and do not handle goods carelessly. Respect queues and ferry procedures, give pedestrians space on narrow pavements and keep noise low near homes and places of worship. Do not climb on monuments or treat historic façades as informal props.
Local Tips
Plateau is easiest to understand as a sequence of zones: the railway station and market streets to the east, the civic centre around Place de l’Indépendance, cultural and religious landmarks inland, and the port-facing edge to the south and west. Combine the IFAN museum with a slow walk through the older streets rather than trying to see the district solely from a taxi. Marché Kermel offers a more contained market experience, while Sandaga is larger and more intense. The waterfront is particularly useful for reorienting yourself towards the harbour and Gorée.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloSalam[sa-lam]
GoodbyeNoo jamm[noo jam]
YesWaaw[waaw]
NoDéedéet[dee-deet]
Please/You're welcomeJërejëf[je-re-jef]
Thank youJërëjëf[je-re-jef]
Excuse me/SorryBa beneen[ba be-neen]
How are you?Nanga def?[nan-ga def]
Fine. And you?Jamm. Nopp[jam nop]
Do you speak English?Bul ko def Englisy?[bul ko def eng-li-sy]
I don't understandNopp la[nop la]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseNopp dëkk menu, jërejëf[nop dek menu, je-re-jef]
I don't eat meatNopp laa jëb lekk[nop la jeb lek]
Cheers!Nobal[no-bal]
I would like to pay, pleaseNopp dëgg, jërejëf[nop deg, je-re-jef]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Ndank[ndank]
Go away!Wax dégg[wax degg]
Call the Police!Nopp noppal[nop nop-pal]
Call a doctor!Nopp doktër bi[nop dok-ter bi]
I'm lostNopp laa war[nop la war]
I'm illNopp laa jëb[nop la jeb]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Nopp dëgg...[nop deg]
I'm just lookingNopp laa yàbb[nop la yab]
How much is it?Ñaataa?[nya-ta]
That's too expensiveWépp naa ñaataa[wep na nya-ta]
Can you lower the price?Moom nga dëgg ñaataa?[mom nga degg nya-ta]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Tee nga def?[tee nga def]
It's one o'clockSama xarit[sa-ma xa-rit]
Half past (10)Nëbbu jëméef (10)[neb-bu je-meef]
MorningSuba[su-ba]
AfternoonRéew[ree-w]
EveningKër[ker]
YesterdayNoppal[nop-pal]
TodayNopp[nop]
TomorrowNoppal ak jëm[nop-pal ak jem]
1Bennëen[ben-neen]
2Jox[jox]
3Tàttu[tat-tu]
4Nëgg[negg]
5Juróom[ju-room]
6Jëkkër[jek-ker]
7Ndar[ndar]
8Nëkkar[nek-kar]
9Juroom jëkkër[ju-room jek-ker]
10Fukk[fukk]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Mangi...[man-gi]
What's the address?Wàllu ndey...[wal-lu ndey]
Can you show me (on the map)?Moom nga yàgg naa (soppi réer bi)?[mom nga yag na (sop-pi reer bi)]
When's the next (bus)?Ku metti rekk (dolli)?[ku met-ti rek (dol-li)]
A ticket (to ....)Dëgg (ci ....)[deg (ci)]

History of Plateau

From Peninsula Village to Colonial Town

Plateau developed on the southern part of the Cap-Vert peninsula as French authority expanded around the coastal settlement that became Dakar. The area’s elevated ground above the harbour made it suitable for administrative buildings, military works and commercial development, while the port strengthened its importance. French town planning gradually imposed a regular street pattern and civic layout distinct from older Lebou settlements elsewhere on the peninsula. The name Plateau refers to this raised central area, which came to serve as the colonial town’s political and commercial core rather than as a purely residential quarter.

Railways, Port and Commercial Growth

Dakar’s port and the Dakar–Saint-Louis railway, opened in the late nineteenth century, accelerated Plateau’s transformation into a regional centre of trade and administration. Railway facilities, warehouses, shipping offices, markets and banks connected the district to Senegal’s interior and to wider Atlantic commerce. Marché Kermel and other commercial spaces became important points of exchange, while roads and public buildings tied the waterfront to the colonial administrative quarter. This growth also created a sharp urban contrast between formally planned Plateau and communities developing beyond the colonial centre.

Institutions of Colonial Dakar

During the twentieth century, Plateau accumulated many of the institutions that represented colonial power and urban modernity, including government offices, religious buildings, cultural organisations and commercial headquarters. The district’s architecture combined administrative blocks, religious structures, market buildings and later modernist offices, producing the varied streetscape still visible today. Cultural institutions such as the museum now known as the IFAN Theodore Monod Museum of African Art helped establish Dakar as a centre for the study and presentation of West African art and heritage.

Independence and Civic Centrality

Senegal’s independence in 1960 gave Plateau a new symbolic role. Buildings and public spaces associated with colonial administration were reinterpreted as institutions of the independent republic, while Place de l’Indépendance became an especially resonant civic space. Ministries, banks, courts, cultural bodies and businesses continued to concentrate in the district, ensuring that Plateau remained central to national and municipal life. At the same time, Dakar’s population expanded rapidly beyond the historic core, making Plateau one part of a much larger metropolitan city rather than its sole urban focus.

A Contemporary Administrative Centre

Today Plateau remains Dakar’s principal administrative and business district, although its role is balanced by markets, museums, restaurants, religious institutions and transport facilities. Redevelopment has introduced newer offices and commercial properties alongside older façades and public buildings, while traffic and pressure on public space reflect the demands placed on the historic centre. Its significance is therefore both practical and historical: it is where many visitors encounter Senegalese state institutions, urban commerce and the layered architectural record of Dakar in a compact area.

Plateau in Photos

Browse through our photo collection highlighting the charm and character of the destination.

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